The BEAT News

In the News

• Conservationists rip water policy, quit state panel
• Winners of the WRLF Pie Contest
• Threats to Our Rivers workshop
• Petition Seeks to Reduce Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions
• Berkshire nonprofits gain Orion Network access
• STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS SLEEP-OUT FOR CLEAN ENERGY BILL
• Ghosts and goblins aren't the only scary things lurking around this Halloween
• climate / 1000 U.S. mayors vs. climate change
• waste / music and the environment
• environment / greener leaf management
• Two News Stories from Two Countries One Forest
• Governor Patrick Announces Green Procurement Policy
• Call and/or write to your legislators and make sure that they testify in support of the Safer Alternatives Bill

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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Conservationists rip water policy, quit state panel

Members of four influential conservation groups abruptly resigned from a state waterway advisory panel last Wednesday, alleging that a new state policy undercuts environmental protection of rivers so greatly that some could run bone dry.
Boston Globe
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Winners of the WRLF Pie Contest

Winners of the annual Pie Contest hosted by the Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation at Sheep Hill on Saturday October 17th were announced recently.  Mary Ellen and Cate Cangelosi were overall winners with first place in the Adult category and the People's Choice award for their yummy apple pie.  Second place winner in the Adult category was Mark Brandriss for an Apple-Wine pie.  In the Youth Division, 12 years old Flour Girls Katherine Davis and Rosalee Walter won for their Beary Good pie, a mixed berry pie decorated with pie crust bears.  Second place in the Youth category went to Miriam Pomerantz for her strawberry pie, made with strawberries she grew herself.  Pies were judged on their overall visual appeal, crust quality, taste, and their use of local ingredients.

The pie contest is one of several annual WRLF events celebrating seasonal foods and traditions.  For more information about the WRLF and upcoming events, visit the WRLF Website www.wrlf.org.

 Leslie Reed-Evans
Executive Director
Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation
Sheep Hill
671 Cold Spring Road
Williamstown, MA  01267

lre@wrlf.org  www.wrlf.org
413-458-2494
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Threats to Our Rivers workshop

If you're interested or concerned about the impact of invasive species
to our local river environment:

Come learn about threats to our rivers from experts on zebra and quagga
mussels, didymo (rock snot) & other in-water invasives topics,
& to discuss the development of an action plan to help manage this
upcoming problem.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Speakers: Tom Flannery from DCR & Carl Nielsen from ESS Group Inc.
When:Thurs. Nov. 12, 2009; 2:30 - 4:30PM
Where: Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield

Please RSVP Dennis Regan, at HVA, 413-394-9796 or dregan@hvatoday.org
if you are planning on attending or for additional information.

For more on river invasives go to ww.hvatoday.org

This free workshop is co-sponsored by
Housatonic Valley Association
& Berkshire Regional Planning Commission.
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Petition Seeks to Reduce Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions
 
The Federal Highway Administration estimates that between one and two million vehicles collide with wildlife each year. These crashes cost Americans upwards of $8 billion and, sadly, more than 150 human fatalities annually.

In an effort to make our roads safer for humans and wildlife, the Western Environmental Law Center (WELC) petitioned the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to require the consideration of wildlife movement when planning federally funded highway projects.

"Wildlife-vehicle collisions pose a threat to public safety and wildlife populations, especially in light of the increased wildlife migration due to global warming. Our petition to FHWA will ensure that wildlife movement, and mitigation measures such as wildlife under- and over-passes, are considered early in the transportation planning process," said Monique DiGiorgio, Conservation Strategist for WELC.

State Farm Insurance recently issued a report stating that deer-vehicle collisions have jumped 18% in the last five years, to one every 26 seconds, even though the number of vehicles has increased by just 7%.

WELC staff Monique DiGiorgio and attorney Susan Jane Brown  hand-delivered the petition and proposed rule today to FHWA Administrator Victor Mendez.  WELC has asked FHWA to respond within 90 days to the petition. In the meantime, they will continue to garner a broad base of support for the rule.

Co-petitioners include Biodiversity Conservation Alliance, Center for Native Ecosystems, Colorado Wild, Defenders of Wildlife, Hells Canyon Preservation Council, Nevada Wilderness Project, Sierra Club, and Wildlands Network.  Many other organizations, including Berkshire Environmental Action Team, signed-on in support of the petition.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR WORK TO
DEFEND THE WEST
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Berkshire nonprofits gain Orion Network access

Berkshire Eagle, http://www.berkshireeagle.com/local/ci_13636690

Sunday, Oct. 25
GREAT BARRINGTON -- The Berkshire Bank Foundation is teaming up with the Orion Grassroots Network to deliver the Network's services to 50 Berkshire County nonprofits, including free access to its GrantStation.com fundraising research database.

Each eligible group will gain a year's access to the services furnished by the Orion Grassroots Network, including discounted health insurance and conference call trainings on nonprofit management topics.

But the free access to GrantStation.com may be the most used of the Network's services, and the most valuable. An annual membership normally costs $599.

"Our desire is to have strong nonprofit partners that can help meet social needs in the communities Berkshire Bank serves," said Peter J. Lafayette, executive director of the Berkshire Bank Foundation. "We provided a grant for this project because we feel it is an innovative way to help nonprofit organizations find additional grants to sustain their operations."

Al Bashevkin, director of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition in North Adams, said "having GrantStation available to us here at the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition will be a tremendous asset to our fund-raising program."

Erik Hoffner, coordinator of the Orion Grassroots Network, said: "Many Network members using GrantStation .com this year have reported successfully raising more money.

In combination with the other membership services, we can help Berkshire County nonprofits do their good workbetter."

Hoffner said nonprofits working in the areas of education, social services, or environmental stewardship may contact him to request a one-year free membership by e-mail at grassroots@orionsociety.org or by calling (413) 528-4422, ext. 32.

More information on the Orion Grassroots Network can be found at www.orion
grassroots.org.

Since its inception, the Berkshire Bank Foundation has awarded nearly $12 million in grants to nonprofit organizations and will award more than $1 million annually in each of the coming years.

The Orion Grassroots Network provides services and support to organizations that serve people and planet and is a program of The Orion Society.
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STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS SLEEP-OUT FOR CLEAN ENERGY BILL

[Boston, MA] Over 70 college students and community members gathered on Boston Common in front of the Massachusetts State House yesterday afternoon to call on Governor Patrick to introduce a bill that will repower the Commonwealth with 100% clean electricity by 2020. 

Today begins the first of a long campaign in which participants will refuse to sleep in their dormitories and homes powered by dirty electricity – until a plan is in place for them to run on clean electricity. 

In addition to Boston area schools such as Harvard University and Boston University, students came from across the state, including Clark University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute from Worcester, MA and schools farther west such as Westfield State College and University of Massachusetts-Amherst.  Community members came from as far as the Cape and included ordained clergy.

The organizers, calling themselves The Leadership Campaign, are calling on the Governor to introduce and pass a bill they have written by December 7th, the first day of the international climate negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark. 

“This a direct action movement aimed specifically at Governor Patrick and the State Legislature,” Western Massachusetts Campaign Coordinator Katie MacDonald said. “We will be lobbying every single Monday morning to let them know we are here and ready for serious solutions to global climate disruption.”

 “Massachusetts has already led on this issue.  When the science said 450 parts per million [of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere], the Legislature passed a bill putting the Commonwealth on track with this target,” Coordinator Craig Altemose said. “But now the science says 350 is the highest safe level.  We’re now at 390, so we know that the Legislature and the Governor will again step forward and lead us to a clean energy future with accurate science-based targets.”

Participants of the Leadership Campaign have organized at over 20 campuses state-wide.  The organizers are asking people to sleep-out at a location near their home from Monday to Saturday and head to the Statehouse for a rally and solidarity sleep-out Sunday night followed by a weekly Monday lobby at the Statehouse. 

The Leadership Campaign is a state-wide network of primarily college students demanding bold and comprehensive solutions to global climate disruption.  For more information, visit their website at: www.theleadershipcampaign.org
--
Dan Abrams
Boston & New Media Coordinator
The Leadership Campaign
(518) 527-9168
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Ghosts and goblins aren't the only scary things lurking around this Halloween

Halloween masks and face paint are common tools to transform kids into zombies, witches and other characters every Halloween. But something even creepier: kids may be unknowingly wearing PVC plastic or spreading harmful substances on kids' vulnerable skin.

A new report released by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found heavy metals present in Halloween face paint often used on children. Lead, a powerful neurotoxin, was found in every face paint product the Campaign tested. Many of the products also contained nickel, cobalt and chromium, potent allergens that can cause lifelong skin problems. To read the full report, simply go to www.safecosmetics.org/prettyscary.
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climate / 1000 U.S. mayors vs. climate change
from New Dream News, Tuesday, October 27, 2009

This month, Mayor Scott Smith of Mesa, AZ became the 1,000th U.S. mayor to sign the Conference of Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement. These thousand mayors represent more than 86 million Americans and a tremendous opportunity to turn local action into global good. Under the Agreement, participating cities strive to meet or beat Kyoto Protocol targets in their own communities, through actions ranging from anti-sprawl land-use policies to urban forest restoration projects to public information campaigns, and urge state and federal governments to pass laws and implement policies to curb global warming. Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels will lead a delegation of U.S. mayors to the December global climate change conference in Copenhagen.  See if your city is on the map when it comes to climate change action. Get involved!  Become a 1Sky Climate Precinct Captain to rally citizens in your town, and join New Dream Community members taking personal steps as Carbon Shredders.
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waste / music and the environment
from New Dream News, Tuesday, October 27, 2009
(If you have trouble reading this go to http://www.newdream.org/emails/ndn61.html)

As Americans increasingly access digital media via their computers, the environment is reaping the reward. A recent study by Carnegie Mellon and the Lawrence Berkley National Labs found that even with the increased energy costs and carbon dioxide emissions related to internet use, purchasing music online saves between 40 and 80% in energy and emissions compared to buying physical CDs at a store. The range in savings depends on whether the downloaded music is burned to a CD or not. The environmental costs associated with store brought CDs or DVDs include the PVC in the case, the transportation costs, and the difficult-to-recycle discs themselves. With a wide range on online music and movie services now available, it’s easy to find your favorite tunes and films while lightening your load on the planet. And, if you’re ready to downsize your old CD collection, check out one of these recycling services.
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environment / greener leaf management
from New Dream News, Tuesday, October 27, 2009
(If you have trouble reading this go to http://www.newdream.org/emails/ndn61.html)

Just because the leaves start losing their green in the fall doesn't mean you have to. When managing fallen leaves this autumn, be a steward of the environment and avoid using a gas powered leaf blower. The Washington Council of Governments reported in 2002 that gas powered lawn and garden equipment emitted 81.6 tons per day of volatile organic compounds and 12.6 tons daily of nitrogen oxides, putting the lawn care industry in second place in the DC region for VOCs and fourth for NOx.  These compounds react with sunlight to produce ozone. Avoid toxins and get a little exercise instead by recruiting some neighbors for a leaf-raking party. Many cities collect curbside leaves during the fall or you can compost leaves and grass clippings in your own backyard. Dozens of cities nationwide have also opted to ban leaf blower in their communities due to environmental and noise considerations.  To see one example of such an effort, visit the “Green Our City” campaign page – a citizen-led initiative in New Dream’s hometown of Takoma Park to ban leaf blowers. 
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Two News Stories from Two Countries One Forest (2C1F)

New England Governors sign Sweeping Conservation Resolution and adopt Report of the Commission on Land Conservation
On September 16th at a meeting in St. John, New Brunswick, the New England Governors received and adopted the report of their Blue Ribbon Commission on Land Conservation (CLC), chaired by Richard Barringer of Maine. The Commission’s report indicates that New England today faces profound challenges to its land and natural resource base; climate change and its impacts, fragmentation of the landscape from sprawling development, and the demand for coastal property threaten the viability of the plants, animals, and the resource-based industries that depend on these lands. The Commission Report calls for a high-priority, New England-wide land conservation effort with measurable benefits for the region's farms and forests, climate change mitigation, alternative energies, bio-diversity, outdoor recreation and education, and sustainable economic development. The Governors also signed a Resolution to begin implementation of the recommendations in the report. The initiatives proposed by the Governors call for a New England Forest Initiative to Keep Forests as Forests; a Farm and Food Security Initiative to protect the region’s agricultural base and ensure a local food supply; a Wildlife Habitat Initiative that will serve as the basis for regional cooperation for habitat connectivity, and a Coastal Initiative that addresses joint goals of coastal conservation and land acquisition for climate change adaptation and habitat protection. 
For more information go to http://www.negc.org/documents/2009/CLC_Report.pdf , and http://www.negc.org/documents/2009/Conservation.pdf

 New York awards $1.4million for land conservation
On October 1, 2009, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Land Trust Alliance (the Alliance) announced the recipients of more than $1.4 million in Conservation Partnership Program grants. The $1.4 million was awarded to 47 of New York State’s land trusts. The Conservation Partnership Program is a public-private initiative funded through the State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and administered by the Land Trust Alliance, in coordination with DEC. The funding will help create land trust jobs, strengthen key partnerships with local and state governments, and support programming that advances farm and watershed protection and other community projects across the state.  It will also help land trusts sustain critical programs, increase the pace, improve the quality, and ensure the permanence of land conservation.
Since 2002, this public-private partnership has permitted local and regional non-profit land conservation groups to protect thousands of acres of farmland, natural areas and urban gardens – lands that are vital to public health and the state’s agriculture and tourism industry.  

The Land Trust Alliance is a national conservation group that works on behalf of America’s 1,700 land trusts to save the places people love by strengthening conservation throughout America. For more information about the New York State Conservation Partnership Program, contact the Alliance’s Northeast office at (518) 587-0774 or visit the Land Trust Alliance website http://www.landtrustalliance.org/community/northeast/nyscpp.
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Governor Patrick Announces Green Procurement Policy

Governor Deval Patrick today signed an Executive Order today directing all state agencies to procure goods and services that conserve natural resources, reduce waste, protect public health and the environment, and promote the use of clean technologies, recycled materials, and less toxic products.  By purchasing Environmentally Preferable Products, Commonwealth agencies will reduce the environmental impact of state operations and use the state’s purchasing power to encourage manufacturers and service providers to adopt high environmental standards into their products and operations.
Executive Order 515, which establishes an Environmental Purchasing Policy, follows on Governor Patrick’s Executive Order 484 “Leading By Example – Clean Energy and Efficient Buildings,” which requires state agencies to reduce their energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. The Leading By Example Program of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs worked with the Executive Office of Administration and Finance’s Operational Services Division to develop the Environmental Purchasing Policy.

“The Commonwealth has an obligation to lead by example,” said Governor Patrick. “We are already leading on energy conservation and renewable energy. Now, our state agencies will set the pace for buying environmentally sound products and services from suppliers and vendors.”

The Commonwealth purchases an estimated $600 million of goods and non-construction services per year, which result in environmental and public health impacts related to the production, transport, use, and disposal of these products and services.  This new policy requires all Commonwealth Executive Departments to reduce their impact on the environment and enhance public health by procuring Environmentally Preferable Products and services (EPPs) whenever such products and services are readily available, perform to satisfactory standards, and represent best value to the Commonwealth.  Environmentally Preferable Products include products and services that: contain recycled materials; conserve energy or water; minimize waste; are less toxic and hazardous; reduce the generation, release, or disposal of toxic substances; protect open space; and/or otherwise lessen the impact of such products or services on public health and the environment. 

“The Commonwealth makes a statement with every product and service it buys,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles. “Now that statement will be: we want products that are less toxic, products that meet high efficiency standards, products that can be recycled, and products that contain recycled content. And we hope others follow our lead.”

In addition to reducing the environmental and health-related impacts of the Commonwealth’s consumption of these products, this policy will lower life-cycle costs, promote local economic development of these industries, and serve as a model for businesses, institutions, and individual residents.

“At a time when all governments are committed to operate as efficiently as possible, cooperating on procurements such as this makes dollars and sense,” said Administration and Finance Secretary Jay Gonzalez. “Aggregating the purchasing power within a multi-state region enables state governments to promote purchases on a broader scale that represent a lesser impact to the environment and public health while obtaining the best value and pricing for all involved.” 

The Commonwealth’s central procurement office, the Operational Services Division, and its Environmentally Preferable Products Procurement Program have already made progress in integrating environmental and sustainability considerations into the many statewide contracts used by Commonwealth agencies to procure the majority of products and services, and is also used by many other eligible public entities.  With passage of this Executive Order, the Commonwealth will significantly reduce the impact its purchases have on the Commonwealth’s natural resources and public health.

Today’s announcement came as the Commonwealth’s annual Environmentally Preferable Products (EPP) Vendor Fair and Conference was under way at the DCU Center in Worcester.  This event brings together over 1,300 federal, state and local procurement officials, fleet and facility managers, and environmental staff for a day filled with information on EPPs and sustainable practices. The event features 160 exhibitors of EPPs and a slate of educational workshops.

This new executive order comes soon after the creation of a new multi-state contract for Green Cleaning Products and Programs, the largest public cooperative undertaking to date to expand the use of environmentally preferable cleaning products in public facilities across several New England states. This innovative contract developed by OSD offers Massachusetts public entities competitive pricing by aggregating the purchasing volume from the participating states of Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York, while reaching out to local distributors and manufacturers of all sizes throughout the region.

While implementing the use of green cleaning products and practices promises to save money for the Commonwealth, the greater benefits and innovations of this contract include stimulating local economies throughout the five-state region, enabling several states to comply with recent executive and legislative mandates and obtaining a wide selection of the greenest and top performing cleaning products by requiring third-party certified chemicals, which are better for public health and the environment. This contract will also provide technical assistance to agencies, schools and other public purchasers to assist in their transition to green products by awarding contracts to companies that offer sophisticated training programs and tools to effect and monitor these changes.
Unlike multi-state procurements that focus on national corporations, this contract was awarded to 18 businesses, mostly local suppliers, which have the ability to provide a wide variety of green third-party certified products. The ability to purchase cleaning products, equipment, and supplies from multiple manufacturers using one statewide contract also serves to consolidate deliveries, which in turn reduces packaging waste, material costs and lowers fuel emissions that contribute to greenhouse gases. Equally important, awarding the contract to local companies creates an opportunity to strengthen local networks and enhance competition, both of which work toward increasing economic growth while lowering product cost.

Commonwealth agencies, municipal departments, schools and other contract users that typically purchase a wide variety of cleaning chemicals, equipment, and supplies will benefit from this contract. The green cleaning programs offered by these vendors involve the use of chemicals that are safer for product users and the general public and have reduced impact on the environment. Most of the training and education offered by vendors to both custodial staff and occupants on sound sanitation practices and solid waste management are available from contractors at no additional charge.
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