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CALENDAR OF EVENTS Advocacy News (Includes how to reach your legislators) DEP Enforcement Actions In The Berkshire return to top |
Additional 604b Water Quality Management Planning Grant Program Funding under ARRA With passage of the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009” (ARRA), Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) anticipates receipt of an additional $533,605 dollars for the 604(b) competitive grant program. As with previous 604(b) program funds received, the Department will focus the ARRA funds towards watershed or subwatershed based point and nonpoint source assessment-type grant projects leading to the: 1) determination of the nature, extent and causes of water quality problems; 2) assessment of impacts and determination of effluent limitations necessary to meet water quality standards; 3) Green infrastructure projects that manage wet weather to maintain or restore natural hydrology; and 4) development of implementation plans that will address water quality impairments. MassDEP is seeking project proposals in the $50,000 to $100,000 range that will identify water quality problems and provide preliminary or final designs for BMPs to address these problems. We will post the notice of the pre-RFR meetings on CommPass soon. We expect to release the RFR for the ARRA grants in early April with proposals due in mid-May. With passage of the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009” (ARRA), Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) anticipates receipt of an additional $533,605 dollars for the 604(b) competitive grant program. As with previous 604(b) program funds received, the Department will focus the ARRA funds towards watershed or subwatershed based point and nonpoint source assessment-type grant projects leading to the: 1) determination of the nature, extent and causes of water quality problems; 2) assessment of impacts and determination of effluent limitations necessary to meet water quality standards; 3) Green infrastructure projects that manage wet weather to maintain or restore natural hydrology; and 4) development of implementation plans that will address water quality impairments. MassDEP is seeking project proposals in the $50,000 to $100,000 range that will identify water quality problems and provide preliminary or final designs for BMPs to address these problems. Eligibility Eligible Projects
Background MassDEP assessment and data needs are identified in:
Mass DEP encourages Respondents to propose other suitable water quality assessment/planning projects that will lead to direct actions by Municipalities and others to implement water quality improvements. Projects that target Category 4a and Category 5 waters listed in the Massachusetts Year 2006 Integrated List of Waters (http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/resources/tmdls.htm) or that will address potential sources of contamination of public water supplies identified in MassDEP SWAP reports (http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/drinking/swapreps.htm) may be awarded additional points. Application Process The proposals will be evaluated by the Department and selected proposal awards will be announced within two months following the proposal submission deadline. Contract development will be expected to begin as soon as possible after the date of selection by the Department. All projects funded under the Economic Stimulus bill must be completed within two years of receipt of contract.
Contact: Indicative Summaries of past 604(b) projects can be seen at http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/grants.htm#guides. A publication of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts This information is available in alternate format upon request by contacting the ADA Coordinator at 617-574-6872. The Massachusetts Watershed Coalition....Creating a Network of Watershed Partners. |
For specifics on the flood plain easement (FPE) grant program in Massachusetts, you can contact Carl Gustafson at (413) 253-4362 or carl.gustafson@ma.usda.gov, or contact your local USDA Service Center (click here for locations in Mass.) AMHERST, Mass. (March 13, 2009) – Massachusetts landowners with land in flood-prone areas may apply for assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). NRCS will provide up to $145 million nationwide to eligible landowners through the floodplain easement component of its Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program. The funds will be used to restore an estimated 60,000 acres of frequently flooded land in the U.S. to its natural state and create jobs. Eligible landowners can sign up for these easements through March 27, 2009 at their local USDA Service Center (click here for link to service centers in Mass.). USDA service center locations are listed on-line at http://offices.usda.gov or in the phone book under Federal Government, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information about EWP Program floodplain easements, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/ewp/Floodplain/index.html. “We will be working with landowners in rural communities who voluntarily agree to restore the floodplains to their natural condition by placing their land into easements,” said Christine Clarke, NRCS Massachusetts State Conservationist. “These easements will convert environmentally sensitive lands into riparian corridors and wooded bottomlands that are so vital for fish and wildlife habitat and to mitigate downstream flooding.” The EWP Program’s floodplain easement component allows NRCS to purchase easements on lands damaged by flooding. The restored floodplain will generate many public benefits, such as increased flood protection, enhanced fish and wildlife habitat, improved water quality, increased carbon sequestration as permanent vegetative cover is re-established, and a reduced need for future public disaster assistance. |
The Changing Politics of Organic Farming and more Why Jeff Moyer, farm director at the Rodale Institute, is willing to work at hammering out a sustainability standard for agriculture with industrial ag leaders, when most organic and community food-security groups are not. Read more >> How a mixture of organic farms in the Northeastern United States looked to a visiting Danish agricultural journalist. Hint: He was impressed with dairy breeding and weed management, but felt that nutrient accounting was quite lax compared to the rules back home. Read more >> |
Toxic Tub Read the new Campaign for Safe Cosmetics report Toxic Tub for all the details, but this is the quick and dirty version: We sent unopened bubble bath, baby lotion and other products intended for babies and children, purchased in cities across the U.S., to an independent lab to be tested for 1,4-dioxane and formaldehyde. Both chemicals are contaminants that do not appear on product labels, and both are carcinogenic; formaldehyde can also trigger rashes in those with sensitive skin. The lab tested 48 kids' products for 1,4-dioxane and found it in 67 percent of the products. Of the 28 products tested for formaldehyde, 82 percent were positive. Seventeen products were contaminated with both 1,4-dioxane and formaldehyde. We know that cosmetics can be made without hazardous ingredients and contaminants. So what's going on? How is it legal for companies to sell baby and kids' skincare products that contain toxic chemicals used in embalming fluid, fumigants and automotive coolant? Worse yet, these chemicals aren't even on the label, so even the most ingredient-conscious parents wouldn't know whether the product is safe. This is just one more reason that we need the Safer Alternatives Bill to pass in Massachusetts. 124 Massachusetts legislators co-sponsored the bill this session. From the Berkshires only Denis Guyer made this list. Please, contact Representative Guyer and thank him to make sure he keeps it as a top priority. 75 Massachusetts legislators did not co-sponsor. The other Berkshire legislators need to hear from you now to get them on board! The others are bowing to pressure from a corporate lobbyist who used to be a legislator here in the Berkshires. Please let them know how you feel about this!!! Either way, contact your legislators! Share this new information with them as motivation to pass the bill this session. Contact your State legislators to urge them to pass the Safer Alternatives bill. Adapted from an alert by Elizabeth Saunders |
Secretary Bowles at BRPC to discuss Renewable Energy on State-owned Lands Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles will attend a meeting of the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) on Thursday, March 19 at 5pm. at the BRPC 2nd Floor Conference Room, 1 Fenn Street, Pittsfield, MA, to talk about “Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Potential at State-owned Facilities and Lands” (5:20-6:20). Secretary Bowles will discuss the very recent report on “Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Potential at State-owned Facilities and Lands”. The Agenda for this meeting says, “As the largest property owner in Berkshire County, with very prominent land holdings and facilities in almost every community, the State’s actions to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency projects on its own properties have significant interest across the entire region.” This is a public meeting, but not a public hearing, so the public may attend, but may not be allowed to speak or may have very limited time to speak. Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) will videotape the meeting to air on Pittsfield Community Television and, if possible, other community television stations in western Massachusetts. |
Comment Period on GE's Response to EPA re:Housatonic River The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing a 30-day Informal Web location of the relevant documents: GE's Response to EPA's comments on the CMS Report is on the EPA website Comments may be submitted to me by mail, email or fax: Jim Murphy (murphy.jim@epa.gov), EPA Community Involvement Coordinator Feel free to contact me with any questions. Thank you. Jim Murphy |
Federal Conservation Programs Workshop for Farm and Forest Land Owners The Berkshire Conservation District will host an informational workshop Conservation district and NRCS representatives will be on-hand to For more information on the workshop or if you plan to attend and Sign-up is underway for federal conservation programs and, although USDA service center locations are listed on-line at Among the voluntary conservation programs authorized in the 2008 Farm * Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) - WHIP provides * Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) - WRP offers an opportunity for * Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) - AMA helps farmers * Grasslands Reserve Program (GRP) - GRP is a voluntary program The 2008 Farm Bill provides additional incentives for landowners who are The Berkshire Conservation District is one of 14 conservation districts NRCS has offices in Greenfield, Hadley, Holden, Hyannis, Pittsfield, # # # Deb Burke |