The BEAT News – June 30, 2016

Thank you to Rachel Branch, producer of the television show Solutions Rising for including a “BEAT” series for people to learn more about the fracked gas pipelines proposed to bring gas from the fracking fields of Pennsylvania across New York, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire to a gas hub in Dracut, MA. The show interviews many people providing information about the proposed pipelines as well as the many alternatives to these pipelines.

Deer Island Energy Tour Coming Soon

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Network is presenting an energy tour at Deer Island in Winthrop, MA, which will include solar, wind, and an anaerobic digestor. The tour will take place on Wednesday, July 20th, from 9:30AM to 11:30AM. Learn more about anaerobic digestion as a clean energy source. This is a great opportunity to see clean energy up close and think about additional on-site clean energy options for your town. [text-blocks id=”26627″ slug=”click-headline-read”]

Climate change could be even worse for Boston
than previously thought

The consequences of climate change on Boston are expected to be far more calamitous than previous studies have suggested, a new report commissioned by the city says. In the worst-case scenario, sea levels could rise more than 10 feet by the end of the century — nearly twice what was previously predicted — plunging about 30 percent of Boston under water. Temperatures in 2070 could exceed 90 degrees for 90 days a year, compared with an average of 11 days now. And changes in precipitation could mean a 50 percent decline in annual snowfall, punctuated by more frequent heavy storms such as nor’easters. By David Abel, The Boston Globe, June  [text-blocks id=”26627″ slug=”click-headline-read”]

U.S. states, Rockefellers clash with U.S. House panel
on Exxon climate probes

With a number of U.S. states proceeding with investigations of Exxon Mobil Corp’s (XOM.N) record on climate change, the attorney general of Massachusetts and investment funds of the Rockefeller family on Friday told a Congressional committee it lacked powers to oversee those probes. The pushback is the latest chapter in a high-stakes fight between the world’s largest publicly traded oil company and a coalition of state attorneys general who have said they would go after Exxon to try and force action to tackle climate change. By Terry Wade, Reuters, June 24, 2016. [text-blocks id=”26627″ slug=”click-headline-read”]

Connecticut Passes Legislation to Promote Electric Vehicles! Will Massachusetts Be Next?

Over the past five years, plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) have gone from a cool concept to a real option for vehicle buyers, with almost 440,000 sold nationally through April 2016. In May 2016, the Connecticut General Assembly passed H.B. No. 5510, “An Act Concerning Electric and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles.” On June 7th, the bill was signed by Governor Malloy and became Public Act 16-135. This law contains a number of great provisions that will help promote electric vehicles. Acadia Center blog, June 27, 2016. [text-blocks id=”26627″ slug=”click-headline-read”]

Rt. 66 gets test run of solar road

America’s iconic Route 66 is about to become part of a new solar system. The Idaho startup Solar Roadways, created by husband-and-wife team Scott and Julie Brusaw, is working with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to install a section of solar panels at a rest stop on Rt. 66 in Conway, Mo. The aim is to see if the roadway can generate enough electricity to power the rest facility and potentially fund future projects. By Lisa Suhay, Correspondent, The Christian Science Monitor, June 24, 2016. [text-blocks id=”26627″ slug=”click-headline-read”]

Scientists Now Listening for Whales in New York Waters With Real-time Acoustic Buoy

Scientists working for WCS’s (Wildlife Conservation Society) New York Aquarium and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) now have an “ear” for the New York region’s biggest “voices and singers”— the whales of New York Bight. On Thursday, June 23rd, the WCS New York Aquarium-WHOI team successfully deployed a hi-tech acoustic monitoring buoy in New York waters that will enable scientists to eavesdrop on some of the world’s largest animals. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, June 27, 2016. [text-blocks id=”26627″ slug=”click-headline-read”]

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Jobs

Research Scientist – SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry – Albany, NY

Camp Counselor – Becket Day Camp – Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA, Becket

Greenagers Middle School and High School Program – Various locations in Berkshire County

Greenagers Summer Jobs – Trail Crews & Agricultural Apprentices – Various locations in Berkshire and Columbia Counties

Outdoor Educator – Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center, Cropseyville, NY

Assistant Director, Summer Camp – Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center, Cropseyville, NY

Camp Counselors – Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Lenox, MA

Weekend Visitors Services Staff – Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Lenox, MA

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Deer Island Clean Energy Tour Coming Soon

 A message from our friends at Massachusetts Climate Action Network:

“I know you care about clean energy, and so I want to give you an opportunity to sign up early to join MCAN for a tour of the Deer Island clean energy site, which includes solar, wind, and an anaerobic digestor.

On July 20th, from 9:30AM TO 11:30AM, join us at Deer Island in Winthrop, MA to learn more about anaerobic digestion as a clean energy source. This is a great opportunity to see clean energy up close and think about what additional on-site clean energy options your town might be able to take advantage of.

Located on a spit of land in Boston Harbor, Deer Island is not only a Sewage Treatment Plant – it is a clean energy powerhouse. In addition to protecting Boston Harbor from pollution (the plant treats waste water from 43 communities in the greater Boston area), Deer Island sources renewable energy from solar panels and wind turbines, as well as an anerobic digestion facility, all of which will be part of the tour.

HOWEVER, we need signed liability release forms from all attendees by the 8th, so I am inviting you early.  Please sign up now if you are interested, and we will send out release forms.

We hope to see you there!”
Carol Oldham, Executive Director

What: Deer Island Clean Energy Tour

When: Wednesday, July 20th at 9:30am

Where: Deer Island in Winthrop, MA (RSVP to get location info)

RSVP: here

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Climate change could be even worse for Boston than previously thought

By David Abel
The Boston Globe
June 22, 2016

The consequences of climate change on Boston are expected to be far more calamitous than previous studies have suggested, a new report commissioned by the city says.

In the worst-case scenario, sea levels could rise more than 10 feet by the end of the century — nearly twice what was previously predicted — plunging about 30 percent of Boston under water. Temperatures in 2070 could exceed 90 degrees for 90 days a year, compared with an average of 11 days now.

And changes in precipitation could mean a 50 percent decline in annual snowfall, punctuated by more frequent heavy storms such as nor’easters.

The report, by scientists from the University of Massachusetts and other local universities, has raised concerns in City Hall just two weeks after Mayor Martin J. Walsh attended a climate summit in Beijing.

“The updated climate projections confirm that we must work together to take bold approaches to prepare Boston for the impacts of climate change,” Walsh said in a statement.

The report, he said, is part of the city’s effort to assess its vulnerability and to seek solutions. Next year, Boston will host the same climate conference that Walsh attended, with leaders from some 60 US and Chinese cities.

“We take climate change seriously, because we take the health and resilience of our city seriously,” Walsh said. “We will continue to focus on using the best data to inform decisions and understand future investments.”

As ice melts on the South Pole, the resulting gravitational pull on the ocean, as well as the gradual sinking of land in the Northeast, means that Boston and other nearby communities are likely to experience about 25 percent higher increase of sea levels than other parts of the planet, according to the new research.

“Boston is a bull’s-eye for more sea level damage,” said Rob DeConto, a climate scientist at UMass Amherst who helped develop the new Antarctica research and who co-wrote the new Boston report. “We have a lot to fear from Antarctica.”

If high levels of greenhouse gases continue to be released into the atmosphere, the seas around Boston could rise as much as 10.5 feet by 2100 and 37 feet by 2200, according to the report.

Even under optimistic forecasts that factor in significant cuts to carbon emissions, sea levels are projected to rise as much as 6 feet by 2100 and nearly 12 feet by 2200.

Such a dramatic rise would be devastating to Boston. Faneuil Hall, for example, now floods at 5 feet and Copley Square at 7.5 feet above today’s high tides, city officials say.

“If seas rise that much, the New England coastline would look very different from space,” said DeConto, referring to the worst-case scenarios. “There would be huge impacts on our ecosystems, and we would be talking about a managed retreat from the coastline rather than engineering a way to harden our coastline.”

The most comprehensive previous projection of the impact of climate change on Boston was released two years ago in a report by the federal government called the National Climate Assessment.

That report found that the Northeast was already bearing the brunt of climate change, with prolonged heat waves, torrential rains, and increased flooding, which it attributed to the burning of fossil fuels and other human activity.

It noted that over the past century average temperatures in Northeastern states have risen by 2 degrees Fahrenheit. It also found that the region’s precipitation has risen by more than 10 percent, while the worst storms have brought significantly more precipitation.

But the federal report forecast that seas would rise, under the worst case, between 3 and 6 feet by 2100 and projected that the southern states in the Northeast, by midcentury, would experience about 60 additional days per year of temperatures above 90 degrees.

The new report, submitted to city officials this month, raises the stakes for policymakers to curb emissions, said Julie Wormser, vice president for policy and planning at Boston Harbor Now, a local advocacy group.

“In a word, this is awful,” she said of the new projections. “It’s so stark it’s hard to wrap one’s head around.”

She noted that the increased storm surge and high tides could bring significant damage and flooding to the city far sooner than the end of the century, just as Tropical Storm Sandy devastated parts of coastal New Jersey and New York in 2012.

“We will need to come together to prevent Boston’s people and places from flooding where we can, and learn to live with more water where we can’t,” she said.

On the bright side, Carl Spector, commissioner of the city’s Environment Department, said the worst scenarios remain unlikely and a historic agreement reached last year in Paris offered hope that nations around the world could work together to reduce emissions.

But he said the new data about Boston underscore why the city has to consider taking action in the coming years to build barriers and other defenses against the rising seas, revise its building codes, and find other ways to adapt to the changing climate.

“We know even relatively small amounts of sea level rise affect us,” he said. “All the models we’re seeing are concerning.”

The updated projections for Boston take into account new research that suggests the accelerating melt of the ice sheets covering Antarctica will have a disproportionate impact on cities along the East Coast.

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U.S. states, Rockefellers clash with U.S. House panel on Exxon climate probes

By Terry Wade
Reuters
June 24, 2016

With a number of U.S. states proceeding with investigations of Exxon Mobil Corp’s (XOM.N) record on climate change, the attorney general of Massachusetts and investment funds of the Rockefeller family on Friday told a Congressional committee it lacked powers to oversee those probes.

The pushback is the latest chapter in a high-stakes fight between the world’s largest publicly traded oil company and a coalition of state attorneys general who have said they would go after Exxon to try and force action to tackle climate change.

The House Committee on Science, Space and Technology last week reiterated demands that state attorneys general hand over any records of consultations the prosecutors had with outside environmental groups before their probes were opened.

Republicans on the committee have said about 20 state officials overreached when they jointly said in March they would participate in inquiries into whether Exxon executives misled the public by contradicting research from company scientists that spelled out the threats of climate change.

State officials have said the committee has no right to get involved.

“The Committee lacks authority to interfere with an investigation by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office into possible violations of Massachusetts law by ExxonMobil,” said a letter to the committee from the office of Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey that was seen by Reuters.

In another letter to the House panel seen by Reuters, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the Rockefeller Family Fund, two investment funds that have been critical of fossil fuels linked to climate change, said the committee’s request “imperiled the funds’ First Amendment rights” and said “Congress’s investigatory power is not unlimited.”

Last week, Exxon asked a federal court to throw out a subpoena that would force it to hand over decades of documents on climate change to Healey’s office.

Both sides in the standoff have sought to use the First Amendment of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom speech and freedom of assembly, among other protections, to press their cases.

The House committee has complained the inquiries risk stifling free speech and scientific inquiry, and that state officials were coordinating with special interest groups.

Exxon, which declined to comment on Friday, has repeatedly said that it has acknowledged the reality of climate change for years and communicated this to investors.

 

Connecticut Passes Legislation to Promote Electric Vehicles! Will Massachusetts Be Next?

Mark LeBel
Acadia Center
June 27, 2016

Over the past five years, plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) have gone from a cool concept to a real option for vehicle buyers, with almost 440,000 sold nationally through April 2016. Consumer rebate programs have been a big part of this success, beginning in Massachusetts in June 2014, in Connecticut in May 2015, and in Rhode Island in January 2016. Recently, New York included a provision in their 2016 budget to create a consumer rebate program as well.

However, advances in a number of policy areas are needed to allow electric vehicles to make significant inroads with mainstream consumers and take full advantage of the new advanced EV models that will go on sale in the next year. In October 2015, Acadia Center issued a joint report with Conservation Law Foundation and Sierra Club that laid out “Nine Vital Steps for Success” for governments, auto companies and dealers, and utilities.

Connecticut enacts “An Act Concerning Electric and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles”
In May 2016, the Connecticut General Assembly passed H.B. No. 5510, “An Act Concerning Electric and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles.” On June 7th, the bill was signed by Governor Malloy and became Public Act 16-135. This law contains a number of great provisions that will help promote electric vehicles:

• Reporting of electric vehicle sales from the Department of Motor Vehicles in order to track progress towards goals;
• Exemption of EV charging stations from burdensome public utility regulations;
• Electric vehicle time of day rates for residential and commercial customers to promote electric vehicle sales and encourage efficient charging;
• Integration of EV sales into utility distribution planning and analysis of EV batteries as energy storage in the Connecticut Integrated Resources Plan; and
• Requirements for public charging stations to allow fair access to all EV drivers.

Notwithstanding one negative provision—a new fee on certain EV charging stations—the Act contains a range of smart provisions that promote electric vehicles and creates a broader framework for widespread electric vehicle adoption.

Electric Vehicle Bill Set for Action in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has its own electric vehicle bill moving through the legislative process, “An Act Promoting Electric Vehicle Adoption,” now numberedS.2266. This bill, which has already been reported favorably by the Joint Committee on Transportation and is now at the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, would promote electric vehicles and other zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) by:

• Allowing EV and ZEV owners to use high-occupancy vehicle (“HOV”) lanes;
• Providing for municipal enforcement of dedicated “ZEV-only” parking spaces;
• Amending the building code to incorporate measures to install EV charging at a lower cost in the future;
• Requiring fair access to public EV charging stations; and
• Adding EV-specific requirements to the state fleet fuel economy standards and studying the opportunities for electrification of the state fleet and vehicles used by the Regional Transit Authorities.

The original bills containing these proposals (numbered H.3085/S.1824) were supported by 16 businesses and organizations, including the Massachusetts Association of Regional Transit Authorities, in joint testimonyto the Transportation Committee. Since then, a provision for a study of transportation revenue issues and options for ZEVs were added to the bill.

What Comes Next in Massachusetts?
The Massachusetts Legislature is in the middle of a big debate on our energy future. The House recently passed an “omnibus” bill to promote hydro, onshore and offshore wind, and the associated transmission and diversify the Commonwealth’s energy portfolio. The Senate and outside advocates are debating how to expand this House bill to truly promote a clean energy future. The Senate should either adopt an amendment to incorporate these electric vehicle provisions in their own bill or take up the electric vehicle bill separately as a complement to this work. This legislation could be passed within the next month, and advocates remain hopeful that Massachusetts will embrace this opportunity to make electric vehicles more accessible and practical for consumers.

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Rt. 66 gets test run of solar road

By Lisa Suhay, Correspondent
The Christian Science Monitor
June 24, 2016

America’s iconic Route 66 is about to become part of a new solar system.

The Idaho startup Solar Roadways, created by husband-and-wife team Scott and Julie Brusaw, is working with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to install a section of solar panels at a rest stop on Rt. 66 in Conway, Mo. The aim is to see if the roadway can generate enough electricity to power the rest facility and potentially fund future projects.

“Solar roadways can hopefully create new revenue streams,” said Tom Blair, assistant district engineer for MoDOT and head of the “Road to Tomorrow” long-range planning effort, local Missouri paper The News Tribune reports. “Technology already has changed how we think about different things in our lives,” he said, “and it is going to disrupt everything that every one of us transportation leaders have experienced to date in our life.”

As a company, Solar Roadways (SR) aims to generate renewable energy on any surface that can be walked or driven on, from roadways to sidewalks, driveways to bike and garden paths. A significant amount of solar energy is already hitting those surfaces, SR says, but doesn’t go to good use – yet. Harnessing that power could be a step towards a smarter power grid and better infrastructure, they say, claiming that widespread use could significantly lower or eliminate consumers’ electric bills and reduce greenhouse gasses by up to 75 percent.

The tempered glass hexagonal panels that make up their “roadways” weigh about 70 pounds and contain LED lights. The panels are textured for slip resistance and can warm up to keep roads free of ice and snow. In a parking area, or installed at a rest stop such as the one in Conway, the panels can also generate the lines for a basketball court or hopscotch.

The road test in Missouri has been at least five years in the making. In July of 2011, the Brusaws were awarded a two-year $750,000 contract by the US Department of Transportation, which allowed them to conduct more research and build the world’s first prototype solar parking lot adjacent to their headquarters in Sandpoint, Idaho.

The couple’s efforts gained global attention with a viral Indiegogo campaign, which got an extra boost from Star Trek actor George Takei on social media in 2014, with a promotional video by Michael Naphan that pulled in more than 20 million views on Youtube. The campaign netted $2.2 million in donations for further development on the project.

Creating the textured glass surface was one of the challenges addressed during that phase of development, according to the Solar Roadways’ website, as they tested various textures and panel shapes before deciding in hexagons.

Solar roads in Europe

The use of solar panels for road surfacing may be new to the United States, but Europe is farther down the solar road.

In 2015, the Netherlands made headlines with the installation of the world’s first solar road, a bike path that captured energy through glass-coated solar panels. After the first six months, the 230-foot test bike path generated 3,000 kWh, or enough electricity to power a small household for a year.

In France, the government recently announced plans to resurface 621 miles of roads with solar panels, using Wattway panels that were developed by road-building company Colas in partnership with the French National Solar Energy Institute.

However, the French panels are only designed for use in the generation of renewable energy. They function the same way a standard solar panel would work, but instead of taking up farmland or rooftops, they cover the road surface. Unlike Solar Roadways’ hexagons, the Wattway panels are installed in sheets, and lack LED lights or heating.

Aging infrastructure

While US solar enthusiasts may celebrate this first effort in Missouri, those who monitor the life cycle of traditional road constructions materials such as concrete and asphalt  at the concrete sustainability hub for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Mass., have a more jaded view.

“We can barely afford the upkeep on the asphalt and concrete we already have,” says James W. Mack, PE Director, Market Development for CEMEX, the world’s fourth largest supplier of concrete and redimix, in a telephone interview and research partner at the MIT hub.

“I don’t want to naysay the innovations,” Mr. Mack says in a phone interview from his office in Houston. “I love innovations. I’m an early adopter, but there are going to be some sustainability and durability issues. I wouldn’t do the road surface. I’d run them [the hexagonal panels] down the shoulders first. They’ll last longer.”

SR, however, argues that currently most states’ departments of transportation don’t generate enough income through the gas tax to be able to keep up with road repairs.

“We are not preventing any roads or bridges from being built or maintained because of this pilot project,” Mr. Blair of MoDOT told the News Tribune, adding that a successful test run could increase energy savings and contribute toward future needs.

“It is obvious that it is time to modernize the highway system and create the first roadway system with a return on investment (ROI),” SR says on its website. “In this way, two goals can be accomplished simultaneously: the creation of a modular, modern infrastructure while creating the renewable energy needed to effectively end the current dependence on fossil fuels.”

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Scientists Now Listening for Whales in New York Waters With Real-time Acoustic Buoy

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
June 27, 2016

Scientists working for WCS’s (Wildlife Conservation Society) New York Aquarium and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) now have an “ear” for the New York region’s biggest “voices and singers”— the whales of New York Bight.

On Thursday, June 23rd, the WCS New York Aquarium-WHOI team successfully deployed a hi-tech acoustic monitoring buoy in New York waters that will enable scientists to eavesdrop on some of the world’s largest animals.

The buoy itself is four feet in diameter and its mast stands six feet above the sea surface. It is connected with patented “stretch hoses” to a weighted frame that sits 125 feet below on the sea floor. The frame carries a unique acoustic instrument that records and processes sound from an underwater microphone called a hydrophone. Information from detected sounds is transmitted from the instrument to the buoy through the stretch hoses, and to shore through the Iridium satellite system. The buoy is located between two major shipping lanes entering New York Harbor, 22 miles south of Fire Island’s west end.

WHOI engineers developed the buoy, stretch hoses, and the acoustic instrument, and WHOI’s Dr. Mark Baumgartner, a marine ecologist and co-lead of the joint WCS New York Aquarium-WHOI project, developed the software used by the acoustic instrument and led the integration of the instrument into the buoy.

“This technology allows us to monitor the presence of several species of baleen whales in near real time, and to use that knowledge to better study and protect these endangered species in the extremely busy waters of the New York Bight,” said Baumgartner.

“The acoustic buoy data will help us to better understand when and where whales are present in New York’s waters, particularly in those places where we have little information on how whales are affected by ship traffic and ocean noise,” said Dr. Howard Rosenbaum, Director of WCS’s Ocean Giants Program and co-lead of the joint WCS New York Aquarium-WHOI project. “When used in conjunction with other surveys and technologies, this buoy will give us a more holistic picture on how whales use this marine habitat, and how to better protect whales in our own backyard.”

While similar buoys have been deployed by WHOI off the coasts of Massachusetts and Maine this year, the near real-time technology is being used for the first time in the waters of New York Bight—a region that ranges between Montauk, New York and Cape May, New Jersey—and will help researchers better understand the movements of, and threats to, the whales swimming in regional waters. The monitoring of the whales in the New York Bight is supported by The G. Unger Vetlesen Foundation.

Containing some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, New York Bight is also home to seven species of great whales, including the humpback whale—known for its acrobatics and long, haunting songs—and the largest animal ever to exist on earth, the blue whale. The highly endangered North Atlantic right whale—one of the world’s rarest whale species—migrates through New York waters, and fin, sei, minke, and sperm whales have also been seen or heard in the waters of New York Bight.

“The presence of some of the world’s largest animals in New York waters is a reminder that we are surrounded by an ocean wilderness and something of a delightful surprise for many New Yorkers,” said Jon Forrest Dohlin, Vice President and Director of WCS’s New York Aquarium. “In addition to learning more about whales, the acoustic buoy will help us raise awareness about the diversity of marine wildlife of New York Bight, a critical step towards conserving our region’s natural wealth.”

All whale species rely on their acoustic environment to socialize and navigate, and they are vulnerable to human-related impacts such as those associated underwater noise, ship strikes, and fishing gear entanglements. Data from the buoy and other techniques as part of the project will help the team formulate new strategies for safeguarding the area’s whale populations and coordinate with state and federal agencies to protect whales and their most important habitats.

Both WHOI and WCS have a long tradition of research on whale sounds. The late William Edward Schevill of WHOI was a pioneer in the field of whale bio-acoustics, making one of the first recordings of whales (specifically beluga whales) in 1949 in Quebec’s Saguenay River. The discovery in the late 1960s that humpback whales sing songs was the result of research by Dr. Roger Payne, a former WCS scientist who turned the sounds of whales into a popular sensation through the 1970 recording “Songs of the Humpback Whale,” still the best-selling recording of natural sounds to this day.

The digital acoustic monitoring buoy now floating in New York Bight will listen for whale vocalizations and other noise, and will relay information about the sounds it collects to a shore-side computer at WHOI. Analyst Julianne Gurnee of the Passive Acoustic Research Group at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole, a long-time partner with WHOI in the development of the real-time acoustic technology, will review this information for whale calls. The analyzed data will be made available to the public through web sites at WHOI and through the WCS New York Aquarium, in its Ocean Wonders: Sharks! exhibit and as part of its Blue York Campaign.

With support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), WHOI also plans to deploy an autonomous device called a wave glider, a vehicle equipped with the same real-time acoustic technology as the buoy that will utilize energy from waves and the sun to patrol the waters of New York Bight. Whale detections from the wave glider will also be available on the WHOI and WCS web sites. The buoy and wave glider will work in tandem with other surveys that will help identify particular areas that are most important for NY whales, and, in turn, the information will be used to help mitigate impacts from threats that these whales may face. Data from these acoustic platforms will help direct forthcoming surveys, led by Dr. Rosenbaum and Dr. Ricardo Antunes from WCS’ Ocean Giants team. These studies will contribute to overall efforts to monitor and protect whales and their habitats in and around New York waters.

WCS’s New York Aquarium is committed to restore and protect populations of threatened marine wildlife and habitats in local waters, and to inform and inspire New Yorkers about the natural heritage of New York Bight. The WCS New York Aquarium also conducts research on the region’s shark and ray populations, and is working to study and conserve the deep-water species of the Hudson Canyon, the largest submarine canyon off the East Coast.

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is a private, non-profit organization on Cape Cod, Mass., dedicated to marine research, engineering, and higher education. Established in 1930 on a recommendation from the National Academy of Sciences, its primary mission is to understand the ocean and its interaction with the Earth as a whole, and to communicate a basic understanding of the ocean’s role in the changing global environment. For more information, please visit www.whoi.edu.

– See more at: http://www.whoi.edu/news-release/scientists-now-listening-for-whales-in-new-york#sthash.sd2Fgz9H.dpuf

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Jobs

Research Scientist – SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry – Albany, NY

Category: Research Foundation
Department: EFB
Locations: Albany, NY
Posted: Jun 27, ’16
Type: Full-time
About College of Environmental Science and Forestry: Founded in 1911, the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) is the nation’s oldest and most respected school dedicated to the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies and building a sustainable future. The ESF main campus is in Syracuse, NY and has regional campuses throughout Central New York and the Adirondack Park. ESF consistently earns high rankings in US News and World Report, Forbes, Peterson’s Guide, The Washington Monthly, Princeton Review and other national college guidebooks.

Job Description:

Title:  Research Scientist

Department: Environmental and Forest Biology

Salary: $50,000 minimum

Duration: Through March 2018, with likely continuation through March 2023

Location: Albany, NY (New York State DEC Headquarters)

Brief Description of Duties:  This position will work closely with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Bureau of Wildlife (BOW) staff and will function as the BOW’s Data Scientist.  This position will assist the Game Management Section with annual monitoring efforts by maintaining current systems in antiquated database software (i.e., Visual FoxPro and Turbo Pascal) while simultaneously working to upgrade the programs in a modern data analysis language (i.e., R or Python) and database platforms (e.g., Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL, sqllite, or MS Access). The position will seek opportunities to streamline and automate the workflow and data flow involved in annually recurring surveys conducted by the Game Management and Wildlife Diversity Sections.

The Research Scientist also serves as a consultant to BOW staff throughout the state and research collaborators, providing direct support with statistical analyses, guidance on sampling designs, evaluation of project proposals to ensure statistical validity, assistance with preparation and review of technical reports and manuscripts, and response to data requests from staff and the public.

Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Oversee annually recurring deer harvest estimation. This is a major project and involves validation of all input data sources (e.g., harvest reports from hunters, biological data from field checked deer, etc.), statistical analyses (descriptive and inferential), development of summary tables, and appending estimates to several long-term databases and spreadsheets.
Oversee data validation and analysis of annual data collection from a variety of wildlife observation surveys (e.g., bow hunter sighting log, big game hunter survey, grouse and turkey hunter logs, drumming surveys, incidental sightings) to monitor relative abundance of deer, bear, moose, turkey, selected furbearers, and other game and non-game wildlife species statewide. Evaluate and refine as appropriate.
Provide technical guidance on data management systems, maintain and update computer programs used to analyze survey data, and help identify and correct sources of errors that occur in telephone, internet and scannable form reporting systems.
Provide statistical expertise and consultation for design and analysis of wildlife population research, user surveys, and monitoring programs and evaluate those surveys and programs after implementation.
Provide user-friendly reports and data queries from the above surveys as needed for public information or management purposes.
Assist BOW biologists in the preparation of peer-reviewed manuscripts and technical reports.
Train and supervise support staff to assist with data quality assurance and validation procedures.
Travel around New York State as needed to meet with and make presentations to regional staff, other professionals, and wildlife management stakeholders.
Requirements:

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree and two years of professional research experience, OR a Master’s Degree and one year of professional research experience, in biometrics, biostatistics, data sciences, wildlife population ecology or related field.
Expertise MS Access and with one or more statistical programming language such as R, Python, and/or SAS.
Strong interpersonal skills, including ability to establish and maintain satisfactory working relationships and collaborate with diverse personalities on project teams.
Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s Degree and two years of professional research experience, OR a PhD, in biometrics, biostatistics, data sciences, wildlife population ecology or related field.
Proficient with a version control system for software development (e.g., Git, Subversion, etc.)
Familiarity with Turbo Pascal and/or MS Visual FoxPro
Proficient at writing custom functions and/or packages in R and/or Python
Strong familiarity with relational databases and proficient using SQL
Experience developing dashboards such as RShiny Flex Dashboards, ArcGIS Dashboard for Operations, Rbokeh, Python bokeh, etc.
Proficiency with likelihood-based and Bayesian inference.
Experience working closely with state or federal wildlife agency staff.
Advanced user of ArcGIS for Desktop.
Additional Information: In accordance with the “Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act” institutions of higher education are required to prepare an annual report containing information on campus security policies and campus statistics. This report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on-campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by SUNY-ESF; and on property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a printed copy of this report by contacting SUNY-ESF University Police at 315-470-6667 or by accessing the following web site: http://www.esf.edu/univpolice/crimereports/

As an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer, the Research Foundation will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin and veteran or disability status.

Application Instructions:

Date to Be Filled: August 1, 2016 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Application Deadline: Although the college will accept applications until the position is filled, interested candidates should submit their materials by July 15, 2016 to ensure optimal consideration.

Application Procedure: Employment application must be submitted on-line.  Be sure to include contact information for a minimum of 3 references in your resume/CV.

APPLY HERE.

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Camp Counselor – Becket Day Camp –
Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA, Becket

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt (Seasonal) Reports to: Day Camp Director

General Function: The Day Camp Counselor is responsible for creating, leading and managing group activities daily. The Day Camp Counselor is also responsible for managing individual and group behavior, providing a safe and nurturing environment for all campers.

Required Qualifications & Experience: The Day Camp Counselor must be:  Aged 18 or older and able to work with children in the outdoors  Able to administer and participate in all typical camp activities, some of which may be physically demanding  Able to follow instructions, accept guidance and respond well to supervision  Patient with children, peers and leadership staff  Available Monday to Friday during regular program hours, including pre-program and post-program duties, and presentation evening.  Available for all staff training sessions – both before camp and evening in-services during camp.

Principal Activities:  Create and lead structured camp activities for campers aged between 3-5 years old, 6-12 years old or 13-14 years old.  Supervise and manage camper behavior effectively, including but not limited to, campers with special needs.  Provide opportunities for campers to learn, grow and be challenged in a physically and mentally safe environment.  Follow all healthcare policies

Additional Activities:  Follow established guidelines for enforcing all safety rules and regulations among campers, peers, parents and guests  Supervise all aspects of each camper’s day including bus transportation, arrival and departure, activities, lunch, swimming, hiking, waterfront and free time activities  Instruct campers on all swimming policies, supervising in a public place policies and emergency action plans  Be an effective lifeguard or lookout at all times (if qualified)  Plan activities in advance, getting all supplies and equipment ready in time, commencing activities punctually  Submit all required paperwork completely and on time  Actively participate in morning circle and closing circle with enthusiasm each day  Actively participate and socialize with campers’ parents and families  Actively participate in weekly meetings and staff trainings  Be on time and prepared for any duty as requested  Demonstrate and teach the YMCA’s four core values of Caring, Honesty, Responsibility and Respect  Function as an effective part of the staff team to maintain and improve the program  Ensure all equipment is safe and put away after use  Participate in routine cleaning of buildings, grounds and the general site  Be flexible with schedule changes and team needs  Participate in curriculum review and development  Be a role model to the Assistant Counselors and aid them in their progression to become good counselors  Perform other duties as assigned

Further Responsibilities of Staff who live On-Site:  Maintain cleanliness of staff housing and follow resident camp staff policies while present on site Effect on end Results:  Each camper will experience a consistent and high quality experience  All programs will be conducted in a fun, safe and age appropriate manner  Staff morale and retention will be consistently high

APPLY HERE.

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 Summer 2016 Internship, Eagle Eye Institute,
MountainStar Forest, Peru, MA

This is more than an internship; it is a transformational learning opportunity!

Title: Residential Land Management Intern

Positions Available: 2

Background: Eagle Eye Institute is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization based in
Peru, MA, committed to engaging underserved urban youth with the environment
through hands-on exploratory learning, stewardship, and career bridging
programs. This internship program takes place at MountainStar Forest, a 200+
acre forest training site in Peru, MA, just 30 miles west of Northampton, MA. The
mission of the site is to protect the spirit of this forest and to conserve and
enhance its beauty and health by engaging people of all ages and cultural
backgrounds in its stewardship, so that future generations of all life can flourish.

Description: As an intern, you will live on the land for six weeks and connect
with nature, others, and yourself in an immersive outdoor setting. Housing will be
provided in private Eureka Equinox 6 standup tents, each on its own tent
platform. You will live off the grid without electronic devices, participate in food
preparation (all food is vegan and will be provided), learn about energy and water
conservation while living outdoors, help grow organic vegetables, and deepen
your overall relationship with nature. You will gain hands-on experience in land
management, including but not limited to, tree, shrub, and flower planting,
mowing and weed whacking, trail building and repair, forest management and
firewood production, brush cleanup, vegetable gardening, and traditional and
alternative building construction. You will also have the opportunity to assist with
Eagle Eye Institute overnight programs for youth held at the land over the
summer. This will include camp setup, food prep, and overall logistics. In
addition, you may keep a daily journal of your experiences, share your personal
story, and participate in daily morning meditation and exercise.

Melinda Stockmann, former MountainStar Forest intern, says:
“So, I think what I’ll tell other people is that this is a really good chance to …well,
not to be too clichéd… but to connect with yourself and with others and with
nature… and to just really get back to the basics…Coming out here for six weeks
you get to really just be. And work. And appreciate work. And appreciate play
and appreciate the food you eat. And just think about what you want to be and
what you want to do and what you are doing and what you are being. And that’s
really an opportunity that a lot of folks don’t get…It’s challenging… especially if
you’re used to being in a routine and having constant stimulation in different
ways…You have to be committed to the opportunity for what it is…I think it’s
definitely worth it and it pays off on a lot of different levels…Outdoor living is fun!”

We are looking for the right individuals with the following qualities:
• Hard-working
• Positive attitude
• Willingness to learn with an open mind
• Sense of humor
• Sense of cooperation
• Experience and commitment to working with diverse people, especially
urban youth of color
• Trustworthiness
• Ability to work independently and with a team
• Good communicator
• A leader who can take initiative

Qualifications:
• Current college/university student
• Good physical condition
• Knowledge of and interest in the environment
• Camping and outdoor living experience
• Use of basic hand tools: shovel, rake, mower, weedwacker, etc.
• Some carpentry skills

Additional Qualifications:
• Must have own transportation to and from the site.
• We prefer that interns have an additional living situation within
commuting distance, for weekends and days off.
• Flexibility with days and hours.

Timeline: Six weeks, approx. July 6 – August 17, 2016 (exact dates TBD).
Schedule: 40 hours per week, flexible based on weather and work to be
accomplished any given day or week.
Compensation: Room (camping) and board.

How to Apply:
Submit a resume, two character references, and a letter stating why you are
interested, why you are the best person for this internship, what skills you have to
contribute, and what you would like to learn from this experience. How do you
see this internship helping you in your own personal development?
SEEKING DIVERSE APPLICANTS
Contact: Anthony Sanchez, Board President, Eagle Eye Institute
MountainStar Forest Manager
(413) 655-0103
asanchez@eagleeyei.org

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Seasonal Outdoor Educator –
Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center, Grafton, NY

This could be a perfect summer job for an enthusiastic teacher or youth leader.
Job Description: We are seeking enthusiastic candidates who would like to make a difference in the lives of children this summer.  The Outdoor Educator will be responsible for assisting in all aspects of  environmental education programs held at the Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center including but not limited to:  preparing lesson plans, delivering environmental education lessons related to environmental science and natural resources and supervising camp staff and campers,  Outdoor educator will deliver educational programs to the public, at summer camp and in scheduled groups on –site. Will also assist in day-to-day operation of nature center. Option of two or four month position.

Experience needed: Experience working with children in the outdoors required. Some experience in outdoor recreation preferred.   Education required: Bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences or Education.

Job Requirements:    Must be able to perform physical work in the outdoors, be able to work some weekends and evenings and possess a valid driver’s license.

To apply: Please send resume and Rensselaer County application (available at www.rensco.com)  to: Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center, 475 Dyken Pond Road, Cropseyille, New York 12052 or contact Lisa Hoyt at 518 658-2055 ordykenpond@gmail.com. Applications accepted until position is filled.

Visit our website for more information about our summer camp and programs at:http://www.dykenpond.org

Dyken Pond
Environmental Education Center
475 Dyken Pond Road
Cropseyville, New York 12052
518 658-2055

Assistant Director, Summer Camp –
Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center, Grafton, NY

Job Description: Assistant Director has on-site responsibility for daily camp operations including basic administrative tasks, teaching environmental education programs to youth ages 6 – 13, and supervising other staff. In addition, the Assistant Director will assist in other environmental education programs before camp starts. This position is assigned a wide variety of tasks and duties that must be performed to insure the efficient operation of the camp program.  Experience needed: College degree required in natural history subject area or education. Must be 21 years old and hold a valid NYS drivers license. Experience working with elementary aged  children in the outdoors required.

For more information on seasonal positions, please contact Lisa Hoyt at 518 658-2055 or dykenpond@gmail.com. To apply, please download a Renssealer County application from www.rensco.com (click on Employment) and return completed application and resume to: Lisa Hoyt, Dyken Pond Center, 475 Dyken Pond Road, Cropseyville, NY 12052

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Greenagers Summer Jobs

Apply now.

Greenagers employs 50 youth each year for work on local trails and farms, through our trail crews (3 in Berkshire County and 2 in Columbia County) and our Farm Apprenticeships. Click here to find out more information and apply online.

 

Greenagers’ Summer Programs

Starting soon!

Greenagers has some great summertime opportunities for middle and high school students and we still have a few spots open in two of our programs.

For middle-schoolers living in and/or attending SBRSD: Greenagers is hosting a summer environmental program exploring our conservation areas and local farms. Activities will include hikes, canoeing, farm visits, and service projects with our community partners. These partners include The Nature Conservancy, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Sheffield Land Trust, Indian Line Farm, Trustees of Reservations, and many more. Our main goal with this program is to provide engaging, thought provoking activities that promote a deeper connection with our local resources. For more information, please contact Greenagers: 413-644-9090 /office@greenagers.org.

For Berkshire County high schoolers: we currently have two spots available on our community trail crews.  These are paid summertime positions. Please contact Elia for more information.

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 Camp Counselors – Pleasant Valley

Location: Lenox, MA
Sanctuary: Pleasant Valley

Pleasant Valley Nature Camp is celebrating its’ 67 th year. We are seeking caring, committed, and enthusiastic staff to lead campers for their best summer ever! Our counselors:

  • Plan, develop and implement a variety of outdoor activities utilizing Pleasant Valley’s 1300+ acres of forests, fields, streams and ponds;
  • Are responsible for supervising the health and safety of campers;
  • Maintain communication with parents and other staff;
  • Must be able to work and learn together, have outstanding communication skills, and be willing and able to share their interests and talents with children aged 5-14;
  • Provide leadership and mentor Leaders in Training (LITs).

Qualifications

  • Must be at least 18 years old;
  • College experience preferred;
  • Should have knowledge and interest in the nature of the Berkshire region;
  • Applicants with a background in Environmental fields, education, or the arts are strongly encouraged to apply;
  • Experience working with children;
  • Willingness to obtain certification in CPR/First Aid are required-training is provided;
  • Some positions also require lifeguard/water safety certifications;
  • Successful candidates will pass a background records check (CORI and SORI);
  • And…of course, flexibility and a sense of humor is a must!

Compensation and Benefits – Rate of Pay: $10.00- $12.00 per hour – depending on experience and position.

Additional Comments

Camp Session: June 9 – August 19   Hours:  Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 3:30 pm or 8:30 am – 4:00 pm.

Camp Counselors are required to work at least one camp overnight during the summer.

How to Apply

Please send (email preferred) your cover letter and resume to:

Gayle Tardif-Raser – Education Coordinator
gtraser@massaudubon.org

Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
472 West Mountain Road
Lenox, MA. 01240

Job# 2499

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Weekend Visitor Services Staff

Location: Lenox, MA
Sanctuary: Pleasant Valley

Responsible for staffing the admissions office, Sundays, 10am – 4pm and some Monday holidays, greeting visitors, answering telephones, selling books, gifts, and bird feeders, processing registrations for programs, events and camp and generally representing Pleasant Valley and Mass Audubon to the public.

If you are looking for a part time position, have a love of nature, and enjoy sharing that enthusiasm with our visitors, this is a great opportunity for you. This is a year round position, however seasonal applicants will also be considered.

Qualifications

  • Friendliness, tact, dependability, enthusiasm and a desire to work with people.
  • Ability to deal with the varied pace of a public attraction necessary (there can be over 400 visitors on a busy day).
  • Experience with handling money, using a cash register and credit card machine.
  • Ability to take responsibility for office without additional staff.
  • Customer service experience preferred.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to learn basic computer programs.
  • An interest in natural history is helpful, natural history background a plus.
  • Must pass a background records check (CORI and SORI).

Compensation and Benefits – Rate of pay $10-$11.00/hr

How to Apply

Please email your resume and cover letter to:

Marianne Hall, Office Manager
mhall@massaudubon.org
Job# 2763

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