Welcome to CZ-Mail, the monthly email update from the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM). This update provides information on major CZM initiatives, available tools and publications, upcoming workshops and events, grants, contracting opportunities, job openings, coastal legislation, and other news of interest to people working on coastal issues. More information about CZM's programs, publications, and other coastal topics can be found online at http://www.mass.gov/czm/. If you have suggestions on how to make CZ-Mail more useful, would like to add your name to the mailing list, or would like to have your name removed, please email your request to CZ-Mail@state.ma.us.

Ocean Management
The application deadline for nominations for the Massachusetts Ocean Management Task Force closed May 9. Once the Task Force membership is finalized, regional public scoping meetings and an Ocean Management Workshop will be held to solicit public input on the Massachusetts Ocean Management Initiative. For more on this initiative, see the CZM website at http://www.mass.gov/czm/oceanmanagement/index.htm. Details for the public scoping meetings and workshop will also be posted on this web page as soon as they are available.

Buzzards Bay Oil Spill Update
As reported in last month’s CZ-Mail, an oil barge started leaking Number 6 fuel oil into Buzzards Bay sometime during the night of April 27. Original estimates from Bouchard Transport Company, the owner of the barge, put the spill at 14,000 gallons. Revised estimates from the company now put the spill at 98,000 gallons, making it the worst oil spill in Buzzards Bay in nearly 30 years. More than 75 miles of coastline have been affected and hundreds of birds have been killed. In addition, the entire bay was closed to shellfishing until May 21, when roughly half of the area was reopened. The Buzzards Bay Project is maintaining a detailed web page on the spill, which includes regular updates and features on health issues, how to file a claim for damages, cleanup objectives and maps, and links to additional information. See http://www.buzzardsbay.org/oilspill-4-28-03.htm.

Massachusetts Initiates First Coastal Training Program in the Country
“The Coastal Training Program will help state and municipal officials, civic associations, and business people to expand their knowledge of coastal issues. . . . I am particularly proud that Massachusetts is the first state in the nation to have such a program,” said Ellen Roy Herzfelder, Secretary of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA) at a kickoff event for the program on April 29. The Massachusetts Coastal Training Program (CTP) provides support, training, and information to communities to better manage coastal resources. CTP is a nationwide effort of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Estuarine Research Reserve System and is coordinated in Massachusetts by the Department of Environmental Management's (DEM) Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, CZM, and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Sea Grant Program. For more on CTP, see http://www.whoi.edu/science/coastaltraining/index.htm.

Northeast Invasive Species Survey
From August 3-10, a team of taxonomic experts will blitz 20 sites along the New England coast looking for non-native invasive species. The focus will be on permanently placed docks and piers, so data can be compared to data collected in a similar survey in 2000. To fund the effort, the Massachusetts Bays Program (MBP) received a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to work with MIT Sea Grant and all eight National Estuary Programs in the northeast region, from Casco Bay to New York Harbor. Data collected will provide a broader picture of the status and distribution of invasive species in the Northeast. The 2000 survey in Massachusetts found several species that were thought to be invaders. The 2003 data will help detect new invaders, give information on the spread of known invaders, and help agency staff address the problem of identifying transport vectors for invasive species and future needs for prevention efforts. For more on invasive species management in Massachusetts, see http://www.mass.gov/czm/invasives/index.htm.

Calling All Boaters
The National Clean Boating Campaign's sixth-annual Clean Boating Celebration is coming to Boston on June 21, 2003 and CZM will be there! The annual event, co-sponsored by EPA New England and the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association, promotes good stewardship of water resources by boaters, marina operators, boat dealers, and boating industry manufacturers. The celebration is an interactive, hands-on event that teaches simple, common sense techniques for boaters to use to avoid polluting waterways. CZM is organizing a key element of the 2003 event--the “Dockwalkers” program. Modeled after a successful California effort, Dockwalkers are boaters that provide face-to-face education about environmentally sound boating practices to other boaters. After completing a morning training session, the Dockwalkers will hand out clean boating materials and discuss clean boating practices with boaters at marinas in Boston Harbor. If you are a boater or have some boating experience, we could use your help as a volunteer Dockwalker! To volunteer, email CZM’s Robin Lacey at robin.lacey@state.ma.us.

CZM Receives $50K for Green Landscaping
CZM has received a $50,000 grant from the Massachusetts Environmental Trust (MET) to create a “Green Landscapes” model on the North Shore. The initiative will include the establishment of and support for a Green Landscapes Alliance--a partnership of local authorities, state agencies, conservation organizations, and members of the business community associated with home construction and landscaping with the goal of promoting eco-friendly landscape practices. The Alliance will collaborate on the design for “green landscape” demonstration projects, develop technical assistance and outreach materials to promote these concepts, and implement a marketing and media campaign to help create public demand for and commercial interest in the use of these practices. The MET grant will also fund the preparation of two model green landscape design plans that developers and landscape architects can easily use when preparing for construction of residential subdivisions. In addition, the grant will provide seed money to communities willing to retrofit their municipal properties as local green landscape demonstration sites. CZM will be partnering with Ipswich River Watershed Association and the Eight Towns and the Bay Committee, and has already received enthusiastic interest from landscape designers, developers, and nurseries. For more information, email CZM’s Andrea Cooper at andrea.cooper@state.ma.us or Kathryn Glenn at kathryn.glenn@state.ma.us.

Hurricane Season Begins on June 1
In Massachusetts, hurricane season starts on June 1 and peaks in August and September. Advanced preparation is the best defense against hurricane damage, both inland and along the coast. For more on how to properly prepare for hurricane season, see CZM’s Hurricane Preparedness Kit at http://www.mass.gov/czm/hurricanes.htm.

Grant Opportunities
Coastal Pollutant Remediation Grants - The Coastal Pollutant Remediation (CPR) Grant Program administered by CZM provides communities in the coastal watershed with funds to reduce transportation-related nonpoint pollution sources, specifically stormwater runoff from roadways and sewage from boats. More than 80 grants have been awarded between 1996 and 2003 totaling over $3.9 million. Projects include filtering runoff through subsoil leaching galleys, utilizing new technologies for particle separation and filtration, and treating runoff through a water quality swale, as well as many assessment projects to determine water quality problems. Announcement letters have been sent directly to conservation commissions and departments of public works in coastal watershed committees, and the RFR will be available on the state’s Comm-Pass website at http://www.comm-pass.com (search using bid reference # env 03 czm 14). For more information on the CPR Program, see http://www.mass.gov/czm/cprgp.htm.

4 the Environment Grants - This CZM grant program assists and encourages municipalities and counties to replace traditional 2-stroke outboard motorboat engines with cleaner, more efficient 4-stroke engines or new 2-stroke engines that meet the same environmental standards. (For more on the clean engine issue, see the CZM website at http://www.mass.gov/czm/tips/engines.htm.) The RFR for these grants is expected to be released in June and will be sent directly to eligible applicants. For details on this program, email CZM’s Steve McKenna at stephen.mckenna@state.ma.us. For a copy of the RFR, check the state’s Comm-Pass website at http://www.comm-pass.com later this month.

Reminders: The following grant opportunities posted in the May CZ-Mail are still available:

• NOAA is accepting proposals for targeted research and regional intensive monitoring of harmful algal blooms through June 3. See http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/
  14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-4895.htm.
• NOAA Fisheries is accepting applications for competitive grants to fund research on North Atlantic right whales through June 16. See http://www.nero.noaa.gov/whaletrp/RtWhaleFRNfnl.pdf.

Request for Responses (RFRs)
Massachusetts Bays Program 2003 Regional Service RFR - The Massachusetts Bays Program is seeking applications for regional services from five state agencies, regional planning agencies, non-profit organizations, or private organizations that are focused on protecting the environmental integrity of the coastal watersheds of Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bays. This RFR will be posted in early June. Please go to http://www.comm-pass.com (bid reference # env 03 czm 13) for details. Responses are due by June 19, 2003 and a Bidder's Information Session is scheduled for Thursday, June 5 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at 251 Causeway Street, OTA Conference Room, 8th Floor, Boston, MA.

Products/Publications
2003 Pumpout List and Tide Chart - Sewage released from boats contributes bacteria, nutrients, and chemicals to coastal waters. Pumpout facilities are available throughout Massachusetts so boaters can conveniently and properly dispose of their wastes. To get a wallet-sized 2003 Boater Guide to Tides and Pumpout Facilities, which is printed on water-proof paper and contains pumpout information and a tide chart for Massachusetts, email your request and mailing address to czm@state.ma.us. For an electronic copy of the 2003 pumpout list, go to http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/programsandprojects/pumpout.htm#pumpout.

EOEA Secretary’s Update - The Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA) has begun publishing an email newsletter that provides updates on state environmental initiatives. To view these Secretary’s Updates, or to be added to the mailing list, see http://www.mass.gov/envir/press/default.htm.

Proceedings from Invasive Species Conference - Next to habitat destruction, invasive exotic species are the leading cause of decreased biological diversity in the United States and worldwide. Though the Northeast has yet to witness an invasion as ecologically destructive as that of the Mitten Crab Eriocheir sinensis or the Green Alga Caulerpa taxifolia, numerous invasive species are threatening our coastal watersheds. This report presents the findings from a November 2002 conference held by the Massachusetts Bays Program and the Northeast Region of the National Estuary Program entitled “Eyes on the Estuaries: Preventing and Detecting Marine Invasive Species.” For a PDF copy of the report, see http://www.mass.gov/envir/massbays/pdf/eyes_on_estuaries_report.pdf.

Heinz Center Report on Coastal Zone Management Performance Indicators - The H. John Heinz III Center for Sciences, Economics and the Environment has published The Coastal Zone Management Act: Developing a Framework for Identifying Performance Indicators. This report is the result of a 2-year study by The Heinz Center, carried out in cooperation with NOAA. The focus of the study was to identify shared national and state coastal resource goals, based on the objectives of the Coastal Zone Management Act, and to develop a framework for results-based management utilizing performance indicators. For a PDF copy, see http://www.heinzctr.org/NEW_WEB/PDF/CZMA.pdf. For a free hardcopy, email your request to brown@heinzctr.org.

Pew Oceans Commission Final Report - The Pew Oceans Commission is reviewing the best available scientific information and soliciting comments from people around the country to develop recommendations on the policies needed to restore and protect living marine resources in U.S. waters. The Commission’s formal recommendations will be presented in a report to Congress and the nation on June 4. For more, see http://www.pewoceans.org/.

Impacts of Small Docks and Piers - The National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science has published Environmental and Aesthetic Impacts of Small Docks and Piers: Workshop Report, which synthesizes potential consequences of the construction, presence, and use of small docks and piers on the coastal environment. For a PDF copy of the report, see http://coastalscience.noaa.gov/documents/dockpier.pdf. For a searchable bibliography on docks and piers, see http://www3.nos.noaa.gov/forms/nccoslib/dpsearch.lasso.

Status of Fisheries of the U.S. - On May 13, NOAA released its annual Status of U.S. Fisheries Report to Congress for 2002. The report shows improvement in a number of fish stocks, including silver hake in the Gulf of Maine/northern Georges Bank. For the complete report, see http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/reports.html.

Fishing Gear Impacts - In May, the Marine Conservation Biology Institute (MCBI) released Shifting Gears: Addressing the Collateral Impacts of Fishing Methods in U.S. Waters. The report, based on a survey of fishermen, regulators, scientists, and conservationists, ranks the damage caused by 10 major commercial fishing gears. Shifting Gears was prepared by MCBI and initiated and supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts. To download a PDF copy, see http://www.mcbi.org/ShiftingGears/SG_download.htm.

Websites
Water Use Efficiency - EPA’s Water Use Efficiency Program maintains a website with links to PDF documents on water-efficient landscaping, water conservation in the home, and ideas for communities, as well as links to other publications and resources. See http://www.epa.gov/owm/water-efficiency/index.htm.

Job Postings
Coastal Geologist/Oceanographer - CZM is seeking a coastal geologist to assist in producing high-resolution maps and interpretations of the sea floor geology in several areas of Massachusetts, working with the U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole Field Center. For more information, go to the Commonwealth Employment Opportunities website.

General Outreach Coordinator - CZM is seeking a public outreach coordinator to develop and implement the component of the outreach program targeted toward the general public. Specific duties will include writing general outreach materials, including CZ-Mail; developing content for the CZM website and posting these materials to the web; staffing, coordinating, and developing materials for events and CZM-sponsored workshops; editing and other quality control for outreach materials; and improving the distribution of CZM materials. For more information, go to the Commonwealth Employment Opportunities website.

Fisheries Science and Research Director - NOAA Fisheries is seeking a Science and Research Director for its Northeast Region. The position is located in Woods Hole and the posting closes June 30. For details, go to www.USAJOBS.opm.gov and type in vacancy number NOAA#03-11.NJH in the search function.

Calendar
Gulf of Maine Natural Capital Forum and Council Meeting - On Wednesday, June 4, the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment (GOMC) is sponsoring a forum on the concept of natural capital. The agenda includes an expert panel discussion on what natural capital is, how it is valued, and how it relates to sustainable development, as well as a brainstorming session on how to implement natural capital concepts in the region. In addition, the GOMC Working Group is holding its quarterly meeting on June 2 and 3, and the Council semi-annual meeting is on June 5. The public is welcome to attend both the forum and the meetings, which will be held at the Cape Codder Resort in Hyannis. See: http://www.gulfofmaine.org/council/rtf/june_2003_agenda_wg_and_council.rtf for details.

Coastal Training Program Events - The Massachusetts Coastal Training Program maintains a calendar of workshops and other training events for coastal decision makers and others interested in managing the coastal zone. For more information, see http://www.whoi.edu/science/coastaltraining/events/index.htm.

Reminders: The following calendar items posted in the May CZ-Mail are still to come:

• A Coastal Engineering Manual Workshop will be held on June 9 at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. For information, email sderosa@whoi.edu and ask for the PDF workshop announcement flyer.
• CZ03, Coastal Zone Management Through Time, will be held on July 13-17 in Baltimore, MD. For information see http://www.csc.noaa.gov/cz2003/index.html.
• The Boston Harbor Islands Science Symposium and the Boston Harbor Educators Conference will be held from October 4-7. For details see: http://www.bostonislands.com/science/index.html.

In the News
Here are links to newspaper articles from the last month on coastal issues: (Articles may only be available for a limited time.)

• Senate gets tough on environment (Boston Globe, 5/30/03).
• State tightens rules for wind farm developers (Cape Cod Times, 5/30/03).
• Pipeline prompts concerns for lobsters (Boston Globe, 5/29/03).
• Plan to build Cape hospital for stranded animals gets boost (Environmental News Network, 5/27/03).
• Sewage outfall project praised (Cape Cod Times, 5/22/03).
• Water rules appealed: Consumption limit reduced by half (Boston Globe, 5/22/03).
• Spill 7 times larger than reported (Boston Globe, 5/21/03).
• Outfall harms bay less than feared (Cape Cod Times, 5/19/03).
• Minke whale beached on Bass Rocks (Gloucester Daily Times, 5/13/03).
• Cost of oil-spill cleanup soars to $13.4M (Boston Herald, 5/13/03).
• Bouchard begins payments to fishermen affected by spill (Cape Cod Times, 5/12/03).
• Oil spill lessons (Cape Cod Times, 5/11/03).
• Pocket wetland has some seeing red (Nantucket Mirror, 5/8/03).
• Shellfishing areas found mostly free of spilled oil (Boston Herald, 5/6/03).
• Canada lists Atlantic cod as endangered (Environment News Service, 5/2/03).
• Barge owner has history of oil spills, violations (Boston Globe, 5/1/03).

Other Items of Interest
Help Find Horseshoe Crab Spawning Beaches - Each spring, from late April though June, horseshoe crabs come ashore to lay eggs. The Division of Marine Fisheries (MarineFisheries) is looking for the public’s help to identify where horseshoe crabs spawn in Massachusetts to help protect this important resource. So, if you see coupled horseshoe crabs on the beach this spring, please email Frank Germano at frankgermano@state.ma.us.

Did You Know Human Hair Can Help Clean Up an Oil Spill? - The Buzzards Bay Project received a call from a kind person from California who offered to send human hair to help with the Buzzards Bay oil spill cleanup. Turns out, this was not simply some “far-out” California convention. The use of human hair for oil spill cleanup has actually been patented. For an interesting article on the subject, see http://nctn.hq.nasa.gov/innovation/Innovation64/hair.htm.

Gloucester Waste to Business Venture - Gloucester is embarking on an interesting new project to investigate how waste products generated from its port (such as wood waste, fryer and lubricating oils, plastics, and fish and shellfish wastes) can be used to support existing businesses and create new business opportunities. The goal is to reduce the quantity of materials entering landfills while promoting the local economy. In a related effort, Gloucester is participating in a program to collect and recycle shrink wrap from area marinas. For details, email Greg Ketchen, Harbor Plan Project Coordinator at gketchen@ci.gloucester.ma.us.

CZ Tip for June
Environmental Boat Engines - Conventional carbureted 2-stroke outboard motorboat engines allow as much as 20-30 percent of the fuel used to pass directly to the air or water, releasing toxic and carcinogenic materials to the environment. Working with industry to address this problem, EPA developed regulations to reduce these emissions. The boat engine industry is already meeting standards set for 2006, so today outboard engines are substantially cleaner, reducing fuel costs for the boater and protecting the environment. For more on this issue and how to purchase clean engines, see http://www.mass.gov/czm/tips/engines.htm.

A publication of the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award No. NA17OZ1125. This publication is funded (in part) by a grant/cooperative agreement from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA or any of its sub-agencies.