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The BEAT
News
September 29, 2008 |
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The Massachusetts Environmental Trust has opened its General Grants program for projects that will begin in July 2009. The Trust seeks proposals from communities and non-profit organizations for projects that will restore, protect, and improve water and water-related resources of the Commonwealth.
The goal of this MET program is to encourage development of new approaches and ideas and to spur innovation among grantees or partnering organizations. To achieve these outcomes, the Trust seeks proposals that would: improve water quality or quantity, conserve aquatic habitat and species, reduce runoff pollution, mitigate the effects of climate change on water resources, promote human health as it relates to water resources, and/or other efforts consistent with the Trust’s mission.
Examples of the kinds of projects that would be eligible for support include, but are not limited to, innovative projects that address concerns such as:
- Point and non-point source pollution (including runoff, bacterial, chemical, and nitrogen);
- Water conservation and enhancing recharge and flow;
- Monitoring marine, estuarine, and freshwater systems;
- Endangered and threatened species and habitat;
- Human health issues that result from degraded water resources;
- Environmental education projects pertaining to water resources;
- Low-income or “environmental justice” communities; and/or
- Research on emerging environmental issues.
The Request for Response is posted to WWW.COMM-PASS.COM. To access the RFR documents, select “search for solicitation” and enter “ENV 09 MET 02” into the search box. The RFR is located on the “specifications” tab. Potential applicants are advised to read the RFR documents thoroughly before applying.
The Trust utilizes a two-stage application process. The first stage is a Letter of Inquiry due October 31, 2008. The letter of inquiry must follow the format provided in the RFR. Successful applicants will be invited to prepare a full proposal for a deadline in March, 2009.
These grants are made possible by the 50,000 drivers in Massachusetts that purchase one of the three environmental themed license plates: The Right Whale & Roseate Terns, the Leaping Brook Trout, and the Blackstone Valley Mill. These plates are available from any branch of the Registry of Motor Vehicles or www.mass.gov/rmv.
William W. Hinkley
Massachusetts Environmental Trust
100 Cambridge Street, 9th Floor
Boston, MA 02114
617.626.1177
william.hinkley@state.ma.us
www.massenvironmentaltrust.org
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Meetings and Comments on Green Communities Act
The recently signed Green Communities Act remakes the electricity market to reduce energy consumption through a dramatic increase in energy efficiency technology and renewable energy development. The Act requires the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to complete numerous tasks within a relatively short period of time. In order to meet this obligation, DOER requires, and values, the input and participation of the many stakeholders having an interest in the issues and tasks assigned. Stakeholder Meeting Dates and Comment Deadlines:
RPS Imports Stakeholder Forum, September 23, Boston
RPS & APS Stakeholder Forum September 29, Boston
RPS Imports Comments due October 1
RPS & APS Comments due October 15th
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New Permit Issued for Industrial Stormwater Discharges Offers Improved Features
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a new Stormwater Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) for an estimated 4,100 industrial facilities in 29 different sectors to implement site-specific stormwater pollution prevention plans to protect water quality. Facilities are required to install control measures that meet established technology- and water quality-based effluent limits and must develop a stormwater pollution prevention plan.
"These new controls will help prevent stormwater pollution, one of the country's greatest threats to water, and improve reporting and accountability at industrial sites," said Benjamin H. Grumbles, EPA's assistant administrator for water.
The new permit offers several improvements from the previous MSGP, including easier to understand discharge requirements; fast and easy electronic filing of Notices of Intent (NOIs) and monitoring reports; web-based tools for locating waterbodies and determining impairment status; and updated monitoring, inspection and corrective action schedules.
The MSGP applies to facilities in states and territories not authorized to implement EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program including Alaska, Idaho, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, parts of Texas and Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the District of Columbia, and the territories of Guam, American Samoa, Johnston Atoll, and Midway and Wake Islands. The MSGP also applies to facilities located in Indian Country lands in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada, Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, as well as to industrial activities taking place on Federal Facilities in Vermont, Delaware and Washington.
Under the Clean Water Act, all facilities that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States must obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. The new permit replaces the MSGP issued in 2000.
More information on the MSGP: http://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/msgp
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CONTACT:
John Majercak, ReStore Director, 413-695-4825
Springfield’s own ReStore Deconstruction to be featured on This Old House Premiere episode
Springfield, MA – The ReStore, a local non-profit organization, will be featured on the season premiere of This Old House , which will air locally on WGBY Channel 57 at 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 2.
The ReStore dismantled the 1,900-sq.-ft. home in Weston, Mass., which is the project that will be featured this fall on the popular PBS home improvement series. The ReStore salvaged more than 85 percent of the home’s materials, many of which are being used to help build two Habitat for Humanity homes in Springfield.
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, ReStore representatives and a collection of local leaders have been on hand several times in previous months to welcome members of the This Old House cast and crew when they filmed in Springfield. “We are proud to have the ReStore here in Springfield being featured on such a well-respected national television program,” said Sarno. “The ReStore is doing innovative work in disassembling homes to recover useful materials and selling them at low cost to help people improve their homes, lives and communities. This is good news for Springfield and the region, and this national attention is another example of how Springfield is embracing the new Green Economy,” he said.
The town of Weston, about 20 miles west of Boston, is the site of the This Old House project where the show is building a new timberframe home for the Favat family. Despite being located on a main thoroughfare, the family loves their property, with its active wildlife and bubbling brook. In recent years, however, Pete, Amy, and their children, 15-year-old Cian and 12-year-old Juliette, have found themselves outgrowing their modest 1970’s-era home.
After a year of trying to donate the existing house to charity, there were no takers, so the next best solution for them was to deconstruct their old house to make way for the new timberframe home. The deconstruction work began on April 17 and continued through May 6. The ReStore’s professional Deconstruction crew carefully dismantled the house using hand tools and small equipment. “I have seen firsthand what it takes to deconstruct a house, and it’s really amazing what a large amount of materials the ReStore was able to recover from the Favat’s home,” said Kevin O’Connor, host of This Old House . “I think many of our viewers will be excited to learn about such an interesting process.”
“We’re honored and excited to be featured on such a well-known and highly regarded show as This Old House,” said John Majercak, ReStore Director. “This is nice recognition for our efforts to strengthen our community, economy and environment,” Majercak continued. “I think it’s good for Springfield, too, to get some national recognition as the home for our innovative green work as part of the City’s overall green efforts that are underway,” he said.
The recovered materials not used in the Habitat for Humanity homes will be sold at low cost at the ReStore’s retail location at 250 Albany Street. “These materials, and the homes we are building will change the lives of a local family in need,” said Jennifer Schimmel, executive director, Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity. “For us, this project is really special. Not only will the Habitat house be filled with life and love, it will be also be filled with living history.”
The premiere episode of This Old House will feature ReStore’s deconstruction work on the Weston project. Additional episodes this season will include footage shot at the ReStore this May, as well as segments filmed last month at the Habitat for Humanity homes in Springfield. “WGBY public television for Springfield and western New England is proud to partner with the ReStore to help promote the upcoming series and future events with This Old House ,” said WGBY General Manager Russell J. Peotter.
“As part of our mission to connect the people of our region with ideas, events and each other we are pleased to have this opportunity to inform viewers about building green and the ReStore’s important work in this area,” he added.
According to Majercak, green building is becoming an increasingly popular trend, and homeowners are looking for ways to make their building and remodeling projects environmentally friendly. “When homeowners choose deconstruction over demolition, they not only save thousands of tons of materials from the landfill, they also receive a tax benefit and are helping their community by providing affordable building materials to others,” said Majercak.
“I think the explosion of interest in green practices has really helped our Deconstruction Services take off,” said Majercak. “For a whole-house deconstruction project, we cost a little bit more than traditional demolition, but it ends up just being a difference of a small fraction of the overall project cost. So many homeowners seek us out to get the extra benefits that deconstruction provides. The extra cost is in the labor. That means we are creating living wage jobs in the new green economy,” he said.
According to Majercak, deconstruction is a sensible solution for smaller remodeling projects as well. “Soft strips” take the place of pre-renovation demolition and recover unwanted materials such as old cabinet sets and plumbing fixtures, leaving a clean site to begin renovations. “These pre-remodeling jobs are done with hand labor anyway, so we are very cost-competitive and still provide all the environmental, community and tax benefits,” said Majercak.
ReStore Deconstruction has grown significantly in the past year, becoming a full-time operation. In 2007, the ReStore worked locally as well as regionally in Massachusetts from the North and South Shores of Boston to the Berkshires, doing a total of 127 pre-demo strip outs, four garage deconstructions and four whole-house deconstructions. ReStore Deconstruction is a Registered Home Improvement Contractor and all jobs are managed by their Licensed Construction Site Supervisor.
The ReStore Home Improvement Center is an innovative non-profit enterprise with a three-fold mission:
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Reuse valuable building materials
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Make home improvement more affordable
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Create local jobs and provide job training
The ReStore sells used and surplus building materials at low cost to help hardworking do-it-yourselfers rebuild their homes, lives and communities. The materials are donated by individuals, contractors, and manufacturers who wish to see quality goods used to help their neighbors. Over 20,000 residents have been able to improve their homes and the quality of their lives and communities in ways that would have been out of their reach without the ReStore’s low-cost materials. These customers have saved a total of more than $1 million over the past five years, keeping hundreds of tons of materials out of the landfill.
The ReStore employs eight people, and has worked with dozens of Americorps*VISTAs, interns, and volunteers who have gained valuable job experience while advancing its mission.
The ReStore is an enterprise of the Center for Ecological Technology (CET), a non-profit community environmental organization with offices in Northampton and Pittsfield. For more information about the ReStore, residents are encouraged to stop by the store at 250 Albany Street, visit www.restoreonline.org, or call 413-788-6900.
WGBY ( www.wgby.org), a community supported public broadcasting organization, connects the people of western New England to events, ideas and each other through national PBS programming and locally produced series and specials. With an additional four digital television channels, video on demand, podcasting and streaming video, WGBY is one of the region’s most accessible community institutions, providing lifelong learning opportunities for all.
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Beaver Funding Assistance Request
Thanks to a grant from the Nion Robert Thieriot Foundation, the MSPCA has funding to assist with installation of water flow devices to humanely, non-lethally, and ecologically mitigate beaver-related flooding in the Berkshires.
Who can participate? Any individual, town, business, or organization in Berkshire County . (Other Western MA towns will be considered if funds are not exhausted in the Berkshires).
What are the criteria? A willingness (of all parties involved) to resolve problems non-lethally for the long term, a site that is conducive to flow device usage, and permission of the landowners and the local Conservation Commission to install water flow devices.
How do I request assistance? Send a description of your conflict site(s) and the limitations of your budget to the MSPCA for consideration. Starting in the spring, we will evaluate the sites to determine if they are conducive to flow device usage.
Funding assistance: The amount of funding offered to each applicant will depend on the number of requests, the amount of each viable request, and the ability of each requester to pay for part of the flow device, or the maintenance contract for the device, themselves.
Deadline: Requests will be accepted throughout 2008 until funding is exhausted.
Requests will be considered in the order in which they are received. Submit ASAP, please.
Send requests to: Linda Huebner, MSPCA Western New England, 171 Union Street , Springfield , MA , 01105 . Lhuebner@mspca.org., fax 413-750-7660, phone 413-750-7623.
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Please include the following information with requests:
Name: _______________________________ Date: _______________________
Town: __________________________________________________________________
Phone: ____________________________ Email: ____________________________
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