The BEAT News

April 21, 2010

In the News

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Environmental Monitor
Public Notices Alphabetically by town
The BEAT News Archives

Advocacy News (Includes how to reach your legislators)

DEP Enforcement Actions In The Berkshire

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Pittsfield State Forest: Trail Planning and Rehabilitation
press release from the Department of Conservation and Recreation

The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is initiating a planning and design process to rehabilitate and improve the Pittsfield State Forest trail system for multi-use (motorized and non-motorized) recreational access and resource protection. During the process, DCR will close approximately 20 miles of the currently designated All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) or Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) and motorcycle trails in the Forest for the 2010 season to protect rare species and sensitive wetland resources. Approximately 14 miles of Pittsfield State Forest’s ATV and motorcycle trails will remain open for those uses for the 2010 season. The trail system is scheduled to open to recreational ATV and motorcycle use on Saturday, May 29, 2010. To maximize rider safety and enjoyment and minimize degradation of the remaining trails from overuse during the closure period, DCR will institute an ATV and motorcycle recreational use permit system for Pittsfield State Forest. A maximum of 50 rider permits will be issued through Pittsfield State Forest headquarters each day.  Full press release (pdf)

The planning process for Pittsfield State Forest will begin in the spring of 2010 with the completion of DCR’s Motorized Recreation Facility Assessment whose policy and process were developed in 2007 by DCR with input from a wide range of stakeholders from the OHV community, environmental advocates, law enforcement officials, and others.

DCR estimates that the planning, design, and reconstruction of the 100+ mile trail system could exceed $4 million. The agency is exploring various state and federal funding sources to complete the process. One potential source of future funding may be the Off Highway Vehicle Program Fund, currently being considered in the legislature. If approved, this fund would direct a portion of OHV registration payments to improve OHV enforcement, including improving the system of legal trails available in Massachusetts.

2010 Season - In order to protect recently identified resource areas, DCR will close approximately 20 miles of OHV trails that affect protected habitats, rare species, or other regulated resources. DCR has identified approximately 14 miles of OHV trails that may remain in use during the planning process. This change will require installing adequate barriers and signage along the trail system to guide users and producing appropriate maps and education materials to inform them. DCR will be preparing the revised trail system during the months of April and early May and plans to open the system for recreational ATV and motorcycle use Saturday, May 29, 2010. ( Memorial Day weekend), Given the popularity of the Pittsfield ATV and motorcycle trails and the reduced trail mileage for those activities this year, DCR plans to introduce a rider permit system to maintain use levels that protect rider safety and user enjoyment. DCR plans to issue 50 permits per day to maintain safe and sustainable user levels. These permits will be available through the Pittsfield State Forest headquarters and will be reservable in advance. Additional details of the permitting process will be posted on www.mass.gov/dcr/recreate/orv.htm The agency has invited representatives of the user community to assist in development of the permitting system to ensure that it minimizes inconvenience for the many recreational users who visit the forest for ATV and motorcycle recreation from across Massachusetts and New England.

DCR recognizes that this change for the 2010 season will be inconvenient for many who have enjoyed motorized recreation activities at Pittsfield State Forest. We also believe reinvestment in the Pittsfield State Forest trail system has been overdue and will allow for more enjoyable and environmentally sustainable recreation in the future. For further information about this change and the planning process at Pittsfield State Forest, please contact Gary Briere, DCR’s Recreation Bureau Chief, at gary.briere@state.ma.us.

BEAT Note: BEAT is pleased that DCR recognizes the environmentally damaging impact OHVs are having on our state forest and that they are taking action. We do not believe that our state forests should be used for any motorized Off Highway Vehicles except for emergency and search and rescue purposes. With that said, we look forward to being part of the process in improving the situation at Pittsfield State Forest, and we hope that everyone who enjoys the state forest will be a part of the process. Your opinion matters! Please, be involved.
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Good Update on Our Asian Longhorned Beetle Presentation

Thank you everyone for keeping your eyes open for signs of possible Asian Longhorned Beetle infestation. We (BEAT and the Trustees of Reservations) have investigated two calls of possible Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) sightings. Neither appears to be ALB. But I (Jane) learned a couple of important things to mention:

  1. Some maple tap holes (for maple syrup collecting) look just like ALB exit holes. So if you see holes in maple trees where they might have been tapped, try looking up the tree to see if there are any holes higher than where the trees would have been tapped.
  2. Keep in mind that the exit holes are where a large beetle crawled out of the tree. If it looks more like something might have been trying to get into the tree, it is not an exit hole.

We would rather investigate many possible sightings and have them all be something else, than miss the one that really is ALB. ALB is one invasive that we really can stop. It appears not to be entering the country any more and at least one infestation in Chicago has been completely eradicated.

Remember to spread the word about Don't Move Firewood! That is the most likely way for ALB to spread.

Thank you!
Jane Winn                          & Rene Wendell
jane@thebeatnews.org           rwendell@ttor.org
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New York Times: Cows on Drugs
from the Keep Antibiotics Working Campaign
Donald Kennedy, former FDA Commissioner, writes in the New York Times,"More than 30 years ago, when I was commissioner of the United States Food and Drug Administration, we proposed eliminating the use of penicillin and two other antibiotics to promote growth in animals raised for food. When agribusiness interests persuaded Congress not to approve that regulation, we saw firsthand how strong politics can trump wise policy and good science."  Continue reading...
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Briefings on Capitol Hill Call for Passage of PAMTA
from the Keep Antibiotics Working Campaign
salmonellaInfectious disease doctors, public health experts and scientific researchers met with Congressional leaders and staff on Wednesday to describe how
the routine non-therapeutic use of human antibiotics in the food and water of livestock results in antibiotic-resistant diseases in humans that cause extended hospital stays and increase health care costs.
 
The experts, speaking at informational briefings on both sides of Capitol Hill, described how extensive antibiotic use has created a public health crisis, and they identified the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (PAMTA) as a way for Congress to address this crisis. Continue reading...
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First in MA to earn $8,000 incentive for building energy efficient home
from the Center for Ecological Technology 

GREENFIELD, MA — The Campbell-Gregory family couldn’t be happier that their new home is the first home in the state of Massachusetts to earn an $8,000 incentive for building a home that is 60% more efficient than a standard new construction home. A typical new construction home of the same size in Greenfield would have energy bills of about $400/month, but the Campbell-Gregory residence will spend less than $200/month.
In 2010, for the first time ever, the Massachusetts New Homes with ENERGY STAR program is offering a third tier of incentives to reward those homebuilders who build super-energy efficient new homes. “It’s exciting to see builders, homeowners and architects striving for such deep energy savings – the homeowners will enjoy the results for years to come – a more comfortable home that costs less to operate,” says Megan McDonough from the Center for Ecological Technology (CET). CET performed the required home energy rating (HERS) analysis and third-party inspections that led to the homeowners qualifying for the $8,000 Tier III incentive.

The Center for Ecological Technology has been encouraging builders to make energy efficient choices through the ENERGY STAR Homes program since the program began in 2003. Most new home builders use the program to identify incremental steps towards increased energy efficiency, but more and more project teams have been choosing to build super-insulated homes. 

Scott Baum of Eco+Plan Architecture the architect for the Campbell-Gregory Residence, agrees that super-efficient building is a growing trend, “People are taking a much more aggressive approach toward energy efficiency than in the past. When we look at our construction practices in the context of current times, it becomes apparent that the construction techniques of our recent past no longer make sense.”

When asked if building to such a high energy efficiency standard was harder than conventional building James Meehleder of Turn Key Builders, Inc. said, “When building a super insulated house, you are still employing known building practices, just in a modified way.  Some parts of the process are easier and some will take more time.  All in all, when you look at the whole project and the trade-offs that you make, the process doesn’t differ much in scope of work or cost as a conventionally built home.”

Project Highlights

  • First home in Massachusetts to reach Tier III ENERGY STAR Homes incentive level for $8,000
  • Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index of 60
  • Passive Solar design allows for heat to warm the space through the south facing windows in the winter
  • Solar Hot Water system is used to provide hot water for domestic hot water needs like showering and washing dishes
  • Tight building envelope – tested at 1.21 ACH50 with a blower door
  • Whole house ventilation provided by a Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV)
  • 12” deep walls filled with dense-packed cellulose to reach an R-40 insulation level
  • High-efficiency (95%) propane boiler for home heating
  • High efficiency ENERGY STAR appliances
  • Over 80% of the lighting fixtures use efficient compact fluorescent bulbs

The Center for Ecological Technology (CET) is a non-profit organization working in the fields of energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste management and environmental education. CET provides practical solutions that make sense for our community, economy and environment.
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The Budget Process Begins
from MassAudubon's Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup

Earlier this week the Massachusetts House Committee on Ways & Means released its proposal for the Fiscal Year 2011 budget. The overall budget proposal is $27.8 billion, down $2.1 billion from the current year and $411 million less than the FY11 budget proposed by Governor Patrick in January. The biggest cuts went to public higher education. Local aid was also cut.

Across all agencies within the Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs, spending drops $11.4 million from the current fiscal year, and the percentage of the state budget spent on environmental programs drops, going from 0.66% in the FY10 General Appropriations Act to 0.64%. These numbers may change slightly after amendments are considered.

Several of Mass Audubon’s priority line-items were cut:

  • Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program – unfunded. This important endangered species protection program remains precariously funded only by donations, permit review fees, and other sources that vary year to year.
  • Department of Environmental Protection – down $1.9 million to $26.04 million.
  • Department of Conservation & Recreation State & Urban Parks – down $3.6 million to $41.3 million.
  • Riverways is level funded from the current fiscal year, but still down $60,000 from where they were before this year’s budget cuts. 
  • MassGIS has moved from the Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs to the state’s Information Technology Division within Administration & Finance. They have retained their line-item, or account, but are funded at $70,000 total with the plan that they will be supported by other agencies that use their data, such as emergency services. MassGIS, the backbone of environmental stewardship, should be better supported by the state’s general fund. 
  • Our Trailside Museum in the Blue Hills remains without a line-item.
  • Surprisingly, House Ways & Means cut expenditures from the Division of Fisheries & Wildlife land stamp program from $1 million to $500,000. This program takes a $5.00 fee on all hunting and fishing licenses and uses the funds to protect important wildlife habitat. Making cuts here will not affect the state’s bottom line. 

The House will debate the budget and consider amendments the week of April 26th. Look for an action alert next week on budget amendments!
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The Great Appliance Exchange
Spread the word!

To link to details about rebate amounts qualified appliances, go to
www.masssave.com/residential and click on The Great Appliance Exchange

Are you looking to replace an old appliance that is likely costing you extra on your energy bill? Now is the perfect time! The Mass Save Great Appliance Exchange is offering incentives on highly efficient clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, and freezers when you replace an existing appliance. These rebates are available for a limited time only starting Earth Day, April 22, 2010 at 10:00 AM and running through May 5, 2010. Reservations must be placed and appliances must be purchased during this time. All Massachusetts households, including those of municipal electric utility customers, are eligible for these Mass Save Great Appliance Exchange rebates.

CHOOSE YOUR APPLIANCE NOW AND GET READY FOR RESERVATIONS AND PURCHASES TO BEGIN ON EARTH DAY!
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Most homes can achieve 20% to 40% energy savings
Free air sealing now available

Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECO) and other gas and electric utility companies offer a no-cost energy assessment to residents through Mass Save, the statewide home energy efficiency program. As of April 1, 2010, in addition to the no-cost assessment, eligible homes will also receive free air sealing services.

Air sealing is the measure most often recommended by energy specialists. In an older home, all the small leaks can add up to the equivalent of having a window open all winter long.  

“I often explain to customers that it’s like wearing a sweater without a wind breaker,” says Jenn Cranshaw, Mass Save energy specialist at the Center for Ecological Technology (CET), a non-profit organization that performs the energy assessments for WMECO customers. “Without an air barrier, your insulation will not be effective.”  Insulation and air sealing work in tandem to keep your home warm in the winter – and cool in the summer.

Trained air sealing technicians use materials such as caulk and foam to seal cracks and gaps in hard-to-reach areas, mostly in attics and crawlspaces. Technicians use a blower door, a high speed fan, and gauges to depressurize a house, determine leakiness and locate leaks. After air sealing is completed, technicians run the blower door again to determine the effectiveness of their work. This process also uncovers the rare instances when homes are too tight, in which case additional ventilation is recommended.  Blower door tests are not conducted in homes where asbestos or vermiculite are present.
 
A Mass Save home energy specialist will assess your home from basement to attic, noting air leaks and areas that need added insulation, in addition to testing heating systems and refrigerators for efficiency. At the conclusion of the assessment, the specialist will recommend cost-effective improvements that will make your home more comfortable and save money and energy. There are no income requirements to participate in Mass Save.

If recommended, the air sealing will be performed at no cost to the homeowner. Additional incentives include a utility contribution of 75% up to $2,000 for recommended insulation upgrades.  Homeowners can apply for a 0% interest loan to finance insulation and high-efficiency measures including heating and hot water systems, ENERGY STAR rated windows and solar hot water systems.

Spring is a good time to schedule an energy assessment, because waiting lists grow as fall approaches. Customers will start saving energy right away, and any recommended air sealing and insulation work will be completed in time for the next heating season. The first step is to schedule a free home energy assessment by calling Mass Save at 1-800-666-3303. To learn more, visit www.masssave.com or for tips on saving money and energy, visit www.wmeco.com.

CET is a non-profit organization working in the fields of energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste management and environmental education. CET provides practical solutions that make sense for our community, economy and environment. CET is funded in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
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Massachusetts Team in 2011 Solar Decathlon

A team of students from UMass Lowell and Massachusetts College of Art and Design has been chosen to compete in the 2011 Solar Decathlon.

Only 20 teams from around the world are chosen for this competition, which is already underway and will conclude with each team building a 1,000-square-foot home powered by solar energy on the National Mall in Washington , D.C. The UMass Lowell-MassArt group is the only team from Massachusetts and one of only two from New England (the other is from Middlebury College in Vermont ). The UMass Lowell students are studying solar engineering and the MassArt students are in the architecture program.  (link to full press release)

Christine Gillette
Media Relations Specialist
Office of Public Affairs
University of Massachusetts Lowell
978-934-2209
www.uml.edu
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ACTION ALERT -Help Pass the Updated Bottle Bill

The Bottle Bill is the state’s most successful recycling and litter prevention program. Since the Bottle Bill's inception in 1983, over 30 billion containers have been redeemed, contributing to a healthier environment, cleaner and safer communities, and a stronger economy. But to keep up with the times and consumers’ tastes, the bottle bill must be updated. An Updated Bottle Bill would expand our container deposit system to include non-carbonated beverages such as water, iced tea, juice, and sports drinks. It would decrease litter - and increase recycling.

An amazing 80% of beverages that are covered by the bottle bill are redeemed/recycled. But unfortunately, only 22% of non-deposit containers are recycled – the rest become litter, clog our storm drains, or are thrown in the trash.

Updating our bottle bill will boost recycling, save our communities the cost associated with disposal and litter cleanup, and conserve valuable resources. These plastic bottles are made of 99% petroleum - what an inappropriate waste to bury our valuable oil in landfills or burn it our or incinerators.

There are only three months left in this legislative session, and the bottle bill has yet to move out of its first committee. Your call to your legislators will help move it along.

Contact your State Representative and State Senator and ask them to push for passage of the Updated Bottle Bill, H3515/S1480.

If you know who your legislators are, click here to contact them: www.mass.gov/legis/memmenu.htm

If you're unsure, click here: www.wheredoivotema.com

Ask your legislators to:
(a.) Commit to supporting the bill (if they haven’t already)
(b.) Contact leadership and ask them to move the bill, Ask house/senate leaders to move the bill to the floor for a vote! If it doesn’t move soon, the bill will die.

We suggest you call, email, or fax them TODAY! Be sure to include your name and address.

Additional information:

H3515/S1480 would (a.) expand the bottle bill to include water, sports drinks, flavored teas, juices, and other on the go beverages. (b.) it would reestablish the Clean Environment Fund, taking forfeited deposits and using these funds to improve recycling and other environmental projects (c.) would provide an industry-paid slight increase to redemption centers, who have not had a raise in 18 years. This bill would not increase the deposit, and would not cost the state any money. This bill would help reduce litter, increase recycling, and help municipalities reduce collection and cleanup fees. There are no other bottle bill updates currently being considered by the legislature.

Notes:

Endorsed by Over 130 Cities and Towns, and by Advocacy Groups throughout the State. Enacting the update would save our cities and towns significant amounts, from lowering disposal costs, litter collection costs, and storm drain cleaning, which are frequently blocked by littered containers.

Increases Recycling Rates: Approximately 80% of bottle-bill-covered beverages are redeemed/recycled. Only 22% of NON-redeemable beverages are recycled.

Complements Curbside Recycling: Curbside is very effective for beverages consumed at home. But the majority of single-serving containers are consumed on-the-go, out of curbside’s reach.

Decrease Landfill Use: The state is running out of landfill space. The 1 billion containers that we send to landfills every year would fill Fenway Park to overflowing.

Saves Energy, Saves Oil: Most of the containers under the update are made of PET, 99% of which is petroleum. Recycled PET is badly needed for textiles. Had these bottles been recycled, we would have saved the energy equivalent of about 48,000 barrels of oil.

Strong Public Support: The public is very supportive of the bottle bill, seeing the positive effect that it’s had on the environment.

Producer Responsibility: Bearing the cost of a product's waste should be the responsibility of beverage producers and consumers, not taxpayers and communities. The bottle bill is a model for this kind of sustainable financing.

Creates Green Jobs: Gains in employment have been shown in nearly every state that updates their deposit system. Many of these jobs come in the recycling sector, which now produces important – and sustainable – raw materials to be used in manufacturing.

Keeps Current With Consumer Habits: The original bottle bill was never meant to be non-reactive to consumer trends. Now that 1/3 of our containers are not covered by the 27-year old law, we need to update it.

Revenue Positive for the State: Unclaimed deposits are maintained by the state. The cost of updating the bottle will not require any funding.

Supports the Redemption Centers: The bill includes provisions to increase the handling fee (not paid by the state). These small, often families owned business have not had an increase in handling fees in 18 years. They are currently experiencing huge increases in operating costs; many of them have been forced to close.

Provides Relief for Small Stores: The update allows small stores to opt out of taking returns if there’s a nearby redemption center.

No Additional Costs for Supermarkets: Almost all large supermarkets have more than enough capacity in their “reverse vending machines” to accept the increase in containers. Neither additional machines nor floorspace would be required.

------------------------------------------------------------
Phillip Sego, phil@sierraclubmass.org
Massachusetts Sierra Club
Home: 221 Norfolk Street, Cambridge MA 02139-1402
tel: 1-617-492-1032, cell: 1-617-610-3054
Mass Sierra Club Office:
10 Milk St., Suite 632, Boston MA 02108-4621
------------------------------------------------------------
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Nation's Top Collegiate Debaters Tackle Key Environmental Issues on Earth Day
fom Water Headlines for the week of April 19, 2010, a weekly on-line publication that announces publications, policies, and activities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water


The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA's) Office of Water, the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of Natural History and the nation’s top collegiate debaters will participate in lively and educational debates on two key environmental issues facing the U.S.  The morning debate will be between Michigan State University and the University of Mary Washington on the topic: "Should Congress adopt the Clean Water Restoration Act," and the afternoon debate will be between Harvard University and the University of Southern California on "Should EPA set binding limits on U.S. carbon emissions consistent with the 2010 Copenhagen principles."  The debates are free and open to the public.

Featured speakers: Peter S. Silva, EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water (morning debate) and Michael H. Shapiro, EPA Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water (afternoon debate)
Location: Baird Auditorium, Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History, located at the intersection of 10th Street and Constitution Ave., NW in Washington, D.C. (Metro accessible via Smithsonian Station and Federal Triangle Station)
Date and time: Thursday, April 22, 2010, 10:30 am to12:30 pm (first debate) and 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm (second debate)
More information on the debate and other Earth Day events:  http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/aroundthemall/2010/04/what-are-you-doing-for-earth-day/ or http://www.epa.gov/earthday/events.htm, or contact Bryan “Ibrahim” Goodwin, 202-566-0762, goodwin.bryan@epa.gov 
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EPA Meets with Federal Agencies on the Urban Waters Initiative
fom Water Headlines for the week of April 19, 2010, a weekly on-line publication that announces publications, policies, and activities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water

On April 6, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Department of Interior co-convened a federal partnership meeting with other federal agencies, in coordination with the White House Domestic Policy Council, to build a federal partnership that will support the launch of EPA’s Urban Waters initiative. The Urban Waters initiative is an effort to reconnect communities with urban waterways and restore critical resources by making programs more relevant to urban and underserved communities. At the meeting, the federal agencies shared ideas and agreed to establish and implement a partnership that will restore, improve and protect urban waterways and engage local communities in this effort.
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Stretch Code Passes -- Pittsfield on the way to becoming first Green Community
from John Krol Ward 6,  Special Edition -- April 18, 2010

With the progressive leadership of the City Council, including proponents Mike Ward, Peter Marchetti, Chris Yon, Gerald Lee, and Peter White, the Stretch Energy Code will be rolled-out in a gradual way to allow builders, architects and our inspectors adjust to the changes that will lead to a July 1, 2011 full implementation. The Stretch Code will offer most impact on new residential homes, ensuring a more affordable, efficient and higher-quality product. This will lead to long-term improvements to Pittsfield's housing stock and more dollars in the pockets of our residents to save, invest, and spend locally -- as opposed to being spent on energy costs.
Click here to read more about the Stretch Code and Green Communities Act
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The Safe Chemicals Act: Protection from Toxic Chemicals

Legislation to overhaul the nation's failed chemical law has been introduced in Congress by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Congressmen Bobby Rush (D-IL) and Henry Waxman (D-CA).  The Safe Chemicals Act is landmark legislation that will overhaul the way the government protects people from toxic chemicals.

Click here (http://bit.ly/bluzJt) to protect American families from toxic chemicals in products and ask your Members of Congress to co-sponsor and strengthen the Safe Chemicals Act.

The Safe Chemicals Act goes a long way towards bringing our failing chemical management system into the 21st century. It puts our health first, provides better information to businesses, and helps the average consumer avoid toxic chemicals in every day products.

This important bill has room for improvement, and with your help we're confident it can be fixed. We want to work with Congress to strengthen the bill to make it harder for new harmful chemicals to enter the marketplace.

Many people across the country have been asking for real reform in Washington.

"I shouldn't need a degree in chemistry in order to shop for my children. All of the changes we made in our family life are important – but they are not enough. And that makes me mad. So now I am an advocate for chemical policy reform."

Elizabeth Arndorfer, Palo Alto, California

Many of you have joined Elizabeth and have started to use your purchasing power to shift businesses away from using dangerous toxic chemicals. But relying on the market to correct itself won't result in the protection we need.  The national law needs to be overhauled to keep our health and the environment safe from the ubiquitous use of toxic chemicals.

Since the possibility to reform TSCA is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, we need you to ask your Members of Congress to co-sponsor and strengthen some of the provisions listed above.

Click here (http://bit.ly/bluzJt) to email your Members of Congress and ask them to co-sponsor and strengthen the Safe Chemicals Act today.

Make your voice heard in support of reform that will make chemicals and products safer, invest in a new economy with good American jobs and reap the benefits that chemistry has fostered in our daily lives without harming our health or the environment.

Thanks for taking action and joining the millions of Americans who are working together for a safer and healthier future.

Sincerely,

Lindsay Dahl
Deputy Director
Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families
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April ongoing

Plant Sale - The Berkshire Conservation District is proud to offer a wide variety of tree seedlings, ground covers, flowering shrubs, and perennials for spring planting. Most trees and shrubs are sold dormant, bare root and hardy. Info at: http://www.berkshireconservation.org/plantsale.html.

Earth Day – April 22

Firefly Watch Citizen Science program – Berkshire Museum
12:30-1:30PM- Firefly craft activity in Berkshire Backyard Gallery
1:30-2:30PM- Firefly Watch Citizen Science Training in the Theater
Fireflies have been a part of the magic of summer for countless generations and they are disappearing, learn how you can help scientists figure out why. Celebrate Earth Day at the Berkshire Museum as we team up with the Boston Museum of Science and help scientists study and track one of the world’s most fascinating insects. Free with Museum admission Call 413.443.7171 ext. 17 for more information.

Earth Day Eco-Volunteers = 9AM – 12NOON
Bartholomew’s Cobble, Weatogue Rd., Sheffield 413.229.8600
Pitch in to protect biodiversity at the Berkshires one and only National Natural Landmark. Discover why Bartholomew’s Cobble is such an amazing place for spring wildflowers. Trustees of Reservations staff will teach you how to identify and pull out garlic mustard so that you can protect the native plant populations. Bring gloves, long sleeves and long pants. FREE. Please call in advance for information.

MA Forest Stewardship Program – Earth Day Workshop For Landowners and Natural Resource Professionals - 6:30 P.M to 8:30 P.M
DCR Western Region Headquarters, 740 South Street, Pittsfield, MA, South Mountain meeting room
Featuring a presentation of invasive species management by Jess Toro and Sari Hoy of Native Habitat Restoration, LLC, this workshop aims to help landowners and natural resource professionals identify and control harmful exotics, and is the perfect opportunity to have your questions answered. Invasive species are the second greatest threat to global biodiversity next to habitat destruction costing an estimated global $1.5 trillion per year in environmental and economic damage. Information on technical assistance and financial incentives available to landowners will be presented by Michael Downey, DCR Forest Stewardship Program Service Forester and Kate Parsons, NRCS District Conservationist.  Currently, cost-sharing is available in the areas of forest planning, wildlife habitat improvement, soil and water protection, carbon, forest-based business, wood production and others. For information, contact Michael Downey, 413-442-8928 x135.

Green at Hancock Shaker Village, the City of Peace – 2p.m.

Celebrate Earth Day in the Shakers’ Heaven on Earth. This family-friendly event will feature a tour of Hancock Shaker Village’s historic-to-modern green and environmentally-friendly features. Included will be information on sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, architectural design and construction, smart growth town planning, and more. There will be a demonstration of the 1858 water power turbine in Laundry and Machine Shop and up-close investigation of the historic passive solar features of Shaker buildings, compared with Hancock Shaker Village’s new solar photovoltaic array, which generates 89.9 kilowatts, supplies 66% of the Village’s electrical energy needs today, and is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 3.7 million pounds over the life span of the system. Free with general admission.

The Politics of Climate: Building Trust in the New Energy Economy – 7:30 p.m.
Wege Auditorium, Thompson Chemistry 123, Williams College
A lecture by David Moulton, Director of the Climate Policy and Conservation Funding for the Wilderness Society. Moulton played a key role in enabling the passage of the 2007 Energy Act requiring the increase of fuel economy standards for America's passenger vehicles by at leat 10 mpg by 2021. Sponsored as part of Earth Week by the Center for Environmental Studies.

April 23

Lenox Town Hall Earth Day Celebration: The Lorax at 7:00 and Taking Root – 8:15 p.m. - donation
Bring the family to enjoy the classic Dr. Seuss best environmental film ever: The Lorax. (“UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.”) Perfect for kids! Cookie break. Screening of Taking Root. Powerful, inspiring film. Planting trees for fuel, food and timber is not something that anyone would imagine as the first step toward winning the Nobel Peace Prize. Yet with that simple act, Wangari Maathai of Kenya started down the path that helped to reclaim her country’s land from a century of deforestation while providing new sources of livelihood to rural communities. She gave previously impoverished and marginalized women the tools to participate for the first time in the political processes of their communities and the growing movement to end Kenya's twenty-four-year dictatorship.

“think green, it’s Friday!” – all day – downtown Lenox
lenox unplugged, a Western Mass Take Charge campaign, will launch its first "think green it's Friday!"  Local businesses and organizations who have taken the unplugged pledge will offer customers "green and unplugged" incentives that reward customers for thinking green, offers like discounts for using reusable bags, green-minded menus at restaurants, and dollar coffees with a reusable mug.  Lenox residents can take their pledge at www.townoflenox.com/lenoxunplugged and Berkshire County residents can go to www.cetonline.org/takecharge.php. Lenox unplugged will be sponsoring events throughout the town during the week of Earth Day.  Check the website www.lenoxunplugged.wordpress.com for the schedule and to see a list of all the deals and incentives on "think green, it's Friday!" 

April 24

Annual Earth Day Clean-up, Great Barrington, Housatonic River Walk - 9AM to 2 p.m.
Lunch provided and tours provided after 2 PM.
See http://www.gbriverwalk.org/riverwkInfo.html

Rachel Fletcher
Housatonic River Walk
413-528-3391
river@gbriverwalk.org

Wild Oats Market’s third annual Earth Day Celebration - noon to 4 pm.
Free, food demos, informational booths from local area organizations and businesses
involved in environmental issues, workshops on composting, photovoltaics, and spring planting (for kids & adults), kids' activities, music from staffer Mike Wood and his "Rebel Alliance" band, and music from world music DJ Mike Card, and more. Spring bedding plants, composting bins and other garden
supplies will be available for sale. And, chef Greg Roach will be grilling local foods on the grill, weather permitting.
Robin Riley, Marketing/Member Services, Wild Oats Market
Williamstown, MA
(413) 458-8060  marketing@wildoats.coop

The Return of the Winged Ones – 8:00 a.m.
Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation - www.wrlf.org - Celebrate Earth Day and the return of the Winged Ones! Join Leslie Reed Evans, WRLF Executive Director for morning bird watching and identification in the meadow. Beginners welcome!

“E RECYCLES” (that’s “E” for Egremont) – 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. – Town Parking lot
Second annual volunteer roadside clean up and recycling event organized by the Egremont Green Committee. Here’s how it works:  volunteers are asked to sign up for a small stretch of an Egremont road.  On the day of the event volunteers are given trash bags and safety vests and scour their assigned road for all that unsightly trash that seems to pop up when the winter snows melt.  They are then invited back to the Egremont Green Committee’s recycling information center where their “booty” is sorting and recycled (if applicable).  Eco-friendly giveaways, healthy refreshments and pats on the back and hearty cheers will then go out to all of our civic minded volunteers. The event is part recycling, part Earth Day celebration, part community pride and part wellness activity.  At last year’s event over 100 volunteers participated and over 94% of Egremont’s roads were covered.  The Egremont Green Committee has their fingers crossed for 100% this year!  

April 25

No Impact Man –Triplex, Great Barrington – 11am - FREE
Saving the world, one family at a time. Follow the Manhattan-based Beavan family as they abandon their high consumption 5th Avenue lifestyle and try to live a year while making no net environmental impact. Speakers and food after the film.

Secrets of Spring Wildflowers: Guided Walk - 10AM – 12NOON
Bartholomew’s Cobble, Weatogue Rd., Sheffield - 413.229.8600
Visit now, at the peak of the spring wildflower season, to find out why this National Natural Landmark such an amazing place to view and identify spring wildflowers. On your walk you will be guided by Trustees of Reservations naturalist Rene Wendell. Members $5. Nonmembers $7. Please pre-register.

April 26

Garbage Docs: MARINA OF THE ZABBALEEN - Images Cinema – 7:30 p.m.
Enter the extraordinary world of seven-year-old Marina. Through her magical eyes, you'll be led into the never-before-seen Muqqattam garbage recycling village in Cairo, Egypt. An impressionistic portrait of childhood and family, the film also tells the story of the resourceful Zabbaleen, a Coptic Christian community of recyclers whose entrepreneurial waste management system produces the highest recycling rate in the world. No people has felt the ramifications of the Swine Influenza pandemic more acutely than the Zabbaleen, whose way of life was devastated by the government-ordered eradication of the country’s pig population earlier last spring.

Thursday April 29

Simple Solutions, Packaged Deals, and a 50-Year Farm Bill – 8:00 p.m. -MainStage '62 Center, Williams College
Poet, essayist, farmer, and novelist, Wendell Berry is the author of more than 30 works of prose and poetry. About his work, a reviewer for the Christian Science Monitor wrote: "Berry's poems shine with the gentle wisdom of a craftsman who has thought deeply about the paradoxical strangeness and wonder of life." He has taught at New York University and the University of Kentucky, received fellowships from the Guggenheim and Rockefeller Foundations, a Lannan Foundation Award, and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
May 7-8

Plant Sale - Berkshire Botanical Gardens
Info at: http://www.berkshirebotanical.org/events/index.html

May 15

Stockbridge’s Green Team is partnering with the Climate Crisis Coalition for the "Runners Take Charge" race and festival that will take place in Stockbridge on Saturday May 15.   For information, please call Sally Underwood-Miller at CCC 413-243-5665. Race is 4 miles, or 1 mile fun-run/walk followed by environmental fair.
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