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Please send items of interest to kristen@thebeatnews.org
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Alert - Massachusetts Endangered Species Under Attack!
from Mass Audubon's Beacon Hill Weekly Update
We need your help to protect endangered species! A damaging bill that would destroy rare species protections through a statutory sleight of hand is up for a hearing next week. An Act relative to land taking regulations (SB 1854) would gut the regulatory authority of the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP) by only allowing them to review development projects slated to take place in "significant habitat”. NHESP does not currently designate "significant habitat", so this change would leave NHESP virtually powerless to weigh in on development projects that threaten rare wildlife. Currently NHESP regulates "priority habitat" as a more flexible approach to endangered species protection. You may remember this bill from last session; its supporters are still just as active and will be at the State House rallying to undo the MA Endangered Species Act.
Read the 2009 Valley Advocate pieces Fighting for Habitat and Habitat: Who’s Bill Pepin? for more on this fight against the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act.
For more on the substance of the bill, read the testimony which Mass Audubon will deliver to the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture at the hearing.
Hearing details:
Thursday, July 21, 2011
10:00 a.m.
Gardner Auditorium
State House
Boston, MA
Please consider attending the hearing and submitting testimony or writing or emailing the chairs of the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, Senator Marc Pacheco and Representative Anne Gobi.
If you can’t attend the hearing, let your voice be heard by submitting written testimony. Here’s a sample message:
Dear Chair(wo)man:
I am writing in opposition to An Act relative to land taking regulations (SB 1854), heard by the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture on July 21st. This legislation would gut the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act, one of the most important and effective environmental laws in the state. The bill undoes protections for rare species provided by the Massachusetts legislature and rolls back almost 20 years of conservation of rare plants and animals. Our rare species such as the marbled salamander, blanding’s turtle, and short eared owl cannot afford this loss of protection.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your town
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Proposed Legislation would Undermine the Clean Water Act
WASHINGTON - email from the US EPA - The Administration strongly opposes H.R 2018 because it would significantly undermine the Clean Water Act (CWA) and could adversely affect public health, the economy, and the environment.
Under the CWA, one of the Nation’s most successful and effective environmental laws, the Federal Government acts to ensure safe levels of water quality across the country through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Since the enactment of the CWA in 1972, the Federal Government has protected the waterways our citizens depend on by using its checks and balances authority to review and adjust key State water pollution control decisions, where necessary, to assure that they reflect up to date science, comply with the law, and protect downstream water users in other States. H.R. 2018 would roll back the key provisions of the CWA that have been the underpinning of 40 years of progress in making the Nation’s waters fishable, swimmable, and drinkable.
H.R. 2018 could limit efforts to safeguard communities by removing the Federal Government’s authority to take action when State water quality standards are not protective of public health. In addition, it would restrict EPA’s authority to take action when it finds that a State’s CWA permit or permit program is inadequate and would shorten EPA’s review and collaboration with the Army Corps of Engineers on permits for dredged or fill material. All of these changes could result in adverse impacts to human health, the economy, and the environment through increased pollution and degradation of water bodies that serve as venues for recreation and tourism, and that provide drinking water sources and habitat for fish and wildlife.
H.R. 2018 would disrupt the carefully constructed complementary CWA roles for EPA, the Army Corps of Engineers, and States in protecting water quality. It also could eliminate EPA’s ability to protect water quality and public health in downstream States from actions in upstream States, and could increase the number of lawsuits challenging State permits. In sum, H.R. 2018 would upset the CWA’s balanced approach to improve water quality across the Nation, risking the public health and economic benefits of cleaner waters.
If the President is presented with this legislation, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill.
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SCIENCE | July 15, 2011
New Herbicide Suspected in Tree Deaths
By JIM ROBBINS
The product, Imprelis, was hailed as environmentally friendly but is now a suspect in thousands of fallen trees.
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Living Near Airport Increases Children's Lead Levels
By Janet Raloff
Science News
Study makes link between blood lead and the gasoline used to fuel small planes
People who live near airports serving such small planes — are exposed to lead from aviation fuel. A new study now links an airport’s proximity to slightly elevated blood-lead levels in children from area homes.
Small planes (known in the trade as general aviation) tend to run on gasoline, most of which contains lead as an octane booster. These aircraft — used as taxis, personal aircraft and training vehicles — fly out of nearly 20,000 U.S. airports. And as other sources of lead have fallen, the relative share that aviation gas, or avgas, contributes has been rising.
Indeed, the Environmental Protection Agency, estimates: “Emissions of lead from piston-engine aircraft using leaded avgas comprise approximately half of the national inventory of lead emitted to air” — making it the largest contributor to airborne lead in the United States.
But high as that sounded, researchers still couldn’t evaluate the fuel’s health significance. People wanted to know: In terms of lead poisoning, ‘is this an important source,’” observes Bruce Lanphear of Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia, who was not involved with the new study. “We simply lacked data to answer that,” the toxicologist says.
The new study’s attempt to tie proximity to regional airports with lead levels in kids “certainly makes it a noteworthy paper,” he now concludes.
Environmental health scientists and statisticians at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment in Durham, N.C., used state records to identify children who had been tested for blood-lead levels, and mapped their residences in relation to regional airports in several counties. Then the researchers correlated lead concentrations in those kids with the distance of their homes from those airports.
Children 7 and under who lived within 1,000 meters (six-tenths of mile) of an airport — and especially within 500 meters — had higher lead levels, generally, than youngsters living beyond that distance. This association remained “robust” even after adjusting for a host of other factors that might affect the likelihood a child would be exposed to lead, such as living in an older home (which might have lead-based paint), observes study leader Marie Lynn Miranda. <MORE>
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Conservation Group Pressures EPA to Get the Lead Out of Aviation Fuel
From Earthjustice
Lead emissions from fuel continue to endanger public health
May 26, 2011
Friends of the Earth, a leading advocate for a healthier environment, sent a notice of intent to sue today to the Environmental Protection Agency regarding its failure to respond to a 2006 petition asking for the regulation of lead emissions from general aviation aircraft under the Clean Air Act. The petition specifically asked the EPA to find that lead emissions from aircraft using leaded aviation gasoline (avgas) may endanger public health. Nearly five years later, despite continuing to acknowledge that there is no safe threshold for lead exposure, the EPA has taken no final action with regard to Friends of the Earth’s petition.
“The EPA has repeatedly concluded that lead is extremely toxic to humans, wildlife and the environment and causes a variety of health effects even at low doses,” said Marcie Keever, legal director for Friends of the Earth. “Our letter puts the EPA on notice that we will go to court unless EPA does what the law requires and addresses this pollution. The health of airport workers, pilots, passengers, and surrounding communities from continued exposure to lead in aviation gasoline hangs in the balance.”
While lead was phased out of automobile gasoline over 15 years ago, it persists as a constituent of avgas, resulting in aviation being the single largest source of lead emissions in the U.S. and posing a significant threat to public health—especially in communities located near airports where avgas is used.
To date, the EPA has identified approximately 20,000 airports at which leaded avgas may be used. Sixteen million people reside and 3 million children attend school in close proximity to these facilities. Reinforcing the need for immediate action, in November 2010, the EPA identified 16 regions in the United States that fail to meet clean air standards for airborne lead emissions. Fifteen of these regions are in counties that contain at least one airport where lead is emitted. In addition, earlier this month, the Center for Environmental Health filed suit against major leaded aviation fuel suppliers citing excessive water and air pollution around 25 airports in California.
While commercial airlines use unleaded jet fuel, general aviation aircraft using avgas account for about half of the national inventory of lead emitted to air. In total, the EPA estimates that approximately 14.6 billion gallons of leaded avgas were consumed between 1970 and 2007, emitting approximately 34,000 tons of lead. Currently 70 percent of small planes could be using unleaded fuel or a modified alternative without any additional technology.
Conditions associated with lead exposure are well known to health professionals and public health officials. These include death and brain damage due to high levels of exposure, and learning disabilities, lower IQ levels, increased blood pressure, and/or nerve damage at lower exposures. Children are at higher risk than adults because they absorb larger amounts of lead and are more sensitive to lead induced toxicity. In fact, a 2005 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study on preventing lead poisoning in young children found that there is no safe threshold for lead exposure in children. <MORE>
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Looking for Training for Non Profits?
from the Putnam Conservation Institute of The Trustees of Reservations
Nonprofits and community groups are facing more challenges than ever these days. To make your organization as efficient and effective as possible, check out some of our featured training opportunities in nonprofit management. For more ideas and resources visit www.ConservationCommon.org.
FEATURED TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Free Wednesday Webinars from Synthesis Partnership, including:
- Nonprofit Finances: A Primer for Trustees
July 20
- New Numbers in Philanthropy
July 27
- High Impact Volunteer Involvement
August 3
- Advancement Best Practices
August 10
- Board Fundraising
August 24
Online, Free
The Better Nonprofit Management Series by Third Sector New England, including:
- Advanced Facilitation
October 27 | 9AM–12:30PM | Boston
- Effective Supervision
November 17 | 9AM–3:30PM | Boston (lunch included)
- The Power of Individual Donors
January 19 | 9AM–4:30PM | Boston (lunch included)
$79–$99 per session
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River Cleanup Saturday, July 23
BEAT, in partnership with the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA), has more river cleanups scheduled for the rest of the year. Hope you can join us for one or all!
A Day at the River
In the past, every one of these events has been hard work, but a lot of fun. There are opportunities for all levels of participation – from making sandwiches and picking up pizza, to picking up trash along the riverbanks, to getting right in and pulling our tires and shopping carts. Everyone is welcome.
Saturday, July 23 – Pittsfield
Meeting place: Wahconah Park, Wahconah Street, Pittsfield (8:30am - we'll finish around noon with lunch for all the volunteers) – bring a canoe if you have one. Rubber boots and waders will be helpful - we have a few pairs people may borrow. We will clean in the river near Wahconah Park and work our way up and down stream as far as we have time for. This is an area that needs lots of work! But it is also a hidden gem, filled with wildlife. Please contact Jane if you can help.
Saturday, August 20 – Pittsfield
Meeting place: Wahconah Park, Wahconah Street, Pittsfield (8:30am) – bring a canoe if you have one. Depending on how far we get in July, we will either clean in the river near Wahconah Park or paddle downstream to where we left off the month before. This is an area that needs lots of work! We have several possible trash drop-off locations – Linden St, Columbus St, West St, or Mill St. And we can take canoes out at Linden or Mill St. lease contact Jane if you can help.
Saturday, September 24 – Great Barrington
Meeting place: Former Searles School, Bridge Street. Great Barrington. HVA is leading this cleanup. Please contact Alison if you can help out.
Work gloves and bags will be provided at all cleanups. Wear waders, boots, or old sneakers, and old clothes! We do get wet and dirty. Long pants and long sleeves will avoid insect bites and scratches from walking through brush. Sun screen and a hat for sunny days. And please bring a refillable bottle for water.
Please let us know if you can help out:
Berkshire Environmental Action Team, Jane Winn, jane@thebeatnews.org, 413-230-7321
Housatonic Valley Association, Alison Dixon, adixon@hvatoday.org, 413-394-9796
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Safer Alternatives Bill Hearing a Success
from the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow
Tuesday's legislative hearing on the Safer Alternatives Bill could not have gone better. Support for protecting our health from toxic chemicals clearly ruled the day. Thank you to everyone who helped make it a success!
You can read all about the hearing--including highlights of the testimony, vocal support of the bill from Environment Committee Chairs Senator Mark Pacheco and Representative Anne Gobi, and a highly unusual, unexpected and impromptu "panel"--in an article just posted on the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow website: Environment Committee Chairs voice support for Safer Alternatives
Special thanks should go to the legislators that came to testify in support of the bill. Those were: Representatives Jay Kaufman (D-Lexington), Ellen Story (D-Amherst), Denise Provost (D-Somerville), John Mahoney (D-Worcester), Lori Ehrlich (D-Marblehead), and Peter Kocot (D-Northampton) and Senators Steven Tolman (D-Brighton), Katherine Clark (D-Melrose), and Ken Donnelly (D-Arlington). If these are your legislators, let them know that they are appreciated! Give them a call or drop them an email today and thank them for their support.
There is a long road ahead towards passage of this bill, but this day was a powerful step in the right direction. Stay tuned for what's next.
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Sustaining Our Rivers
from Mass Audubon's Beacon Hill Weekly Update
Mass Audubon and many of our partner organizations testified before the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture this week on one of our priority bills, An Act relative to sustainable water resources (SB 349, HB 255). This legislation would take important steps towards addressing impacts to river health, including making it easier to remove obsolete dams and restore fish habitat, enabling cities and towns to support water infrastructure and conservation upgrades, and setting standards for water withdrawals to ensure that there’s enough water in rivers and streams for both wildlife and human needs.
Find out more about this important bill by reading our fact sheet and this recent Boston Globe editorial.
Mass Audubon is also working with the Patrick Administration on the Sustainable Water Management Initiative, which is investigating development of a water allocation program that examines solutions to satisfying water needs while recognizing ecological issues such as low streamflow.
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Bike Rally around Housatonic
Come support the Seeds for Life Community Garden at Project Native by joining us in a Bike Rally around Housatonic! Have some fun by decorating your self and your bike, best decorated wins a prize. Event starts and ends at Project Native with refreshments to follow. Local, organic, community driven food, alternative transportation, fun for all ages.
Sunday July 24th at 9AM
Meet at Project Native: 342 North Plain Road, Housatonic, MA
$10 suggested donation
To register email: seedsforlifegarden@gmail.com or visit us on Facebook
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Insect Tracking Workshops - July 30, 2011
Join Project Native and Berkshire Environmental Action Team on Saturday, July 30th (rain date July 31st) at Project Native’s 54-acre farm, 342 North Plain Rd, in Housatonic, for an entertaining, fascinating and amusing workshop on track and sign of invertebrates by Charley Eiseman and Noah Charney. The first workshop begins at 10:30 am and the second at 1:30 pm. The workshop fee is $30. Space is limited so sign up now if you want to attend by calling Project Native at 413-274-3433 or visit the Project Native Garden Shop to sign up.
For forty days and forty nights, naturalists Charley Eiseman and Noah Charney traveled the continent. They returned with thousands of photographs, not of Yosemite's grand vistas or Yellowstone's bison herds, but of tiny eggs stuck to flagpoles, origami made by beetles, and the artfully crafted portable houses of caddisfly larvae. The trip was field work for their award-winning book, Tracks and Sign of Insects and Other Invertebrates, which illustrates egg cases, cocoons, galls, leaf mines, burrows, nests, and many other curiosities. In this workshop, the authors will lead us on a walk to explore exquisite invertebrate-created objects, discuss mind-boggling natural history, and share amusing anecdotes from their eccentric journeys. Professional entomologists and bug-haters alike will enjoy themselves on this fascinating exploration of the farm.
Winner of the 2010 National Outdoor Book Award
Their book, Tracks and Sign of Insects and Other Invertebrates: A Guide to North American Species won the 2010 National Outdoor Book Award. Tracks and Sign is an outstanding work and a first-of-its-kind. The purpose of this 592-page guide is to aid in identifying beetles, spiders, flies, ants, slugs, and many other invertebrates from the sign they leave behind. Signs include egg and egg cases, droppings, secretions, webs, cocoons, coverings, galls, burrows, mounds, tracks and trails. Included are 1,000 color photos and some 2,000 species. It's clearly a must-have for anyone who enjoys learning more about the invertebrates.
After the workshop, you will find yourself looking on walls, in the crook of trees, and even in rolled up leaves to see what sign you can find of who might be living there.
Charley and Noah gave a hilariously entertaining and incredibly educational talk last February in Lenox, showing photographs of amazing creatures they found right outside the door and all the way across the country. Once you've been shown how to look for signs of these tiny creatures, you will notice news signs everywhere you go - whether it is a walk in the woods or down a city block. Come join us at Project Native's 54-acre farm on July 30, 2011. The first workshop begins at 10:30 am and the second at 1:30 pm. The workshop fee is $30. Space is limited so sign up now if you want to attend by calling Project Native at 413-274-3433 or visit the Project Native Garden Shop to sign up.
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EPA Opens Public Comment on Secondary Air Standards for Nitrogen and Sulfur Oxides
Agency announces pilot field study on environmental impacts
WASHINGTON – After a careful review of the best available science, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing secondary air quality standards to protect the environment from nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx). Today’s proposal builds on EPA efforts already underway to reduce NOx and SOx emissions.
EPA has made significant progress in developing a multi-pollutant standard that would protect vulnerable ecosystems, including streams and lakes. To ensure any updated standard is effective, EPA is planning to conduct a field pilot program to collect and analyze additional data and information.
In the meantime, EPA is proposing to set an additional secondary standard for each pollutant. The new standards would be identical to the public health standards that the agency strengthened last year. These standards reduce the amount of NOx and SOx in the air and the harmful effects that the pollutants have on sensitive lakes and streams. EPA is also proposing to retain the existing secondary standards for each pollutant.
EPA is already taking a number of steps to reduce NOx and SOx emissions, including the recently announced Cross-State Air Pollution Rule. This new rule will cut millions of tons of these pollutants from power plants each year.
Nitrogen oxides are emitted from an array of sources, including vehicles, power plants, off-road equipment, and agricultural sources. Sulfur oxides are emitted from fossil fuel combustion by power plants, large industries, and mobile sources, and from some industrial processes.
EPA will accept comments for 60 days after the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register and will issue a final rule by March 2012.
More information: http://www.epa.gov/air/nitrogenoxides/actions.html
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View all news releases related to air issues
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New and Improved EPA Website on Nitrogen & Phosphorus Pollution
Over the last 50 years, the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution entering our waters has escalated dramatically, and is becoming one of America's costliest and most challenging environmental problems. In many parts of the country, nitrogen and phosphorus pollution negatively impacts human health, aquatic ecosystems, the economy, and people’s quality of life. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed a new and improved website about nitrogen and phosphorus pollution to provide the public with information about this type of pollution-- where it comes from, its impacts on human health and aquatic ecosystems, and actions that people can take to help reduce it.
EPA’s new website also includes updated information on states’ progress in developing numeric water quality criteria for nutrients as part of their water quality standards regulations. EPA recognizes that states and local communities are best positioned to restore and protect their waters, and the agency is providing technical guidance and tools to help states develop numeric nutrient criteria for their water bodies.
To facilitate state and local efforts to reduce nutrient pollution, EPA is releasing a new Nitrogen and Phosphorus Pollution Data Access Tool. The goal of the tool is to support states in their nitrogen and phosphorus analyses by providing the most current data available on: the extent and magnitude of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution; water quality problems related to this pollution; and potential pollution sources in a format that is readily-accessible and easy-to-use. With this comprehensive data, EPA, the states, and other stakeholders will be able to more quickly gather additional, less-accessible data and develop effective source reduction strategies for nitrogen and phosphorus.
The website is available at: http://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/
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