September 1998 Conservation Update

Air Quality: The Environmental Protection Agency announced new rules to reduce regional haze. These rules tighten regulations on smokestacks and emissions for states in the Midwest and south, to reduce haze in the mid-Atlantic and New England regions. The effort is directed at coal burning power plants. The EPA is demanding additional cuts in nitrogen oxide releases, a component of ozone, and a major ingredient of the smog that accumulates in summer months. More Air Quality: Senators Moynihan, Leahy, Jeffords and D'Amato have introduced an amendment to the Clean Air Act to limit the concentration of sulfur in gasoline used in cars. The bill proposes to lower sulfur levels from the present 330 parts per milligram to 40. The presence of sulfur in gas impairs the functioning of emission controls, especially in low emissions vehicles. Tell your Senators that you support this amendment.

Federal Appropriations: A much distracted Congress still must face funding government programs for 1999. The Senate passed a continuing resolution that funds programs within the Senate Interior Bill through October 9th, the date when Congress adjourns. The continuing resolution keeps government programs funded at 1998 funding levels. Congress needs to address the budget for 1999 before adjournment. They may accomplish this through a massive omnibus appropriations bill. Urge your Senators to pass a bill that protects critical lands through the federal program of LWCF and includes appropriations for grants to states that protect local, county and state parks. Reach your members of congress at 202-224-3121.

Around the Region: Mount Wachusett: The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management is proceeding with plans to update the GOALS plan for Wachusett Mountain State Reservation. This plan will become an integrated management plan for the reservation. Attend a public meeting, October 8 at 7:00 p.m. at the Thomas Prince School in Princeton, MA. The purpose of the meeting is to review the scope of the GOALS plan and to provide the state with public input on the management plan. For more information, contact Frank Shea kbler@tiac.net or Chris Williams clw@ma.ultranet.com

Maine Lands: The South African Pulp and Paper International (SAPPI) company has put some of Maine's most significant recreational and wilderness lands on the market; the lands total over 911,000 acres. Indications are that a deal is close to completion with Plum Creek, a Seattle based company with a record of first clearcutting and then developing land. The challenge for the State of Maine remains: to protect large tracts of key lands around Moosehead Lake, Baxter State Park and within the Western Mountains. Call Governor King's office (207) 287-3531 to ensure that Maine protects these key treasures. For more information call Eric Antebi, 617-523-0655 ext. 353.

Climate Change: Attend a New England Town Meeting on Climate Change to learn about the impacts of burning fossil fuels on global warming and the more specific impacts on New England. The forum will also address solutions that promote energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy sources in the region. The meeting is October 17, 1998 at Faneuil Hall in Boston from 1 to 5 p.m. Sponsored by the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School, this  event is free and open to the public.

LWCF Activist Workshop-October 17: Learn about the Land and Water Conservation Fund, its accomplishments in the mid-Atlantic region, its potential and how you can make that potential a reality. Join others who are concerned about development pressures, crowding in state parks, and who want an ongoing solution to protect recreational facilities and open space in the region. The workshop is October 17 at Mohican Outdoor Center. To register, call 908-362-5670. For more information, call Tom Gilbert 609-818-1776.

Ware River Watershed: The Metropolitan District Commission is in the process of revising the Public Access Plan for the 22,000 acres of forest in the Ware River Watershed. The mid-state trail wends through this area along with 100 miles of cross country skiing, hiking and biking trails. At a recent public meeting, voices were raised for opening the area to horseback riding and snowmobiling. Others spoke for the de-regulation of boating. The Superintendent of the Quabbin Reservoir needs to hear from hikers, bikers, cross country skiers and bird-watchers who care about keeping this beautiful area available for quiet recreation. He can be reached via email:   william.pula@state.ma.us

NH Land Hearings: As New Hampshire faces the challenges of a growing economy, the state and localities have no funds to purchase precious open space. The Commission on Land and Community Heritage is charged with determining if the state should create a new, permanent program to protect the special places in NH, including farmlands, headwaters of rivers, forests with recreational potential and old mills. A new program would help local communities purchase important lands and historic structures. The Commission is looking for specific comments on the following two questions: If a new state program is created to provide funding to protect natural, historic, and cultural resources, which types of resources should receive highest priority? Possible resources include river corridors, farmland, historic buildings, and undeveloped blocks of forest. How should New Hampshire pay for this program? Send comments before October 15, to Commission on Land & Community Heritage, PO Box 697;Concord, NH 03302-0697 or via email: nhlchc@aol.com. Attend a public hearing: 10/5; Cheshire County Historical Society Bldg.246 Main St., Keene. 10/8; Gibson Center, North Conway. 10/13; UNH campus, Commercial Street, Manchester. Call 226-0012 for directions or specific street addresses. All hearings are from 7 to 9 p.m.

PCB's in the Housatonic: Last week, the EPA and General Electric set a timetable for cleaning up the PCB's along the Housatonic River in Pittsfield. Clean up efforts in Pittsfield are set to begin next Spring and will continue for the next three years. In addition, the city will receive funds to redevelop the General Electric plant. Although a good beginning, efforts are not done. Issues of contamination down river have not been settled. For information, contact Ruth Dinerman 413-443-0011.

Ruth Dinerman