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Make History on November 6
A message from the Sierra Club: We're about to ask you to do something extraordinary. Something world changing. Something righteous. Something to use up those frequent-flier miles.
On November 6, meet us in Washington, D.C., to join hands in a ring around the White House. Together, thousands of us will send President Obama a message he might overlook on his Blackberry: We want clean energy. Tar sands oil is not in our national interest. And the Keystone XL pipeline must never get a presidential permit.
The closer you look at the Keystone XL boondoggle and its wealthy corporate backers, the worse the whole thing smells. In Texas, the Sierra Club and the Tea Party actually allied to oppose it.
Seriously, it's now or never: Either we stop this pipeline and the environmental catastrophes that come with it, or we live with the consequences. Don't miss your chance to make history. Come help us stop the Keystone XL (and bring a sweater -- D.C. can be nippy in November).
BEAT Note: Jane, Bruce, several BEAT volunteers, Williams College students, and others from western Massachusetts will be there. If you are going down for this event, please let Jane know. We'll try to organize a western Mass gathering in DC.
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How Clean Air Standards Affect You, and What You Can Do About It
Presentation and Q&A by The National Wildlife Federation and the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen Wednesday, November 2nd at 6:30pm at Berkshire Community College, K111. Sponsored by Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT), Berkshire Community College, Project Native, and Trout Unlimited.
Fall is here and is a perfect time to get outside and breathe the clean crisp air, right? Not if some in Congress have their way! Clean air affects everyone’s life more than you realize. From asthma attacks to ozone days to mercury warnings for our fish, we feel the impacts right here in Massachusetts of decisions made in Washington. Our elected representatives need to hear from you about clean air.
Right now the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working to reduce airborne toxins that cause mercury contamination and limit carbon pollution, but the Clean Air Act faces new threats in Congress. The Clean Air Act requires EPA to issue air quality standards for pollutants that harm human health and wildlife by limiting pollutants from industrial facilities, power plants and vehicle tailpipes. Several U.S. senators and representatives have recently introduced bills to block or delay EPA efforts to reduce mercury, carbon dioxide, methane and coal ash.
Mercury emitted from power plants settles from the air into our waterways where it’s converted into methylmercury, a highly toxic form of mercury. As contaminated organisms in the water are eaten by larger organisms and accumulated up the food chain, many large and long-lived predators accumulate high levels of methylmercury contamination. When we eat these species, such as walleye, salmon and tuna, we are exposed to the mercury, which can cause damage to the brain, nervous system, kidneys, and liver. Children and women of child-bearing age are particularly at risk because the exposure can interfere with brain and nervous system development in fetuses, infants and young children.
These long overdue and critically important updates to Clean Air Act standards are important public health safeguards that are widely supported by Americans of all parties. According to EPA, each year they will prevent as many as:
- 17,000 premature deaths,
- 11,000 heart attacks,
- 120,000 cases of childhood asthma symptoms and
- approximately 11,000 fewer cases of acute bronchitis among children.
Even in small amounts these extremely harmful air pollutants are linked to health problems such as cancer, heart disease, neurological damage, birth defects, asthma attacks and even premature death.
The good news is if we enact strong air pollution controls now we can reduce the mercury and other pollution in our air and start seeing the effects right away!
Join us November 2nd and to find out how air pollution impacts you and what you can do about it.
Presentation and Q&A by The National Wildlife Federation and the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen Wednesday, November 2nd at 6:30pm at Berkshire Community College, K111. Sponsored by Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT), Berkshire Community College, Project Native, and Trout Unlimited.
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National Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 29, 2011
from Water Headlines for the week of October 24, 2011
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is hosting its third National Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 29, 2011 at many local law enforcement offices and other locations across the country. Proper and safe disposal of medicine can help prevent: poisoning of children and pets; misuse by teenagers and adults; health problems from accidentally taking the wrong medicine, too much of the same medicine or medicine too old to work well; and medicines from entering rivers, lakes and streams.
To find a collection site near you, visit http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html. The national number to call for the nearest National Take Back Initiative location is: 1-800-882-9539.
BEAT Note: Don’t miss out on the Berkshire County Rx Roundup – Various locations throughout the county!
Some medicines poured down the drain or flushed down the toilet pass through wastewater treatment plants and enter rivers, lakes and streams which are often used as sources for community drinking water supplies. To read about how to protect our waters by disposing of medicines properly, go to http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/ppcp/upload/ppcpflyer.pdf
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Ash Borer Found In Trap in Southern Albany County
October 25, 2011 1:25 PM
Associated Press
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- State officials say an emerald ash borer has been found in a southern Albany County trap, the first discovered north of a major infestation in the Hudson Valley.
Michael Bopp, a Department of Environmental Conservation spokesman, says Tuesday the destructive beetle was stuck to a purple trap in Selkirk.
Experts have been working to slow the borer's spread from Ulster and Greene counties after the discovery of what's believed to be its easternmost foothold.
The insect from China was first reported in the U.S. near Detroit in 2002 and then in southwestern New York in 2009. The population has been steadily spreading, killing millions of trees in at least 14 states and two Canadian provinces.
In addition to its natural spread, the borer can travel in timber and firewood.
Read more: http://www.cbs6albany.com/articles/borer-1288583-albany-trap.html#ixzz1boz6lyHZ
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Asian Longhorned Beetle News - Eradication is possible!
Check out our brand new ALB Educational Activity Guide for Educators. It's full of interactive learning activities for all ages.
First the good news: Eradication is possible! The New York Department of Agriculture declared the ALB completely eradicated from Islip, New York: - Official Announcement
Then the bad news: The Massachusetts ALB Regulated Area was recently expanded to include all of Shrewsbury, after more infested trees were found: map
This past June, an infestation of Asian longhorned beetle was discovered in Clermont County, Ohio. The current regulated area stands at 56 square miles, with 4,368 trees infested and 46,846 trees inspected. Get the latest Ohio ALB info .
An expansion of the Ohio ALB regulated area this September was positively linked to the movement of firewood. Read more.
Remember buy local, burn local.
The ALB was also found in Switzerland this past September:
Islip, New York: - Official Announcement
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Public Input Sought for State Outdoor Recreation Plan
If you care about how your state forests and parks are used for recreation - ATVs, hiking, biking - please come to these meetings!!!
The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) today announced a series of public meetings in November to solicit input from the public for updating Massachusetts' Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan.
Each state is required to complete a Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) every five years to remain eligible for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which is administered by the National Parks Service.
Since the creation of the LWCF in 1964, over $98 million has gone to support 495 open space and recreation projects in every county in the Commonwealth. Funding for the LWCF is generated through revenue from offshore oil drilling, so no tax dollars are involved.
Through the SCORP process, EEA is seeking to identify the recreation needs of the state's residents. The resulting plan will help guide the use of future funding toward projects that fulfill the public's outdoor recreation priorities.
In addition to the public meetings, EEA will also be conducting a phone survey to ensure that a scientifically valid sample of data regarding residents’ recreational preferences is collected. After the data is collected and discerned, Massachusetts' plan will be submitted to the National Park Service for approval in early 2012.
November 16, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
Pittsfield City Council Chambers
70 Allen Street, Pittsfield
November 17, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
Department of Agricultural Resources' Amherst Office
101 University Drive, Suite C4, Amherst
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EPA Proposes to Collect Information about Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations
from Water Headlines for the week of October 24, 2011
On October 14, EPA proposed that concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) submit a specific set of basic operational information so the Agency can more effectively carry out its CAFO permitting programs on a national level and ensure that CAFOs are implementing practices to protect water quality and human health. The proposal, which is part of a settlement agreement reached with the Natural Resources Defense Council, Waterkeeper Alliance, and the Sierra Club, will be open for public comment for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), a part of the Clean Water Act, requires that CAFOs obtain a permit from EPA or authorized states before discharging any pollutants from their operations into a water of the United States. CAFOs that do not discharge pollutants do not need a NPDES permit. EPA’s proposal does not change which CAFOs need permits under NPDES.
For more information: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/afo/aforule.cfm
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Online Agricultural Courses
Registration opened today for our winter online courses at UMass. We are offering two courses in January that fulfill requirements for our Sustainable Food and Farming Certificate Program. They are:
STOCKSCH 290U - Urban Agriculture: Innovative Farming Systems for the 21st Century (3 cr.)
PLSOILIN 100 – Botany for Gardeners (4 cr.)
The Urban Agriculture class will fill fast, so if you are interested please sign up soon.
Please share this with anyone who might be interested.
Thanks.
John Gerber
http://www.johnmgerber.com/
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Job Opening - Executive Director - New England Forestry Foundation
The New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF, http://www.newenglandforestry.org) is seeking a self-motivated Executive Director (ED) to be responsible for all major aspects of outreach and administration. Primary tasks include organizational development and supervision of staff to achieve organization and program goals, in cooperation with the 17-member Board of Directors. The Board has voted to launch new initiatives to become an even more central player in forest conservation and active management. A major goal of the ED will be to gain the respect of landowners, industry representatives and conservation advocates. The successful candidate will be comfortable walking through the woods with these professionals and will know aspects that are important to each stakeholder. S/he will be effective working with academics, industry leaders and governments in promoting enlightened forestland policy.
More information available here.
To Apply: Please send a cover letter, resume and salary history to New England Forestry Foundation, c/o Susan Egmont at segmont@egmontassociates.com.
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Availability of FY12 Funding For Several Brownfields-Related Programs: Brownfields Assessment Grants
The U.S. EPA’s Office of Brownfields & Land Revitalization recently announced the availability of FY12 funding for several brownfields-related programs: Brownfields Assessment Grants(each funded up to $200,000 over three years; coalitions are funded up to $1,000,000 over three years); Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Grants (each funded up to $1,000,000 over five years); and Brownfields Cleanup Grants (each funded up to $200,000 over three years). These grants may be used to address sites contaminated by petroleum and hazardous substances, pollutants, and other contaminants. Cleanup grants provide funding to carry out cleanup activities at specific brownfield sites owned by the applicant. A total of $28 million is expected to be available, with up to 90 separate awards anticipated. The proposal deadline is November 28, 2011. Click here or here for more info about the grant opportunities and here for Brownfields contacts at the EPA Region One/New England office.
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"The Best Day Ever!"
Veteran's Day Vacation Camp at Flying Deer for kids 7 to 12
November 11, 9 am to 3 pm
A day of adventure, nature-connection, and friendship
- Matchless fire-making
- Natural camouflage
- Wild edibles
$65 for the day.
Find out more at flyingdeernaturecenter.org.
And mark your calendars for our upcoming Winter Vacation Camps:
December 29 & 30, and during February break!
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