CLICK HERE to help support this newsletter. Thank you!

7
February 19, 2020 Dear Friend, This past Saturday night, we witnessed what it means to be a community that loves wildlife. Over 500 of you came out to learn about mountain lions, share knowledge and experience, and support BEAT. Thank you! This year, we're excited to be part of the 10x10 festival. Two events coming up (free and open to all): Thursday, join Elizabeth at Springside Park for a walk introducing winter botany in the field. Friday, join Elia at Burbank Park for an introduction to wildlife tracking. And on an entirely different note: the Massachusetts Dept. of Agricultural Resources Pesticide Board Subcommittee is having a public hearing on March 13 to consider "the findings of a scientific literature review that the Pesticide Board Subcommittee will use when determining whether current uses of neonicotinoid insecticides pose unreasonable adverse effects to the environment as well as pollinators, and whether current registered uses of neonicotinoid insecticides should be altered." You can learn more about this hearing, and a whole bunch of important environmental issues around the region, on our public notices page. That's it for now, folks. Thank you for all you do to protect the environment, Jane, Elia, Rose, Jake, Mary, Logan, and Elizabeth CLICK HERE to help support this newsletter. Thank you!

Transcript of CLICK HERE to help support this newsletter. Thank you!

February19,2020

DearFriend,

ThispastSaturdaynight,wewitnessedwhatitmeanstobeacommunitythatloveswildlife.Over

500ofyoucameouttolearnaboutmountainlions,shareknowledgeandexperience,andsupport

BEAT.Thankyou!

Thisyear,we'reexcitedtobepartofthe10x10festival.Twoeventscomingup(freeandopento

all):Thursday, joinElizabethatSpringsideParkforawalk introducingwinterbotanyinthefield.

Friday,joinEliaatBurbankParkforanintroductiontowildlifetracking.

And on an entirely different note: the Massachusetts Dept. of Agricultural Resources Pesticide

Board Subcommittee is having a public hearing on March 13 to consider "the findings of a

scientific literature review that the Pesticide Board Subcommittee will use when determining

whether current uses of neonicotinoid insecticides pose unreasonable adverse effects to the

environment as well as pollinators, and whether current registered uses of neonicotinoid

insecticides should be altered." You can learn more about this hearing, and a whole bunch of

importantenvironmentalissuesaroundtheregion,onourpublicnoticespage.

That'sitfornow,folks.

Thankyouforallyoudotoprotecttheenvironment,

Jane,Elia,Rose,Jake,Mary,Logan,andElizabeth

CLICKHEREtohelpsupportthisnewsletter.Thankyou!

What a crowd! 500 people came together on Saturday night at BerkshireCommunityCollegeforSueMorse'stalkaboutcougars. Itwassuchaspectacularshowing,thankyou!

InTheNews

FrustrationchurnsduringHousatonicRiverInitiativemeeting

aboutplannedPCBdump

AMANDADRANE|THEBERKSHIREEAGLE

[BEATNOTE:OurpositionontheSettlementAgreementcanbefoundonoursite,here.

PleasestaytunedforfutureBEATeventsaboutthisimportantissue.]"Horrified."Violated."

"Sellout."ResidentsstronglyvoicedoppositionMondayinameetingaboutanewcleanupagreement

betweenGeneral Electric Co. and Berkshire towns bordering the Housatonic River's contaminated

shores. A local dumping ground for soils contaminated with PCBs is the main point of

contention.READMORE

'IFeelVictorious':BUProfessorEndsHungerStrikeOver

WeymouthCompressor

MIRIAMWASSER|WBUR

BostonUniversityProfessorNathanPhillipswillendthehungerstrikehebegantwoweeksagoover

whathecalled"seriouspublichealthandsafetyviolations"attheWeymouthnaturalgascompressor

constructionsite.READMORE

WinteradaptationsoftheruffedgrouseMARYHOLLAND|NATURALLYCURIOUSWITHMARYHOLLAND

RuffedGrousehavebothbehavioral(divingintothesnowoncoldnights)andphysicalstrategiesfor

dealingwiththecold,snowandiceofNewEnglandwinters.Threeofthephysicalchangesthattake

placeinthefallareevidentbylookingcloselyatagrouse’slegs,feetandbeak.Thefeathersonits

legs grow thicker and further down towards its feet, to provide better insulation. Small comb-like

growthsofskin,calledpectinations,developalongeithersideofeachtoe.READMORE

BreakFreeFromPlasticPollutionActdebutsinCongress,

instigatingpackagingEPRdebateEACRUNDEN|WASTEDIVE

Federal lawmakers debuted the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act on Tuesday, aftermonths of

build-upkickingoffwhat is likely tobeaheated fightover the legislation.Thebillwouldenshrine

extendedproducerresponsibility(EPR)forplasticbottles,packagingandassorteditems,alongwith

creatinganationalcontainerdepositsystem.READMORE

Findmoreclimateandenergyarticlesfeaturedinthisweek'sNoFrackedGasinMass

WeeklyNewsCheck-In.Findthenewsandsubscribehere.

CourtrulesagainstNarragansettTribeinpipelinedisputePROVIDENCEJOURNAL

A federal appeals court ruled against a Rhode Island tribe Friday in a dispute over a natural gas

pipelinebuilt inMassachusettson landwithceremonialstonegroupings.TheU.S.CourtofAppeals

for theDistrict of ColumbiaCircuit dismissed a petition by theNarragansett Indian Tribe’s historic

preservationofficeforlackofjurisdiction.READMORE

CarbongardeningADRIANAYRESFISHER|ECOLOGICALLANDSCAPEALLIANCE

Gardenersnew to theconceptof carbongardeningoftenask these twoquestions:Whatgoodsoil

managementstrategieswillhelpmaximizecarbonsequestration?And,whatwouldbeagoodplant

palettetohelpaccomplishthis?Goodquestionsboth,towhichIwishIcouldgivedetailed,specific

answers.Carbongardening innorthern Illinois,where I live,differs fromcarbongardening inother

regions;eachwillrequireregion-specificstrategiesandplantpalettes.Everythingdependsonwhere

thegardenerlivesandtheconditionsinwhichtheyaregardening.READMORE

KeepupwiththefightagainstfossilfuelsattheNoFrackedGasinMassNewsletter

SUBSCRIBEHERE

JOBS

Welistjobsrelatedtotheenvironmentfromavarietyoforganizations.

[email protected].

SeasonalStewardshipCrew|BerkshireNaturalResourcesCouncil|Pittsfield

TrailCrew|BerkshireNaturalResourcesCouncil|Pittsfield

FarmConservationProgramProjectManager|MountGraceLandTrust|Athol

ExecutiveDirector|MassachusettsClimateActionNetwork|Boston

EcologicalRestorationOperationsSpecialist|Div.ofEcologicalRestoration|Boston

EcologicalRestorationCommunicationsSpecialist|Div.ofEcologicalRest.|Boston

EcologicalRestorationPartnershipSpecialist|Div.ofEcologicalRestoration|Boston

RiverStewardsInternships|HousatonicValleyAssociation|CT&MA

EcologicalRestorationGrantsManager|MADept.ofFish&Game|Westfield

PhilanthropicServicesAssociate|BerkshireTaconicCommunityFoundation|Sheffield

CampusOrganizer|MASSPIRGStudents|Holyoke&Westfield

StrategicCommunicationsDirector|Highstead|Remote/CT

ExecutiveDirector|MassachusettsClimateActionNetwork|Boston

COMMUNITYCALENDARWelisteventsfromavarietyoflocalandregionalorganizationsandindividuals.

BEATeventsareinbold.BerkshireCountyeventsarelistednorthtosouth,outofcountyeventsare

[email protected].

WEDNESDAY,FEBRUARY19

KidFriendlyMountainMindfulness-Lanesborough

SnowshoeHike-Lenox

MassProtestatWeymouthCompressorStationSite-Weymouth

HabitatneedsandmanagementfortheMonarchButterfly-Webinar

SeriesLaunch:MultifactorialOriginsofCancer,CaseStudiesofEnvironmentalChemicals

andCancerRisks,andaSystemsApproachtoPrevention-Webinar

THURSDAY,FEBRUARY20

IntroductiontoWinterWoodlandBotany-Pittsfield

WaterQualityintheHoosicRiverWatershed-NorthAdams

SpecialSchoolVacationEdition:NiceandEasyTrailHike-Lanesborough

InformationalMeetingonPFASinDrinkingWater

MapsandLegends-TurnersFalls

CommunityPesticideReductionVideoCall

GettingItRight:PricingStrategies-Webinar

FEBRUARY21-23

WinterTrackingIntensive-EastChatham,NY

FRIDAY,FEBRUARY21

InvasiveVineExtravaganza-Pittsfield

IntroductiontoWildlifeTracking-Pittsfield

LogLunch:Clark’snutcrackers&whitebarkpine-Williamstown

AllAboutOwlsChildren’sProgram-NorthAdams

WinterTreeIdentificationHike-Lanesborough

KidleidoscopeStoryHour:Rabbits-TurnersFalls

YogaForPreschoolers-TurnersFalls

Rising:DispatchesfromtheNewAmericanShore-Millbrook,NY

FEBRUARY22-23

WinterOutdoorSkillsAdventureWeekend-Conway

SATURDAY,FEBRUARY22

DarkWatersScreening-Williamstown

FamilyFriendlyOutdoorAdventures!-Lanesborough

SnowshoeHike-Lenox

BluebirdNestBoxBuildingWorkshop-Lenox

GetinTouchwithWinterandNotGet(Too)Cold-TurnersFalls

BirdingtheNorthShoreOfMassachusetts-NorthShore

SUNDAY,FEBRUARY23

Medicinal&EdibleNativePlants-WestStockbridge

MONDAY,FEBRUARY24

NGICPNationalGreenInfrastructureCertificationProgram-Boylston

East-WestPassengerRailStudyAdvisoryCommitteeMeeting-Springfield

TUESDAY,FEBRUARY25

IntrotoPlantAllies-NorthAdams

WEDNESDAY,FEBRUARY26

ForestsandCarboninalargerframe-NorthAdams

XRBerkshiresGeneralMeeting-GreatBarrington

THURSDAY,FEBRUARY27

PFOAinNewYorkandVermont-NorthAdams

CyclingforGeography,Culture,andHistory-Williamstown

FRIDAY,FEBRUARY28

LogLunch:FishingforJustice-Williamstown

KidleidoscopeStoryHour:Coyotes-TurnersFalls

YogaForPreschoolers-TurnersFalls

SATURDAY,FEBRUARY29

BEATTrackingClub-Washington

RichardsonBrookWildlifeSanctuaryHike-Tolland

ExplodedViewPresents:OpenMic-TurnersFalls

AnnualConferenceMAAssn.ofConservationCommissions-Worcester

MindfulnessintheOutdoors-Cropseyville,NY

SUNDAY,MARCH1

Series:ConfrontingRacisminOurWorkforClimateJustice-Troy,NY

MARCH4-5

ELAConference&Eco-Marketplace-Amherst

WEDNESDAY,MARCH4

ClimateChange,Conservation,andtheRoleofNativePlantHorticulture-Cambridge

MassachusettsEnvironmentalEducationSocietyConference-Worcester

ClimateActionFilmFestival-Albany,NY

CarcinogenHazardsofWomen’sOccupationalChemicalExposures,NitratesinDrinking

Water,andParticulateMatterCompositioninAirPollution-Webinar

CompleteCommunityCalendar

ENVIRONMENTALMONITORFebruary10,2020

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 &

EnvironmentalAffairs,andpublicnoticesfromenvironmentalagencies.

BerkshireIndex

Lee–DaleyTransferStation–DraftEIR–Commentsdue3/12/20

PioneerValleyIndex

Chicopee–Chicopee-Reconstruction&RelatedWorkonFullerRd,fromMemorialDr.(RTE33)to

ShawiniganDr.(0.2Miles)–ENF–commentsdue1/13/20

Worthington–NoticeofPublicHearingre:ProposedDispositionofCommonwealthProperty

(pdf)–3.7acresabuttingtheFoxDenWildlifeManagementarea–posted2/10/20

Northampton–NoticeofApplicationfora401WaterQualityCertificate(pdf)–replacementof

bridgesonI-91overUS5&BMRRandHockanumRoad–posted2/10/20

Chicopee–NoticeofIssuanceofaDraftOperatingPermitRenewal(pdf)–ConnecticutValley

SanitaryWasteDisposal,Inc.,operatorsoftheChicopeeLandfill–commentsdue3/11/20

StatewideIndex

NoticeofAvailabilityofAnnualReport(pdf)–MassachusettsWaterResourcesCommission

AnnualReport(linktopdfofreport)–posted1/22/20

NoticeofSubmissionofaYearlyOperationalPlanforNationalGrid(pdf)–includingherbicide

application–commentsdue1/24/20

PUBLICNOTICESPublicNoticeslistedherearefromavarietyofsources,fromtownconservationcommissionsand

selectboardstostateandfederalagencies.TheselistingsareforBerkshire,Hampshire,Hampden,

andFranklincounties.Listingsareonlypostediftheyareenvironmentalinnature.Youcanfindall

publicnoticesforMassachusettshere.

PublicNotices

Howarewedoing?We'dloveyourfeedbackonthisnewsletter.Sendusyourthoughtsorsuggestions by replying to this email. Also, send it to your friends, or tell them tosubscribehere.Thanks!

20ChapelSt.Pittsfield,MA01201|(413)4649402|[email protected]