May 31, 2023

Hi Team,

Thank you to all our volunteers who helped out with our Kids in Kayaks at the West Side Legends Block Party on Saturday! For more than 4 hours, we had a continuous line of kids waiting their turn to kayak in the river. In addition to Kids in Kayaks, we had Alex and Ginny both wear our Brook Trout costume and talk with kids about the need for clean, cold, and connected streams. And we had Tay the Turtle, who is now 62 years old! A good time was had by all.

We are so happy to have Andrew Ferrara joining the BEAT team to head up our Berkshire Zero Waste Initiative (BZWI)! Actually, Andrew has been running our BZWI program since January as an intern at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, but now he is on staff. Welcome, Andrew!

Jane, Rose, Chelsey, John, Lucas, and Andrew

COMING UP WITH BEAT

VOLUNTEER WITH BEAT: HARDY INVASIVE KIWI REMOVAL

Sunday, June 4th from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM

at Burbank Park, 265 Lakeway Drive, Pittsfield, MA 01201

VOLUNTEER WITH BEAT: HARDY INVASIVE KIWI REMOVAL

Friday, June 9th from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

at Burbank Park, 265 Lakeway Drive, Pittsfield, MA 01201

Quick update from the Housatonic River Citizens Coordinating Council meeting

BEAT has a seat at the table for the Housatonic River Citizens Coordination Council (CCC) meetings. At the CCC meeting last week, EPA gave an outline of what is happening with the remediation since the final permit was issued in 2020. The expectation was that it would take 2-3+ years to design the next steps and about 13 years to implement.

EPA also plans to have companies try out innovative methods for remediating PCBs. Companies will have to fill out a Quality Assurance Project Plan to detail exactly how they will implement their process and how they will show that PCB levels were decreased without creating more harmful chemicals.

The discussion of the General Electric Company's plans to demolish two more buildings in Pittsfield after sealing old equipment in the basement levels was not reported on in the meeting because time ran out.

You can see the slides for this meeting here, and when the zoom video is ready that will be available as well.

Here is a link to the EPA's GE/Houstonic River website with lots of information.

Please join in the Stand Out to protest the proposed DCR logging project within 447 acres of October Mountain Forest in the town of Washington, MA on Saturday, June 17th 11:00 – 1pm. The event location is at the intersection of Washington Mt Road and West Branch Road at the entrance to October Mountain State Forest. It will feature various speakers and a tour of previous logging sites. Come, bring signs and show support for the preservation of our largest state forest.

For info contact Susan Purser

Preserve October Mountain State Forest

susanbythesea6696@hotmail.com

IN THE NEWS

The state is keeping close tabs on GE's Woods Pond Dam in Lenox Dale to avoid flooding that could spread PCBs

Heather Bellow | The Berkshire Eagle

"The prospective dump, known officially as the “Upland Disposal Facility,” is the source of much fury in Lee and beyond. There is a l awsuit attempting to block its creation and other related court filings.

The specter of a failure of this dam, or of GE’s Rising Pond dam further downriver in Housatonic — which also passed it’s Tuesday exam — raises the stakes on such inspections. Given that the proposed dredging won’t grab all the pollution, a dam breach could, according to an inundation map, spread it into towns and farmland."

National Weather Service issues air quality alert for Berkshires as smoke drifts from Canadian Wildfire

The Berkshire Eagle

"Some of the contribution is definitely from the smoke from the fires," said Tom Wasula, the lead meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Albany. Forecasters can see smoke in satellite imagery, he added.

The air may be unhealthy for sensitive groups Tuesday afternoon and evening with an Air Quality Index of 101 to 150, according to a Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection forecast. That means people with heart or lung disease, older adults or children should avoid exercising for long periods outside. Parts of southeastern New England were hazy Tuesday morning, according to the NWS." READ MORE

BRO MX Ordered to Comply with Conservation Restrictions

Jack Guerino | iBerkshires

"The Conservation Commission gave BRO MX until July 28 to place signage marking conservation-restricted area they improperly mowed as well as hire a botanist to review the area.

The commission on Thursday went over some conservation restrictions included in the deed of motocross track owners Jason and Jessica Langenback that they unknowingly violated.

"The reason why you are on the agenda is that there have been suggested anomalies of the management and the use of the conversation restriction … wetlands encroachment and things along those lines," Chairman Andrew J. Kawczak said. "So I am hoping … this gets the conversation started."

Specifically, the restrictions control mowing in a meadowed area as there are endangered insects and plants.

The Langenbacks purchased the property in 2021. With only some guidance from the previous owner, they were unclear on the specifics of the wetland restrictions.

Kawczak said this was clear per a conversation he had with the owners.

"I just don't feel, based on our conversation, that you were in a position to know all of the elements of the restrictions," he said. "I don't know if the previous owner exposed you to those requirements when you acquired the property."

NATURE’S TURN: Flowering Berkshires — Enchanting native plants in the wild and for our gardens

Judy Isacoff| The Berkshire Edge

"Deep beneath the flowing forest canopy of these Berkshire hills, a succession of spring-flowering shrubs blooms in the understory, and ephemeral spring wildflowers flourish on the forest floor. A recent “Nature’s Turn” column highlighted a sampling of native shrubs. In this edition, native wildflowers appear in our region’s May landscape, their uniqueness enchanting us and urging us to include nursery-grown species native (not cultivars) in our yards and gardens: plants that will nurture co-evolved invertebrates and microorganisms that are being starved by expanses of lawn and pavement." LEARN MORE

Fossil Fuel Companies Should Pay Trillions in ‘Climate Reparations,’ New Study Argues

Nicholas Kusnetz| Inside Climate News

"In a peer-reviewed paper published Friday in One Earth, researchers used data on emissions tied to the world’s 21 top polluting companies to determine just how much, and landed on a total of $5.4 trillion over a period of 26 years. The largest sum would come from Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil company, which would be responsible for $1.1 trillion, or $42.7 billion per year, followed by Russia’s state-owned Gazprom, ExxonMobil, Shell, BP and Chevron." READ MORE

Tell Your Legislator – Restructure MassSave!

Only 43 Letters to Our Goal of 200!

Energy efficiency is crucial to cutting climate-destroying emissions. Common problems with Mass Save, like trouble getting an audit scheduled, finding a participating contractor, finding information on energy efficiency incentives, getting the rebates you’re owed and understanding interconnected agency processes for lower income customers, stem largely from the unwieldy, decentralized structure of the MassSave program. Right now, the MassSave incentives and programs are designed and run by the various utility companies across the state. Entrusting our energy efficiency performance to the very for-profit companies that sell us the energy we’re hoping to conserve is a conflict of interests at best. Two bills currently proposed in the Mass State Legislature - one proposed in the Senate and one in the House - call on wholesale restructuring of the MassSave program, taking it out of the hands for the utility companies and putting it under the control of a Board of diverse stakeholders. The Board would elect an Executive Director to manage the program, putting a central office in control. Please use the link below to call on your Massachusetts State Legislators to co-sponsor the bills.

WRITE TO YOUR LEGISLATOR!

Declare No Future for Gas in Mass to Governor Healy!

Only 4,431 Signatures to Our Goal of 10,000!

Calling All BayStaters: Gas is dangerous, polluting and expensive. Using gas to heat our homes and buildings is bad for our health and our climate. Gas companies, like Eversource, are profiting off of gas infrastructure expansion at the expense of ratepayers statewide!

We envision a just and rapid transition away from gas to a future of clean heat powered by clean electricity. Our environmental justice and climate goals require it! We must stop gas companies from continuing business as usual at the cost of our health, safety, and climate future. This is urgent for our planet and for communities currently facing expansion projects like Springfield and Longmeadow. SIGN THE PETITION!

Fracking can contaminate soil and poison groundwater. Maya K. van Rossum wrote a book on how to strengthen your state's Bill of Rights to stop this from happening

Thomas Christopher | The Berkshire Eagle

"Back in late April, I attended an Earth Day celebration, where I met a thoroughly remarkable woman, Maya K. van Rossum. Today, I’m going to step back from advice on how to cultivate your garden to profile a movement — “Green Amendments for the Generations” — that she is leading. This movement, I predict, will have a hugely positive impact not only on your personal landscape but also on countless other aspects of your daily life." LEARN MORE

How Wildfire Smoke from Australia Affected Climate Events Around the World

Bob Berwyn | Inside Climate News

“The aerosol fallout from wildfires that burned across more than 70,000 square miles of Australia in 2019 and 2020 was so persistent and widespread that it brightened a vast area of clouds above the subtropical Pacific Ocean.

Beneath those clouds, the ocean surface and the atmosphere cooled, shifting a key tropical rainfall belt northward and nudging the Equatorial Pacific toward an unexpected and long-lasting cool phase of the La Niña-El Niño cycle, according to research published today in Science Advances.” READ MORE

What does climate change have to do with the debt ceiling crisis?

Jake Bittle | Grist

"There are countless factors that determine how much tax revenue the federal government receives on any given day, but one major factor this year is climate change. The past year saw more than a dozen billion-dollar disasters in as many states, and the Internal Revenue Service has offered tax relief to residents of these states, giving them an extra few months to file their taxes. The worst-affected states include Florida and California, which suffered respectively from Hurricane Ian and a series of “atmospheric river” storms this winter. Together the two states account for more than a quarter of federal revenues."

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

We list events from a variety of local and regional organizations and individuals.

FRIDAY, JUNE 2

Nice & Easy Walk— Turner Falls

Ancient Stories, Great Floods, and the Future of Earth's Climate — Zoom

SATURDAY, JUNE 3

Birding By Ear — Ashfield

National Trails Day: Boots on the Ground - Cropseyville

Introduction to Fishing on the Hoosic River - Williamstown

American Hiking Society's National Trails Day - North Adams

SUNDAY, JUNE 4

16th Annual Free Family Fishing Day — Turner Falls

Volunteer with BEAT: Hardy Invasive Kiwi Removal - Pittsfield

Wild Earth Sisters Retreat - New Marlborough

TUESDAY, JUNE 6

Bacteria Monitoring in the Housatonic Watershed — Monterey

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7

Science of Forest Carbon — Zoom

THURSDAY, JUNE 8

The Chemical Footprint of a Plastic Bottle — Zoom

FRIDAY, JUNE 9

Volunteer with BEAT: Hardy Invasive Kiwi Removal - Pittsfield

Nice & Easy Walk— Turner Falls

Great Falls Coffeehouse Presents: Farley String Band - Turner Falls

SUNDAY, JUNE 11

Yoga in Nature - Amherst

Nice & Easy Walk— Turner Falls

Spring Social - Hudson Highlands Land Trust - Philipstown

Raised Beds for Growing Vegetables - Turner Falls

TUESDAY, JUNE 13

Southeast New England Program Forum - Fall River

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14

Nice & Easy Walk— Turner Falls

See Calendar for More

JOBS

We list jobs related to the environment from a variety of organizations.

BEAT is hiring!

Deputy Director | Berkshire Environmental Action Team | Pittsfield

Berkshire County Postings

Trail Crew | Berkshire Natural Resource Council | Lenox

Farm Crew Coordinator | Greenagers | South Egremont

Field Teacher/Environmental Educator | Mass Audubon’s Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary | Lenox

Berkshire Clean, Cold and Connected Restoration Coordinator | The Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) | Stockbridge

Lead Education Coordinator – Camp & School Environmental Education Programs | Mass Audubon’s Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary | Lenox

Lead Day Camp Counselor | Mass Audubon’s Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary | Pittsfield

Day Camp Environmental Educator | Mass Audubon’s Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary | Pittsfield

Camp Counselor | Mass Audubon’s Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary | Pittsfield

Preschool Camp Counselor | Mass Audubon’s Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary | Lenox

Lead Day Camp Counselor | Mass Audubon’s Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary | Lenox

Day Camp Environmental Educator | Mass Audubon’s Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary | Lenox

Camp Counselor | Mass Audubon’s Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary | Lenox

Assistant Day Camp Counselor | Mass Audubon’s Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary | Lenox

Postings with Deadline

Web Designer & Curator | Northeast Organic Farming Association / Massachusetts Chapter | Remote / Florence | deadline 6/01/2023

Senior Statistician | Western Ecosystems Technology, Inc. | Remote | deadline 6/01/23

Power Infrastructure Specialist | Western Ecosystems Technology, Inc. | Remote | deadline 6/01/23

Tree Warden | Town of Monterey | deadline 6/02/23

Environmental Analyst – Water Quality Division | NEIWPCC | Lowell | deadline 6/04/23

Ecological Restoration Technical Services Branch Manager | MA Division of Ecological Restoration | Boston | deadline 6/05/23

River Feasibility Study Project Manager | Hoosic River Revival (HRR) | North Adams | deadline 6/05/23

Summer Camp Assistant | The Nature Museum at Grafton | Grafton, Vermont | deadline 06/07/23

Ecological Restoration Specialist – Dam Removal | MA Division of Ecological Restoration | Boston | deadline 6/10/23

Executive Director | New England Fishery Management Council | Newburyport | deadline 6/11/23

Family Forest Outreach Technician | The Nature Conservancy | Albany, NY | deadline 6/11/23

Ecological Restoration Specialist – Coastal Wetland Restoration | MA Division of Ecological Restoration | Boston | deadline 6/14/23

GIS Advocacy Manager | Outdoor Alliance | Remote | deadline 6/15/23

Conference Coordinator | Northeast Organic Farming Association / Massachusetts Chapter | Remote / Florence | deadline 6/16/23

Stream Crossing Specialist | MA Division of Ecological Restoration | Westfield or Boston/Hybrid | deadline 6/18/23

Education Director | Northeast Organic Farming Association / Massachusetts Chapter | Remote / Florence | deadline 6/19/23

Curatorial Fellow – Ashely House – Sheffield, MA | The Trustees of Reservations | Sheffield | deadline 6/30/23

Administrative Director | Northeast Organic Farming Association / Massachusetts Chapter | Remote / Florence | deadline 6/31/23

Recent Postings

Operations Manager | Resource Environmental Solutions LLC | Albany, NY

Restoration Technician | Resource Environmental Solutions LLC | Albany, NY

Communications Specialist | Center For Workforce Inclusion/National Park Service | Virtual, Remote

Executive Director | Connecticut River Conservancy | Greenfield, MA

Outdoor Environmental Educator | Westmoreland Sanctuary | Mount Kisco, NY

Restoration, Invasive Species, and Forestry Technician | Redstart, Inc. | Corinth, VT

Social Media Coordinator – Part-time Freelance Position | Wildlands, Woodlands, Farmlands & Communities | Remote, CT

Conservation Agent | Town of Dedham | Dedham

Coastal Ecologist | MassAudubon | Lincoln

Science Director | Riverkeeper | Kingston, NY

Restoration Planting Specialist | NYC Department of Environmental Protection | Kingston, NY

Climate Smart Commodities – Program Forester | New England Forestry Foundation | Littleton

Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program Coordinator | Commonwealth of Massachusetts | Boston

Natural Resources Assistant | Town of Plymouth – Dept of Marine & Environmental Affairs | Plymouth

Communications and Events Intern | Highstead | Redding, CT

Geographic Information Systems/Aquatic Organism Passage Coordinator (GIS/AOP Coordinator) | Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

Farmland Conservation Associate | Connecticut Farmland Trust | Hartford, CT

River Stewards of Tomorrow 2023 Internship | Housatonic Valley Association | Cornwall Bridge, CT

Invasive Plant Internship | Town of West Newbury | West Newbury

Community Conservation Coordinator | Connecticut Land Conservation Council | Middletown, CT

Climate Smart Stewardship Coordinator | Connecticut Land Conservation Council | Middletown, CT

Visiting Faculty: Environmental Law for Policy | Bard College’s Center for Environmental Policy | Annandale-on-Hudson, NY

Regional Planner V (Branch Chief, Municipal Waste Reduction) | Mass DEP | Boston

Regional Planner IV (Recycling Grant Manager) | Mass DEP | Boston

NESS AmeriCorps STEM Educator | New England Science and Sailing Foundation, Inc. – AmeriCorps | Stonington, CT

Executive Director | Massachusetts Climate Action Network (MCAN) | Remote MA

Connecticut Watershed Manager | The Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) | Cornwall, CT

Assistant Farm Manager | Bardwell Farm | Hatfield

Farmstand Crew | Bardwell Farm | Hatfield

Click Here for More Jobs

Environmental Monitor

May 10, 2023

The Environmental Monitor provides information on projects under review by the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office, recent MEPA decisions of the Secretary of Energy & Environmental Affairs, and public notices from environmental agencies.

Berkshire Index:

Lenox – Notice of Intent to Initiate an Ecological Restoration Project – 1 Melville Court invasive species removal without herbicides – submitted 4/26/23
Great Barrington, Lenox, Sheffield, Lee, Pittsfield, Stockbridge – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan – Housatonic Railroad – comments due 6/9/23
Many towns – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan – Eversource – comments due 5/24/23

CT River Valley Index:

Springfield, Longmeadow – Western Massachusetts Gas Reliability Project – DEIR – comments due 6/9/23 – BEAT is watching this one closely!
Westfield, West Springfield, Holyoke – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan – Pioneer Valley Railroad – comments die 6/23/23
Granby – Lots C7 and C8.12 Kendall Street – ENF – site visit 5/4/23 – comments due 5/16/23
Many towns – New England Central Railroad – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan – comments due 5/24/23
Many towns – Eversource – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan – comments due 5/24/23
South Hadley – Buttery Brook Watershed Restoration – FEIR Rollover – comments due 5/10/23

Statewide Index:

MassDOT Snow and Ice Control Program – ESPR Certificate – Adequately and properly complies with MEPA – issued 4/28/23
Notice of Application for a 401 Water Quality Certificate – National Grid – posted 5/10/23

Public Notices

Public Notices listed here are from a variety of sources, from town conservation commissions and select boards to state and federal agencies. These listings are for Berkshire, Hampshire, Hampden, and Franklin counties. Listings are only posted if they are environmental in nature. You can find all public notices for Massachusetts here.

BEAT Public Notices PAGE