Grant Funding available from MEMA for Hazard Mitigationfrom Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) are pleased to announce the availability of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding. This post-disaster mitigation grant funding is now available as a result of the federal disaster declarations for Tropical Storm Sandy. The deadline to submit applications is Friday August 30, 2013. This funding is designated to reduce risks to the population and structures to natural hazards. Some of the eligible project types include; Storm-water, drainage and culvert improvements, property acquisition, slope stabilization, infrastructure protection, seismic and wind retrofits, structure elevations, public outreach, Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan development, etc. All proposed projects require a non-federal share 25% (or more) of the total estimated project cost. MEMA/DCR will be hosting a series of grant program briefings and technical assistance meetings. Please monitor their website for additional information and the posting of the application HERE. If you have questions, please contact Sarah White, Mitigation Grants Supervisor, sarah.white@state.ma.us or 508-820-2053.
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Patrick Administration Announces 12 Grants for Water Protection, Habitat Restoration and EducationHYANNIS – Monday, June 17, 2013 – Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary (EEA) Rick Sullivan today announced almost $600,000 in grants from the Massachusetts Environmental Trust (MET) for projects to protect and restore rivers, watersheds and wildlife across the Commonwealth. “For over two decades, the Massachusetts Environmental Trust has been leading the charge in conservation efforts to protect the vital waterways of Massachusetts,” said Secretary Sullivan. “These projects are made possible by the collaborative efforts of communities and conservation partners, working together with the Commonwealth to maintain and protect our clean waters for generations to come.” Since it was founded in 1988 as part of the Boston Harbor cleanup, MET has awarded more than $19 million in grants to organizations statewide that provide a wide array of environmental services, from supporting water projects in communities to protecting coastal habitats. The grants will help support twelve projects in Barnstable, Boston, Fall River, Falmouth, Greenfield, Groton, Hanover, Newton, Oak Bluffs, Provincetown, Taunton and Wellfleet. Funding for this program comes from the sale of the state’s three environmentally-themed specialty license plates: the Right Whale Tail, the Leaping Brook Trout and the Blackstone Valley Mill. “I appreciate the Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ continued commitment in providing these essential grants to our communities across the Commonwealth,” said Senate President Therese Murray. “In my district, this funding allows the Town of Falmouth to make necessary restorations and removals in advancing their water quality and watershed protection activities.” “With Cape Cod’s fragile ecosystem, it remains crucial to invest in both water quality and watershed protection activities. I was happy to support the projects awarded grants by the Massachusetts Environmental Trust to the Cape and Islands, and I applaud Secretary Rick Sullivan for recognizing the importance of these investments,” said Sen. Dan Wolf. The grant awards range from $24,896 to $80,000 and are listed below:
MET, established by the Massachusetts Legislature as a state trust in 1988, is governed by a nine-member board of trustees appointed by the EEA Secretary.
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Opportunities for Cancer Prevention: Trends in the Use and Release of Carcinogens in MassachusettsA new report from the Toxics Use Reduction Institute at the University of Massachusetts Lowell shows that Massachusetts companies have achieved significant reductions in their use and environmental releases of chemicals known or suspected to cause cancer. The report is intended as a resource both for professionals working in the area of toxics use reduction and for those working in the area of cancer prevention.
Over the last two decades, use of known or suspected carcinogens by Massachusetts industries reporting to the Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) program declined 32 percent while releases to the environment declined 93 percent, according to the report. Some chemicals, such as the solvents perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene, showed steep declines in use, 85 percent and 92 percent respectively. Reducing exposure to carcinogens is a powerful tool for cancer prevention.
Yet there is still significant room for progress. In 2010, Massachusetts companies used more than 300 million pounds of known or suspected carcinogens, and released more than 500,000 pounds to the environment.
The report includes an analysis of chemicals grouped by their links with 11 specific types of cancer: bladder, brain and central nervous system, breast, kidney, leukemia, liver, lung, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, pancreas, prostate and testis.
Download a copy of the Executive Summary.
Download a copy of the full report.
Toxics Use Reduction Institute 600 Suffolk Street Wannalancit Building, Suite 501 Lowell, MA 01854 978-934-3275 www.turi.org
Making Massachusetts a Safer Place to Live and Work
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Vermont Yankee: Still Trying Sucker Punches and Cheap ShotsAs we approach the next round of public hearings in front of Vermont utility regulators for Connecticut River Watershed Council’s (CRWC) case to stop Vermont Yankee’s thermal pollution, Entergy’s stable of lawyers continues to try and knock us out of the ring. But our case is strong so we can stand up to these tactics. Entergy is worried because, for the first time ever, someone has evaluated Entergy’s own actual minute-by-minute data on thermal pollution. This data continues to back up what we’ve said all along – Entergy’s case for continuing their thermal pollution is significantly flawed. As this case continues to move forward we will keep you updated. You can read the four expert reports, testimony related to these reports and more on CRWC website. Andrew Fisk PS: Check out our online event calendar to see all of our upcoming events, including 3 Summer Solstice Paddles on Friday, June 21st. Register now, space is limited!
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Massachusetts First State to Sell ‘Green’ Bonds— From Reuters through Mass Land E-News
Massachusetts is again setting the gold standard for muniland. The state has a solid lead in best practices for bond market disclosure, and now it is offering the first ever state-issued “green bond” to fund environmental projects. Here is what is happening, according to Colin MacNaught, the Assistant Treasurer for Debt Management in the Office of State Treasurer Steven Grossman:
As part of our $475 million general obligation bond sale, we’re selling $100 million “Green Bonds” to fund environmentally beneficial projects. The World Bank has already sold approximately $5 billion in dollar-denominated Green Bonds but we may be the first state in the muni market to sell “Green Bonds.” Read the rest of the Reuters article here. Read the official Massachusetts Treasurer’s Announcement here.
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Hoffmann Bird Club Golf Tournament – June 21, 2013
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Civil EngineerCivil Engineer II
This position is funded from the Commonwealth’s annual operating budget. |