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Lenox Land Trust hosts “Community Conversation” Tonight 

The Lenox Land Trust will host a Community Conversation on building trails and connections at its Annual Meeting on Thursday, November 10th from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Lenox Community Center, 65 Walker St., Lenox, MA. All Lenox residents are welcome and invited to join in the discussion and recognition of special guests. Following the Community Conversation, there will be refreshments and a brief business meeting and election of the Board for 2017. <more>

Massachusetts Clean Water Toolkit Released

DEP has released the Massachusetts Clean Water Toolkit, a website about the prevention and control of nonpoint source pollution in Massachusetts. The Toolkit includes sections on the major categories of nonpoint source pollution, fact sheets on best management practices to reduce pollution, and interactive scenarios based on Massachusetts landscapes that allow users to explore ways to reduce pollution and improve water quality in a variety of highly detailed landscapes including residential, agricultural, urban, roads, construction, and shoreline restoration. <more>

Deadline for Testifying at People’s Hearing
in Washington, DC This Friday

The deadline to sign up to testify at the People’s Hearing in Washington, DC is this Friday, November 11.  You are Cordially Invited to Join People from Across America to Testify to the Abuses FERC is Inflicting on Our Communities and Environment and to Join the Call for Congressional Reform. Experts, Advocates & People: Witnesses to the abuses of power by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the pipeline industry upon our communities and environmentJane Winn will be going and is signed up to testify about Kinder Morgan taking protested land in violation of our state constitution. <more>

FERC Hastily Okays Spectra’s New Plan for Gas in Aging Pipelines Under Indian Point Nuclear Plant Without Required Safety Analysis

Westchester County, NY – On October 28, 2016, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) hastily granted approval for Spectra Energy to deviate from its original plan and run large quantities of fracked gas at intense pressure through old pipelines that are under the Indian Point nuclear power (IPEC) facility. The not yet completed AIM pipeline project has unresolved problems and as a result now has a different operational plan. A green light, however, was given to Spectra without conducting the required risk assessment and analysis of safety procedures for these significant operational modifications. Press Release from Stop the Algonquin Pipeline Expansion (SAPE)
November 3, 2016.

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16 Climate Scientists React to Donald Trump’s Victory

As one of the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitters, any change at the top of U.S. politics warrants a consideration of what it might mean for the country’s climate and energy priorities. But given Trump’s comments on the campaign trail, the U.S.’s recent reputation under Barack Obama as a nation serious about tackling climate change now looks to be in peril. Prof. Katherine Hayhoe, atmospheric scientist and associate professor of political science at Texas Tech University, said: “The bright light of hope the Paris agreement shone on the bleak and discouraging landscape of climate change has been dimmed but not extinguished.”

EcoWatch, November 9, 2016. <more>

Jobs

Streamflow Protection Biologist (Fish &amp; Wildlife Scientist III) – Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department – Montpelier, VT

Hoosic River Revival – Executive Director – North Adams, MA

Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation – Executive Director – Williamstown, MA

MassLIFT-AmeriCorps Member Positions

MassLIFT-AmeriCorps Operations & Communications Coordinator, full-time staff position, available Sept/Oct


Lenox Land Trust hosts “Community Conversation” Tonight 

The Lenox Land Trust will host a Community Conversation on building trails and connections at its Annual Meeting on Thursday, November 10th from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Lenox Community Center, 65 Walker St., Lenox, MA.

Featured speakers for the discussion – Where Can We Go From Here? – will be Mackenzie Greer from the Berkshire Natural Resources Council on the Parsons Marsh Trail Project and the Berkshire High Road, Joe and Colin Toole on the L.F.X. Brian Toole Wildlife Preserve, Town of Lenox Land Use Director Gwen Miller onMaking Connections, and The Mount’s Executive Director Susan Wissler on theNew Trail Network for the Berkshires.

All Lenox residents are welcome and invited to join in the discussion and recognition of special guests. Following the Community Conversation, there will be refreshments and a brief business meeting and election of the Board for 2017. For more information on this program or membership in the Lenox Land Trust, contact: Kate McNulty-Vaughan (637-0233).
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Massachusetts Clean Water Toolkit Released

DEP has released the Massachusetts Clean Water Toolkit, a website about the prevention and control of nonpoint source pollution in Massachusetts.

The Toolkit, prepared for DEP by Geosyntec Consultants, includes sections on the major categories of nonpoint source pollution, fact sheets on best management practices to reduce pollution, and interactive scenarios based on Massachusetts landscapes that allow users to explore ways to reduce pollution and improve water quality in a variety of highly detailed landscapes including residential, agricultural, urban, roads, construction, and shoreline restoration. The role of conservation commissions, the Wetlands Protection Act, Rivers Protection Act, and local non–zoning wetland bylaws all receive mention.

BEAT, Housatonic Valley Association, and Berkshire Regional Planning Commission joined together to try out a beta-version of this toolkit on the Southwest Branch of the Housatonic River. It was very interesting! Check it out for your watershed.


Join People from Across America to
Testify to FERC Abuses

BEAT NOTE: Jane Winn will be going and is signed up to testify about Kinder Morgan taking protested land in violation of our state constitution.

The deadline to sign up to testify at the People’s Hearing in Washington, DC is this Friday, November 11. Please fill out the form here to sign up. See below and attached for details.

You are Cordially Invited to Join People from Across America to Testify to the Abuses FERC is Inflicting on Our Communities and Environment and to Join the Call for Congressional Reform.

When: Friday, December 2, 2016
11:00 am-4:30 pm 

Where: National Press Club
529 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC 

Who:   Experts, Advocates & People: Witnesses to the abuses of power by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the pipeline industry upon our communities and environment.

Organizers include: Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Clean Water Action, Berks Gas Truth, Beyond Extreme Energy, Earthworks, Food & Water Watch, and Catskill Mountainkeeper. The list of sponsoring organizations is extensive, and includes BEAT.

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FERC Hastily Okays Spectra’s New Plan for Gas in Aging Pipelines Under Indian Point Nuclear Plant Without Required Safety Analysis

Press Release from Stop the Algonquin Pipeline Expansion (SAPE)
November 3, 2016

Another Major FERC Conflict of Interest Unfolds

Westchester County, NY – On October 28, 2016, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) hastily granted approval for Spectra Energy to deviate from its original plan and run large quantities of fracked gas at intense pressure through old pipelines that are under the Indian Point nuclear power (IPEC) facility. The not yet completed AIM pipeline project has unresolved problems and as a result now has a different operational plan. A green light, however, was given to Spectra without conducting the required risk assessment and analysis of safety procedures for these significant operational modifications.

Stop the Algonquin Pipeline Expansion (SAPE), an all-volunteer, grassroots group representing residents and communities across the tri-state region, as well as elected officials at all levels, have expressed strong opposition to Spectra’s Algonquin Incremental Market (AIM) project. The group vociferously opposes this approval and calls for all elected officials to implore President Obama to immediately intervene and direct FERC to halt construction and operation of the Spectra AIM project due to urgent safety and national security risks.

Spectra Energy has encountered multiple problems over the past several months while attempting to pull its massive 42-inch diameter pipeline through a hole it drilled under the Hudson River, using the horizontal directional drilling (HDD) technique. FERC’s original approval of the AIM project in March 2015 did not include a contingency plan should the HDD method fail and, therefore, should not have given Spectra the green light to put the AIM in-service using the old pipelines with the HDD issue still unresolved and potentially requiring a new environmental review.

The recent approval granted to Spectra puts the tri-state region at risk, according to nuclear and pipeline safety experts who indicate that a rupture in a gas pipeline at Indian Point could cause a meltdown and catastrophic radioactive releases. Use of the 50+ year old gas pipelines that will tie into the new 42-inch diameter AIM pipeline, on both the Rockland and Westchester sides of the Hudson River in Spectra’s new plan, were not evaluated for the AIM project. The new 42-inch diameter AIM pipeline will operate at substantially higher pressure than the maximum allowable operating pressure of the old pipelines potentially escalating the serious risks associated with this project. The new operational plan creates a new configuration that must be analyzed for safety, as required by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulation 10 CFR 50.29.

A letter sent to the NRC on October 25, 2016 states:

“The Entergy 10 CFR 50.59 transmittal letter to the NRC indicates that ‘Entergy is required to assess new safety impacts on IPEC and provide that analysis to the NRC.’ However, the analysis provided is only for the NEW 42” natural gas loop pipeline south of IPEC. The need to analyze the existing lines is relegated to a 2008 analysis, well before the AIM system changes were determined and officially presented. The existing 50+ year old 30-inch line is within 400 feet of safety-related structures, systems and components (SSC). These SSC elements are within the potential impact radius of the 30-inch line, which has a maximum allowable operating pressure of 750 PSIG. This 30-inch line will now be interconnected on either side of IPEC to the higher pressure 42-inch, MAOP 850 PSIG gas line, just outside the IPEC security area. A single malfunction of a valve could over pressurize the existing lines. The existing 50+ year old 26-inch line, which also runs approximately 400 feet from the control room and other SSC, was presented as being kept in place as a backup. That 26-inch line has a MAOP of 674 PSIG, and will also be connected directly to the 42-inch line with a MAOP of 850 PSIG.”

Suzannah Glidden of SAPE said, “This is a classic bait and switch. Spectra applied for approval of a new 42-inch diameter pipeline and now that they cannot get the huge pipe under the Hudson River, they sought and were approved to use a different route and pipeline infrastructure that were not evaluated for this project. A corporation’s profits must not take precedence over public safety.”

FERC has not responded to questions concerning consultation with federal and state agencies, such as the Army Corps of Engineers, New York State Department of State or New York State Department of Environmental Conservation when a variance was granted by FERC for the HDD in late August. This occurred right after FERC issued a ‘serious violation’ to Spectra for its failure to receive authorization for its destruction of a wetland and trees when a drill stem was lost during the construction process.

Furthermore, a series of investigative reports demonstrates that the entire FERC review process was compromised by numerous conflicts of interest, including the latest report this week  revealing that the Spectra AIM Project Manager, who signed off on the project, is married to a consultant for Spectra gas pipeline projects.

We implore President Obama to direct FERC to halt construction immediately due to imminent safety and national security threats. Susan Van Dolsen, a co-founder of SAPE said, “FERC’s approval is a flagrant case of a federal commission favoring industry while dismissing the risks to the 20 million people within the 50-mile impact radius of Indian Point.”

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16 Climate Scientists React to Donald Trump’s Victory

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Jobs

Streamflow Protection Biologist
(Fish & Wildlife Scientist III)
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department

www.vtfishandwildlife.com

Overview: The Fish and Wildlife Department’s mission is to the conservation of fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the people of Vermont. The protection and enhancement of aquatic habitat is essential to the maintenance of healthy aquatic populations and the recreational fisheries that they support. This position provides an excellent opportunity to make a difference in a small state where you will be involved in a variety of dam, streamflow and other aquatic habitat issues.

General Job Description: This position will work to protect and restore aquatic habitat and aquatic biota throughout the State of Vermont. This position requires strong interpersonal, communication, organization and technical skills, and requires close coordination with regional fisheries staff and collaboration with state, federal and non-governmental organizations. This job involves the participation in FERC hydroelectric licensing permit proceedings; coordinating Department positions on a variety of dam and streamflow project proposals; developing aquatic protection policies, protocols and regulations; and maintaining partnerships and conducting outreach and trainings. Applicants should have a strong background in aquatic/fisheries biology and a solid understanding of the principles of hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, aquatic habitat and fish passage. Experience with IFIM and PHABSIM analytical approaches is desirable. The position requires a mix of field, office and outreach activities. Work is performed under the supervision of the Fisheries Program Manager and is stationed in Montpelier VT.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Master’s degree or higher in a natural resources field.

Experience: 2 years in a natural resources field. OR….

Education: Bachelor’s degree or higher in natural resources field or biology.

Experience: 4 years in a natural resources field. OR….

2 years as a Fish & Wildlife Scientist II with the State of Vermont.

Special Requirements: N/A

Starting Salary: $ 23.89 per hour (Pay Grade 24), plus benefits.

Closing Date: 12/7/2016

Contact: Apply online: http://humanresources.vermont.gov/ Job#620271

This Fish & Wildlife Scientist III position is open to all State employee and external applicants. If you would like more information about this position, please contact Rich Kirn via email (rich.kirn@vermont.gov). Resumes will not be accepted via e-mail. You must apply online to be considered. The State of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applications from women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people from diverse cultural backgrounds are encouraged.

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Hoosic River Revival – Executive Director

The Hoosic River Revival, based in North Adams, Massachusetts, seeks an Executive Director to lead our river restoration efforts. We are a community-based nonprofit working to contribute to North Adams’ urban renaissance by transforming an unattractive concrete-walled section of the Hoosic River into a beautiful, ecologically-sound and publicly-accessible riverscape. This full-time position provides an opportunity to live in the beautiful New England Berkshires and oversee a project that will benefit local ecosystems and economies. No previous experience with river ecology is required. Our ideal candidate will have strong experience with project management and working closely with a board, as well as navigating government processes. To read the full job description go to http://www.hoosicriverrevival.org/position-opening-executive-director.

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 Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation –
Executive Director

The Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation (WRLF), a 30-year old land conservation trust and education organization in Williamstown Massachusetts, announces the retirement next year of its long-time executive director, Leslie Reed Evans, and the search for her replacement to lead WRLF during an exciting time in its history.  Leslie’s tenure at WRLF has spanned 23 years of exemplary service to our community. She was hired in late 1993 as interim director and was offered the permanent position in 1995 at a time when the organization was completing several major land conservation projects under her dynamic leadership and was in the midst of its largest yet, the effort to preserve the south Williamstown farm and forest lands owned by Norris Phelps along Oblong Road and extending to the Taconic Ridge. At that time, WRLF had a 14-member Board of Directors, a supporting membership of about 200 families, and an annual budget of $39,000. There were 268 acres of private land under conservation restriction, and 66 acres in WRLF’s direct ownership.

Today, WRLF annually monitors 288 acres of conservation restriction land and has close to 600 acres under its own management, including its 55-acre Sheep Hill headquarters and 380 acres on Pine Cobble, its largest preserve. Its membership has more than doubled and its annual budget has grown nearly tenfold. It has established itself as a key resource in the community and an important contributor to the beauty and quality of life which Williamstown residents and visitors alike enjoy.

During Leslie’s tenure and with the active participation of an engaged, dedicated Board of Directors, WRLF undertook many innovative projects, including managing the Reynolds limited development/conservation project, making land available for the Williamstown’s first Habitat for Humanity home, and establishing Caretaker Farm as a Community Land Trust to make it affordable to a new generation of farmers. Perhaps what Leslie is most proud of and in addition to the land conservation projects she has overseen is the acquisition and preservation of Sheep Hill and its establishment as a community resource for outdoor education and recreation for families, school children and visitors.

The search for a new executive director will begin immediately. The job posting and explanation of the application requirements are described on WRLF’s website, wrlf.org, under “Job Opportunities” on the home page. For further information contact WRLF or call its headquarters at 413-458-2494.

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MassLIFT-AmeriCorps Member Positions

MassLIFT-AmeriCorps was established in 2010 by Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust as a collaboration of regional conservation organizations seeking to engage with more people and do more community conservation projects. The mission of the Massachusetts Land Initiative for Tomorrow (MassLIFT-AmeriCorps) is to strengthen and grow the land conservation movement by developing the next generation of land trust leaders and mobilizing them in every MA community. Our vision is one where the benefits of land conservation reach every community and are meaningful for all people.

This year, 36 MassLIFT-AmeriCorps members will serve at 21 different host sites (including urban conservation and community gardening/food systems non-profits) across Massachusetts as Land Stewardship Coordinator, Regional Conservation Coordinator, Youth Education Coordinator, or Community Engagement Coordinator. Members create and accomplish projects that increase their host site’s capacity, educate people in environmental stewardship, engage people in volunteerism, and include new constituencies. Specific activities vary by host site.

People of color strongly encouraged to apply. AmeriCorps programs provide equal service opportunities. MassLIFT works to ensure a diverse and inclusive climate without regard to any particular status. We encourage applications from individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations for interviews and service upon request. The program runs 8/29/16 – 7/28/17. More info at masslift.org.

MassLIFT-AmeriCorps Operations & Communications Coordinator, full-time staff position, available Sept/Oct

MassLIFT-AmeriCorps was established in 2010 by Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust as a collaboration of regional conservation organizations seeking to engage with more people and do more community conservation projects. The mission of the Massachusetts Land Initiative for Tomorrow (MassLIFT-AmeriCorps) is to strengthen and grow the land conservation movement by developing the next generation of land trust leaders and mobilizing them in every MA community. Our vision is one where the benefits of land conservation reach every community and are meaningful for all people.

The Operations and Communications Coordinator (OCC) supports the MassLIFT-AmeriCorps program vision on a statewide scale. Reporting to the MassLIFT Program Director, the OCC manages member recruitment and onboarding, communications and marketing, and day-to-day administration of program operations.

We’re aiming to fill this position in September/October 2016. MassLIFT-AmeriCorps may spin off as a separate nonprofit between Fall 2016 and Summer 2017, in which case program headquarters would likely move to Lowell, MA. Applicants should be prepared and willing to relocate to be able to work out of a Lowell office. View the complete position description and application instructions at masslift.org.

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