The BEAT News

April 30, 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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Resource Highlighting the Westside Farm Project
from Ward 6 News, City Councilor John Krol, Sun, April 25, 2010

Check out the Westside Farm Project Website promoting an excellent program that has turned a former vacant lot into an incredible resource in the neighborhood under the leadership of Thom Pecoraro in this partnership with the City of Pittsfield.

**The Westside Farm Project began as a grassroots effort within the Westside neighborhood of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The project’s vision was to transform Westside vacant lots into positive green space for community interaction centered on organic food production for residents. The project was supported by a larger city undertaking called “The Westside Initiative," which began in 2003 to strengthen, beautify and cultivate a sense of community in the Westside neighborhood, where crime and economic strife have been prevalent.
Click here to read more about the Westside Farm Project story
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Democrats Introduce "Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act" To Help Wildlife Cope with Climate Change
04/22/2010 National Parks Traveler

With some impacts of climate change already evident, and others projected, wildlife will need a means to move across the landscape to cope with the changes. With that in mind, two Democratic congressmen have introduced legislation to identify and protect wildlife corridors across the country.

Drafted by U.S. Representatives Rush Holt of New Jersey and Jared Polis of Colorado, the "Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act" is intended to help officials identify and protect wildlife corridors that cross both public and private lands.

The Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act comes on the heels of a Presidential Memorandum released April 16 that defines a 21st century strategy for preserving America’s Great Outdoors that also recognizes the importance of wildlife corridors and connectivity.

“It is vitally important that we identify and maintain habitat connectivity and migration corridors for fish and wildlife in response to the effects of climate change and other landscape level impacts on these critical resources. This bill will facilitate meaningful cooperative endeavors to this end between states, federal agencies, tribes, industry, and private landowners,” said Gary Taylor, legislative director of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

The Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act would create a national wildlife corridors information program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to collect and disseminate information among states and federal agencies about essential wildlife movement areas. It would also establish a Wildlife Corridors Stewardship and Protection Fund to provide grants to federal agencies, states, local governments, nonprofits, and corporations for the management and protection of essential wildlife corridors. Finally, it would require the Departments of Agriculture, Interior, and Transportation to consider the preservation of these movement areas in their management plans. This legislation incorporates and builds on the wildlife habitat and corridors provisions of the Climate Change Safeguards for Natural Resources Conservation Act (H.R. 2192), sponsored by Rep. Raul Grijalva, and ultimately incorporated into the House-passed climate bill (H.R. 2454).

“The lives of the American people always have been interwoven with the movement of wildlife. Today, wildlife corridors are vital to the outdoor traditions that are a central part of our national character,” Rep. Holt said. “As we celebrate Earth Day this week, we recognize that protecting our planet entails protecting all of its inhabitants. Passing this legislation and preserving wildlife corridors would honor the ideals of Earth Day.”

“Wildlife corridors connect natural areas and allow animals to move, migrate, and adapt in a warmer, more crowded world,” said Jeffrey Parrish, executive director of the Freedom to Roam Coalition, which represents a broad group of businesses, non-profits, and government agencies. “Corridors also connect people to the outdoors, and ensure that all our citizens can hunt and fish, watch wildlife, and recreate while still developing our nation's economy and addressing our energy challenges sustainably.”

Support for the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act includes the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, National Wildlife Federation, Freedom to Roam, the Society for Conservation Biology, Wildlife Conservation Society, World Wildlife Fund, the Wildlife Alliance, National Parks Conservation Association, Defenders of Wildlife, the Wildlife Society, Wildlands Network, Sierra Club, the Humane Society, Conservation Northwest, American Wildlands, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, New Jersey Conservation, Oregon Natural Desert Association, Center for Large Landscape Conservation, and the Western Environmental Law Center.
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Pittsfield Tree Watch Sets: Search for Heritage Trees
 
A hunt for Pittsfield's hundreds of great Heritage Trees has been announced by Pittsfield Tree Watch (PTW).  Local residents, with tape measure in hand, are invited to assist in identifying all of them.  The hunt starts Saturday, May 1 (May Day) and ends Sunday,June 20 (Midsummer).

By definition, a Heritage Tree trunk is eight feet around (96 inches) at chest height.
To speed up the identification and mapping process, residents are requested to measure the trees on their street and in their yard and send the tree-location address and qualifying measurement with their own name and phone number via email to treepittsfield@yahoo.com 

Under PTW auspices, 114 of these big oldies have already been identified on North, South, East and West Streets, and close to $9,000 in matching state grants have been applied for and received toward their maintenance and preservation.
In qualifying for these grants, Bob Presutti and Dave Balardini located the trees, took their picture and created and submitted a book with color photos and details about species, circumference, height, condition and GPS coordinates.

"Just like humans, trees take a long while to grow," said Astrid Hagenguth, PTW chairman, "and become more useful the bigger and older they get.  Both trees and humans require care and attention to get the most out of their aliveness.  With the results of this hunt, we'll know where they are and can watch out for them."

"Heritage trees are a major part of our community forest and need to be kept going," she said.  As 'living infrastructure,' these trees are as vital to the life of the city as our water, electric, gas and sewer lines.  They are not just optional landscaping, not just a nicety, but a necessity."

Economic tree benefits Ms. Hagenguth lists include an ROI of $5.60 for every dollar spent on tree planting and care (New York City cost-benefit study).   ”Heritage trees produce more oxygen, absorb more CO2 (mitigate climate change), provide shade, lower energy costs, control wind speed and direction, muffle noise, manage storm-water run-off, increase property values and economic stability, decrease soil erosion, improve mental and physical health, provide privacy, reduce glare and reflection, lower A/C costs, have historical significance and give a city character -- just by standing there."

Pittsfield Tree Watch is a citizens group founded to preserve existing Pittsfield trees on public land and encourage tree-planting on private property so that Pittsfield 's urban forest canopy can be reconstituted and maintained. PTW activities have earned National Tree City USA status for the city as well as points for Pittsfield on the Commonwealth Capital Score, making the city eligible for more and larger state grants.
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Governor Announces Commonwealth Forest Heritage Plan
from ELM Bulletin, Thu, April 22, 2010

Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles announced yesterday a Commonwealth Forest Heritage Plan for management of state forests that quadruples the amount of forest land where no commercial logging takes place.  Nearly 200,000 acres will be held in reserves, protected from logging, as state forests are managed with a focus on conservation biology. The Commonwealth Forest Heritage Plan also calls for greater coordination of land management across all state agencies, and a shift in how DCR conducts forest stewardship - toward one focusing more on conservation biology and greater public engagement and transparency.

To read the full press release from the EOEEA, go here.
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Sparking Boston's Climate Revolution

In March 2009, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced the formation of the Boston Climate Action Leadership Committee and Community Advisory Committee. The charge to the committees was to give recommendations to the Mayor on the next set of goals, policies, and programs that Boston should establish for itself as it confronts the risks and opportunities of global climate change. A year later, in April 2010, Sparking Boston's Climate Revolution (pdf) was released. This report contains recommendations for reducing Boston’s contribution to climate change, addressing changes we cannot avoid, and engaging the entire Boston community in the effort.
What will cities and towns in western Massachusetts do?
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Design Alternatives for the First Street Common
from the City of Pittsfield Parks and Recreation News

The design alternatives for the renovations to the First St Common are now available for viewing and comment.  Please take a few minutes to review the alternatives and provide your comment through an online survey by clicking here.  

Questions? Feel free to contact the Community Development office at City Hall (499-9344) or email parks@pittsfieldch.com.

The NEXT MEETING to review the preferred alternative design will be Monday, May 24, 2010 at 7:00 pm in City Hall (70 Allen St.) Council Chambers on the 2nd floor.
 
Please share and forward this to others who may be interested.
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Stretch Code Passes -- Pittsfield on the way to becoming first Green Community
from City Councilor John Krol's Newsletter

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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Updated Residential Cash Flow Analysis for Stretch Code now posted on Green Communities website!
From the Massachusetts Green Communities Division

Please find an updated residential cash flow analysis on our Green Communities website for homes built to the Stretch Code here http://www.mass.gov/Eoeea/docs/doer/green_communities/grant_program/stretch-memo-w-analysis-042710.pdf.  This analysis has replaced the previous analysis in the following ways:

  • the baseline modeled scenario has been updated to the MA baseline energy code IECC 2009 adopted this past January 2010
  • the stretch code scenario is modeled to the actual stretch code that was adopted into regulations last August 2009 (rather than modeled to the proposed regulations)
  • new sized homes have been added – a Large home and a small home

We are up to 18 municipalities who have adopted the Stretch Code, a nation leading performance energy code, and by doing so, have adopted one of the criteria towards being designated a Green Community!

BEAT Note: If I am reading this correctly the new analysis is showing a SAVINGS to the homeowner of $293 to $389 per year - that is assuming the payments from a 30 year mortgage on the increased cost, subtracted from the annual energy savings. If you can front the money rather than take out a mortgage, your savings would be far greater. - Jane
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CET and Carr Hardware partner in light bulb recycling effort
                       
The Center for Ecological Technology (CET) and Carr Hardware are working together to make it easy for residents and businesses to recycle light bulbs that contain mercury. Many types of light bulbs contain mercury, including compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL), fluorescent tubes, high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps and bulbs used in tanning salons.

Using fluorescent lighting results in significant energy savings. A compact or straight fluorescent bulb uses about one quarter of the energy of a standard incandescent bulb. The reduced energy requirement equates to significant pollution reduction at power plants. Fluorescent bulbs also last 8 to 10 times as long as a standard bulb. Mercury is what makes fluorescent lighting so efficient. Using efficient lighting is good for your wallet, and good for the environment because it is less wasteful, however the mercury contained in these bulbs means they must be recycled properly.

Massachusetts requires appropriate disposal of all spent mercury-containing bulbs.

Even small quantities of mercury are extremely toxic and can harm the human nervous system, vision and hearing. Mercury is especially dangerous for children and fetuses. The EPA estimated that every year 630,000 newborns in our country are at risk for health problems because of unsafe mercury levels.

If a bulb that contains mercury is thrown into a compactor, dumpster, or trashcan, it can shatter and release mercury vapors into the air. Those vapors can be inhaled by anyone in the area. Even if the bulbs aren’t broken during transport to the disposal site, when they arrive, the risk is high that mercury will be released into the air, water and soil. Eventually, mercury ends up in lakes and streams. Once in our waterways, mercury begins to creep into the food chain. Most people are exposed to mercury from eating contaminated fish.

CET, a non-profit environmental organization, has been helping municipalities, businesses and institutions reduce and properly manage waste for over 30 years. With funding from the National Electrical Manufacturing Association (NEMA) and USDA Rural Development, CET has been helping Carr hardware design and implement a lamp recycling program for both its in-store customers as well as business clients they serve at locations throughout Berkshire County.

NEMA has provided free signage for Carr Hardware and educational materials for store staff and customers. Area residents are encouraged to bring in spent fluorescent bulbs for free recycling to any of the listed Carr locations, when they purchase an equivalent number of new bulbs. 

"I am very happy to help our Berkshire county neighbors with this program," says Bart Raser, co-owner of Carr Hardware.  "We are happy to provide a valuable service for our customers and this is an issue I really believe in."

With the purchase of new fluorescent bulbs, area residents can drop off their spent bulbs at any of the following Carr Hardware locations:

  • Pittsfield - 547 North Street
  • Great Barrington - 256 Main Street
  • Lee - 57 Park Street
  • North Adams - 192 State Street
  • Watervliet, NY - 701 19th Street

NEMA is actively working to help MA residents and businesses recycle mercury-containing bulbs. In May of 2008, the MA DEP implemented new regulations on all mercury containing products. Any product that contains mercury is now banned from disposal in landfills or incinerators. The MA DEP and NEMA have goals to annually improve the recycling rate for all types of mercury lamps and CET is helping implement programs like the one at Carr Hardware.
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EPA Launches New Web Tools to Inform the Public About Clean Water Enforcement
 
Interactive Web tool allows the public to check water violations in their communities
 
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching a new set of web tools, data, and interactive maps to inform the public about serious Clean Water Act violations in their communities.  Improving water quality is one of EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson’s priorities and in 2009, Administrator Jackson directed the agency to develop concrete steps to improve water quality, to better enforce the Clean Water Act and to use 21st Century technology to transform the collection, use and availability of EPA data. The web tools announced today is part of EPA’s Clean Water Act Action Plan to work with states in ensuring that facilities comply with standards that keep our water clean.
 
"EPA is taking another important step to increase transparency and keep Americans informed about the safety of their local waters," said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "Making this information more accessible and understandable empowers millions of people to press for better compliance and enforcement in their communities."
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Job Opening - Water Protection Manager - Housatonic Valley Association

Position Summary:

HVA seeks an exceptional environmental professional who is passionate about our mission to conserve the natural character and environmental health of our communities by protecting land and water throughout the Housatonic Watershed from the Berkshires to Long Island Sound. 

The Water Protection Manager (WPM) is responsible for strategic leadership and day-to-day implementation of HVA's river and water protection programs in Connecticut, and for technical guidance/hands-on assistance in New York (Ten Mile River Watershed).
Additional responsibilities include coordinating with HVA's Massachusetts staff to ensure consistent programming; providing leadership and staff support to the Board Water Protection Committee; providing leadership and support to several smaller watershed organizations within the Housatonic River Valley; and representing HVA in statewide (CT) coalitions working on river and water policy.

The WPM is HVA's go-to person for river and water related questions in the Housatonic Watershed. The WPM reports to the Executive Director.

Mail cover letter and resume to: 
Lynn Werner
Executive Director
HVA
PO Box 28
Cornwall Bridge, CT 06754,
or email to:

The position is open immediately (April 8, 2010) and applications will be accepted until the position is filled. 

Title:  Water Protection Manager (Full-time)
Location:  HVA, Connecticut Office, Cornwall Bridge, CT
 

Principal Duties:

  1. Create, organize, carryout river/water monitoring, restoration and protection projects.
  2. Develop/maintain strong relationships with peer groups throughout the river valley.
  3. Develop, manage, motivate and support a team of volunteer river stewards (macro invertebrate sampling, chemical sampling, shoreline surveys, riverfront restoration, etc.)
  4. Work closely with other program staff to implement public education programs.
  5. Evaluate, organize, carryout classroom watershed education programs in Connecticut.
  6. Collaborate effectively with water protection leaders across Connecticut to advocate for improved water protection policy.
  7. Maintain, update and promote HVA’s web-based water quality map and database.
  8. Analyze, recommend positions and take appropriate actions on river/ water issues in CT and assist the Berkshire and New York staff with same.
  9. Maintain HVA’s public repository of documents on PCB cleanup, hydropower, other. 
  10. Work closely with the development director to develop project proposals for foundation, individual and corporate donors, and create written progress and final reports to funders.
  11. Work closely with the executive director to cultivate long term relationships with community and business leaders along the Housatonic River to improve river stewardship, and to guide and implement HVA’s strategic goals.

Qualifications: 

The ideal candidate has a passion for, and a solid understanding of,

  1. river and watershed protection principles and policies;
  2. working with and motivating members of the public, community leaders and volunteers to improve river and water conditions;
  3. river and water protection advocacy and leadership at the local, regional and state levels;
  4. how to collaborate with diverse stakeholders and partners to achieve water protection
    goals. 

He/she is outgoing, multidisciplinary, and has exceptional analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills (verbal and written).  He/she has a bachelor’s degree in watershed management, environmental studies or related field and three or more years of related experience. He/she is comfortable responding quickly to unanticipated watershed issues and managing subsequent shifting priorities; has a working knowledge of basic GIS, Excel, and PowerPoint; enjoys working with the public; enjoys working as part of HVA’s team, pitching in at HVA events and programs as needed; is available evenings and weekends; and is physically able to access the river and its shoreline on a regular basis.
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Project Native has a 1 bedroom apartment in a historic farmhouse on a 54-acre native plant farm in Housatonic, Massachusetts.  No pets or TV hookup.  $650/month + utilities. Pellet stove heat with oil back up. First, last, security and year lease required.  Call 413-274-3433 for more information.

Karen Lyness LeBlanc
Project Native
342 North Plain Rd.
Housatonic, MA 01236
(413) 274-3433
(413) 274-3464 - FAX
www.projectnative.org
projectnative@verizon.net

Recipient of the New England Wildflower Society’s 2008 Education Award for outstanding efforts in educating the public about stewardship of native plants and landscapes.
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We are getting ready to release the just-updated EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in partnership with renowned medical expert on natural health and wellness Dr. Andrew Weil. But first, we wanted to give loyal EWG supporters like you an exclusive first look at the latest Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 lists.

Our exclusive EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides lists fruits and vegetables based on their levels of pesticide residue. Because you're an EWG fan, you can see the guide before anyone else and find out how favorites like apples, spinach and potatoes -- and for the first time ever, blueberries -- rank.

Click here to watch a video from Dr. Andrew Weil explaining why he uses EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides, then download your own!

Ready to eat fewer pesticides?

We at EWG always recommend eating more fruits and veggies and buying them organic if you can, but we know that sometimes they're too expensive or flat-out unavailable.
That's why we created EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides -- so you know which fruits and vegetables have the lowest pesticide residues and which you should try to always buy organic.

Click here to see what Dr. Andrew Weil has to say about how EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides saves you time and money, then download the exclusive list for yourself.

Sincerely,

Ken Cook
President, EWG

P.S. Buying organic lettuce? Earthbound Farms is donating a portion of sales of organic lettuce to a few nonprofits. Vote for us to get a share, then look for specially-marked packages in stores. Voting ends Friday, April 30!
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