MA Legislators File DPU Reform Bill
Last Friday, Rep. Kulik and Senator Eldridge filed House and Senate bills HD3204 and SD1727 (text available here) aimed primarily at strengthening our ability to prevent the overbuild of natural gas infrastructure. Co-sponsors are critical to give the bill traction. The deadline for co-sponsors on the House side is February 3rd (senators can sign on later, but the sooner the better for momentum’s sake). From MassPLAN, January 25, 2017.<more>
MCLA to Focus on Science & Management of Invasive Species for this Spring’s ‘Green Living’ Series
2017-2018 Environmental Legislative Breakfast Recap
Activists Announce Major Climate March in DC & Nationwide on April 29th
Communities Begin Organizing Nationwide to Resist Attacks on the Environment and Our Communities and to Call for a New Clean Energy Economy that Stops Climate Change and Creates Good Jobs for All. In the wake of last weekend’s Women’s Marches, activists have announced a major “People’s Climate March” on April 29th in Washington, D.C. and across the country. The effort is being organized by the coalition formed out of 2014’s People’s Climate March, which brought over 400,000 people to the streets of New York City and many more around the world.<more>
EPA Updates Human Health Benchmarks for Pesticides in Drinking Water
EPA has updated its Human Health Benchmarks for Pesticides in drinking water to reflect the latest scientific information. The benchmarks are levels of certain pesticides in drinking water or source waters for drinking water at or below which adverse health effects are not anticipated from one-day or lifetime exposures. First developed by EPA in 2012, the benchmarks are intended to be used for informational purposes by states, tribes, water systems and the public to help interpret monitoring data for pesticides for which there are no drinking water standards or health advisories. These revised benchmarks incorporate updated toxicity assessments from the pesticide registration process and exposure assumptions derived from the EPA’s Exposure Factors Handbook. <more>
Jobs
Volunteer Ambassadors Needed at Notchview – Windsor, MA
Visitor Services Internship – U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service – Northeast Regional Office – Hadley, MA
2017 SCA MA Forests & Parks AmeriCorps Position – DCR-Wompatuck – Hingham, MA
Trail Team Massachusetts Corps – SCA Massachusetts AmeriCorps – Hawley, MA
Plant Conservation Volunteer – New England Wild Flower Society – Western Mass
Hoosic River Revival – Executive Director – North Adams, MA
Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation – Executive Director – Williamstown, MA
MA Legislators File DPU Reform Bill
From Mass PLAN
January 24, 2017
Last Friday, Rep. Kulik and Senator Eldridge filed House and Senate bills HD3204 and SD1727 (text available here) aimed primarily at strengthening our ability to prevent the overbuild of natural gas infrastructure. Co-sponsors are critical to give the bill traction. The deadline for co-sponsors on the House side is February 3rd (senators can sign on later, but the sooner the better for momentum’s sake).
A summary of the bill is included below, with some background information.
Please reach out to ask your legislators to co-sign (and feel free to send along the attached summary). For those of you in Minority Leader Jones’ district, please also thank him for co-sponsoring last week’s State House briefing on gas infrastructure (together with Rep. Kulik – who of course, like Senator Eldridge, can be thanked for filing the bill! Rep. Howitt co-sponsored on Friday). Please also spread this message among local groups and others who may be interested.
Summary:
HD3204/SD1727, An act clarifying authority and responsibilities of the Department of Public Utilities, seeks to enhance the review of pipeline capacity contracts and address other needed reforms identified over the course of previous and ongoing proceedings related to gas infrastructure projects. This bill would accomplish the following:
-Allow for more involvement from impacted communities and ratepayers in DPU proceedings, by strengthening intervention rights;
– Protect ratepayers against self-dealing by energy conglomerates;
– Require review of siting impacts and detailed alternative analysis in contract approval cases, including protections to conservation lands;
– Prohibit a “pipeline tax” on electric ratepayers, codifying the August 2016 ruling by the Supreme Judicial Court;
– Allow state agencies to require a hearing to evaluate demand for gas in intrastate gas infrastructure siting cases; and
– Protect landowners from intrusion by pipeline companies, preventing the DPU from granting a pipeline company access to property (over landowner denial of access) before the company has obtained a certificate of necessity for the project.
MCLA to Focus on Science & Management of Invasive Species for this Spring’s ‘Green Living’ Series
January 20, 2017
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts’ (MCLA) Green Living Series will focus this spring semester’s seminars on “Science and Management of Invasive Species.” The series will begin on Thursday, Jan. 26, with “Prioritizing, Partnering and Preventing: How One National Wildlife Refuge Approaches Invasive Plant Challenges.”
All of the lectures in this series are free and open to the public. They will take place on Thursdays at 7 p.m. in MCLA’s Center for Science and Innovation, in room 121.
The Thursday, Jan. 26, lecture will be “Prioritizing, Partnering and Preventing: How One National Wildlife Refuge Approaches Invasive Plant Challenges.” It will be presented by Cynthia Boettner, who has been with the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, for more than 18 years.
2017-2018 Environmental Legislative Breakfast Recap
Activists Announce Major Climate March in DC & Nationwide on April 29th
Communities Begin Organizing Nationwide to Resist Attacks on the Environment and Our Communities
And to Call for a New Clean Energy Economy that Stops Climate Change and Creates Good Jobs for All
WASHINGTON, DC – In the wake of last weekend’s Women’s Marches, activists have announced a major “People’s Climate March” on April 29th in Washington, D.C. and across the country. The effort is being organized by the coalition formed out of 2014’s People’s Climate March, which brought over 400,000 people to the streets of New York City and many more around the world.
The April 29th march comes in response to widespread outrage against President Trump’s disastrous anti-climate agenda – including his executive orders yesterday advancing the Keystone and Dakota Access pipelines – as well as his attacks on healthcare, immigrants, and programs and policies that improve the lives of all Americans. The event will cap off 100 days of action to fight Trump’s proposals to reverse climate action, dismantle our government and hand power over to the one percent.
Over 145 protests in local communities took place across the country in the first 100 hours of the Trump presidency, demonstrating widespread opposition to the administration’s anti-environment and corporate agenda as part of an ongoing campaign organized by the People’s Climate Movement.
Background and History: The People’s Climate Movement grew out of the largest climate march in U.S. history in New York in September of 2014, creating a groundbreaking coalition of green and environmental justice groups, labor unions, faith, students, indigenous peoples and civil rights groups working to advance a climate agenda rooted in economic and racial justice.
With the 100 days of action and April march, this coalition will leverage their power once again, to resist the Trump administration and corporate leaders’ efforts to thwart or reverse progress towards a more just America.
Now more than ever, it will take everyone to change everything. So, the People’s Climate Movement is calling on everyone to join in resisting Trump, his crooked administration and the one percent who are running our country.
For more information on The People’s Climate Movement and the mobilization on April 29th, please visit: https://peoplesclimate.org/
EPA Updates Human Health Benchmarks for Pesticides in Drinking Water
EPA has updated its Human Health Benchmarks for Pesticides in drinking water to reflect the latest scientific information. The benchmarks are levels of certain pesticides in drinking water or source waters for drinking water at or below which adverse health effects are not anticipated from one-day or lifetime exposures. First developed by EPA in 2012, the benchmarks are intended to be used for informational purposes by states, tribes, water systems and the public to help interpret monitoring data for pesticides for which there are no drinking water standards or health advisories. These revised benchmarks incorporate updated toxicity assessments from the pesticide registration process and exposure assumptions derived from the EPA’s Exposure Factors Handbook.
Jobs
Volunteer Ambassadors Needed at Notchview Reservation – Windsor, MA
Volunteers Needed: Help us Help Others enjoy the winter wonders of Notchview. Indoor Visitor Center & Outdoor trail opps. Assist for 2 hrs. on your ski days or join one day/wk. Fun. Social. Family opps. Free ski lesson. Notchview Reservation, 83 Old Route 9, Windsor, MA 01226. www.thetrustees.org/volunteer or 413.532.1631 ext. 3119
Visitor Services Internship – U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service – Northeast Regional Office, Hadley, MA
The individual will serve as a visitor services and communications intern for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Northeast Regional Office. This will include assisting Service staff with a variety of projects related to public use of national wildlife refuges such as environmental education, environmental interpretation, hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, volunteers, Friends and community partnerships, the Urban Refuge Initiative, and connecting people with nature. On the job training will be provided and there is the potential opportunity for further training regionally or nationally. For more information & to apply, click here.
2017 SCA MA FORESTS & PARKS AMERICORPS POSITION DCR-WOMPATUCK – Hingham, MA
This position is part of the Student Conservation Association Massachusetts Forests & Parks AmeriCorps program. MA Parks is seeking 6 Preservation & Stewardship Crew Members to serve at the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)’s Wompatuck State Park in Hingham, MA. For more information and to apply, click here.
Trail Team Massachusetts Corps – SCA Massachusetts AmeriCorps – Hawley, MA
SCA Massachusetts AmeriCorps is a residential program based in the Kenneth Dubuque State Forest in Hawley, MA, an 8,000 acre forest located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts.
During conservation service season, members get to travel the state of Massachusetts working and camping on public lands for 10 days at a time.
The SCA Massachusetts Corps is a partnership between SCA, AmeriCorps, The Massachusetts Service Alliance, and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. SCA Massachusetts AmeriCorps members serve the lands and people of Massachusetts for five months through the completion of high priority conservation service projects on public lands. SCA Massachusetts Trail Team members will begin their service in March 2017, joining 18 other SCA Massachusetts AmeriCorps members who will have been serving since October 2016.
The majority of the position is dedicated to hands-on, outdoor conservation projects ranging from trail construction and maintenance to habitat restoration and invasive plant species removal. Leadership development is an important component of the program. Each member will serve as a crew leader for at least one 10 day field project. A typical field project or “hitch” will consist of collaborating as part of a five or six-person crew for 10 days at a time, returning to Kenneth Dubuque State Forest for a three or four day break between hitches. A portion of the position is spent earning certifications and attending trainings such as Wilderness First Responder, leadership, chainsaw, rigging, carpentry, and general trail maintenance and construction. Members will also spend time developing teaching skills through presenting environmental education based lessons and engaging volunteers in service activities. Community based living is a large component of this program. The living conditions are simple, rustic, and community focused. The corps is made up of 18 – 25 year olds with diverse backgrounds from around the country.
For more information, click HERE.
Plant Conservation Volunteer – New England Wild Flower Society
New England Wild Flower Society is seeking enthusiastic people who have a commitment to plant conservation and protecting natural habitats to participate in their Plant Conservation Volunteer Program. Plant Conservation Volunteers (PCVs) puts the skills of citizens to work collecting information on rare plants and their habitats across all six New England states. The majority of the work focuses on rare plant monitoring, but there are also opportunities to assist with invasive species removal, habitat management projects and botanical surveys that benefit rare plants. The Society also offers free field trips and some learning opportunities to PCVs. It’s an excellent opportunity to develop your botanical skills and put them to work, learn more about the flora of New England, meet others with similar interests, and help preserve your state’s natural heritage.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Attend the annual 1-day training session held on a weekend in March/April for each of the New England states to review surveying protocols and PCV guidelines. The schedule is on our website for training sessions.
- Review available surveys and choose ones for your abilities and/or surveys that will excel the New England Plant Conservation Program.
- Complete at least one rare plant survey including research on plant/accessing location, coordinating with other volunteers to survey, conducting the survey and completing and submitting field forms digitally through a secure website.
- Conduct possible seed collections on rare plants following specific protocols.
- Represent the PCV program and conduct work in a professional manner.
- Keep ALL data on rare plant populations confidential.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Good candidates are motivated, independent workers; have some skill in plant identification, good observation skills and are adventurous.
- Ability to collect and organize scientific data and filing field forms in a timely manner.
- Some computer proficiency is required for communication and submitting field forms.
- The physical ability to hike in uneven terrain and varying weather conditions.
- The ability to work independently or with a team of other volunteers.
- Ability to travel some distance to survey sites and endure possible long days in the field.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply visit our website and fill out the electronic application by February 1st, 2017:
http://newenglandwild.org/conserve/saving-imperiled-plants/plant-conservation.html/
Interested applicants with botanical knowledge and are outside of Eastern Massachusetts are encouraged to apply. All who are interested must apply and be accepted into the program before attending a training session due to the sensitive nature of rare plant data and data security agreements we have with each state’s Natural Heritage.
Applications are reviewed during the winter (January – February) to be considered for that field season year. To be considered for the 2017 season, please submit your application via the online application by February 1st, 2017.
QUESTIONS? Contact: Laney Widener, Botanical Coordinator, New England Wild Flower Society, 508-877-7630 ext. 3204, lwidener@newenglandwild.org
If you would like a botanical adventure, join the PCV program. This is a great way to meet new friends, explore a wide range of habitats while contributing to the knowledge of our flora. I joined the PCV program the first year it was in Maine and love it as a way to help our environment. ~ B. G.
Hoosic River Revival – Executive Director
The Hoosic River Revival, based in North Adams, Massachusetts, seeks an Executive Director to lead our river restoration efforts. We are a community-based nonprofit working to contribute to North Adams’ urban renaissance by transforming an unattractive concrete-walled section of the Hoosic River into a beautiful, ecologically-sound and publicly-accessible riverscape. This full-time position provides an opportunity to live in the beautiful New England Berkshires and oversee a project that will benefit local ecosystems and economies. No previous experience with river ecology is required. Our ideal candidate will have strong experience with project management and working closely with a board, as well as navigating government processes. To read the full job description go to http://www.hoosicriverrevival.org/position-opening-executive-director.
Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation –
Executive Director
The Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation (WRLF), a 30-year old land conservation trust and education organization in Williamstown Massachusetts, announces the retirement next year of its long-time executive director, Leslie Reed Evans, and the search for her replacement to lead WRLF during an exciting time in its history. Leslie’s tenure at WRLF has spanned 23 years of exemplary service to our community. She was hired in late 1993 as interim director and was offered the permanent position in 1995 at a time when the organization was completing several major land conservation projects under her dynamic leadership and was in the midst of its largest yet, the effort to preserve the south Williamstown farm and forest lands owned by Norris Phelps along Oblong Road and extending to the Taconic Ridge. At that time, WRLF had a 14-member Board of Directors, a supporting membership of about 200 families, and an annual budget of $39,000. There were 268 acres of private land under conservation restriction, and 66 acres in WRLF’s direct ownership.
Today, WRLF annually monitors 288 acres of conservation restriction land and has close to 600 acres under its own management, including its 55-acre Sheep Hill headquarters and 380 acres on Pine Cobble, its largest preserve. Its membership has more than doubled and its annual budget has grown nearly tenfold. It has established itself as a key resource in the community and an important contributor to the beauty and quality of life which Williamstown residents and visitors alike enjoy.
During Leslie’s tenure and with the active participation of an engaged, dedicated Board of Directors, WRLF undertook many innovative projects, including managing the Reynolds limited development/conservation project, making land available for the Williamstown’s first Habitat for Humanity home, and establishing Caretaker Farm as a Community Land Trust to make it affordable to a new generation of farmers. Perhaps what Leslie is most proud of and in addition to the land conservation projects she has overseen is the acquisition and preservation of Sheep Hill and its establishment as a community resource for outdoor education and recreation for families, school children and visitors.
The search for a new executive director will begin immediately. The job posting and explanation of the application requirements are described on WRLF’s website, wrlf.org, under “Job Opportunities” on the home page. For further information contact WRLF or call its headquarters at 413-458-2494.
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