In the News
CALENDAR OF EVENTS |
ELM Urges You to Vote "No" on Question 3 Passage would devastate environmental protection programs in Massachusetts There is no more important public policy question on this year's ballot than Question 3. If approved, Question 3 would roll back the state sales tax from 6.25% to 3%. It's a popular idea. No one likes paying taxes. But this rollback would cost the Commonwealth about $2.5 billion in lost revenue. It comes at a time when state revenues are already dramatically reduced due to the recession. In FY '11 we already face a $2 billion budget gap, even after cutting thousands of state jobs and $3 billion from our state budget. If Question 3 is popular, it's also a disaster for those who want services...police and fire protection, good schools, reliable mass transit and more. For those who work to protect the environment, further budget reductions would paralyze us. The total environmental budget for the Commonwealth currently represents less than 1% of the overall state budget. We have already taken disproportionate cuts in environmental agencies such as the Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Conservation and Recreation and others. If revenues decline and budgets are cut further, we jeopardize the very essence of environmental protection. At ELM we understand voter frustration and anxiety about the economy. But responsible government has already made substantial budget cuts, and will continue to do so. The blunt instrument of Question 3 would cripple government and destroy much that we care about. We urge you to vote "no" on Question 3 and to spread the word to your family, friends and colleagues. For more information and resources, visit the Vote No on Question 3 website here. |
Strategic Plan for Responding to Accelerating Climate Change U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently released its climate change strategy, titled "Rising to the Urgent Challenge: Strategic Plan for Responding to Accelerating Climate Change." The plan establishes a basic framework within which the USFWS will work as part of the larger conservation community to help ensure the sustainability of fish, wildlife, plants and habitats in the face of accelerating climate change. The USFWS plans to establish a network of regional hubs for scienctific research and information sharing to be known as Landscape Conservation Cooperatives. This strategy is an important step in tackling the climate change challenge. |
2011 Master Gardener Training Western Massachusetts Master Gardeners’ Association is now accepting applications for the 2011 master gardener training leading to Master Gardener Certification. Master Gardeners must complete the classes plus volunteer in public gardening activities to attain certification as a Master Gardener. Applications for the thirteen week program that Applications must be submitted by October 15, 2010. |
EPA Issues Clean Water and Drinking Water Infrastructure Sustainability Policy |
COOL Committee organizing clothesline work party WILLIAMSTOWN -- The Williamstown COOL (Carbon Dioxide Lowering) Committee is organizing a work party to install clotheslines at local homes around town Sunday. The Global Work Party, which is being coordinated by the 350.org climate campaign, is an effort raise awareness about climate change and get governments to act on it. According to 350.org’;s website, 6,077 events were scheduled in 184 countries in conjunction with 10/10/10 as of Tuesday night. Penner said the events can be educational or involve the reduction of energy emissions. |
California Law Will Phase Out Copper in Automotive Brake Pads LOS ANGELES—California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) signed legislation into law Sept. 27 that limits copper and other toxics in automobile brake pads. The bill was among several environment and energy-related measures lawmakers passed in the session that ended Aug. 31. S.B. 346 requires manufacturers of vehicle brake pads to reduce the use of copper to no more than 5 percent by weight by 2021 and no more than 0.5 percent by 2025. State Sen. Christine Kehoe (D), who sponsored the measure, said in a written statement that “the new law phases out the largest human-generated source of copper in California's urban watershed run-off.” S.B. 346 grew out of a long-term effort by environmental groups, the automobile industry, and local governments to address the impact of brake pad dust on aquatic species. “The final legislation represents a balanced approach between environmental concerns, industry feasibility and above all, motorist safety,” Curt Augustine, director of policy and government affairs at the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, said in a written statement. |
EPA Awards $1.9 Million in Environmental Justice Grants |
United Nations Talks Open in Tianjin to Tackle Threats From Global Warming By Stuart Biggs - Oct 4, 2010 7:33 AM ET Mon Oct 04 11:33:59 GMT 2010 Talks aimed at reaching an agreement to mitigate climate change opened in China as the United Nations warned that time is running out before global warming reverses decades of economic development. Delegates from 177 governments began a week of talks today in Tianjin, northern China, the first time the most populous country and biggest emitter of greenhouse gases has hosted a meeting of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The Tianjin meeting is the last chance before envoys meet in Cancun, Mexico, for Nov. 29-Dec. 10 talks to help reach an agreement that even the UN climate chief has said is unlikely this year. The last climate summit in Copenhagen in 2009 failed to produce a binding agreement even after leaders including U.S. President Barack Obama flew in to try to hammer out a deal.<more> |
U.S. Military Orders Less Dependence on Fossil Fuels By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL Last week, a Marine company from California arrived in the rugged outback of Helmand Province bearing novel equipment: portable solar panels that fold up into boxes; energy-conserving lights; solar tent shields that provide shade and electricity; solar chargers for computers and communications equipment. The 150 Marines of Company I, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, will be the first to take renewable technology into a battle zone, where the new equipment will replace diesel and kerosene-based fuels that would ordinarily generate power to run their encampment. |
Wind Farms can Change Local Climates Led by University of Illinois professor of atmospheric sciences Somnath Baidya Roy, the research team will publish its findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The paper will appear in the journal's Online Early Edition this week. Roy first proposed a model describing the local climate impact of wind farms in a 2004 paper. But that and similar subsequent studies have been based solely on models because of a lack of available data. In fact, no field data on temperature were publicly available for researchers to use, until Roy met Neil Kelley at a 2009 conference. Kelley, a principal scientist at the National Wind Technology Center, part of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, had collected temperature data at a wind farm in San Gorgonio, Calif., for more than seven weeks in 1989. Analysis of Kelley's data corroborated Roy's modeling studies and provided the first observation-based evidence of wind farms' effects on local temperature. The study found that the area immediately surrounding turbines was slightly cooler during the day and slightly warmer at night than the rest of the region. <more> |
THE HOUSATONIC RIVER GUIDE MAKES A SPLASH! Which way to the river? |
Tips to Green Your Halloween Dressing up and celebrating Halloween can be fun -- especially for kids. It's easy to make it a healthy holiday for your family and the environment. Just follow these simple steps (download the PDF here) to green your Halloween routine: 1. Pick play makeup carefully. Many children like to wear colorful cosmetics as part of their costumes. If they do, make sure they're using safer products and applying them as directed. Visit cosmeticsdatabase.com to look up your products and find safer ones.
2. Skip the (colored) hairspray. Many hairsprays contain toxic chemicals and fragrance. Kids can easily breathe in sprays. Instead, find a great hat or wig at a second-hand store; or create a great hair-do with ribbons, barrettes and safer, non-spray hair products. |
Some nonprofit groups may lose Tax-Exempt Status by 10/15 WASHINGTON — Oct. 15 is fast approaching ...a crucial due date for thousands of small nonprofit organizations at risk of losing their tax-exempt status because they have not filed the required forms in the last three years. - http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=228389,00.html?portlet=7 The list of all charities that are in jeopardy of losing tax-exempt status is accessible here: http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=225889,00.html?portlet=7 - here's the link to all Massachusetts-based groups: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/ma.pdf. Below is a partial list of the names of river, watershed, conservation, park and other environmental organizations that are on this list (you may want to check here yourself for any specific groups you're concerned about). If you are connected to or familiar with any of these groups, you are encouraged to alert them (current or former board members, e.g.) as to the possible imminent loss of their tax-exempt status. CHARLES RIVER CUTLER PARK TO COMMONWEALTH AVENUE EAST LONGMEADOW FRIENDS OF CONSERVATION FRAMINGHAM ADVOCATES FOR THE SUDBURY RIVER INC FRIENDS OF WEBB STATE PARK AND BACK RIVER INC FRIENDS OF BELLE ISLE MARSH INC FRIENDS OF CONCORD RURAL TRAILS INC FRIENDS OF LAKE BOON FRIENDS OF LEVERETT POND INC FRIENDS OF LYNN WOODS INC FRIENDS OF MONOMOY INC FRIENDS OF MOSELEY WOODS INC FRIENDS OF POND MEADOW INC FRIENDS OF QUABBIN INC FRIENDS OF RUSSELLS MILLS INC FRIENDS OF SALEM WOODS INC FRIENDS OF THE KEYSTONE ARCHES INC FRIENDS OF THE LOWELL FOREST INC FRIENDS OF VEASEY PARK INC FRIENDS OF WILD ACRES INC GREATER FALL RIVER LAND CONSERVANCY HODGES VILLAGE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION HOOSIC RIVER BASIN CITIZENS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ASSOCIATION HOUSATONIC RIVER RESTORATION INC LAKE COCHITUATE WATERSHED ASSOCIATION INC LAKE WICKABOAG PRESERVATION ASSN MAHAIWE HARVEST LAND TRUST INC MASHPEE WATERSHED AND LAND TR INC MASSACHUSETTS AQUATIC CONSERVATION SOCIETY MASSACHUSETTS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION SOCIETY INC PARKER RIVER REFUGE ACCESS COMMITTEE INC POWOW RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION QUABOAG RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION INC SCITUATE LAND CONSERVATION TRUST SHAWME PONDS WATERSHED ASSOCIATION INC TAUNTON RIVER WATERSHED ASSOC INC TEN MILE RIVER WATERSHED ALLIANCE INC TRAPHOLE BROOK PROTECTION ASSOCIATION INC TYRINGHAM LAND TRUST INC THOREAU COUNTRY CONSERVATION ALLIANCE INC WALDEN CONSERVANCY INC WALDEN FOREVER WILD COMMITTEE INC WESTFIELD RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION WESTBOROUGH COMMUNITY LAND TRUST INC WILDLANDS CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT INC |