The BEAT News March 27, 2013

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Please Take Action Now to Stop Incinerators

It’s all up to the Governor now.

The Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is about to let trash companies build new dirty trash incinerators in Massachusetts for the first time in more than 20 years, and only the Governor can stop it.

Please tell Governor Patrick to say no to new trash incinerators before it’s too late.

The final decision could happen in the next 60 days, but I expect it to happen in as soon as two weeks. Scarily, waste companies are already poised with plans ready to build new trash incinerators.

Along with our partners, we already sent 11,000 petitions to the Department of Environmental Protection,1 but the buck stops with Governor Patrick. Only the Governor can stand up to the trash lobby to uphold our 20-year moratorium on new trash incinerators.

Tell Governor Patrick now: Don’t allow new trash incinerators in my state.

As you may know, in December, MassDEP proposed lifting Massachusetts’ 20-year-old moratorium on expanding trash incineration. We have this moratorium for good reason: burning trash releases tons of toxic pollution into our air and is the opposite of reduce, reuse, recycle.2  We need the Governor to turn this around. Send a quick email now.

Thanks for all you do,

Sylvia Broude
Executive Director
Toxics Action Center

 

1 http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/02/protest_against_incinerators_h.html
2 http://www.no-burn.org/downloads/Incinerators%20Trash%20Community%20Health.pdf

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Mass League of Environmental Voters Welcomes New Board Members

 

BOSTON – The Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters (MLEV) recently welcomed four new directors to its governing board and voted an existing board member as chairman.

Mark Jester

 

Board member Chuck Anastas, of Westborough, was elected Chairman of the Board.  Chuck replaces Tom McShane, a principal at Dewey Square Group, who will remain a board member.  Chuck is co-founder and Managing Partner of Durand & Anastas Environmental Strategies, Inc., and oversees the company’s permitting and regulatory business. Chuck served from 1999 – 2003 as Chief of Staff at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, where he was responsible for oversight of the Secretary’s initiatives and managing senior staff activities, including operating and capital budgets, municipal harbor planning, and the land protection program.

 

“We are looking forward to promoting environmental awareness and support during the new legislative session,” Anastas said.  “I’m happy to welcome our new board members to what promises to be an exciting and successful effort.”

 

Mark Jester of Pittsfield

New board members are Erik Balsbaugh, a Senior Associate with Dewey Square Group’s Boston office, Jennifer L. Ryan, a board member of the Massachusetts Non-Profit Network (MNN) and the Arlington Land Trust, and former Legislative Director for Mass Audubon, Mark Jester, President of the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, and Doug Pizzi, principal of Pizzi Communications Company and former Press Secretary at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs.

 

Erik Balsbaugh, of Cambridge, is a veteran grass roots organizer who developed a passion for environmental protection while still in high school.  Before joining Dewey Square, Erik served as MLEV’s Executive and Political Director, where he built winning electoral strategies for the environmental community, amassing an 82 percent winning percentage in elections and led successful efforts for state funding of environmental programs.

 

In addition to being a board member at MNN and the Arlington Land Trust, Jennifer Ryan, of Arlington, was the Legislative Director for Mass Audubon, the largest non-profit conservation and environmental education organization in the state.  She was responsible for relationships with the Massachusetts Legislature, executive branch, and Attorney General’s office as well as conservation and other partner organizations.

 

As President of the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, Pittsfield resident Mark Jester has been instrumental in finding common ground among the hunting and fishing communities and other environmental advocacy groups.  For example, he recently worked with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) to generate support for NWF’s to protect wildlife and reduce air pollution in Massachusetts.

 

Doug Pizzi, of Marlborough, operates a media, public and community relations consultancy, and most recently managed media relations for NWF’s campaign in Massachusetts and Maine in support of the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s mercury pollution reduction regulations.  He also managed media relations for the Community Preservation Coalition in its successful effort to recapitalize the statewide matching fund for cities and towns that have adopted the Community Preservation Act.

 

About MLEV

 

MLEV is a statewide, non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to making environmental protection a top priority for Massachusetts elected officials, candidates and voters in order to better protect our environment and health.   To that end, MLEV publishes the Environmental Scorecard so voters may identify legislators who vote to protect our quality of life.  The organization also educates voters on environmental issues, so they can make their voices heard with legislators because the political process is essential to protecting our environment and health.  Find us on the web at http://www.mlev.org, and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Massachusetts-League-of-Environmental-Voters-MLEV/47972556597?fref=ts

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Hoosic River Revival Community Conversation #2

On June 15 from 9 am until 1 pm the River Revival is hosting public Community Conversation #2 at St. Elizabeth of Hungary church. We want your feedback on our new Conceptual Drawings (ideas) for revitalizing the Hoosic and the adjacent area.  As we did at Conversation #1 in 2010, we will have food, drink, babysitters, and our consultants will present information on the river and describe/show/explain each of the RIVER REVITALIZATION drawings. In between we will have small group discussions led by professional engineers and city planners. Watch for the announcement that the conceptual drawings are on the Hoosic River Revival website!

The Hoosic River Revival is now a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization with a Board of Directors and an Advisory Counsel.

 

Lastly, please send me an email, or call with questions/concerns/recommendations you have.  You are our ‘eyes and ears’ to the public.  And please join us on Saturday, June 15, and invite all your friends and neighbors to this city-wide, public meeting! We want to hear from you and from them.

Hope to see you in June, or before!

Judith Grinnell, President

Hoosic River Revival

P. O. Box 434

North Adams, MA  01247

 

For more information, please go to our website:  www.HoosicRiverRevival.org or call 1.413.212.2996

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Help Move the Pioneed Valley Toward Cleaner Energy

Cleaner air is on the horizon for the Pioneer Valley!

After fifty years of polluting the air around Holyoke, Mt. Tom’s owners announced that they’re taking the plant offline for one year starting in 2016. This is a good sign that Mt. Tom’s days are numbered and the public demand for it to retire can make a difference.

You can help make Massachusetts coal free by joining a lively discussion on the impacts and future retirement of the Mt. Tom coal plant on April 3.

Help move Massachusetts forward on the road to a clean energy economy — RSVP today!

Event Details:

WHAT: Public meeting on the future of the Mt. Tom coal plant
WHO: State Representative Aaron Vega, the Sierra Club, Action for a Healthy Holyoke
WHEN: Wednesday, April 3, 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Holyoke Heritage State Park Visitors Center, 221 Appleton St. (map)

RSVP: http://action.sierraclub.org/HolyokeCommunityMeeting

A panel discussion will be convened with State Representative Aaron Vega and joined by activists, economists, labor representatives, and health professionals. You will have the opportunity to ask questions about the future of the plant and what the possibilities are for Holyoke and the Pioneer Valley after it retires.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Thanks for all you do to protect the environment,

Drew Grande
Massachusetts Beyond Coal
Sierra Club

P.S. After you take action, be sure to forward this alert to your friends and colleagues!

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Two Landfills with Years of Illegal Violations Risking Public Health and the Environment Are Closing

Advanced Disposal has been operating two New England landfills: in South Hadley, Massachusetts and in Moretown, Vermont. Their stories are eerily similar. Local residents have suffered noxious odors, noise and dust problems for years.

In South Hadley, Advanced Disposal was proposing to expand the landfill into the town’s conservation area and into a residential neighborhood, despite the retaining wall recently springing a 20-foot crack.

Moretown residents were equally shocked at plans to expand the Moretown landfill given its 13-year history of health and safety violations.

Over the last year Toxics Action Center helped local residents in both towns form community groups, garner widespread media attention1, learn about recycling and other alternatives to landfilling our trash, and gather public comments. Two days ago, Advanced Disposal gave up the fight in South Hadley, announcing they would close in a year rather than expand.2 Then today the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources denied Advanced Disposal’s permit renewal, because the company has continued to break the law.

This is a huge victory for local residents suffering from noxious landfill pollution, and it means we need to redouble our efforts for reduce, reuse, recycle to put the Massachusetts and Vermont on the path towards a zero waste future.

Burying and burning our trash doesn’t solve our waste problem. We need to send less trash to landfills and incinerators by adopting zero waste policies that maximize reduce, reuse, recycle, and throw away as little as possible.3

Congratulations to community groups Moretown CLEAR and HOPE in South Hadley. And thank you so much for your support to make victories like these possible!

Cheers,

Sylvia Broude
Executive Director
Toxics Action Center

 

1  http://www.valleyreporter.com/index.php/en/news/news/8663-anr-receives-over-200-comments-about-moretown-landfill

2 http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/03/advanced_disposal_to_close_sou.html

3 http://zwia.org/

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New England Companies Fined for Federal Pesticide Law Violations

Over the past several months, EPA has taken a series of enforcement actions against several New England firms for alleged violations of the federal law that governs pesticides in the U.S. (the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, or “FIFRA”).

The larger cases included a business that sells temperature sensing instruments for medical use, a maker of devices used to control bedbugs, a pool chemical distributor and a company that markets an assortment of solutions for decks, roofs, and shingles. These cases alleged a number of different FIFRA violations, including the failure to register pesticides; misbranded pesticides or devices (through false or misleading labeling); failure to report pesticide or device imports into the United States; selling pesticides for an unauthorized use; and failure to register pesticide/device-producing establishments.

In all of the case settlements announced by EPA, the parties targeted for enforcement do not admit to any liability for the violations that are alleged by EPA.  Descriptions of the enforcement actions include the following:

BioSensory, Inc. of Putnam, Conn.
In March 2013, EPA settled claims against BioSensory for alleged FIFRA violations for failing to report annual production and sales data, failing to submit notices of FIFRA-regulated imports, distributing or selling misbranded pesticides or devices, and distributing/selling pesticides for unauthorized uses. Under the settlement, BioSensory agreed to pay a civil penalty of $50,000 and to certify that they are now complying with FIFRA.  This action followed a prior “Stop Sale Order” issued to address the immediate concerns.  BioSensory is in the business of importing, distributing, and selling pesticides and pesticide devices that mitigate and manage insects, including bedbugs.

Wash Safe Industries of Brewster, Mass.
In Feb. 2013, EPA settled claims against Wash Safe for alleged FIFRA violations involving the sale and distribution of pesticide cleaning products without having registered those products, and the production of pesticide products in an establishment that had not been registered under FIFRA.  This action followed an earlier Stop Sale Order issued to ensure compliance with FIFRA by immediately halting the sale of unregistered pesticide products.  Wash Safe has agreed to pay $10,000 under the settlement, based on its ability to pay.

Exergen Corp. of Watertown, Mass.
In Jan. 2013, EPA settled claims against Exergen for alleged FIFRA violations involving the distribution or sale of unregistered pesticide products. Under the settlement, Exergen agreed to pay a civil penalty of $185,000 and operate in full compliance with FIFRA and its underlying regulations. The settlement also resolved a prior Stop Sale Order concerning the same issues.  The products in question included three models of a medical device, specifically, a temporal scanning thermometer, that were treated with silver ion antimicrobials and marketed with certain public health claims that subjected them to the stringent pesticide registration provisions of FIFRA Section 3.  Normally, such “treated articles” are exempt from FIFRA regulation if certain conditions are met including, among other things, the avoidance of public health claims.

Accu-Care Supply, Inc. of East Providence, R.I.
In Dec. 2012, EPA settled claims against Accu-Care Supply, a pool chemical supply company, for alleged violations involving the production of nine separate sodium hypochlorite-based pesticide products in its East Providence establishment without first registering that facility as a pesticide-producing establishment under FIFRA. Under the settlement, Accu-Care agreed to pay a civil penalty of $30,000, properly register the establishment under FIFRA, and to maintain compliance with all other FIFRA requirements.

EPA is also announcing a series of smaller cases taken against companies based in New England that produce pesticides or pesticide devices. These companies agreed to pay a total of more than $21,000, or cancelled their registration as a pesticide-producing establishment, to settle claims by EPA that they failed to properly submit annual production reports to the agency on or before March 1, as required by FIFRA. These reports are the only means that EPA has for obtaining information on the types and amounts of pesticides being produced, sold or distributed both domestically and for export. EPA uses the information to trace ineffective, contaminated or recalled pesticide products, among other purposes. In each of these cases, the company had received a previous Notice of Warning for the same or similar reporting deficiencies.

The companies and what they paid to settle include:
• Triosyn Corp. of Williston, Vt. paid $11,205;
• Boyd Technologies, Inc. of South Lee, Mass. (501 Pleasant Street location) paid $4,455;
• Bio Defense Corporation of Boston, Mass. paid $3,315; and
• Gotham Technologies, Inc. of Norwalk, Conn. paid $2,970.

For failing to meet annual reporting requirements, but in lieu of a penalty, the following companies agreed to cancel their pesticide-producing establishment registrations and to neither produce pesticides nor re-register their establishments for at least five years:
• North Safety Products, LLC of Cranston, R.I.;
• Phoenix Divina Products, LLC of Terryville, Conn.;
• Boyd Technologies, Inc. of South Lee, Mass. (480 Pleasant Street location);
• Duziem Laboratories, Inc. of Lowell, Mass.;
• Rachel Systems, Inc. of New Haven, Conn.; and
• Scot W. Pollack d/b/a CLEANSOURCE of Londonderry, N.H.

FIFRA is the federal law that regulates all pesticide distribution, sale and use in the United States.  All pesticides used in the U.S. undergo a rigorous, science-based evaluation by EPA to ensure their use does not pose unacceptable risks to human health or to the environment.  This review is the basis of a pesticide product’s registration by EPA.  Registration assures that pesticides will be properly labeled and that, if used in accordance with specifications, they will not cause unreasonable harm to the environment.  Use of each registered pesticide must be consistent with use directions contained on the label or labeling.  Pesticides include insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, antimicrobials and other substances and pest control devices used to control insects, weeds or microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses.

More information:

– Enforcing pesticide requirements in New England (http://www.epa.gov/region1/enforcement/pesticides/index.html)

– General information on EPA regulation of pesticides (http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/regulating/index.htm)

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Learn More about the Latest EPA News & Events in New England (http://www.epa.gov/region1/newsevents/index.html)

Follow EPA New England on Twitter (http://twitter.com/epanewengland)

More info on EPA’s Environmental Results in New England (http://www.epa.gov/region1/results/index.html)

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Whole Foods, Others To Shun Genetically Modified Seafood

from Huffington Post Green, March 20, 2013
By Lisa Baertlein
March 20 (Reuters) – Whole Foods Market Inc, Trader Joe’s and other food retailers representing more than 2,000 U.S. stores have vowed not to sell genetically engineered seafood if it is approved in the United States, a new advocacy group said on Wednesday. Continue reading…

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MA Companies Required to Track Usage of Formaldehyde and Hexavalent Chromium

 

For the first time, facilities that are subject to TURA requirements must report use of the designated Higher Hazard Substances formaldehyde and hexavalent chromium for 2013, with reports due on July 1, 2014. Also for reporting year 2013, note that hexavalent chromium compounds must now be reported separately from other chromium compounds.

 

Under the Higher Hazard Substance designation, companies that use 1,000 lbs. or more per year of either substance and have more than 10 full time employees are required to report use and submit toxics use reduction plans to the state.

 

MassDEP, OTA and TURI are contacting companies that may be affected by this requirement. The TURA program offers the following services to help companies switch to safer substances:

For more information, contact TURI at 978-934-3275 or download the formaldehyde fact sheet and hexavalent chromium policy analysis.

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EPA Survey Finds More Than Half of the Nation’s River and Stream Miles in Poor Condition

Today, EPA released the results of the first comprehensive survey looking at the health of thousands of stream and river miles across the country, finding that more than half – 55 percent – are in poor condition for aquatic life. The 2008-2009 National Rivers and Stream Assessment reflects the most recent data available, and is part of EPA’s expanded effort to monitor waterways in the U.S. and gather scientific data on the condition of the Nation’s water resources. To access the report, visit: http://www.epa.gov/aquaticsurveys

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New Economic Institute Dispatch from the Campus Movement

In January, we announced the selection of fourteen student organizing teams for the Campus Network program’s inaugural year. Since then, we have had the honor of partnering with these young leaders to support an amazing lineup of summits, workshops, lectures, lunches, and strategy sessions on the New Economy.

The next few weeks are going to be incredible.

Between now and the first week of May our student organizers are hosting more than a dozen events on campuses all over the continent. The specific focus and content of each of these events is shaped by the local needs, interests, and resources of those involved. In an effort to expand the dialogue about how we build economies that prioritize the wellbeing of people and the planet, each of them is open to the public.

We hope you’ll take a look at the full schedule and consider registering for the event closest to you. Of course, it would be impossible to attend all of these great events which is why we’ll be livestreaming some of the best sessions from each of them and archiving the videos on our YouTube page. Take a look around!

Finally, a few of our organizers were so on top of things that they were able to host events within the first few weeks of the semester. Some early highlights include:

  • The New Economy track at Swarthmore’s Power Up: Divest Fossil Fuels national convergence was enormously popular and led to important conversations about building economic alternatives in the context of the fight for climate justice.
  • Student’s at Middlebury College built on this momentum and hosted an entire day dedicated to thinking “Beyond Divestment,” bringing in local and national leaders to discuss money and finance for a living economy.
  • The New Economy @ MIT group has hosted a dynamic “Building The New Economy” series, laying groundwork for an officially recognized student New Economy group on campus.

It’s been extraordinary to see the momentum build this winter. We can’t wait to see what the spring has in store, and we hope you’ll find a way to share the experience with us!

Thanks,

Rachel Plattus
Manager of Organizing, New Economics Institute

 

Our mailing address is:

New Economics Institute

1 Broadway, 14th Fl

Cambridge, MA 02142

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New Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom Summer Conference

Mark your Calendars! MAC is now in the process of developing the schedule for a new Summer Conference with focus on curriculum connections from the school garden to the classroom.  It will be held on Thursday, July 18 in Holden with multiple concurrent workshop sessions.

Read more as we develop the details.

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“We Like it Clean” Photo Contest

River Network and Waterkeeper Alliance are teaming up with KEEN to launch the “We Like it Clean” photo contest, which kicks-off TODAY World Water Day (March 22, 2013), and ends on Earth Day, April 22nd.

People from around the world are encouraged to submit photos of themselves– or their loved ones — on, in, or around their favorite waterway, in support of worldwide efforts to create swimmable, drinkable, and fishable waters. Submit photos to: photocontest@waterkeeper.org and please include the name of your waterway, general location, and other information you (and your members, etc.) may want to include.

Participants will be entered in a random drawing to win a pair of KEEN shoes! KEEN, a longtime supporter of Waterkeeper Alliance, has donated 10 pairs of KEEN shoes for the “We Like it Clean” random drawing that will take place on April 30th.

“We Like it Clean” photo contest posters will be available in many languages starting on World Water Day at  https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151518056119653&set=a.10151227976504653.490728.103851564652&type=1&theater

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Berkshire Museum Summer Camps

It’s time to think about summer adventures! Berkshire Museum is offering ten fantastic opportunities to inspire the imaginations of your young ones – sign them up today! From a week-long theater camp to experiments galore, from outdoor adventures to drop-in mini day camps, we’ve got everything your child needs for an exciting summer adventure. Call 413.443.7171 ext. 10 to register.

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Getting Outdoors: Nature Photography Workshop for Children During Spring Break

 

WHAT: Learn basic photography skills and explore forests, fields, and streams at the same time, with photographer and teacher Courtney Schumacher.

 

WHO: Kids ages 8 to 12 accompanied by an adult.

 

WHEN: Three-day workshop on April 15, 16, and 17 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (Rain date, April 18.)

 

WHERE: Three unique conservation areas in Amherst, Hadley, and Northampton.

 

HOW: Pre-registration is required. Please email office@kestreltrust.org or call 413-549-1097 for more information.


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Job Opening: PT Program Administrator, Division of Ecological Restoration, MA Dept. of Fish & Game, Boston

The application deadline is Monday, April 15, 2013.

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