The BEAT News May 1, 2012

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MACC Needs Your Help To Protect Endangered Species Today!

 

There is a movement to reduce endangered species protections under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA).

The legislation, An Act Relative to Land Takings (S.1854 filed by Senator Candaras) is in the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. Supporters hope to gut the regulatory authority of the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program by limiting their review of development projects to “significant habitat.”

Natural Heritage does not currently designate “significant habitat” so this change would leave the agency powerless to weigh in on development projects that threaten rare wildlife. Currently Natural Heritage regulates “priority habitat” – the flexible approach to endangered species protection.

Supporters of the bill launched videos and a website.

Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee Chairs, Representative Anne Gobi and Senator Marc Pacheco, are considering MESA revisions that MACC opposes. If they move the bill forward, it could come to the floor as a standalone bill or as an amendment to another piece of legislation before July 31 (the end of this legislative session).

MACC and our partners will continue to work to stop the bill and we need your help!

Please contact your state representative and senator today – by phone or email – and ask them to contact Chairman Pacheco and Chairwoman Gobi to urge them to table the bill.

To gain a closer understanding of the legislation and issues, please see joint testimony signed by MACC in July 2011. [Word .doc]

The Massachusetts Endangered Species Act is one of the most important environmental protection laws in the Commonwealth, and the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program is one of the most effective rare species programs in the nation. Conservation commissioners are guided by the data and regulatory decisions provided through MESA. To undo their authority to protect rare species from would be devastating for biodiversity conservation, rare species and for future generations.

If you have questions, call 617-489-3930. If you can, please also send a copy of your letter to Linda.Orel@maccweb.org or MACC, 10 Juniper Road, Belmont, MA 02489.

Thank you for your support.

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Massachusetts Issues First In the Nation Biomass Energy Rules

by Stop Spewing Carbon Campaign

 

Following a rigorous two year review process involving scientists, industry and citizen groups, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) issued regulations today limiting ratepayer funded subsidies known as renewable energy certificates (RECs) to only those biomass power plants which adhere to certain state-of-the-art scientific standards for climate and forest impacts.

 

“Massachusetts made history today,” said Mary Booth, director of the Partnership for Public Integrity (PFPI), an environmental policy organization that commented extensively on the regulations. “The Patrick administration sorted out fact from fiction when it comes to biomass energy. In the end, they sided with science, and with the people of Massachusetts.”
Meg Sheehan, chair of the Massachusetts-based Stop Spewing Carbon Campaign, stated, “Incineration of trees and garbage should not get ratepayer subsidies intended for “clean and green” energy.  These regulations are an important step to ensuring that when trees are burned for energy, it is done in the most efficient way that also preserves our forests.  We will continue our efforts to protect forests and the public health from incinerators that try to disguise themselves as “green” energy.”

 

In the past five years, more than 150 large-scale wood-burning power plants have been proposed around the country, driven by taxpayer and ratepayer-funded subsidies for renewable energy.  The overwhelming majority of these plants  depend entirely on burning wood from forests  to generate electricity.  Typical utility-scale biomass power plants burn 300,000 to 800,000 tons of wood a year.

 

Booth points out that the regulations respond to concerns that burning wood releases 50 percent more carbon into the atmosphere than burning coal, and three times more than burning natural gas, per unit energy generated.  “Nothing puts carbon dioxide pollution into the air faster than cutting and burning forests”, explained Booth, whose PhD is in ecology.  “Governor Patrick’s  administration deserves enormous credit for drafting the first science-based policy in the country and recognizing that high-emissions biomass power doesn’t belong in a renewable energy portfolio alongside no-emissions technologies like wind and solar power. ”

 

The surge of carbon dioxide pumped into the atmosphere when the trees are burned to generate power was at the core of a state study entitled the Manomet Report.  The new regulations will promote smaller and more efficient combined-heat-and-power biomass facilities that require less fuel and have lower net carbon dioxide emissions over time.

 

The new regulations, which take effect in June, require that biomass facilities must be 50 percent efficient to be eligible for one-half REC per megawatt-hour, which is slightly better than a state of the art coal-fired power plant.  The regulations grant a full REC per megawatt-hour for facilities that achieve 60 percent efficiency.  Facilities must also have twenty-year lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions that are no greater than 50 percent the emissions from a natural gas facility.  The regulations also include harvesting standards designed to protect forest soils.

 

In 2009, the Stop Spewing Carbon Campaign collected around 130,000 voter signatures to place  a question on the Massachusetts ballot that would limit carbon dioxide emissions from woody biomass power facilities.  In 2010, following issuance of the Manomet report by the state, the Campaign postponed its ballot question pending issuance of these biomass regulations. The Campaign continued its grassroots efforts throughout 2011 to ensure that the biomass regulations were strong enough.

The regulations are at: http://www.mass.gov/eea/energy-utilities-clean-tech/renewable-energy/biomass/renewable-portfolio-standard-biomass-policy.html

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Public Comment Period for Revisions to Biomass Regulation

Public comment period open from May 19 until June 18

Final Massachusetts Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) Class I regulations

 

BOSTON – Friday, April 27, 2012 – The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) today released the proposed final Massachusetts Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) Class I regulations, which implement changes to biomass energy eligibility.

 

This proposed final regulation follows more than two years of evaluation, public input, and careful consideration of how best to utilize woody biomass resources for energy in a manner consistent with the Commonwealth’s commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect forests.

 

A draft regulation was filed in May 2011 and was the subject of two public hearings, a written public comment period, and comments from the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy. Based on stakeholder and committee comments, DOER has incorporated changes to prepare this proposed final regulation.

 

With the submission of these revisions to the draft regulations, DOER will open a 30-day public comment period from May 19 to June 18, 2012. All written comments on this proposed final regulation should be submitted electronically in PDF format by 5 p.m. on June 18, 2012 to DOER at doer.biomass@state.ma.us. Any questions may be directed to doer.biomass@state.ma.us.

 

As part of this regulation package, DOER has amended its two proposed biomass specific Guidelines – the Overall Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Analysis Guideline and the Eligible Fuel and Certificate Guideline. These Guidelines are also open for public comment during this time frame.

 

Once the comment period is complete, DOER will prepare the final regulation for filing with the Massachusetts Secretary of State Office for promulgation. DOER expects to have a final regulation in place this summer.

 

“The proposed revisions are consistent with the Patrick-Murray Administration’s commitment to the Commonwealth’s clean energy goals, while protecting our economy and the health of our forests,” said DOER Commissioner Mark Sylvia. “Due to the impact these proposals will have, we want to make sure we hear from all stakeholders before finalizing this regulation.”

 

The RPS program requires all retail electricity suppliers in the Commonwealth to obtain a minimum percentage of their supply from eligible renewable energy generation sources. After passage of the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA), which requires the Commonwealth to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions across the economy 80 percent by 2050, DOER hired Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences to study the long term greenhouse gas implications of utilizing biomass for electrical energy generation.  DOER began this regulatory process with the goal of incorporating greenhouse gas emissions requirements consistent with the GWSA as part of eligibility for the RPS.  To that end, the revisions released today aid in that effort. A summary of the changes are listed below.

 

Defines eligible forest-derived woody biomass fuels, including classifications as either residues or thinned trees, while ensuring sustainable forest resources, and protecting habitats and ecological functions. The determination of volume of eligible woody biomass is based on soil productivity.

 

Requires all woody biomass units to achieve a 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over 20 years as compared to a combined cycle natural gas unit.

 

Establish an electronic certificate registry to track and verify carbon accounting differentiating between the carbon impacts of forest-derived residues and thinnings.

 

Mandating a minimum operating efficiency of 50 percent to receive one half of a renewable energy credit (REC) with the ability to receive a full REC at an efficiency of 60 percent.

 

Creates a special category of biomass units deemed to be advancing the technology that will be eligible for half-RECs at an efficiency of 40 percent.

 

Requires a Forest Impact Assessment every five years to review program implementation and any impacts on forests and markets as well as an Advisory Panel to review tracking and enforcement mechanisms.

 

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Follow Secretary Sullivan on Twitter……………………..twitter.com/massEEA

View videos on You Tube………………………………….www.youtube.com/MassEEA

View downloadable photographs on Flickr:…………….. www.flickr.com/photos/masseea/sets/

Visit the Energy Smarts blog:……………………………… www.mass.gov/blog/energy

Visit The Great Outdoors blog:….………………………..www.mass.gov/blog/environment

Visit our website:………………………………………………. www.mass.gov/eea

 

100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900, Boston, MA 02114-2119 — (617) 626-1000 office / (617) 626 1181 (fax)

 

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Citizen Scientists Needed To Monitor Turtle Crossings

 

Turtles have existed for millions of years, but roadways are threatening the survival of local populations.  Turtles in Massachusetts often cross roadways late spring to early fall and are vulnerable to car collisions.  Ambitious citizen scientists, turtle enthusiasts, and conservation organizations are encouraged to join state wildlife and transportation personnel in collecting data for the Turtle Roadway Mortality Monitoring Program.  Linking Landscapes for Massachusetts Wildlife, a recent partnership between the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW), Department of Transportation (DOT) Highway Division and UMass-Amherst, trained volunteers to collect data in 2010 and is expanding its volunteer program by offering two citizen scientist information and training sessions in Amherst and Westborough. These sessions are designed to train new volunteers, acknowledge current volunteer efforts, and share results from the first year of data collection. The information gathered through this volunteer effort will be used to coordinate local turtle conservation efforts.

 

The information and training session will be held on Wednesday, May 16th, 2012 at the United Methodist Church, 6 Holmes Road in Lenox starting at 6:30 pm.  The event will be cosponsored by Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) and Project Native.  The sessions are free, but pre-registration is required.  Interested volunteers can register with Dave Paulson at David.Paulson@state.ma.us or call him at (508) 389-6366.

 

Light refreshments will be provided.

 

For additional information please contact:

 

David Paulson, Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, MassWildlife

David.Paulson@state.ma.us              508-389-6366

 

Tim Dexter, Environmental Services Unit, MassDOT Highway Division

Timothy.Dexter@state.ma.us            617-973-8306

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Statement from Janet Domenitz, Executive Director, MASSPIRG
On Behalf of the Campaign for the Updated Bottle Bill

BOSTON—As Mark Twain once said, “Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” Contrary to some news reports about the Massachusetts House of Representatives budget deliberations yesterday, the Updated Bottle Bill WAS NOT voted down during the budget debate. While over 800 amendments to the budget were filed last week, and the Updated Bottle Bill was among those amendments, the vast majority of those amendments never saw the light of day. The amendment that included the Updated Bottle Bill was among those never considered by the members of the House of Representatives.

But, this serves as an important reminder that the bill, H890/S1650, is pending in the Telecom Utilities and Energy (TUE) committee. The committee has procrastinated past the March 21 legislative deadline. Action on this proposal, which would cut down on litter and increase recycling, has been delayed by the Legislature for over a decade, and the public is understandably impatient.

The Updated Bottle Bill enjoys the support of 77% of the public, according to a poll conducted by the MassINC Polling Group, and 208 cities and towns have endorsed it, as have 375 small businesses. The bill needs to be released from the TUE Committee and brought up for a vote now.

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America the Possible: A Manifesto, Part I

From decline to rebirth
by James Gustave Speth

Published in the March/April 2012 issue of Orion magazine

Part one of two. Part two was published in the May/June 2012 issue.

LIKE YOU AND OTHER AMERICANS, I love my country, its wonderful people, its boundless energy, its creativity in so many fields, its natural beauty, its many gifts to the world, and the freedom it has given us to express ourselves. So we should all be angry, profoundly angry, when we consider what has happened to our country and what that neglect could mean for our children and grandchildren.

How can we gauge what has happened to America in the past few decades and where we stand today? One way is to look at how America now compares with other countries in key areas. The group of twenty advanced democracies—the major countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, the Nordic countries, Canada, and others—can be thought of as our peer nations. Here’s what we see when we look at these countries. To our great shame, America now has

• the highest poverty rate, both generally and for children;
• the greatest inequality of incomes;
• the lowest social mobility;
• the lowest score on the UN’s index of “material well-being of children”;
• the worst score on the UN’s Gender Inequality Index;
• ….. lots more on Orion’s website

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House Passes Budget with CPA Success!

from Mass Audubon’s Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup

 

Earlier this week, the Massachusetts House of Representatives debated and passed their Fiscal Year 2013 $32.4B budget. Over 800 amendments were considered, with most being withdrawn or defeated.  The House added $4 million to the environmental accounts from their budget writers’ original proposal making it about $8M more than last year’s $173.2 M, but many accounts still remain below necessary funding levels.

Here’s what happened:
Our priority legislation, An Act to Sustain Community Preservation (HB765) was filed as an amendment by House Ways and Means Committee Vice-Chairman Stephen Kulik (D- Worthington) and House Minority Leader Bradley Jones (R- North Reading). The amendment was adopted, 153 to 0. The amendment’s language contains the full text of HB765, with one exception. The funding mechanism in the amendment that passed is an annual transfer of $25 million from the state’s end-of-year budget surplus into the CPA Statewide Trust Fund, rather than an increase in the registry of deeds recording fees.  Over half of the Senate cosponsored the original bill, and with strong advocacy in the Senate the odds are good.  Thank you to House Speaker Robert DeLeo (D. Winthrop), Vice-Chairman Kulik, House Minority Leader Jones, and the many supporters of CPA in the House for making this happen. Now it’s on to the Senate. For more on this legislation, visit our coalition website www.communitypreservation.org.

Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) – A coalition of business and environmental groups, including Mass Audubon, had been advocating for a raise in permit fees and for DEP to be able to retain these fees as a funding source, as proposed in the Governor’s budget.  This amendment, filed by Rep. Frank Smizik (D- Brooklilne), failed although DEP did see a $400,000 increase to their main account.  They are still below maintenance and need to make up the difference, and hopefully see the retained revenue account adopted in the Senate.   Thank you Reps. Ann Gobi (D- Spencer) and Smizik.

Department of Conservation (DCR) Parks – DCR Parks got a $1.2M bump, but with significant earmarks, and their retained revenue account was increased by $1M.  We’ll be advocating for additional retained revenue in the Senate. Thank you Rep. Bruce Ayers (D- Quincy).

Division of Ecological Restoration/Riverways – Riverways saw a small bump of $22,583 brining them closer to maintenance levels.  We’ll be advocating for additional funding in the Senate.  Thank you to Rep. Cleon Turner (D- Yarmouth).

Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program – The House adopted language making the administrative overhead cost waiver to the NHES Fund permanent, keeping funding with the program. They also have their operational funding.  Thank you Rep. William Straus (D- Mattapoisett).

The Senate will consider its budget later in May.  Stay tuned and thanks to all who contacted your state representatives!

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‘RecyclingWorks’ in Massachusetts

New Assistance Program to Help Businesses and Institutions to Increase Recycling

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) today announced the “RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts” program, a new initiative to provide Massachusetts businesses and institutions with the information and assistance they need to reduce waste and recycle more.

“By increasing recycling, we reduce the environmental impacts of waste here in the Commonwealth,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr., whose office includes MassDEP. “This program benefits both businesses and communities that are working to protect our precious natural resources.”

The RecyclingWorks program will be funded by MassDEP and administered by the Center for EcoTechnology (CET), a non-profit organization based in Northampton and Pittsfield. The program provides a comprehensive set of statewide services, as well as targeted business assistance services.

“The RecyclingWorks program is a great opportunity for businesses to increase their recycling levels and save themselves money,” said MassDEP Commissioner Kenneth Kimmell. “The services offered through this innovative program will put participating businesses on the path to sustainability.”

“CET is excited to deliver the RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts program,” said CET Executive Director John Majercak. “We have been helping businesses find practical and affordable solutions for reducing waste, recycling and composting for many years. This MassDEP-funded program will allow us to help many more businesses reach their environmental and economic goals.”

Statewide services include a hotline and e-mail address to help businesses answer their questions and either start new recycling programs or improve existing programs. RecyclingWorks also features a web site (www.recyclingworksma.com) that includes a searchable recycling service-provider database and guidance materials by material type and business sector.

The RecyclingWorks program will also coordinate the Massachusetts WasteWise program, a free, voluntary program that provides networking, tools and guidance to help businesses to advance recycling initiatives.

In addition to the statewide services, the program will provide site visits, technical assistance and workshops to work with specific businesses, business sectors, and chamber of commerce partnerships. Short-term areas of focus will include increasing diversion of food waste from large generators such as supermarkets, colleges and universities, and hotels.

MassDEP is responsible for ensuring clean air and water, safe management and recycling of solid and hazardous wastes, timely cleanup of hazardous waste sites and spills, and the preservation of wetlands and coastal resources.

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Community Preservation Legislation Passes the House

The MA House of Representatives unanimously passed important Community Preservation Act legislation last week. The next stop for the CPA legislation is the Senate, which will take up the proposal as part of their debate on the state budget in two weeks.

If this legislation passes in the Senate and is signed by the Governor, $25 million from the state’s budget surplus would be added each year to the revenue from the existing CPA deeds recording fees, beginning with the fall 2013 CPA Trust Fund payment.

To review other updates, including changes to the rules for CPA recreation projects that were included in the House version of this legislation see CPA Text.

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Find Local Fish Advisories with EPA’s Improved Online Tools

Are you a recreational fisher and want to learn about fish consumption advisories in your area? Do you work in a fish advisory program at the state, territorial, tribal or local government level? EPA has made available three redesigned, interactive online search and mapping tools that allow users to perform more advanced searches of fish advisory and fish tissue data in the National Listing of Fish Advisories database, most recently reported data from 2010. The search tools include a “where you live” basic search for advisories issued for water bodies in the state and local area and two advanced interactive maps and searches for  technical users to obtain more detailed information.

To access the tools, visit EPA’s updated fish consumption advisories website at: http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/fishshellfish/fishadvisories/. For questions about these new online EPA tools, contact Jeff Bigler at (202) 566-0389 or bigler.jeff@epa.gov.

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EPA Celebrates American Wetlands Month

May marks the 21st anniversary of American Wetlands Month, a time when EPA and its wetland partners across the country celebrate the vital importance of wetlands to our nation’s ecological, economic, and social health. EPA and a host of other public and private partners are planning a number of events as part of this year’s celebration:

•    May 10 – the Environmental Law Institute, EPA, and other federal partners will honor a diverse group of individuals for their extraordinary commitment to conserving wetlands at the National Wetlands Awards ceremony on Capitol Hill (http://www.nationalwetlandsawards.org)

•    May 15 – National webinar: “Restore-Adapt-Mitigate: Responding to Climate Change through Coastal Habitat Restoration” where representatives from Restore America’s Estuaries will give an overview of a newly-released study linking ecologically important coastal habitat restoration with adaptation and mitigation strategies as a way to reduce the impacts of ongoing global climate change. https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/592039530.

EPA regional activities planned for the month of May include educational displays, discussions, presentations, special feature articles, wetland walks and celebrations, and an array of other outreach and communication events. Information will be posted throughout the month at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/awm/.

EPA has also created an American Wetlands Month widget which can easily be shared and embedded on other websites linking to EPA’s American Wetlands Month website (http://tinyurl.com/3935qyh)

Contact Kathleen Kutschenreuter (202) 566-1383 for more information.

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Natural Landmark 2012 Photo Contest

 

Don’t forget your camera as you head outdoors. The National Natural Landmarks Program’s annual photo contest is open and accepting entries. For the 50th anniversary of the program, the National Park Service is looking for images that capture the beauty and diversity of these natural areas.

Winning photographs will be featured in the 2013 National Natural Landmarks calendar. Contest entries will be accepted through June 30, 2012. Winners will be announced in September.

Each photographer can submit up to three entries. There are no restrictions on the date of a photograph but consider that old slides and prints often lose their quality over time.

Each photograph must be from a different national natural landmark. Images of the 13 sites featured in the 2012 calendar will not be accepted. Those winning photos can be viewed here.

There are nearly 600 national natural landmarks nationwide representing natural features from dinosaur tracks and fossils at the Morrison-Golden Fossil Areas, CO, to bioluminescent waters at Puerto Mosquito, Puerto Rico to the largest impact crater known in the United States at Barringer Meteor Crater, AZ.

National natural landmarks include features on private, state, municipal, and federal lands. Program participation is voluntary and not all landmark sites are open to the public.

National natural landmarks are designated by the Secretary of the Interior following rigorous scientific study. The National Natural Landmarks Program is managed by the National Park Service and recognizes significant examples of biological and geological features and supports the cooperative conservation of these important examples of America’s natural heritage.

Full contest information and submission requirements for the contest are online

Click here for a complete list of designated sites of the National Natural Landmarks Program and their accessibility information

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Volunteer Opportunities with Berkshire Natural Resources Council:

It’s Maintenance MAY-hem here at BNRC! Come help out on your favorite BNRC trail during the first week of May. We will be working on a variety of trail projects to keep hikers happy all season long. Meet and work beside others who enjoy this trail! Help for an hour or all day – this is light trail work!

In the Office: We need a few extra hands stuffing envelopes over the next few weeks for our upcoming mailings. Please contact Sally at (413) 499 0596 if you are interested in helping out.

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