The BEAT News

In the News

• Keystone Training Accepting Applications
• LAND CONSERVATION TAX INCENTIVE BECOMES LAW!
• EEA'S 2008 "LAND PROTECTION REPORT" SHOW MAJOR GAINS
• PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON PROPOSED DCR TIMBER HARVEST
• Two New OSI Grant Programs
• National Water Quality Inventory Report Now Available On-line
• Progress Report on Climate Change and Water Released
• Video Shows Green Practices to Manage Stormwater Runoff
• MLTC Awards 12 Grants for "Empowering Local Land Trusts in Western Massachusetts"
• EEA CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP GRANTS TO LAND TRUSTS
• CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP GRANTS FOR LAND TRUSTS!
• "L.A.N.D." GRANTS 2ND ROUND NOW OPEN!
• INTERNSHIP AT THE KESTREL TRUST
• WILLIAM P. WHARTON TRUST FEBRUARY DEADLINE
• MA Round 2 Restoration: "Request For Responses"
• New Magazine coming - Our Berkshire Green
• Mass. DEP's Proposed New Regulations for Public Comment

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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Keystone Training Accepting Applications

Note: Here is a training opportunity that I highly recommend! I did this training back in 1997 and went back to give a talk at Keystone the year before last. - Jane

The Keystone Project is an intensive 3-day training at the Harvard Forest which focuses on forest ecology and stewardship, wildlife management, and land protection. The 30-hour training consists of both indoor and field sessions, as well as informal time to learn from fellow participants. In addition, each participant is given significant resources to take home. Participants are required to attend all parts of the program. We suggest visiting the Keystone web site, which has other details including a sample program.

This spring, the program will take place on: Thursday evening, April 23rd through Sunday afternoon, April 26th, 2009 at the Harvard Forest in Petersham.

The application deadline is: Monday, March 2nd, 2009. Applications can be found at the Keystone website  

In return for this valuable educational opportunity, participants agree to return to their communities as a local resource and volunteer at least 30-hours of time on a forest conservation project of their choosing with continued support from UMass Extension.  Last year, active Keystone Cooperators from past programs collectively reported volunteering over 24,000 hours of time towards conservation!

Keystone Cooperators can either own forestland, be involved in the care and stewardship of a property, or be an active community leader. This year we are particularly interested in training municipal officials interested in moving forest conservation projects forward in their town, including: forest or wildlife management on town land, developing a town Ch. 61 right-of-first refusal policy, land protection, and outreach to private landowners.
The Keystone Training will be held thanks to generous support from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the MA Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, USDA Cooperative Extension, the MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Harvard Forest, and The Trustees of Reservations’ Highland Communities Initiative.

The Keystone Project is a competitive program. Applications will be reviewed for applicant experience, connectedness within the community, special skills, and diversity. Space in the program is limited to 25.

Contact Paul Catanzaro if you have any questions.
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LAND CONSERVATION TAX INCENTIVE BECOMES LAW!
(from MassLand E-News)
 
In a HUGE success for land protection in Massachusetts, Governor Patrick has signed into law the "Land Conservation Incentives" Act (House 5080), which provides a tax credit for donations of certain land to land trusts or public conservation agencies.

The New Law
           Eligible donations of land or Conservation Restrictions to land trusts, state or Federal conservation agencies or municipal Conservation Commissions, MAY receive a credit equal to 50% of the appraised fair market value of the land, up to $50,000 per gift.  The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) will first determine whether any given property proposed for donation (CR or fee) meets the public interest standards for natural resource protection.  These tax credits will apply to land donations that result in the permanent protection of drinking water supplies, or wildlife habitat and biological diversity, scenic and cultural values, and agricultural and forestry production and the program is capped at $2 million per year.
 
IMPORTANT!  This tax credit does not take effect until January 1, 2011 and it is NOT automatic for all donations of land or CR!  EEA must come up with eligibility guidelines.
 
The law further requires that:
* Gifts of land must be permanently protected
* Tax Credit is valued at 50% of the appraised fair market value of the land
* Tax Credit is limited to $50,000 per gift
* Tax Credit cannot exceed the donor’s annual state income tax liability, but may be carried forward for 10 consecutive years
 
Please read the full bill http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/seslaw08/sl080509.htm <http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/seslaw08/sl080509.htm> for more information.
 
A Great Team Effort
State policy leaders and the conservation community came together for an outstanding team effort to enact this measure into law, led by The Nature Conservancy and supported by Mass Audubon; Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition; Environmental League of Massachusetts; Mass Green Agenda; Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters; Mass Municipal Association and others.  Special thanks to the Boston Globe for a strong editorial in favor of the law.
 
Please offer your thanks to our state policy officials (and their terrific staff members!) for their leadership -- just a quick email or call would do it, including:

* Governor Deval Patrick
            Phone: 617-725-4005 or 888-870-7770 (in state) - Fax: 617-727-9725
            Email (Web form): http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=gov3utilities&sid=Agov3&U=Agov3_contact_us
*Environment & Energy Secretary Ian Bowles
            Phone: 617-626-1000 - Fax: 617-626-1181
            Email: env.internet@state.ma.us <mailto:env.internet@state.ma.us>
 
IF ONE OF YOUR LEGISLATORS IS ON THIS LIST, PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL YOUR THANKS!!!
E-mail addresses for Legislative Leaders and Cosponsors
House: http://www.mass.gov/legis/memmenuh.htm
Senate: http://www.mass.gov/legis/memmenus.htm
 
* Chief sponsors Senator Stephen Brewer and Representative Steve Kulik; and co-sponsor House Minority Leader Bradley Jones
* Senate Cosponsors: Edward Augustus, Gale Candaras, Benjamin Downing, Robert Hedlund, Brian Joyce, Michael Knapik, Richard Moore, Robert O'Leary, Marc Pacheco, Pam Resor, Stan Roseneberg, Bruce Tarr, James Timilty, Susan Tucker
* House Cosponsors: Geraldo Alicea, Demetrius Atsalis, William Brownsberger, Jennifer Callahan, Christine Canavan, Steven D'Amico, Vinny DeMacedo, Christopher Donelan, Lewis Evangelidis, David Flynn, William Galvin, Anne Gobi, William Greene, Denis Guyer, Bradford Hill, Donald  Humason, Bradley Jones, Louis Kafka, John Keenan, Kay Khan, Peter Kocot, Robert Koczera, William Lantigua, John Lepper, David Linsky, Barbara L'Italien, Paul Loscocco, Matthew Patrick, Alice Peisch, Jeffrey Perry, George Peterson, William Pignatelli, Denise Provost, Robert Rice, Michael Rodrigues, Michael Rush, Tom Sannicandro, John Scibak, Carl Sciortino, Frank Smizik, Todd Smola, Theodore Speliotis, Christopher Speranzo, Joyce Spiliotis, Thomas Stanley, Harriett Stanley, Ellen Story, David Sullivan, Walter Timilty, Timothy Toomey, Eric Turkington, Cleon Turner, Patricia Walrath, Marty Walz, Alice Wolf
* Legislative leaders Senate President Therese Murray and Senate Ways and Means Chairman Steven Panagiotakos and House Speaker Sal DiMasi and Ways and Means Chairman Robert DeLeo, Revenue Committee Chairs Senator Cynthia Creem and Representative John Binienda, and Environment Committee Chair Frank Smizik (Pam Resor is retired).
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EEA'S 2008 "LAND PROTECTION REPORT" SHOW MAJOR GAINS
(from MassLand E-News)
 
The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) recently released a report on land acquisition over the past fiscal year.  In Fiscal Year 2008 (FY08) a total of 24,104 acres were protected through EEA action, almost double the acreage conserved in FY07.  In FY08, $54.9 million was expended on 223 projects that protected 13,819 acres through grants, fee purchase, and conservation and agricultural preservation restrictions. An additional 10,285 acres were preserved through EEA approved conservation restrictions.
 
Acreage preserved
via Expenditure            = 13,819
via Restrictions             = 10,285
TOTAL                        = 24,104
 
Expenditures
Bond Funding             =$ 49,471,332
Land Stamp                        = $   1,366,485
MWRA                        = $   4,046,000
TOTAL                        = $ 54,883,817
 
The $50 million of state capital funds spent in FY08 is a 55% percent increase in land spending over the previous administration’s annual average. With these funds, EEA is working to meet the three conservation priorities Governor Patrick identified for land spending:
            * Commonwealth Urban Parks - the creation of significant urban parks in Gateway Cities, as well as new or expanded urban parks in all cities over the next four years.
            * Commonwealth Habitat Reserves - protection of at least 10 large, unfragmented ecosystems across the state
            * Commonwealth Working Landscapes - conservation of prime agricultural and forest lands that support local sustainable agriculture and forest industries.
 
These activities have leveraged significant additional funding from non-state sources and greatly expanded the cooperative capacity and human capital of the Commonwealth’s diverse private and non-state actors, including more than $32 million in funding from partners across the state on 223 different projects.
 
To read the full report, go to:
http://www.mass.gov/eea/landprotectionreport
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Two New OSI Grant Programs

The Open Space Institute announced two new grant programs today:

Saving New England's Wildlife
and
Western Massachusetts Land Protection Fund Grants
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National Water Quality Inventory Report Now Available On-line
(from Water Headlines for January 27, 2009, a weekly on-line publication that announces publications, policies, and activities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water)

This report, available at http://www.epa.gov/owow/305b/2004report/, summarizes water quality assessments submitted by the states to EPA under section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act. The report finds that the states assessed 16 percent of the nation?s 3.5 million river and stream miles, 39 percent of its 41.7 million acres of lakes, ponds and reservoirs, and 29 percent of its 87,791 estuary square miles.  Forty-four percent of assessed river and stream miles, 64 percent of assessed lake acres, and 30 percent of assessed estuary square miles were found to be impaired for one or more of the uses designated for them by the states.  Leading causes of impairment included pathogens, mercury, nutrients, and organic enrichment/low dissolved oxygen.  Top sources of impairment included atmospheric deposition, agriculture, hydrologic modifications, and unknown or unspecified sources. This report is a companion to electronically-submitted state water quality information available on EPA’s Web site, known as ATTAINS, at
http://www.epa.gov/waters/ir.  In addition to viewing the national summary and information by state at this Web site, users can click down to the individual waterbody level to find out more about water quality conditions. 
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Progress Report on Climate Change and Water Released
(from Water Headlines for January 27, 2009, a weekly on-line publication that announces publications, policies, and activities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water)

The EPA Office of Water has released a report describing activities implemented in 2008 to respond to the challenges posed by a changing climate.  The report is divided into three major sections:

• a description of activities to implement the National Water Program Strategy: Response to Climate Change, including the 44 key actions in the Strategy; 
• a review of  water-related climate change activities in EPA Regions; and

• a summary of EPA climate and water-related activities not specifically addressed in the Strategy.
  
  During 2008 the Office of Water made substantial progress implementing the Strategy.  Work on all but three of the 44 key actions has been initiated.  For most of these actions, interim milestones and schedules have been accomplished and work is on schedule.  Some highlights of successful implementation efforts include: 
• publication of proposed regulations designed to assure that geologic sequestration of carbon does not pose a threat to underground sources of drinking water;
• development of the "Climate Ready Estuaries Program;" and
• establishment of a Federal Interagency Workgroup on climate change and water matters. 
  
  More information about the Strategy is available on the Office of Water Climate Change Website at:  www.epa.gov/water/climatechange. 
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Video Shows Green Practices to Manage Stormwater Runoff
(from NPDES News)

EPA and the U.S. Botanic Garden produced an on-line video, “Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In,” that highlights green techniques such as rain gardens, green roofs and rain barrels to help manage stormwater runoff. The video highlights green techniques on display in 2008 at the U.S. Botanic Garden’s “One Planet – Ours!” Exhibit" and at the EPA in Washington, D.C., including recently completed cisterns.

To watch the video: http://www.epa.gov/nps/lid
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MLTC Awards 12 Grants for "Empowering Local Land Trusts in Western Massachusetts"

The Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition, in coordination with the Franklin Land Trust and Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust, is pleased to announce the Empowering Local Land Trusts in Western Massachusetts awards to the following:

Broad Brook Coalition - $7,410
To improve stewardship by implementing a major plan to control or eliminate infestations of exotic invasive plant species from Northampton’s Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area that threaten to damage critical habitats essential to the health of native wildlife and plants.
 
Dudley Conservation Land Trust - $7,000
To create a stewardship and management plan with the help of the Ecological Extension Service for an 87-acre property in the Tufts Branch Valley. The plan will have a particular focus of invasive species control and the use of volunteers.
 
East Quabbin Land Trust - $10,000
To create and implement a plan to prevent illegal ATV use of the 3.2-mile section of the Mass Central Rail Trail owned by EQLT. The plan will make use of local youth group volunteers and include the installation of bollards and gates in key locations and better signage to inform visitors of permitted and prohibited uses of the trail.
 
Kestrel Trust - $9,500
To start three new friends groups to watch property and trails and raise stewardship funds for conservation areas in Hadley, Pelham, and Belchertown. Also, working with the Town of Hadley, raise public awareness about farmland protection.
 
Metacomet Land Trust - $8,115
To document the full extent of invasive plant species distribution on two properties with an emphasis on Japanese Stiltgrass, then formulate a habitat management strategy for the sites.

Millers River Watershed Council - $4,845
To conduct Baseline Monitoring Surveys at Athol conservation properties on which MRWC holds the CR, and to use these activities as opportunities to train MRWC staff/volunteers to conduct future CR monitoring.

Minnechaug Land Trust - $6,600
To remove invasive species and restore the integrity of ecological communities at several Minnechaug properties.  The project will involve Minnechaug Land Trust volunteers, New England Wild Flower Society staff, and area citizens and youth organizations.
 
Rattlesnake Gutter Land Trust - $9,500
To work with Mt Grace and North Quabbin Regional Landscape Partnership to create, adopt and implement policies which reflect LTA Standards and Practices for land transactions.
 
Rutland Land Conservancy - $9,330
To restore an abandoned conservation area, opening a view of Boston and the surrounding countryside, creating handicap accessibility, clearing trails and marking with interpretive historical signage.
 
Sheffield Land Trust - $7,700
Gather foundation due diligence information needed, and draw together a coalition of local and regional organizations and funders to conserve and steward the landscape-scale Sheffield - Egremont Agricultural, Ecological and Scenic Corridor.
 
Southborough Open Land Foundation - $10,000
To develop a Management Plan for newly acquired property and implement Strategic Plan to create a dynamic membership base and provide stewardship of our properties while enhancing relationships with area partners. Goal is to strengthen financial resources, improve wildlife habitat and engage children in nature activities.
 
Valley Land Fund - $10,000
To conduct site visits to the 25 VLF fee or CR properties, establish a stewardship database to track these properties, conduct baseline surveys and install informational signs on two sites, and establish procedures to ensure the stewardship and management of VLF lands into the future.
 
We wish to thank the generous foundation which gave us the opportunity to fund these great projects for a second year.  Over the past two years, this program has distributed $250,000 to small land trusts and conservation groups for almost 30 innovative grassroots projects in Western Mass.
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CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP GRANTS FOR LAND TRUSTS!
      Applications due in by 3:00 pm, February 6, 2009
     From Bernie McHugh, Mass. Land Trust Coalition and Celia Riechel, EEA
 
Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs has announced that a second round of the Conservation Partnership grant
program is now open.  The program provides state funding for non-profit land conservation organizations to purchase land or conservation
restrictions.  It has funded some excellent projects in the past and has contributed substantially to preserving undeveloped land in the state.  
If you have a project that might be ready, fill out an application.  Land conservation is a priority of both Governor Patrick and Secretary Bowles-
take advantage of this opportunity now, and show that this and similar programs continue to be a good use of public funds for which there is
strong support.
 
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) is pleased to announce the release of the FY09 Conservation
Partnership grant program Request for Response (RFR). This grant program provides funding to assist not-for-profit corporations in acquiring
interests in land suitable for conservation or recreation purposes.
 
The maximum grant award for a single project is $75,000 (NOT $60,000, as reported earlier).  The maximum reimbursement amount available
for a single project is 50% of the total project cost.  Qualified applications will be selected on a competitive basis.
 
Potential projects fall into one of two categories:
1.)     Land or a conservation restriction purchased by an eligible Applicant
2.)     Land or a conservation restriction gift donated to an eligible Applicant

Applications for these grants will be accepted from qualified IRS 501(c)(3) organizations that have been formed for one of the purposes
described in Section 4 of Chapter 180 of the General Laws. An organization must have 501(c)(3) status at the time an application is submitted.
 
The RFR, application form, rating system, and program timeline are available on the Comm-PASS website at http://www.comm-pass.com/.
Application deadline is 3 p.m. February 6, 2009.

DIRECT LINK TO THE CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP GRANT APPLICATION

(If this link is broken, follow the instructions below...)

To access the Conservation Partnership grant program RFR online:
1.) On the Comm-Pass home page (http://www.comm-pass.com/) click on the “Solicitations” tab in the upper left corner of the page
2.)  On the “Browse Solicitations” page select “Search for a Solicitation”
3.) In the "Search by Keyword" section at the top of the page, type "Conservation Partnership" in the “Keywords” search field
4.) Click on the sentence on the top of the page that says: "There are 7 Solicitation(s) found that match your search criteria"
5.) A list will appear, with Conservation Partnership Grant FY 09 Round 2 at the top.  (It is the only one with an OPEN status). To view and print documents from it, click on the eyeglasses on the far right of the column.
6.) A page with a series of tabs will appear. Click on the “Specifications” tab to access the actual application document.  Click the eyeglasses
to view.  
7.) Check the box and click “Download selected files” to download and fill them out.
8.) Click on the “Forms & Terms” tab to access the other necessary application documents (tax filing, contract forms, etc).
All forms must be printed out and submitted by mail. Applications that are emailed or faxed will not be accepted.
 
Celia Riechel
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
100 Cambridge Street, 9th Floor
Boston, MA 02114
617-626-1187
http://www.mass.gov/eea/dcs
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 "L.A.N.D." GRANTS 2ND ROUND NOW OPEN!

The 2nd Round of the FY 2009 LAND grant program is now open!
 
The LAND Program (Land Acquisition for Natural Diversity - formerly the Self-Help Program) assists municipal conservation commissions in acquiring land for natural resource and passive outdoor recreation purposes. Lands acquired may include wildlife, habitat, trails, unique natural, historic or cultural resources, water resources, forest, and farm land. Passive outdoor recreational uses such as hiking, fishing, hunting, cross-country skiing, bird observation, etc. are encouraged. Access by the general public is required.
 
For the complete application packet, search for the “LAND” solicitation on http://www.comm-pass.com/ or go to the DCS website <http://www.mass.gov/eea/dcs>
For questions please contact Celia Riechel at 617-626-1187 or celia.riechel@state.ma.us
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INTERNSHIP AT THE KESTREL TRUST
 
Public Outreach for Local Land Conservation

About Kestrel: The Kestrel Trust is a non-profit land trust founded in 1970 dedicated to protecting the best farms and forests in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts. We currently serve the towns of Amherst, Belchertown, Granby, Hadley, Leverett, Pelham, Shutesbury, Sunderland, and South Hadley.

Goals:
1) Neighborhood Stewardship Organizing: The Kestrel Trust seeks to organize local residents who want to steward nearby protected lands by monitoring the property, maintaining trails, and raising funds for ongoing stewardship. Kestrel is planning start up new “Friends Of Groups” for several new town conservation areas in the Valley.

2) Farmer Outreach and Cultivation: Kestrel seeks to raise public awareness about the important role that farmers play when they choose to protect their farmland in perpetuity. Kestrel is planning to contact all farmers with APRs (agricultural preservation restrictions) in the Town of Hadley to ask for their approval to put “Forever Farmland” signs up on their protected farmland. In so doing, we hope to encourage other farmers to follow suit.

Timeline: February to July 2009, average 6-8 hours/week. However, flexible hours and schedule may be possible.

Location: Kestrel’s office in downtown Amherst, MA. Travel to local farms and conservation areas.

Compensation: $3,600 for 300 hours at $12/hour (hourly rate negotiable based on experience)

Responsibilities:
* Contact community leaders to recruit them to volunteer with “Friends Of” Groups.
* Contact all APR landowners and ask them if they want to post a “Forever Farmland” sign.
* Organize field outings on the conservation areas and to local farms.
* Do press releases to publicly roll out the Friends groups and Forever Farmland signs.
* Organize volunteers to physically install Forever Farmland signs on farmland.
* Organize friends groups to sponsor a series 3-4 small fun neighborhood fundraisers.

Qualifications: Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of land conservation work. Excellent people skills - friendly, outgoing, willing to make cold calls. Experience with grassroots organizing. Working knowledge of design programs such as Adobe pagemaker or Dreamweaver. Car required for transportation.

To Apply: Please send resume, cover note, and references by E-MAIL to kristin@kestreltrust.org by February 3, 2009.

Questions? Contact Kristin DeBoer at 413-549-1097 or kristin@kestreltrust.org  
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WILLIAM P. WHARTON TRUST FEBRUARY DEADLINE
(info from MassLand E-News)

At his death in 1976, William P. Wharton's will created The William P. Wharton Trust to carry on his lifelong support of the study and conservation of nature in its broadest form on the local, national, and international scenes.  The Trust is administered by the Trustees at the law firm of Choate Hall & Stewart LLP <http://www.choate.com/>  in Boston, Massachusetts.  The Trust only makes grants to organizations as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Trust does not make grants to individuals or organizations classified as a private foundation.
 
General Objective: To support projects that directly promote the conservation, study, and appreciation of nature.
Specific Objectives (in order of priority):
* Natural areas preservation, primarily in Massachusetts and New England, including funding acquisitions of land for conservation purposes.
* Management techniques designed to improve environmental quality and species diversity.
* Bird and forestry research and management, especially at the applied level rather than the theoretical or molecular level.
*Creation of materials or projects designed to foster an appreciation of and a concern for wildlife and natural systems.
 
Next Preliminary Application Deadline:
Friday, February 27, 2009 - 2 p.m. ET
 
Contact Information
Mail: William P. Wharton Trust c/o Choate Hall & Stewart LLP
          Two International Place, 32nd Floor Boston, MA 02110
E-mail: williampwhartontrust@choate.com <mailto:williampwhartontrust@choate.com>
Website: http://www.williamwharton.org/ <http://www.williamwharton.org/>
Phone: Sybil Williams, Trust Administrator, 617/248-4067
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MA Round 2 Restoration: "Request For Responses"
Posted by EEA on
January 23, 2009.
 
Round 2 - Request for Responses: The Massachusetts Executive Office of
Energy & Environmental Affairs (EEA) & the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
(USFWS), acting as the Housatonic River Natural Resource Trustees, have
posted the Round 2 Request for Responses (RFR) for habitat restoration
proposals on January 23, 2009. The RFR is available online through the
Commonwealth's Procurement Access & Solicitation System @ the Document
Number: EEA 09 NRD 02. (See below for access instructions)

Applicant Conference: The Massachusetts SubCouncil has scheduled an
informational meeting ("Applicant Conference") to present and respond to
questions on the Round 2 solicitation for habitat restoration proposals
process on Wednesday, February 25, 2009, @
5:30 - 8:00 PM, Lenox Town Hall, 6 Walker Street, Lenox, MA 01240

Important Dates:
February 25, 2009 - Applicant Conference
March 11, 2009 - Deadline for Questions on Solicitation
March 25, 2009 - Posting of Questions & Responses on
Comm-PASS
April 23, 2009 - Deadline for Project Proposals
October 2009 (subject to change) - Draft Restoration Plan
January 2010 (subject to change) - Final Restoration Plan
March 2010 (subject to change) - Awards Provided to Selected Applicants
________________________________________________________________________
HOW DO I ACCESS THE RECORD ABOVE?

If you DO NOT have a Comm-PASS Login ID and Password:

1.  Go to http://www.comm-pass.com
2.  Select the "Solicitation Search" link 3.  Enter the Document Number
listed above in the Document Number field 4.  Select Open from the
Document Status drop-down menu 5.  Select the Search button 6.  Select
the View icon for the matching record to access all current information
7.  Select the record's "Other Information" tab, then click the "Browse
Amendment History" link to access all previous versions of this record,
if any

If you DO have a Comm-PASS Login ID and Password:

1.  Go to http://www.comm-pass.com
2.  Login using your Subscriber Login ID and Password 3.  Select the
"Solicitation Search" link 4.  Enter the Document Number listed above in
the Document Number field 5.  Select Open from the Document Status
drop-down menu 6.  Select the Search button 7.  Select the View icon for
the matching record to access all current information 8.  Select the
record's "Other Information" tab, then click the "Browse Amendment
History" link to access all previous versions of this record, if any

Dale C. Young, Director
Natural Resource Damages & Restoration Program
Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs
Suite 900
100 Cambridge Street
Boston, MA 02114
PH      617-626-1134
FAX    617-626-1181
EM      dale.young@state.ma.us
http://www.mass.gov/envir/nrd/nrd_home.htm
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New Magazine coming - Our Berkshire Green

A letter from the publisher...

Welcome to Our BerkshireGreen, your 
complimentary, tri-annual holistic magazine/directory and website focused on Berkshire County, Massachusetts and the immediate surrounding area. 

My hope is that you will come to think of this magazine as your magazine. My wish, with your help, is to create an ever-expanding unified network of holistic and environmentally conscious individuals, businesses, and services in our community.

I know that many of you are concerned about your personal
and environmental health and may have your own particular motivation for taking the steps needed to create sustainable living in our community. Perhaps you can even remember that distinctive turning point in your life when that awareness kicked in.  For me, it was in 1992 when I was diagnosed with stage IV Hodgkin's Disease (lymph cancer). 

My prognosis was not at all good. Having lived what I thought was an extremely healthy lifestyle the shock was earth shaking.  Thus, my journey into environmental awareness and holistic living began. 

Hearing on the news how the products of our modern lifestyle can impact us personally is just not the same as learning from experience. Conventional medicine played its part in the beginning stages of my healing process by buying me extra time, but when it failed to "cure" me by the end of treatment, alternative medicine ultimately saved my life and opened an entirely new world for me. I hope to share this world with you.  

I look forward to meeting you at one of our upcoming events and on the pages of Our BerkshireGreen Magazine's premier issue due out this April.   

Best wishes and good health,

Kathy I. Regan, Publisher
Our BerkshireGreen, Inc.
P.O. Box 133, Housatonic, MA 01236
Ph: 413-274-1122, Fax: 413-541-8000
publisher@OurBerkshireGreen.com
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
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Mass. DEP's Proposed New Regulations for Public Comment

Name & Citation of Regulation(s): Dispensing of E85 Motor Vehicle Fuel/Ethanol Blends (310 CMR 7.24(9))

Brief Explanation and Rationale for Proposed Changes: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts supports the use of biofuels to promote the local production of motor vehicle and home heating fuels, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and to promote economic development.
To reduce actual or perceived roadblocks to the introduction of ethanol blended fuels in Massachusetts, MassDEP is proposing new regulations applicable to the installation, operation and maintenance of E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) ethanol blended gasoline dispensing facilities in Massachusetts.
By proposing these new regulations, MADEP hopes to provide regulatory certainty and guidance to businesses considering whether to invest in this new industry. Specifically, this proposed regulation seeks to address the need for owner/operators of E85 dispensing facilities to correctly install, operate and maintain Stage I vapor controls at their facilities. Stage II vapor controls, however, are unnecessary, and therefore not required, at E85 facilities because all motor vehicles certified to operate using E85 are manufactured with Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery (ORVR) systems that collect the fuel vapors.
This regulation will be submitted to the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of the Massachusetts Ozone State Implementation Plan (SIP).

Web Link to View Draft Regulations: http://www.mass.gov/dep/service/regulations/newregs.htm#e85

Public Hearing Information: MassDEP will hold a public hearing on these draft regulations. See http://www.mass.gov/dep/public/hearings/385.htm for details.
Testimony may be presented orally or in writing at the public hearing. 

Written comments will also be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on February 17, 2009. 
Written testimony must be submitted to:
Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Waste Prevention, 7th Floor
One Winter Street
 Boston, MA 02108
 Attn: Tom DeNormandie

Copies of the proposed regulations and supporting background information will be available for inspection during normal business hours at:  the Bureau of Waste Prevention, One Winter Street, Boston, MA, and the four regional offices of DEP.  They are also available on the MassDEP internet web site at: http://www.mass.gov/dep/service/regulations/newregs.htm#e85

This information is available in alternate format upon request to the ADA Coordinator, BAS/HR, 4th Floor, One Winter Street, Boston, MA 02108. return to top