In the News
CALENDAR OF EVENTS Advocacy News (Includes how to reach your legislators) DEP Enforcement Actions In The Berkshire return to top |
Your Town: The Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design The National Endowment for the Arts will be funding four Your Town: The Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design workshops and are seeking your interest in producing a workshop between now and November 2010. This is an opportunity to bring design professionals to your community to help you tackle critical regional planning and design issues. Up to $22,000 will be available to a non-profit organization for each workshop. Applications are due by January 8, 2010. For more information, check out the website: http://www.yourtowndesign.org/. |
NEW POLL: Overwhelming Majority of Americans Support Global Warming Action The National Wildlife Federation (NWF), of which ELM is the Massachusetts Affiliate, released an important poll this morning about American attitudes toward global warming and possible actions to combat it. Following is an NWF press release. WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 23, 2009): The overwhelming majority of Americans - more than 80 percent - support action to limit carbon pollution and move the U.S. toward a clean energy future, according to a new poll released today by National Wildlife Federation. American voters demonstrate a strong desire for the U.S. to transition toward a low-carbon economy, with strong support among Independents.
"The American people can't be more clear when it comes to solving global warming: they want the U.S. to be Rudolph out in front of the sleigh, leading the world toward a clean energy future," said Jeremy Symons, senior vice president of NWF. "There is overwhelming public support for the Senate to pass legislation with firm limits on carbon pollution that will stimulate massive new investments in clean energy technologies." The poll was conducted by the Benenson Strategy Group. 1,000 interviews were conducted with registered voters nationwide from December 12-15, 2009 |
Patrick-Murray Administration Maintains Incinerator Moratorium, Expands Recycling Efforts From the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs: The Patrick-Murray Administration announced last Friday it would maintain the existing moratorium on new facilities for incineration of municipal solid waste. In addition, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles outlined Governor Patrick's priorities for expanding the recycling of key products like water bottles and consumer electronics, as part of a push to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators. "We are serious about managing the waste we generate in a way that saves money for cities and towns, curbs pollution and protects the environment for our children and grandchildren," said Governor Deval Patrick. "There are better ways than traditional incineration." "Focusing on incineration and landfills is the wrong end of the waste equation," said Secretary Bowles. "While Massachusetts is ahead of the national average in recycling and some communities like Nantucket are leading the way, there is a lot more we can do to increase recycling and reduce disposal of useful materials." The Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has had in place a moratorium on new municipal solid waste combustion facilities since 1990. As MassDEP prepares a new Solid Waste Master Plan, which it is expected to issue as a draft in early 2010, today's announcement specifies that the new plan will maintain the moratorium, but also strengthen it in two ways - by reducing dramatically the amount of recyclable material going into the waste stream, and by developing stringent new performance standards for existing waste-to-energy facilities that require higher recycling rates in waste collection areas, lower emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants, and higher efficiency in energy recapture. MassDEP will work toward developing these performance standards for the next 10-year Master Plan. To read the full press release, go here. |
Renewable Energy@ Closed Landfills To register, visit: http://www.mass.gov/dep/energy/lfwkshop2.htm scroll to the bottom of the page and click on "EBC Online Registration" Please see the attached brochure for more information. |
SAVE THE DATE!!! Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences (Manomet) and the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife are presenting a half-day event as follow-on to the groundbreaking conference held at Bentley College in November 2008. The event is being held as part of the 66th Annual Northeast Fish and Wildlife Conference. It will take place at the Boston Marriott Newton in Newton, Massachusetts. Come learn about what the Climate Change and Wildlife Alliance–Massachusetts (Alliance) has been accomplishing since the groundbreaking conference. Alliance partners will fill you in on the progress made and share ways to manage climate change as it pertains to your organization. The 10 Alliance organizations include: Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, the Environmental League of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Audubon, Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition, New England Wild Flower Society, The National Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy of Massachusetts, and The Trustees of Reservations. Registration will soon be available at: www.climateandwildlife.org. Stay tuned for more information! Beth Brazil |
Wildlife Tracking Series at Dyken Pond Center Grafton –This winter Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center has teamed up with Tamakoce Wilderness Programs and The Rensselaer Plateau Alliance (RPA) to bring you the 2010 Animal Tracking Series. This series is designed to take you from the very basics of animal tracking through some intermediate level training. The month long series will include five field days with local and regionally known trackers and two evening classes on animal sign and movement. Sessions: January 2: Basic Tracking January 9: All day Tracking January 12: Evening Slideshow on Animal Sign The full course costs $135 non-members, $115 members. Space is limited to 12 people and pre-registration is required…Pre-register for programs by calling the Center at 658-2055 or by email at dykenpond@fairpoint.net. Dyken Pond Center is a Rensselaer County Park located in the town of Grafton open daily during daylight hours for hiking, snowshoeing, cross- country skiing, nature watching and ice fishing. Call 658-2055 for directions and a complete schedule of our winter events. |
Athol Christmas Bird Count Report Thirty-six, members and friends of the Athol Bird and Nature Club covered the 40th annual Athol Christmas Bird Count Saturday December 19th. Very cold temperatures and about 6 inches of snow made for a wintry day in the north Quabbin. A total of 11,061 individual birds of 56 species were observed by 12 teams of observers who fanned out over the 15-mile diameter circle centered on Athol. Highlights included: Northern Shrike observed in Royalston by Jacob Morris-Siegel And Bruce Scherer, 2 Rusty Blackbirds observed by Jeff Johnstone and his team, A chipping Sparrow and 4 Snow Buntings observed by Billy Fregeau, Josh Rose, and Virginia Rettig, and 3 Eastern Bluebirds observed by John Henshaw and Steve Ferrell. Dave Small’s Team observed a mink and Butch Labrie called in his bird report from his tree stand that included a sighting of a fisher (but no deer as yet. Canada Goose 7, Am. Black Duck 7, Mallard 11, Common Merganser 12, Ringed-Neck Pheasant 4. Ruffed Grouse 2, Wild Turkey 104, Common Loon 2, Bald Eagle 8, Sharp-Shinned Hawk 4, Coopers Hawk 5, Red-Tailed Hawk 14, Ring-Billed Gull 4, Herring Gull 6, Rock (Dove) Pigeon 558, Mourning Dove 329, Great Horned Owl 1, Barred Owl 5, Saw-Whet Owl 4, Red-bellied woodpecker 13, Downy Woodpecker 153, Hairy Woodpecker 99, Northern Flicker 1, Pileated Woodpecker 9, Northern Shrike 1, Blue Jay 916, American Crow 345, Common Raven 34, Horned Lark 26, Black-capped Chickadee 1226, Tufted Titmouse 283, Red-Breasted Nuthatch 56, Count participants in the field included: Dave Small (compiler) Ed Armstrong, David Brown, David Cass, Jonathan Center, Anne Cervantes, Dick Cooper, Bob Coyle, Chris Coyle, Paul Daniello, Joan and Larry Duprey, Chris Ellison, Steve Ferrell, Bill Fregeau, John Henshaw, Jeff Johnstone, Bob Mallet, James Mallet, Kate marquis, Melissa Martin, Greg McGuane, Dale, Monette, Jacob Morris-Siegel, Tom Murray, Tom Pirro, Mike Polana, Jay Rasku, William Rasku, Virginia Rettig, Josh Rose, Bruce Scherer, Shelley Small, Barbara Snook, Jenny Southgate, Ann Spring, Mark Taylor, Greg Watkevitch, Todd Wiley. Special thanks go out to all the feeder watchers who also contributed reports. The Athol Count period ends on Monday so if you observe any birds not listed in this report please e-mail or call me. Dave Small |
Bachrach Criticizes Brown on Climate Stance ELM President George Bachrach has been critical of recent statements made by U.S. Senate Candidate Scott Brown regarding the threat of climate change. If you haven't yet seen George's letter in the Boston Globe, you can read it here. George made a similar critique on NECN when he was interviewed by Chet Curtis. You can watch that video clip here. |
DCR SPONSORING PUBLIC FORUMS TO DISCUSS DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS ON FOREST STEWARDSHIP Keeping to Governor Patrick’s commitment to civic engagement, the Department of DCR began the Forest Futures Visioning Process last spring to determine how best to manage the myriad public benefits and values of forest land within the agency’s parks system, including recreation, tourism, aesthetics, renewable forest products, habitat diversity, and landscape ecology, and how to strike the appropriate balance among them. “We are committed to having an open, wide-ranging, public conversation about forests in DCR contracted with the Massachusetts Office of Dispute Resolution & Public Collaboration (MODR) at the University of Massachusetts in Boston to develop a design for the public process, act as facilitators throughout its implementation, and ensure that the discussion and processes are unbiased. The upcoming public forums will be at the following dates, times, and locations: Thursday, February 4, 2010 Saturday, February 6, 2010 Saturday, February 6, 2010 Tuesday, February 9, 2010 Thursday, February 11, 2010 The Technical Steering Committee is composed of 20 individuals who have a high level of expertise in the issues, trends, and best practices of forest conservation and ecology, invasive species, landscape ecology, natural resource economics and law, recreation, silviculture, social policy, aesthetics, watersheds, and wildlife habitat. They are advocates for good science, forest management, and process, and are respected by a broad cross-section of stakeholders. The draft recommendations will be posted soon on the DCR website, www.mass.gov/dcr. The public is encouraged to review the recommendations and comment on them by email to MODRDCRFFVP@umb.edu. The Technical Steering Committee is expected to make its final recommendations to DCR in late winter 2010. For more information on this public process, visit www.mass.gov/dcr. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), an agency of the |
Funding available to help farmers extend the growing season while protecting natural resources |
Patrick-Murray Administration Announces Next Phase of Solar Power Support BOSTON - Building on the success of the Commonwealth Solar rebate program, which issued awards for 23.5 megawatts (MW) of solar power in less than two years, the Patrick-Murray Administration today unveiled new rebate programs that continue the momentum toward Governor Deval Patrick's goal of 250 MW of solar energy installed by 2017. "Commonwealth Solar has already played an important role in speeding the Bay State's transition to a clean energy economy," Governor Patrick said. "I commend the more than 1,200 homeowners, businesses, and municipalities who have taken advantage of this innovative program in the past two years, and encourage many more to partner with the Commonwealth as we continue along the path toward a cleaner future." Beginning in late January, the new programs - Commonwealth Solar II and Commonwealth Solar Stimulus - will begin accepting rebate applications from residents and businesses seeking help financing their solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. The new rebate programs will be benefit from a two-pronged funding scheme. Funding for Commonwealth Solar II, providing rebates for small residential and commercial photovoltaic (PV) systems (5 kilowatts or less), will come from $1 million per quarter in existing funds from the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust. Now, as part of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (CEC), the Trust is financed through a small renewable energy charge on utility ratepayers' monthly bills. "Building on the huge success of the first Commonwealth Solar program, we are pleased to offer this additional targeted assistance for investment in solar power in the Commonwealth," Trust Executive Director Carter Wall said. "Envisioned to finance installation of 22 MW of solar power over four years, Commonwealth Solar met its goal after just 21 months, with the initial $68 million ratepayer-funded rebate pool fully committed by October 2009." As part of the Patrick-Murray Administration's Massachusetts Recovery Plan to secure the state's economic future, the Commonwealth plans to tap $8 million in State Energy Program funding awarded to the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for Commonwealth Solar Stimulus, which will assist PV systems sized greater than 5 kilowatts (kW) up to 200 kW. At least two other states, Connecticut and Maryland, have launched solar rebate programs funded with federal stimulus revenue. "The Clean Energy Center, through the Renewable Energy Trust, looks forward to putting this new pool of funding to work providing rebates for solar projects that will get us to Governor Patrick's goal of 250 MW of solar energy - enough to power at least 37,500 homes - by 2017," said Patrick Cloney, executive director of the Clean Energy Center. To further support the financing of projects eligible for the rebate program - as well as those greater than 200 kW - the DOER is developing regulations for a new Solar Credit market under the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard. The Solar Credit initiative, authorized by the Green Communities Act of 2008, will be an important and sustainable part of building predictable market support for the solar industry in Massachusetts and is expected to begin in early January. Investment in solar energy is a critical component of Governor Patrick's Massachusetts Recovery Plan. The Patrick-Murray Administration's emphasis on solar power has spurred the growth of a vibrant solar industry in Massachusetts - expanding the number of solar installation contractors and subcontractors from roughly 50 in January 2008 to nearly 200 today. A recent survey of 98 solar PV manufacturers, integrators and installers revealed that these companies doubled their Massachusetts employment - from 1,086 to 2,075 - from 2007 to 2008, and expected to add another 960 employees during 2009. Eighty percent of these firms added employees in 2008, and all but 11 planned to expand their workforce this year. Massachusetts is in the midst of a nearly 15-fold increase in solar installations over Governor Patrick's first four-year term. In addition to solar PV projects assisted by Commonwealth Solar rebates, solar installations supported by American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds on water treatment facilities and other public buildings will bring the state to more than 50 MW by the end of 2010, up from 3.5 MW when Governor Patrick took office. Between January 2008 and December 2009, Commonwealth Solar awarded approximately 1,270 rebates for residential, commercial and municipal projects capable of generating 22.3 MW of electricity - enough to power nearly 3,200 homes in Massachusetts annually. An additional 28 rebate applications for projects worth 1.2 MW are in process, bringing the total solar generation supported by Commonwealth Solar's initial phase to 23.5 MW. "These rebates will make homes and businesses more energy efficient and put money back in the taxpayers' pockets," said U.S. Senator John Kerry. "This federal-state partnership improves energy efficiency, creates jobs and stimulates our economy." "I'm pleased to see federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds further help create jobs by incentivizing the Commonwealth's burgeoning renewable energy sector," said Congressman John F. Tierney. "These rebates will make our business climate more competitive, lower energy bills for families and communities, and reduce our carbon footprint." "With this cutting edge program, Massachusetts is giving the rest of the country a sneak peak at the power of America's clean energy economy of the future," Congressman Edward Markey said. "I applaud Governor Patrick's forward-looking solar policies that are putting Recovery Act dollars to work, creating jobs today and laying the groundwork for a strong clean energy industry for tomorrow and beyond." |
Help Count Bald Eagles Every year, MassWildlife participates in a midwinter eagle survey that occurs nationwide. This year, the Midwinter Bald Eagle survey period begins on December 30, 2009 and ends on January 13, 2010. I encourage everyone who is outdoors and sees an eagle during this time period to report his or her sighting! You can send your report to us at mass.wildlife@state.ma.us or to Eagle Survey, MassWildlife, Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA, 01581. Please provide the date, time, location, and town of eagle sightings, plus the number of birds, whether juvenile or adult, and your contact information. On January 8, 2010, agency biologists and many other cooperators will take part in a statewide effort to survey of the coast and major rivers, lakes, and reservoirs for eagles. We even expect a helicopter, generously provided by National Grid, to help count eagles in the Quabbin Reservoir and along the length of the Connecticut River. I’ll probably be posted at the Enfield Lookout at Quabbin Reservoir in Belchertown to answer questions and watch for eagles. The photo is of me and local naturalist/photographer John Greene at that location in 2005. Last year, volunteers and state wildlife staff spotted a record number of 80 eagles (with 26 eagles spotted at the Quabbin Reservoir) during a one day survey in January. |
What is North Adams First? Civic duty does not stop at the voting booth. Attend meetings, talk to your elected officials, and write letters to the editor. Be civil and be a part of the process. The proposed Super Wal-Mart is a significant project and as citizens, we need to be informed of the real impact and how it will contribute to our success or impede it. People can have their own opinion but it’s important that we are civil to each other as we become informed and contribute to the conversation. |
EPA Releases First-Ever Baseline Study of U.S. Lakes The National Lakes Assessment reveals that the remaining lakes are in fair or poor condition. Degraded lakeshore habitat, rated “poor” in 36 percent of lakes, was the most significant of the problems assessed. Removal of trees and shrubs and construction of docks, marinas, homes and other structures along shorelines all contribute to degraded lakeshore habitat. Nitrogen and phosphorous are found at high levels in 20 percent of lakes. Excess levels of these nutrients contribute to algal blooms, weed growth, reduced water clarity, and other lake problems. EPA is very concerned about the adverse impacts of nutrients on aquatic life, drinking water and recreation. The agency will continue to work with states to address water quality issues through effective nutrient management. The survey included a comparison to a subset of lakes with wastewater impacts that were sampled in the 1970s. It finds that 75 percent show either improvements or no change in phosphorus levels. This suggests that the nation’s investments in wastewater treatment and other pollution control activities are working despite population increases across the country. The results of this study describe the target population of the nation’s lakes as a whole and are not applicable to a particular lake. Sampling for the National Rivers and Streams Assessment is underway, and results from this two-year study are expected to be available in 2011. The draft study: http://www.epa.gov/lakessurvey return to top |
EPA Releases National Water Program Research Strategy to Advance and Broaden Research Partnerships The strategy outlines the water program’s four research priorities: healthy watersheds and coastal waters, safe drinking water, sustainable water infrastructure and water security. Each priority also focuses on five technical areas: aquatic life health effects, human health effects, method development, occurrence and exposure, and treatment technologies and effectiveness. The objective of the strategy is to diversify the science the water program uses to develop its regulatory and non-regulatory water management tools and decisions. Expanding the science base will expedite the production of the needed tools and help achieve faster and better-quantified water quality outcomes. More information: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/strategy return to top |
EPA Launches TMDLs at Work Web Site EPA has released a new Web site which provides a collection of stories to inform and educate stakeholders about the benefits of developing pollution reduction budgets, or total maximum daily loads (TMDLs), to protect and restore water quality. The site provides fact sheets which are representative of TMDLs prepared by states around the country. |
EPA Seeks Applications for Environmental Community Grants |
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