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Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup - 11/6/09
Jack Clarke, Director of Public Policy & Government Relations
Jennifer Ryan, Assistant Director for Legislative Affairs
This Week:
US Senate Candidates Coming to Boston
Mass Audubon is pleased to co-sponsor a Forum on the Environment and a Green Economy, featuring the four Democratic candidates for the US Senate. Candidates will take questions from a group of panelists including Beth Daley of The Boston Globe, Sacha Pfeiffer of WBUR-FM and a student reporter from the BU Daily Free Press. Jim Braude, host of "Broadside" on NECN-TV and the Eagan-Braude show on WTKK-FM, will act as moderator. Forum details:
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
12:00 -- 1:30 p.m.
Boston University Metcalfe Center
One Silber Way
Boston, MA The Forum is sponsored by the Environmental League of Mass, Mass Audubon, Conservation Law Foundation, Appalachian Mountain Club, Sierra Club/Massachusetts chapter, Clean Water Action, Environment Mass, The Trustees of Reservations, and Mass League of Environmental Voters. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. and seating is on a first-come-first-served basis.
Policy Updates
Progress in Protecting Rivers A few weeks ago we alerted you to concerns regarding the state's definition of "Safe Yield", as this term plays an important role in water withdrawal permits issued under the Water Management Act. In response to the outpouring of concern across the state, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has suspended the proposed new method and issued a statement clarifying that Safe Yield includes environmental protection factors, including ecological health of river systems. Mass Audubon applauds this action and thanks everyone who spoke up to support river protection. DEP is launching a stakeholder process to develop regulations over the next year, and Mass Audubon is ready to participate cooperatively with state agencies, environmental groups, water suppliers, experts, and other interested parties. Getting Answers on Biomass The Department of Energy Resources (DOER) has commissioned a study on issues related to biomass sustainability and carbon policy. Conducted by the Manomet Center for Conservation Services, the six-month study will lead to a white paper DOER will consult while drafting new regulations for sustainability criteria. Biomass facilities must meet these criteria under the Massachusetts Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). Mass Audubon has previously submitted comments on the RPS regulations calling for a definition of sustainably harvested biomass, focusing on concerns regarding net carbon effects.
Warming Oceans: Something's Fishy
Half of 36 fish stocks in the Northwest Atlantic, many of them commercially valuable, have been shifting northward over the last four decades, with some nearly disappearing from U.S. waters as they move farther offshore, according to a new NOAA study. These trends are due to warming ocean temperatures and are likely to alter commercial fishing practices in the future. View the report at: http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/press_release/2009/SciSpot/SS0916/
New EPA Regional Administrator Announced
Curt Spalding has been appointed New England's new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator. President Obama and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson announced his appointment earlier this week. Previously, he served as Executive Director of Save The Bay in Rhode Island, where he established the Narragansett BayKeeper and Habitat Restoration programs and oversaw construction of the Save The Bay Center at Fields Point in Providence, RI. Congratulations to Administrator Spalding, and we look forward to working with you!
Calendar
Upcoming Public Hearings (organized by the House Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change) Climate Change and Security Hosted by Rep. Steven D'Amico
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
7:00 p.m.
Seekonk High School
261 Arcade Avenue
Seekonk, MA 02771 Presenters include David Janik, South Coastal Regional Coordinator, Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management, and Alex Cornell du Houx, Maine State Representative and Campaign Director of Operation Free. For more information contact Christie Bergeron, Office of Rep. Steven D'Amico, Christie.Bergeron@state.ma.us or (617) 722-2014 Climate Change Adaptation, Part III- Public Health and Natural Resources
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
10:30 a.m.
State House Hearing Room A-1
Boston, MA Provides a briefing to on strategy recommendations from the Climate Change Adaptation Advisory Committee, with regards to public health and natural resources.Presenters include Andy Finton of TNC and Paul Epstein of Harvard University. For more information contact Kayla Race, Research Analyst for the Committee, at Kayla.race@state.ma.us or 617-722-2676 A Water Resources Conference: Commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the Massachusetts Environmental Trust Hogan Conference Center
Holy Cross College
Worcester, MA
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 Established as part of the Boston Harbor cleanup, the Trust has infused over $17 million into projects for water quality, aquatic species, environmental education and more. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Massachusetts Environmental Trust, the Trustees are hosting a one-day conference on Tuesday, November 10, 2009. The conference is intended to bring together practitioners engaged in the work of protecting and restoring water quality and the continuity of aquatic systems. For more information contact Susan Lanza at 617-626-1068 or email Susan.Lanza@state.ma.us Registration Now Open for 2009 World Town Planning Day Online Conference
Thursday, November 12 through Saturday, November 14, 2009 (a day later in some parts of the Eastern Hemisphere) For the first time ever, eight planning organizations have come together to support a joint "virtual" conference for planners from around the globe in honor of the 2009 celebration of World Town Planning Day. See the detailed conference program and how to register at http://www.planningtheworld.net/.The conference will be conducted completely via the internet as part of efforts to reduce the carbon footprint resulting from presenter/participant travel. The conference theme is "Resilience in a Changing Climate". Special guest speakers include are Mr. Naison Mutizwa-Mangiza of UN Habitat and Dr. Phil Hill of Natural Resources Canada. Other highlights will include key insights into how professional planners are thinking about - and practicing - planning around the globe in response to climate change. Registrants will also participate in virtual networking events and become part of the conference community, which includes access to conference recordings / slide presentations. For more information or questions, contact Manjula Boyina, AICP, Senior Planner at D.B. Hartt, Inc. and Chair of the WTPD Online Conference Planning Committee, at manjula@dbhartt.com or 216-696-0400, extension 225. MCAN Conference Join climate activists from across the state at the 8th Annual Mass Climate Action Network (MCAN) conference. Speakers include Gina McCarthy, Assistant Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Workshops will be held on issues ranging from energy savings in the home to building localized climate movements, as well as the upcoming Copenhagen talks. Sunday, November 15, 2009
9:00 a.m. -- 5:00 p.m.
Stata Center, MIT
32 Vassar Street
Cambridge, MA For more information, and to register, visit MCAN's conference page at: http://massclimateaction.net/conference/2009-conference.html. Register now for the 9th annual NOFA 5-day Course in Organic Land Care
January 13, 14, 15, 19, and 20, 2010 (snow date Jan. 21)
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
Newburyport, MA This intensive five-day course covers all aspects of organic landscaping from soil health, site analysis and rain gardens to pest management, planting, invasives and running a business. Optional accreditation exam given on Day Five. For info and online registration: http://www.organiclandcare.net/ or call coordinator Kathy Litchfield at (413) 773-3830 or email Kathy@nofamass.org.
Please contact us if you have any questions at: action@massaudubon.org.
About The Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup
The Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup tracks the legislative priorities of Mass Audubon, focusing on the protection of the nature of Massachusetts. We encourage you to forward this newsletter to friends, family, and colleagues and to enlist their support.
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6 Beacon Street, Suite 1025
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