Hi Team,

Join us on Wednesday, December 11th for our December 2024 Berkshire Green Drinks event "Protecting the Environment of the Berkshires: BEAT's Year of Progress" to talk with Berkshire Environmental Action Team staff about BEAT’s important work of this past year and explore what comes next as the new year approaches!

Be part of the discussion and hear about the ongoing air quality monitoring work our Breathe Easy Berkshires program is doing, our continued work in improving aquatic and terrestrial wildlife connectivity, progress made on our Environmental Leadership & Education Center, the continuing campaign to end fossil-fueled peaker plants, the fight to prevent the expansion of the Enbridge Algonquin pipeline through Project Maple, and some of our favorite highlights from events we organized in 2024. This Green Drinks will be an online-only event. Register here.

Tuesday, December 3rd is Giving Tuesday! We are expressing our gratitude by releasing a new illustration of the red fox on Giving Tuesday, painted by Programs Director Chelsey Simmons. This charming, hand-painted design will be available for print on t-shirts, long sleeve shirts, and sweatshirts in a variety of colors on BEAT's Bonfire page. Check back on Giving Tuesday to see the new design ready for purchase!

Donations made in addition to the price of shirts at the time of purchase support our Education and Outreach, Stewardship, and Watchdogging programs year-round. We are proud to fight pollution, push for the creation and enforcement of strong environmental laws and regulations, and uplift environmental justice in the Berkshires and beyond. Please consider supporting BEAT with a year-end gift!

A Message From Breathe Easy Berkshires

Many of us experienced fear and uncertainty last week as the Butternut fire in Great Barrington grew at a tremendous speed. For those of us who live in South County and close to the affected area --including three of BEAT's staff members-- it was a surreal experience to feel some of the potential threats of climate change in our own backyards, and to not know how it might affect us. For others living more northward, there was panic and concern for our neighbors as our air quality was affected with smoke from a non-immediate cause.

The above graph charts the particulate pollution readings from our 9 stationary air quality monitors beginning Tuesday morning through Thursday morning. While measurements across Pittsfield since the start of the project have been stable and relatively low -- meaning high quality air -- there was a dramatic jump in readings on Wednesday, with the highest spike occurring at about 4pm, and the presence of smoke lasting through the evening. For a very brief period of time, this meant that the air quality at some locations in Pittsfield was in the range considered unhealthy by the EPA. Our handheld monitoring devices were also brought to Great Barrington, Sheffield, and New Marlborough to measure the extent of the smoke on Wednesday evening, and observe how weather patterns were bringing it northward.

While frightening, this was a powerful moment that exemplifies the time we live in. Climate change and its increasing effects are at our doors, and it is not a localized problem. Greenhouse gas emissions, intense storms and floodwaters, wildfires, and air and water pollution do not stay within borders. But neither do the efforts of firefighters, community groups, advocacy organizations, or environmental action teams! The resources devoted from far and wide to the fighting of the Butternut Fire serves as inspiration and a reminder that, together, we can face the breadth of environmental challenges before us head-on and with support from each other.

You can learn more about air pollution and Breathe Easy Berkshires on our website, where the hourly readings from each of our air quality monitors are displayed. All are back at safe levels!

That's it for now. Thank you for all you do to protect the environment!

Jane, Rose, Chelsey, John, Andrew, and Brittany

COMING UP WITH BEAT

VOLUNTEER WITH BEAT: INVASIVE HARDY KIWI REMOVAL

Fridays from 10 AM to 11:30 AM

at Burbank Park, Pittsfield, MA

BERKSHIRE GREEN DRINKS: “PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BERKSHIRES: BEAT'S YEAR OF PROGRESS" WITH BEAT STAFF

Wednesday, December 11th from 6 PM to 7 PM

Online via Zoom

WINTER TREE IDENTIFICATION WALK WITH BEAT + TOURISTS

Friday, December 27th from 12 PM to 2 PM

at TOURISTS, North Adams

COMMUNITY CALENDAR 

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

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30

Mass Audubon Open House at Greylock Glen — Adams

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3

Tuesday Treks at Dyken Pond — Cropseyville

Grassroots Advocacy for Climate and Nature with Mass Audubon — Online

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4

Climate Stories of Hope — Amherst

EPA public meeting on revised Housatonic Rest of River remediation Transportation Plan — Pittsfield

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6

Volunteer with BEAT: Invasive Hardy Kiwi Plant Removal — Pittsfield

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9

Franklin County Regional Pollinator Plan – Stories and Community Building Virtual Gathering — Online

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10

Fall Phenomena: Transition to Cold Weather — Online

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11

Berkshire Green Drinks: “Protecting the Environment of the Berkshires: BEAT’s Year of Progress” with Berkshire Environmental Action Team staff — Online

Protect Wildlands in Massachusetts Campaign Planning Meeting — Online



See Calendar for More

JOBS

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

BEAT IS HIRING!

Air Quality Mobile Monitor | Berkshire Environmental Action Team | Pittsfield

Berkshire County Postings

Plant Health Care Technician | Ingersoll Land Care | Sheffield, MA | deadline 12/1/24

Outdoor Education Program Coordinator | Outdoor Classroom | Great Barrington, MA | deadline 12/19/24

Strategic Program Assistant | Berkshire Conservation District | Pittsfield

Field Teacher/Environmental Educator | Mass Audubon – Pleasant Valley | Lenox

Education Coordinator | Flying Cloud Institute | Great Barrington

S-M-ART Educator – Full or Part-time | Great Barrington

Conservation Agent | Town of Windsor | Windsor

Land Use Director | Town of Lenox | Lenox

Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor in Land Systems and Environmental Science | Williams College | Williamstown

Postings with Deadline

Senior Director, Urban Forestry Strategy | American Forests | Remote | deadline 11/29/24

Consulting Utility Forester | ACRT, Inc | Yarmouth, MA | deadline 11/29/24

Consulting Utility Forester | ACRT, Inc | New Bedford, MA | deadline 11/29/24

Senior Specialist, Development | Pacific Institute | Remote | deadline 11/29/24

Deputy Assistant Commissioner BWR – (24000956) | Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection | Boston, MA | deadline 11/29/24

Community Organizer | Community Action Works | Boston, MA | deadline 11/29/24

Volunteer Program Coordinator | Essex County Greenbelt Association | Essex, MA | deadline 11/29/24

Sustainability Action Lead | Science Based Targets Network | Remote | deadline 11/30/24

USGS Improving Decisions in the Context of Climate Adaptation | U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) | Amherst, MA | deadline 11/30/24

River Programs Associate | River Network | Remote | deadline 12/1/24

Wildfire Resource Protection Planning Fellow | Stewards Individual Placements | Remote | deadline 12/1/24

Executive Director | Vermont Association of Conservation Districts | Remote, VT | deadline 12/2/24

Biologist | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Remote | deadline 12/3/24

Communications Strategist | Global Alliance for Green and Gender Action (GAGGA) | Remote | 12/3/24

Fundraising Strategy Consultant | Woodlands Partnership of Northwest Massachusetts | Littleton, MA | 12/4/24

Community Engagement Manager | Environmental League of Massachusetts | Boston, MA | deadline 12/4/24

Program Assistant | Northwest Conservation District | Torrington, CT | deadline 12/5/24

Coalition Manager | Environmental League of Massachusetts | Boston, MA | deadline 12/5/24

Assistant Editor | The Public Interest Network | Boston, MA | deadline 12/6/24

Stock Assessment Biologist (Remote) | A.I.S. Inc | Remote | deadline 12/6/24

Program Assistant | North Central Conservation District | Windsor, CT | deadline 12/8/24

Director, Private Lands Reforestation | American Forests | Remote | deadline 12/9/24

Director of Enterprise Information – (2400095O) | Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection | Boston, MA | deadline 12/10/24

Marine Biologist (ASM) | A.I.S. Inc. | Gloucester, MA | deadline 12/10/24

Donor Relations Coordinator | Hudson River Sloop Clearwater | Beacon, NY | deadline 12/12/24

Development and Finance Administrator | Westport River Watershed Alliance | Westport, MA | deadline 12/13/24

Associate Director | Saratoga PLAN | Saratoga Springs, NY | deadline 12/13/24

Consulting Utility Forester | ACRT, Inc | Yarmouth, MA | deadline 12/16/24

Consulting Utility Forester | ACRT, Inc | New Bedford, MA | deadline 12/16/24

Save the Whales Campaign Organizer | Student PIRGs | Dartmouth, MA | deadline 12/20/24

Save the Whales Campaign Organizer | Student PIRGs | Boston, MA | deadline 12/20/24

USDA-FS Hydrologic/Biogeochemical Modeling: Effects of Longleaf Pine Restoration | U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) | Remote | deadline 12/20/24

Forest Carbon Science Manager | Pachama | Remote | deadline 12/20/24

Natural Resources Technician | Commonwealth of Massachusetts–Military Division | Camp Edwards, MA | 12/22/24

GIS Landscape Analyst | Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy | Remote | deadline 12/22/24

Onboard Program Coordinator | Hudson River Sloop Clearwater | Beacon, NY | deadline 12/30/24

Marine Biologist (ASM)- Boston | A.I.S. Inc. | Boston, MA | deadline 12/30/24

Park Ranger – Seasonal | NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation | Albany, NY | deadline 12/31/24

Recent Postings

Conservation and Land Use Specialist | Cornell University | New Paltz, NY

Trails Conservation Coordinator | Connecticut Forest & Park Association | Rockfall, CT

Local Wood Use Research Fellow | Smokey House Center | Danby, VT

Consulting Bat Biologist – (1645) | Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc. | Remote

Associate Permitted Bat Biologist – (1646) | Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc. | Remote

Compliance Manager | American Conservation Experience | Remote

Senior Director, Carbon Science and Technical Development | Native, A Public Benefit Corporation | Burlington, VT, Remote

Media Specialist | Center for Biological Diversity | Remote

Drinking Water Environmental Analyst III | MA Department of Environmental Protection | Worcester, MA

Staff Attorney | Climate Jobs National Resource Center | Remote

Senior Manager, Strategic Communications and Outreach | Pacific Institute | Remote

Manager of Engagement at The Botanic Garden of Smith College | Smith College | Northampton, MA

Ecological Restoration Technician I | Resource Environmental Solutions | Albany, NY

TNC-GCF Project Development Manager | The Nature Conservancy | Remote

Water Quality Program Analyst | Merrimack River Watershed Council | Lawrence, MA

Development Director | Sustainable Fisheries Partnership | Remote

Contracted Student Intern – Municipal Waste Reduction | Mass DEP Municipal Waste Reduction Branch | Boston, MA

Executive Coordinator to the Global Head of Policy and Public Funding | The Nature Conservancy | Remote

Director, Gift Planning | Appalachian Mountain Club | Boston, MA

Senior Director, Principal Gifts | Appalachian Mountain Club | Boston, MA

Research Fellow – Safe Drinking Water Facilitator | UMass Amherst | Remote w/travel

Research Fellow – Safe Drinking Water Associate | UMass Amherst | Remote w/travel

Research Fellow – Safe Drinking Water Specialist | UMass Amherst | Remote w/travel

Travel Trail Builder – Handworker | Rock Solid Trail Contracting | Traveling

Senior Land Conservation Specialist | Essex County Greenbelt Association | Essex, MA

Compliance Manager | American Conservation Experience | Remote

Green Corps Program Coordinator | Groundwork Southcoast | New Bedford, MA

Climate Resilience Manager | Groundwork Southcoast | New Bedford, MA

Urban Forestry Specialist | Weston & Sampson | multiple locations

Ecological Project Manager – Energy | BSC | Remote

Senior Educator, Conservation Learning | New England Aquarium | Boston, MA

Environmental Planning Intern | Metropolitan Area Planning Council | Boston, MA

Project Manager | Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District | New Bedford, MA

Click Here for More Jobs

Environmental Monitor

November 22, 2024

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:

• Adams – Quarry Minerals Management Area – Notice of Project Change – comments due 12/12/2024

• Egremont – Reconstruction and Related Work at Mount Washington Road – Secretary’s Certificate on ENF, does not require an environmental impact report – published 11/8/2024

CT River Valley Index:

• Wales – Notice of Intent to Initiate an Ecological Restoration Project– (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments) – Norcross Wildlife Foundation proposes to remove a total of 7,798 square feet of the invasive common reed (Phragmites australis) from within a wetland and associated riverfront area – published 11/22/2024

• Brimfield – Notice of Intent to Initiate an Ecological Restoration Project– (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments) – The Applicant, the Town of Brimfield Select Board, is seeking approval to formally acquire authorization under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act for the practice of annual

drawdown and aquatic treatments on Lake Sherman. It is the belief of the Select Board that allowing for these practices is in the best interest of protecting the multiple interests of aquatic habitat, flood control, and wetlands. The applicant is requesting a five (5) year Order of Conditions for this project. – published 11/22/2024

• Holyoke – Holyoke Long Term CSO Control Plan – Secretary’s Certificate Notice of Project Change – published 11/22/2024

• Longmeadow – Former DPW Facility Demolition and Improvements Project – FEIR Rollover – comments due 12/23/2024

• Longmeadow – Former DPW Facility Demolition and Improvements Project – Secretary’s Certificate EENF – published 11/22/2024

• Shutesbury – Dudleyville Emergency Dam Removal – Environmental Notification Form – comments due 12/12/2024

• Northampton – Nashawannuck Brook Restoration (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments) – Secretary’s Certificate on FEIR, Adequately and properly complies with MEPA – published 11/8/2024

Public Notices

Public Notices listed on BEAT's website 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. 

Our work wouldn't be possible without the help of our supporters. Thank you for empowering us to continue to fight for the protection of the environment in western Massachusetts and beyond!

Berkshire Environmental Action Team

20 Chapel St, Pittsfield, MA 01201

(413) 464-9402

team@thebeatnews.org

www.thebeatnews.org