- 2007 Green Buildings Open House Tour and Kick-off Event
- Land Auctions – Saturday, October 20, 2007
- NRCS announces accelerated sign-up for farm conservation program in Massachusetts
- Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition’s Western Mass. Local Land Trust Grants – new info
- Grant Opportunity: Pulling Together Initiative The RFP for the 2008 PTI grants
- CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION ALERT FROM TNC
- SUBMIT WORKSHOPS FOR MASS. LAND TRUST CONFERENCE
- Tempered Media Support for Environmental Concerns
- Upcoming Grant Opportunity: FFY 08 604(b) Pre-RFR Meeting
- Grants Protect Hiking Trails
- MA Environment Committee Hearing Schedule
- CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Environmental Monitor
Public Notices Alphabetically by town
The BEAT News Archives
2007 Green Buildings Open House Tour and Kick-off Event
A dome home, a net-zero energy use home, a non-toxic and chemical-free bed and breakfast, and two families combining living and working quarters are among the many highlights on the 2007 Green Buildings Open House Tour, slated for Saturday, October 6. The tour gives the public the chance to see clean, renewable energy at work and discover the ways people are conserving energy, saving money and protecting the environment.
The local open house is part of a regionwide Green Buildings Open House organized by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) and coordinated locally by the Center for Ecological Technology (CET).
Sixteen solar or otherwise “green” homes, businesses and public buildings in the Berkshires will open their doors at specific times between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. for the sixth annual tour. CET has produced a guide booklet for the Open House with highlights of green building features, photos, hours and directions to each site. The booklet is available by calling CET at 413-445-4556 ext. 25 or as a pdf download on www.cetonline.org.
This event presents an opportunity for the public to learn first-hand how incorporating green elements can help reduce heating costs, increase energy conservation and even generate surplus clean energy.
On Friday, October 5, at 5:30 p.m. CET will host a pre-tour kick off event at the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield. Dr. Bill Moomaw will talk about all aspects of designing, building and living in a net-zero energy use home in the Berkshires in his presentation, Living Deliberately in the 21st Century. Locally produced hors d’oeuvres and the CET guide booklet will be provided.
To find out more about the Open House and energy efficient buildings, and to obtain directions to the sites on the tour, contact CET at 413-445-4556, visit www.cetonline.org or stop by the CET office at 112 Elm Street in Pittsfield, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tour goers can also visit the NESEA website, at www.nesea.org, and follow the links to the Berkshire area buildings under Massachusetts.
Land Auctions – Saturday, October 20, 2007
Landauctions.com will be holding an auction of parcels – including some in Berkshire County – in Boston in a few weeks. They have been advertising the auction in the Globe. These are our "friends" in Irvine, California that are sending landowners letters offering to pay "big bucks" for their land.
| Location | County | State | Acres | APN | Starting Bid | Assumed Loan | Assumed Term | Assumed Payment |
| City of Pittsfield | Berkshire | MA | 0.19 | PITT-I000012-000001-000009 | $100.00 | |||
| City of Pittsfield | Berkshire | MA | 0.23 | PITT-I000012-000001-000008 | $100.00 | |||
| City of Pittsfield | Berkshire | MA | 0.19 | PITT-I000012-000001-000010 | $100.00 | |||
| City of Pittsfield | Berkshire | MA | 0.19 | PITT-I000012-000001-000014 | $100.00 | |||
| City of Pittsfield | Berkshire | MA | 0.19 | PITT-I000012-000001-000011 | $100.00 | |||
| City of Pittsfield | Berkshire | MA | 0.19 | PITT-I000012-000001-000013 | $100.00 | |||
| City of Pittsfield | Berkshire | MA | 0.19 | PITT-I000012-000001-000012 | $100.00 | |||
| Town of Adams | Berkshire | MA | 0.43 | ADAM-000121-000000-000009-000001 | $100.00 | |||
| Town of Becket | Berkshire | MA | 0.50 | BECK-002160-001040-D000000 | $100.00 | |||
| Town of Becket | Berkshire | MA | 0.19 | BECK-002190-001490-D000000 | $300.00 | |||
| Town of Becket | Berkshire | MA | 0.53 | BECK-222190-000098-D000000 | $100.00 | |||
| Town of Becket | Berkshire | MA | 1.80 | BECK-224110-000004 | $300.00 | |||
| Town of Becket | Berkshire | MA | 0.55 | BECK-002160-002580-D000000 | $100.00 | |||
| Town of Florida | Berkshire | MA | 10.70 | FLOR-000016-000000-000015 | $100.00 | $11,500.00 | 108 | $187.16 |
| Town of Otis | Berkshire | MA | 1.00 | OTIS-000006-000000-000152 | $100.00 | $6,500.00 | 60 | $150.91 |
| Town of Otis | Berkshire | MA | 3.30 | OTIS-000009B-000000-000029 | $100.00 | |||
| Town of Peru | Berkshire | MA | 10.10 | PERU-000038-000015 | $500.00 | |||
| Town of Richmond | Berkshire | MA | 2.40 | RICH-004080-000009 | $100.00 | $13,500.00 | 96 | $233.75 |
| Town of Sandisfield | Berkshire | MA | 2.80 | SAND-000202-000000-000039 | $1,000.00 | |||
| Town of Washington | Berkshire | MA | 0.86 | WASH-000313-A000048 | $500.00 |
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NRCS announces accelerated sign-up for farm conservation program in Massachusetts
AMHERST, MA (September 19, 2007) — Massachusetts farmers who would like technical and financial assistance in managing their natural resources are encouraged to apply now for the federal Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP – see http://www.ma.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip.html). The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has been authorized to conduct an accelerated sign-up period for EQIP while work on the next federal Farm Bill continues.
Applications must be received by Friday, November 12, 2007. Farmers should call or visit their local USDA Service Center as soon as possible to begin the conservation planning process and complete the necessary paperwork.
USDA service center locations are listed on-line at http://offices.usda.gov or in the phone book under Federal Government, U.S. Department of Agriculture. General program information is available on the NRCS Massachusetts website at
EQIP helps farmers improve production while protecting environmental quality by addressing such concerns as soil quality, grazing land conservation, irrigation efficiency and comprehensive nutrient management. With financial and technical assistance from NRCS, farmers will promote environmental quality on farmland, address water quality and quantity challenges, and protect valuable fish and wildlife habitat.
“USDA is committed to providing conservation tools and resources to help Massachusetts farmers ensure that their land remains healthy and productive,” said State Conservationist Christine S. Clarke. “NRCS field staff are available to help farmers develop a conservation plan to address their resource concerns.”
In fiscal year 2006, NRCS funded 113 EQIP contracts with Massachusetts farmers to implement $3.86 million in conservation practices on 7,894 acres of land.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment. NRCS has seven Massachusetts field offices in Greenfield, Hadley, Holden, Hyannis, Pittsfield, Westford, and West Wareham, which work with local conservation districts and other partners to serve farmers and landowners throughout the commonwealth.
Diane Baedeker Petit
Public Affairs Officer
United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
451 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002
413-253-4371, fax 413-253-4375
www.ma.nrcs.usda.gov
The Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition’s Western Mass. Local Land Trust Grants program is aimed at assisting local land trusts and other conservation groups in western and central Massachusetts strengthen their organizations and improve their land management and stewardship.
The Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition’s Central & Western MA Land Trust Grants program will now consider any 501(c)(3) applicant which has a budget of $250,000 or less. Previously, only groups with budgets less than $100,000 were eligible.
In addition, the application deadline has been extended to Oct.31.
The program is aimed at assisting local land trusts and other conservation groups in western and central Massachusetts strengthen their organizations and improve their land management and stewardship. Grants are available for up to $10,000 and will be awarded in 2008.
Application materials are at http://massland.org/pages/info/WMAGrants07.html. Please call me for project guidance or with any other questions at 781-248-7045
Grants are available for up to $10,000 and will be awarded in 2008.
THE APPLICATION DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO OCTOBER 31, 2007!
I implore you to take advantage of this incredible opportunity! The funder is eager to make this program work. Attached you will find a letter of explanation and an application form.
I have distributed this announcement to a wide variety of correspondents including land trusts, watershed associations, "Friends" groups, etc. In particular, I have sent it to independent consultants and conservation practitioners, in the hopes that whey will contact local land trusts and other groups to develop significant projects which meet the grant guidelines, especially in the area of land management and stewardship. I encourage you to distribute this announcement widely to groups who you believe may be interested and eligible.
This project is being coordinated with the Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust and the Franklin Land Trust. I’m looking forward to working with them and I’m very excited about the potential for this grant program.
Please call me for project guidance or with any other questions at 781-248-7045
Regards,
Bernie McHugh, Coordinator
Mass. Land Trust Coalition
18 Wolbach Road
Sudbury, MA 01776
bmchugh@massland.org
Tel: 978-443-5588
Cell: 781-248-7045
Fax: 978-443-2333
www.MassLand.org
CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION ALERT FROM TNC
Dear Colleague,
Please join The Nature Conservancy in our efforts to urge Massachusetts government officials to take a two-pronged approach to climate change – reducing emissions and supporting planning and programs to help people and nature cope with and adapt to our changing climate.
We need your help!
Please show your support by signing your organization’s name to the attached Position Statement on Massachusetts Climate Change Policy and ask your partners to do the same. We are seeking a broad base of support from land trusts, watershed organizations, environmental groups, business and industry associations, institutions and others. We urge you to show your support by signing the attached Statement!
We hope you will consider endorsing this statement soon. Timing is critical as Massachusetts state agencies and the Legislature are developing policy proposals now for release in the early fall.
We are asking for adaptation measures to be in all climate change initiatives, this covers the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and any additional legislation or policy. Some environmental/energy/consumer advocacy organizations want RGGI funds to focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy. We agree that at least 90% of RGGI funds should support energy efficiency and renewables, but maintain that a small percentage, up to ten percent, should support adaptation as climate change impacts on natural communities are irrefutable and need to be decreased or mitigated
Contact Steve Long, Government Relations Associate, before Thursday, September 20 at: <mailto:slong@tnc.org> or 617-227-7017 ext. 313 to sign on today! Please note that you may sign on after this date, but we are trying to maximize influence and would appreciate your support as soon as possible. Steve is maintaining a running list of signatories, including land trusts, watershed organizations and others, so please feel free to contact him for the list or with any questions.
Thanks for your support!
*******************************************************
Position Statement on Massachusetts Climate Change Policy
According to reports from the international scientific community, Massachusetts will experience the effects of climate change, such as increased temperatures and precipitation and sea surges. These effects will cause multiple impacts, including erratic flooding and damage to property and loss of habitat that will harm people, productivity and natural communities. The extent of these impacts depends in part on our responses, including the adoption of a two-pronged approach to climate change policy that includes:
* Reducing greenhouse gas emissions through conservation, increased efficiencies, and renewable energy sources; and
* Facilitating the adaptation of plants and animals to climate change impacts in terrestrial, marine and freshwater habitats.
This policy approach has broad-based support from several renowned climate change authorities, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
We the undersigned urge Massachusetts policy makers to support a goal of 80% mandatory emissions reduction from current levels by 2050. We applaud, as an initial step, the Commonwealth’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from large power plants and to support energy efficiency and renewable energy, but realize that more needs to be done.
We the undersigned also urge Massachusetts policy makers to support funding and policy initiatives that will help natural communities cope with and adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change. We are especially concerned with preserving and protecting the resilience of natural systems and the plant and animal species they support. By facilitating adaptation, we can realize the benefits of ecosystem services to our economy, such as mitigating floods to preserve property, conserving estuaries to maintain nurseries for fisheries and protecting plants and forests that sequester carbon and provide timber.
Adaptation policy should:
* Identify and monitor early effects of climate change on natural systems;
* Integrate adaptation strategies into environmental plans and programs;
* Protect and connect lands and waters that allow species to migrate as temperatures change, especially in fragmented landscapes that might inhibit migration;
* Protect and restore habitat on which at-risk species depend thus protecting critical natural resources of statewide significance; and
* Employ a variety of land and water management strategies, including cooperation with private property owners on voluntary efforts.
From: MassLand Weekly E-News
The Newsletter of the Massachusetts Land Conservation Community
September 15, 2007
Volume 7, Number 17
Items of interest to the Massachusetts land protection community.
For more news and information, got to http://www.MassLand.org
Please send items of interest to Info@MassLand.org
SUBMIT WORKSHOPS FOR MASS. LAND TRUST CONFERENCE
18th Massachusetts Land Conservation Conference
Saturday, March 29, 2008 – Worcester, MA
Each year, the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition works with The Trustees of Reservations to present the Mass. Land Conservation Conference. We rely on the generous pro bono participation of dozens of land conservation practitioners, both professionals and volunteers, to put together the excellent workshops that make this the best-attended and most informative state land trust conference in the country.
Request for Workshop Proposals – Due October 15, 2007
We encourage you to submit a workshop proposal for the 2008 Conference. This day-long event provides land trust board members, staff, volunteers, commission members and others interested in land conservation with vital training. We are looking for workshops on successful land protection projects, fundraising, conservation restriction drafting and stewardship, board development, appraisals, tax law, partnerships, outreach and PR. To see workshop offerings from previous years click on www.TheTrustees.org/PutnamConservationInstitute.cfm <http://www.TheTrustees.org/PutnamConservationInstitute.cfm> and scroll down to “Past Events.”
To submit a workshop proposal, email the following information to Miriam Scagnetti (mscagnetti@ttor.org)
A. Your Contact Information
– Name
– Organization/agency/affiliation/profession
– Postal address
– Email address
– Daytime phone number
B. Your proposed title for a 90-minute workshop
C. The objective(s) of your workshop, i.e. what will participants come away with?
D. Two or three paragraphs describing your workshop
E. The name(s) and affiliations of any co-presenters you might work with
F. Two or three paragraphs describing your connection(s) to this topic. (Please don’t send résumés.)
Important Information to Note
* Look for a confirmation email within a few days saying that we received your proposal. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please re-send it to <mailto:mscagnetti@ttor.org> and <mailto:pci@ttor.org>.
* In order to provide greater breadth or depth on a topic, we may ask some presenters to co-present with a specific person whom you may not yet know.
* We reserve the right to change workshop titles and descriptions and to accept or reject any workshop proposals.
* We will contact you by December 3 to let you know if your workshop proposal has been accepted or not.
* If your workshop proposal is selected you will receive a complimentary conference registration and lunch.
* You are responsible for your own travel arrangements and expenses.
Questions? Contact Miriam Scagnetti, TTOR’s Putnam Conservation Institute Program Assistant (978-840-4446 x1935; mscagnetti@ttor.org)
From: MassLand Weekly E-News
The Newsletter of the Massachusetts Land Conservation Community
September 15, 2007
Volume 7, Number 17
Items of interest to the Massachusetts land protection community.
For more news and information, got to http://www.MassLand.org
Please send items of interest to Info@MassLand.org
Temper of the Times Foundation (http://www.temperfund.org/index.html) provides nonprofit organizations with funding to underwrite advertising designed to promote conservation and restoration efforts. Grants may be used to fund the production of print, radio, or television ads; to pay for advertising space or airtime; or to produce or distribute pamphlets, books, videos, or press packets specifically promoting the conservation and restoration of native wildlife, plants, and ecosystems in the U.S. Grants generally range from $5,000 to $15,000. Applications must be received by October 15, 2007. Visit the website provided above for additional application and eligibility information.
Link to Funder Profile
UPCOMING GRANT OPPORTUNITY
FFY 08 604(b) Pre-RFR Meeting
The Department of Environmental Protection plans to hold a Pre – RFR Informational Meeting to discuss potential projects before the FFY08 604(b) RFR is issued. We recommend potential respondents attend this meeting that will be held in the Chicopee Room at MassDEP’s Central Regional Office in Worcester on Tuesday, October 9, 2007 from 10:00 AM to Noon to discuss your ideas on new projects for priority and other watersheds. See (www.mass.gov/dep/about/region/centralr.htm) for directions.
The focus of the FY2008 grants will be for watershed or sub-watershed based non-point source assessment activities that support MassDEP’s assessment efforts,
including data needs that are identified in:
– the Massachusetts Watershed based plans (www.public.dep.state.ma.us/Watershed/Intro.aspx ),
– the EOEA watershed action plans (www.mass.gov/envir/water/publications.htm),
– the Massachusetts Nonpoint Source Management Plan (www.mass.gov/dep/water/resources/nonpoint.htm),
– MassDEP’s watershed water quality assessment reports (www.mass.gov/dep/water/resources/wqassess.htm),
– the Massachusetts Estuaries Project, TMDL development, and water supply source protection planning.
Respondents, however, are encouraged to propose other suitable water quality assessment/planning projects. According to the 5 year basin planning cycle, priority or target watersheds for FFY08 include: Deerfield, Millers, Ipswich, Buzzards Bay, Islands, Quinebaug, French, Merrimack, Parker, Shawsheen, Boston Harbor (including Mystic), Narragansett Bay and Mt. Hope Bay, and Cape Cod basins.
As the Commonwealth’s procurement rules prohibit MassDEP or any other RFR issuer from consulting with potential applicants to develop project ideas once an RFR is issued, potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact MassDEP before the RFR issue date to refine project ideas and get our feedback. You may contact Gary Gonyea (617-556-1152 or gary.gonyea@state.ma.us) for a discussion of ideas and program objectives. and he will answer questions. Once the RFR has been posted we can no longer offer project-specific and application process advice to applicants.
The tentative schedule is as follows:
Pre-RFR Informational Meeting in CERO October 9, 2007
RFR release on Comm-PASS October 19, 2007
Responses due to MassDEP December 14, 2007
Evaluation of Responses January 2008
Grants Protect Hiking Trails
American Hiking Society: National Trails Fund
The National Trails Fund, sponsored by American Hiking Society, provides funding to grassroots nonprofit organizations working toward establishing, protecting, and maintaining foot trails in America. Grants help give local organizations the resources they need to secure access, volunteers, tools, and materials to protect America’s public trails. The following types of projects will be considered: securing trail lands, including acquisition of trails and trail corridors; building and maintaining trails which will result in ease of access, improved hiker safety, and/or avoidance of environmental damage; and constituency-building surrounding specific trail projects. Preference is often given to projects with volunteer labor. Projects that have hikers as the primary constituency are preferred; however, all human-powered trail projects are eligible. The application deadline is November 1, 2007. Click on http://www.americanhiking.org/alliance/fund.html for more information.
This schedule is subject to change. For questions please contact the Committee at (617) 722-2210
All hearings in State House Hearing Room A-1 unless otherwise noted
Policies – September 24, 2007 – 1:00 PM
Dept. of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) – October 1, 2007 – 1:00 PM
Sewers, Title V, Wetlands – October 15, 2007 – 1:00 PM
Miscellaneous – October 22, 2007 – 1:00 PM