{"id":30926,"date":"2018-02-13T13:09:51","date_gmt":"2018-02-13T18:09:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/?page_id=30926"},"modified":"2018-02-13T13:09:51","modified_gmt":"2018-02-13T18:09:51","slug":"beatnews-2-14-2018","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/beatnews-2-14-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"The BEAT News | February 14, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Good News on Pollinator Protection Bill<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n
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We were happy to see our pollinator protection bill reported favorably out of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources & Agriculture last week! Wednesday was the deadline for bills to make it out of committee, making them eligible for House and Senate floor votes later in the session. An Act to protect pollinator habitat<\/a> (S.451) aims to put solutions into place to protect and promote pollinators\u2019 health, at a time when their populations are in decline. FROM MASS AUDUBON<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0<more><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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East Coast Governors Oppose Offshore Drilling<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n
We were glad to learn that Governor Charlie Baker joined six other East Coast Governors in written opposition to the recent federal decision<\/a> to expand offshore oil and gas drilling. The group wrote a letter last month to Department of the Interior Secretary Zinke which, in addition to voicing their opposition to the expansion, requested that their states and the Atlantic Coast be exempt from the expansion program.\u00a0FROM MASS AUDUBON\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/span><more><\/a><\/strong><\/div>\n
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4\u00a0Incredible Wildlife Events This Weekend!\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

Join Sue Morse for spectacular presentations and wildlife tracking hikes.<\/b><\/p>\n

Join BEAT on Friday February 16th<\/a> and Saturday February 17th<\/a> for FREE wildlife presentations by the internationally renowned mammal photographer and tracker Sue Morse. Sue is regarded as an expert in natural history and one of the top wildlife trackers in North America. Since 1977, she has been monitoring wildlife, with an emphasis on documenting the presence and habitat requirements of bobcat, black bear, Canada lynx and cougar. <more><\/a><\/strong><\/div>\n
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Grimmway Carrots Threatens Food & Water Watch<\/span><\/h4>\n
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The company is threatening a frivolous lawsuit amidst growing concern with use of toxic oil field wastewater to grow food in California.\u00a0There is an old joke among activists that you know your campaign is having an impact when a corporation threatens to sue you.\u00a0Food & Water Watch\u2019s #JustBanIt campaign to ban the use of toxic oil field wastewater for crop irrigation has prompted two cease and desist letters<\/span> from lawyers for Grimmway Farms, which owns Cal-Organic and Bunny Luv carrots. Dark humor aside, we take our research and our campaigns seriously.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>FROM FOOD & WATER WATCH\u00a0<\/em><more><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Spiders Crawling On The Snow<\/span><\/h4>\n

Most adult spiders (as many as 85% of temperate zone species) are dormant during the winter, seeking shelter beneath the leaf litter. Their metabolism slows and their need for food is greatly reduced. Other species die at the end of the summer, and their eggs overwinter, protected inside silken sacs. A third, even smaller, group of spiders\u00a0remains active through the winter.\u00a0FROM NATURALLY CURIOUS WITH MARY HOLLAND\u00a0<\/em><more><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Trump budget would gut EPA, DOE renewables office<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The Trump administration’s 2019 budget proposal would slash funding for the Environmental Protection Agency and renewable energy programs at the Department of Energy while boosting nuclear programs and fossil fuels, according to text of the proposal released by the White House.\u00a0FROM UTILITY DIVE\u00a0<\/em><more><\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Jobs (click for full job listings)<\/a><\/h3>\n

River Steward Internship <\/strong> | Housatonic Valley Association | Stockbridge, MA or Cornwall Bridge, CT<\/p>\n

Appalachian Trail Ridge Runner <\/strong>| MA Department of Conservation and Recreation <\/span><\/span>| Cheshire, MA<\/p>\n

Stream Crossing Specialist |<\/strong> Department of Fish and Game, Division of Ecological Restoration | Boston, MA<\/p>\n

Various Internships | <\/strong>Mass. Assn. of Conservation Commissions | Belmont, MA<\/p>\n

Paid Turtle Internship | <\/strong>The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Inst. | Front Royal, VA<\/p>\n

Office Manager | <\/strong>Berkshire Agricultural Ventures | Great Barrington, MA<\/p>\n

Executive Director | <\/strong> Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition | Sudbury, MA<\/p>\n

Western MA Organizer <\/strong> | Massachusetts Jobs With Justice | Springfield, MA<\/p>\n

Freshwater Projects Coordinator <\/strong>| The Nature Conservancy | Adirondack Region, NY<\/p>\n

Conservation & Projects Manager <\/strong> | Kestrel Land Trust | Amherst, MA<\/p>\n

Environmental Education Intern <\/strong> | Mass Audubon | Lenox, MA<\/p>\n

Early Childhood Program Leader \/ Naturalist <\/strong> | Mass Audubon | Lenox, MA<\/p>\n

Wildlife & Plant Conservation Intern <\/strong> | Mass Audubon | Lenox, MA<\/p>\n

Nature Day Camp Educator – Summer 2018 <\/strong> | Mass Audubon | Lenox, MA<\/p>\n

Land Management & Stewardship Intern <\/strong> | Mass Audubon | Lenox, MA<\/p>\n

Development Manager <\/strong>| Mass Audubon | Lenox, MA<\/p>\n

Interpretive Writer <\/strong>| Hiltown Families | Williamsburg, MA<\/p>\n

Development & Sales Officer <\/strong>| Hiltown Families | Williamsburg, MA<\/p>\n

Executive Director <\/strong>| Hiltown Families | Williamsburg, MA<\/p>\n

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Good News on Pollinator Protection Bill<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n
FROM MASS AUDUBON<\/em><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n
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We were happy to see our pollinator protection bill reported favorably out of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources & Agriculture last week! Wednesday was the deadline for bills to make it out of committee, making them eligible for House and Senate floor votes later in the session. An Act to protect pollinator habitat<\/a> (S.451) aims to put solutions into place to protect and promote pollinators\u2019 health, at a time when their populations are in decline. Language from An Act to promote pollinator forage (H.457) was also folded into the bill.<\/p>\n

Thanks to everyone who contacted the chairs of the Joint Committee to ask that the bill be reported out favorably.<\/p>\n

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East Coast Governors Oppose Offshore Drilling<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

FROM MASS AUDUBON<\/em><\/span><\/a>
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We were glad to learn that Governor Charlie Baker joined six other East Coast Governors in written opposition to the recent federal decision<\/a> to expand offshore oil and gas drilling. The group wrote a letter last month to Department of the Interior Secretary Zinke which, in addition to voicing their opposition to the expansion, requested that their states and the Atlantic Coast be exempt from the expansion program. See the letter here<\/a>.<\/div>\n
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[BEAT Note: Governor Charlie Baker has kept incredibly quiet about his opposition. He has press people saying he opposes off-shore drilling and he signed this letter, but, as far as we know, he has not said anything publicly himself.<\/em>]<\/div>\n

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4\u00a0Incredible Wildlife Events This Weekend!\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

Join Sue Morse for spectacular presentations and wildlife tracking hikes.<\/b><\/p>\n

join us on Friday February 16th and Saturday February 17th for FREE wildlife presentations by the internationally renowned mammal photographer and tracker Sue Morse. Sue is regarded as an expert in natural history and one of the top wildlife trackers in North America. Since 1977, she has been monitoring wildlife, with an emphasis on documenting the presence and habitat requirements of bobcat, black bear, Canada lynx and cougar.<\/div>\n

On Friday, February 16th at 6:30pm at The Robert Boland Theater on BCC\u2019s main campus in Pittsfield<\/strong>, Sue will give a presentation on living with bears: be prepared for lots of fascinating information on black bear biology and ecology, with emphasis on the field identification of tracks and sign. <more><\/a><\/p>\n

The next day, Saturday, February 17th at 6pm Sue will give her \u201cMysterious Mustelids\u201d presentation at Monument Mountain High School in Great Barrington<\/strong>. Experience a fun- and fact filled exploration of the world of the Mustelidae\u2014the weasel family. <more><\/a><\/div>\n
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And, if that\u2019s not enough wildlife action for you, sign up to go tracking with Sue on Saturday Feb 17th!<\/strong> Learn how to apply scientific knowledge about the habits and habitats of various wildlife and to predict where to look for sign. In the field you will learn \u201csearch imaging\u201d as well as Keeping Track\u2019s<\/a> scientific documentation methods for photographing tracks and sign. There are two opportunities, one from 9am-12pm and another from 1pm-4pm, both in Great Barrington. Space is limited so RSVP required! Contact elia@thebeatnews.org<\/a> to save your spot. $25\/person or $20 if you are a member of BEAT\u2019s tracking club.<\/div>\n

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Grimmway Carrots Threatens Food & Water Watch<\/span><\/h4>\n

FROM FOOD & WATER WATCH | BY JULIE LIGHT<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

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The company is threatening a frivolous lawsuit amidst growing concern with use of toxic oil field wastewater to grow food in California.<\/strong><\/div>\n
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There is an old joke among activists that you know your campaign is having an impact when a corporation threatens to sue you.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Food & Water Watch\u2019s #JustBanIt<\/a><\/strong> campaign to ban the use of toxic oil field wastewater for crop irrigation has prompted two cease and desist letters<\/a> from lawyers for Grimmway Farms, which owns Cal-Organic and Bunny Luv carrots. Dark humor aside, we take our research and our campaigns seriously.<\/p>\n

Back in 2015, the California Regional Water Quality Control Board permitted the California Resource Corporation (CRC\u2014formerly Occidental Petroleum) to discharge its oilfield wastewater into the North Kern Water Storage District\u2019s groundwater aquifer. North Kern purchases it from CRC as a cheap way to boost its water supply for the farms in the district. Grimmway is a landholder and sources many of its carrots from North Kern.<\/p>\n

Grimmway is demanding that we take down our video<\/a>, which factually states that the company \u201cgrows its carrots in a district where oil field wastewater is mixed with the groundwater.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Grimmway\u2019s lawyers say the company makes its farmers sign a contract that they won\u2019t use oil wastewater for irrigation. However, this does not mean the groundwater being used to irrigate the carrots hasn\u2019t been tainted and mixed with the oil wastewater from CRC. In fact, Grimmway\u2019s fields are only a mile and a half from the point where water from CRC Kern Front Field is discharged into the Calloway Canal, which provides groundwater recharge through the Rosedale Spreading Basin.<\/p>\n

Last September, Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter gave Grimmway a chance to prove that none of the oil-tainted groundwater makes its way into its fields.<\/strong>In a letter to company attorneys<\/a>,\u00a0she called on Grimmway to make a public statement with scientific evidence showing that the water from the North Kern Water Management District used to irrigate its carrots is never mixed with oilfield wastewater, including through wastewater recharged into the aquifer. Our letter referenced an order from the California Regional Water Quality Control Board <\/a>outlining the practice in the district. Hauter also asked the company to take a public stand against the practice and to call on the local water district and California state officials to put an end to it. No such evidence or statement was provided.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s no wonder agricultural corporations are worried<\/strong>. Our video Oil Wastewater + Crops? Not on Our Watch<\/em><\/a> has 53,000 views on Facebook and almost 11,000 on YouTube, so far. Thousands of our supporters have vowed not to buy produce grown with the toxic oil water until lawmakers ban the practice. And consumers are calling the companies named in our video and petition.<\/p>\n

They have cause to be concerned. The oil companies that provide water to the Central Valley water districts report using 173 different chemicals in their wells. Fully 40 percent of the chemicals are undisclosed. But a recent study by researchers at PSE Healthy Energy, UC Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the University of the Pacific<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0shows that:<\/p>\n