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
As reported in the last CZ-Mail, the Ocean Management Task Force is reviewing comments on Waves of Change: The Massachusetts Ocean Management Task Force Report and evaluating options to implement Task Force recommendations. To review a report and a summary of the comments, click here.

CZM has been coordinating with other state agencies and Governor Romney's office to prepare comments on the U.S. Ocean Commission draft report released on April 20. The Commission recently extended the public comment period to June 4. When finalized, a copy of the Governor's comments will be posted on the CZM website.

Court Dismisses DPA Lawsuit
At the plaintiff's request, the Massachusetts Superior Court has dismissed a lawsuit against CZM brought by Boston Towing and Transportation in response to the findings of the East Boston Designated Port Area (DPA) Boundary Review and Designation Decision. CZM's DPA Decision, issued in April 2003, found that Boston Towing, a marine industrial use that provides tugboat services to 80 percent of the large-vessel traffic in Boston Harbor, should remain in the Boston Harbor DPA. DPAs are limited land and water areas in seven of the Commonwealth's ports and harbors designated by the state as marine economic resources because they have access to deep-water navigation channels, road or rail connections to interstate commerce, and other suitable industrial characteristics, and thus development incompatible with working waterfronts is prohibited. CZM worked closely with Boston Towing to identify a satisfactory range of potential water-dependent and non-water dependent uses that support the company's business interests and are consistent with the DPA.

Federal Clean Air Nonroad Diesel Rule Includes New Standards for Marine Vessels
A new federal Clean Air Act rule is expected to cut the nation's emission levels from industrial, construction, and agricultural diesel-powered equipment by more than 90 percent and also remove 99 percent of the sulfur found in diesel fuel, resulting in soot reduction. Diesel fuel contains about 3,000 parts per million (ppm) sulfur. The Nonroad Diesel Rule will reduce quantities to 500 ppm by 2007 and to 15 ppm by 2010. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) projects that without the new standards railroad and marine diesel mobile sources would cause 27 percent total nitrogen oxides (NOx) and 45 percent particulate matter (PM) pollution. The new standards will be phased in beginning with the smallest new engines in 2008, until most new engines meet both NOx and PM standards in 2014. The largest engines, those more than 750 horsepower, will have one additional year to meet the emissions standards. For more information on the Clean Air Nonroad Diesel Rule and EPA's clean diesel programs, click here.

National Weather Service Announces New Global Ultraviolet (UV) Index
EPA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Weather Service have announced that the Global UV Index will replace existing UV reporting methods in the United States. According to EPA, switching to the Global Index will provide better guidance for sunscreen use and also standardize reporting of surface UV radiation levels in the United States with reporting in other nations. With summer around the corner, and incidence of malignant melanoma having doubled in the last 30 years in the United States, the federal government hopes better guidance will help to reduce the number of health effects caused by overexposure to UV radiation. Information about the Global UV Index and links to sites about UV radiation, is available on EPA's website.

CZM Staff Changes
CZM's Coastal Services Center fellow Megan Tyrrell wrapped up her fellowship at the end of May. While at CZM, Megan focused on three major marine habitat management projects. Her work included identifying information and maps related to marine habitat for the Massachusetts Ocean Resources Information System; writing components of the statewide marine habitat management plan, including a benthic habitat mapping strategic plan and a guide to the region's marine habitats; and coordinating CZM's marine habitat working group, which is composed of members of state and federal environmental agencies, fisheries managers, environmental organizations, fishermen, and marine policy experts. Megan has accepted a Post-Doc position at the Wells Estuarine Research Reserve in southern Maine and will be working on coastal food web research and will continue to participate in the Gulf of Maine Mapping Initiative. We thank Megan for her hard work and wish her the best with her new position.

At the request of Secretary Ellen Roy Herzfelder, CZM Boston Harbor Coordinator Mary Griffin (and former Department of Environmental Management Legal Counsel) is serving as Acting EOEA Legal Counsel until a new Legal Counsel is hired. In spite of her numerous new responsibilities, Mary will still work on some CZM issues.

NOAA Predicts Above-Average Atlantic Hurricane Season
NOAA forecasters have predicted an above-normal 2004 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through November 30. NOAA officials said the season outlook is for 12 to 15 tropical storms, with six to eight systems becoming hurricanes, and two to four of those major hurricanes. NOAA will issue an update to this year's hurricane outlook on August 10. More information is available on NOAA's website. For CZM's Hurricane Preparedness Kit click here.

Shellfish Suitability Maps Available from CZM
The Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) and CZM have recently finished mapping areas of the Massachusetts coast suitable for 10 shellfish species that are important for commercial and recreational shellfishing. Drawing on previous studies and their collective knowledge, DMF and local shellfish constables identified areas of the coast where shellfish have been found historically or are currently found. The NOAA Coastal Services Center (CSC) then digitized the areas and produced Geographic Information System (GIS) layers for each species. CZM produced paper and Adobe PDF maps. Paper maps are available for viewing at CZM's Boston office and the PDF versions of the maps are available on CD-ROM. Copies of the CD-ROM can be ordered free of charge by contacting CZM at czm@state.ma.us. The GIS layers will be available through MassGIS in early July.

FEMA Map Changes Announced
Under the Department of Homeland Security's Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is announcing changes made to National Flood Insurance Program maps that became effective between July 1, 2003 and December 31, 2003. For more information, go to the Federal Register and enter "24709" in Quick Search.

Emergency Groundfish Regulations Issued, Compatible to New Federal News
DMF has implemented emergency regulations, compatible with recent federal final rules for the Multispecies Fishery, to implement Amendment 13 for recreational and commercial fishing in state waters. Click here for the DMF advisory. Full details about Amendment 13 can be found on the NOAA Fisheries Northeast Regional office website.

Funding Opportunities
CZM CNPS Funding for 2005 - CZM has begun planning for the 2005 Coastal Nonpoint Source (CNPS) grant program, funded by NOAA through annual congressional appropriations for the National Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program. Through CNPS, CZM seeks to fund: assessment, identification, and nonpoint source (NPS) characterization projects; development of transferable tools (nonstructural best management practices) such as guidance documents, model by-laws, land use planning strategies, and outreach or education to improve NPS control and management; and implementation of innovative and unique demonstration projects that utilize NPS best management practices.

While the 2005 Request for Responses (RFR) and application will not be posted through the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Procurement Access & Solicitation System until late August, the 2005 CNPS program will kick-off with two pre-RFR informational meetings on Tuesday, July 13 and Thursday, July 15. One meeting will be held north of Boston, the other south of Boston. Location announcements will be posted in mid-June on CZM's Jobs and Grants web page. Potential RFR respondents are strongly encouraged to attend and discuss proposed projects with the CZM grant coordinator and ask questions prior to the issuance of the 2005 RFR. CZM can only offer general information to respondents after the RFR is posted. All open solicitations can be found on the Comm-Pass website.

Availability of Beach Grant Funding and National List of Beaches - EPA announced the availability of approximately $10 million in grant funding for beach monitoring and notification programs for eligible coastal states, territories, and tribes to help meet the new requirements under the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act of 2000.The National List of Beaches, which provides a baseline for beach monitoring across the country, is also available. Both actions are part of EPA's Clean Beaches Plan designed to accelerate federal and state progress in meeting BEACH Act of 2000 requirements. States and territories must submit applications on or before September 1. Eligible tribes should notify the relevant regional BEACH Act grant coordinator and apply on or before August 2. For more information, click here.

Reminders - The following grants listed in the last CZ-Mail are still available:

• Coastal Pollutant Remediation (CPR) Grants Program - Proposals for the CPR Program, which funds projects that address stormwater discharges from municipal roads, highways, or parking areas or for municipal boat sewage management efforts, are due by June 4. All open solicitations can be found on the Comm-Pass website. Details on the CPR Program are available on CZM's website.
• Coastal Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) Grant Program - Proposals for the ACEC Program, which provides funding to groups working on stewardship projects in the designated coastal ACECs, are due by June 16. All open solicitations can be found on the Comm-Pass website.

Public Comment
EPA Seeks Comments on the Supplement Program to the Proposed Clean Air Interstate Rule - A supplement program to the proposed Clean Air Interstate Rule, which would establish permanent caps reducing emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) in the eastern United States, adds additional implementation details, including model cap-and-trade programs for power plants that states may adopt to achieve required emissions reductions. The 29 states affected and the District of Columbia must submit a plan to EPA that demonstrates how it will meet its assigned statewide SO2 and NOx emissions budget. EPA signed the supplemental program proposal and is accepting public comments. EPA will also hold a public hearing on June 3 to solicit comments. For more information, go to EPA's website.

Reminders - The following public comment periods listed in the last CZ-Mail are still open:

• Coast Guard Seeks Comments on Amended Anchorage Regulations - To improve safety, the U.S. Coast Guard is proposing to amend the anchorage regulations for Buzzards Bay, Nantucket Sound, and adjacent waters by relocating anchorage ground "L" in Buzzards Bay to an area near Naushon Island. Comments will be accepted through July 15. Go to the Federal Register for notice of the proposed amendment, along with details on how to comment, and enter "20568" in Quick Search.
• Draft EIS for Rhode Island Dredge Material Disposal Site - This Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Rhode Island Dredge Material Disposal Site is now available for public review and comment. Comments are due by June 21 and public hearings will be held on the project on June 15. For the notice, links to the DEIS, details on public hearings, and information on how to comment, go to the Federal Register and enter "23706" in Quick Search.

Project Review
Nantasket Seawall Reconstruction - In response to a determination by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that a 2,000-foot section of the seawall along popular Nantasket Beach is in imminent danger of collapse, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has received an emergency authorization from the Town of Hull Conservation Commission to construct a temporary seawall fortification to protect beachgoers. DCR (formerly MDC) and the Corps are currently designing a major overhaul of the current coastal defense structures that will include new sections of seawall, replacement of some sections of seawall with revetment (sloped stone wall), and beach nourishment. The temporary structure, located on the DCR Nantasket Reservation section of the beach, has been designed to withstand storm wave damage from a 10- to 25-year storm and is expected to take 14 weeks to build.

Products/Publications
Gloucester Harbor Characterization Report - Gloucester Harbor is America's oldest fishing port and has endured substantial changes in economic, cultural, and environmental conditions since Gloucester was settled in 1623. In May, CZM published the Gloucester Harbor Characterization Report: Environmental History, Human Influences, and Status of Marine Resources, which describes human and natural resources, discusses the environmental history of development and human influences, characterizes current understanding of environmental quality, examines lobster fishing and lobster population structure, investigates fish community structure, and describes seafloor habitat in Gloucester Harbor. For PDF copies of the full report and chapters, click here.

May 2004 Massachusetts Wetlands Restoration Update Available - The May 2004 Massachusetts Wetlands Restoration Update has been posted on the CZM website. The update includes summaries of recently completed projects, news of project development activities, announcements of technical services and funding awards, and links to recent media coverage. To view the update, click here.

Gulf of Maine Mapping Initiative (GOMMI) - The GOMMI Subcommittee of the Gulf of Maine Council is pleased to announce the release of the strategic plan, A Framework for Ocean Management. The plan is the result of work by the GOMMI Steering Committee, which included Page Valentine of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Thomas Noji of National Marine Fisheries Service, Brian Todd of the Geological Survey of Canada, Megan Tyrrell of CZM, and Susan Snow-Cotter of CZM. The next steps for GOMMI include undertaking an assessment of mapping needs and priorities in the Gulf of Maine through a survey and workshop. The strategic plan and more is available on GOMMI's new and improved website.

Cape Cod Emergency Preparedness Handbook - The Cape Cod Commission recently published this handbook, subtitled A Guide to Natural Disasters 2004, through its Project Impact Cape Cod Grant Program, a national program funded by FEMA to address disaster resistance and hazard mitigation at the regional and local levels. The 32-page handbook includes chapters on various natural disasters, Cape Cod shelters, how to prepare your boat for a storm, safety, and more. The handbook is available as a PDF file on the Cape Cod Commission website, and is also being distributed in each Cape Cod community through fire stations, police stations, libraries, and town halls. For more information contact Stacey Justus at the Cape Cod Commission at (508) 362-3828. To learn more about Project Impact Cape Cod, click here.

May 2004 Community Preservation Press Newsletter - For the May edition of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Community Preservation Initiative bi-monthly newsletter, click here.

OCRM Funding Fact Sheets - NOAA's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management has released Coastal Zone Management Act Funding Summary - 2003, a brochure describing the distribution of federal Coastal Zone Management Act funds at the national level. OCRM also released Facts about the Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program, which outlines nonpoint funding expenditures by project during Fiscal Year 2003 and gives an educational overview of the program.

Free "These Dunes Aren't Made for Walking" Posters - Sea Grant has a limited supply of "These Dunes Aren't Made for Walking" posters at no charge. The 11" x 14" coated posters are suitable for outdoor display, describe the importance of dunes as a first line of defense against ocean waves, and encourage beachgoers not to trample the dunes. If interested, please contact Sheri DeRosa at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute Sea Grant at sderosa@whoi.edu. Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery.

Law Review Journal Discusses Offshore Wind - The recent edition, Vol. 31, Issue 2, of the Boston College Law School Environmental Affairs Law Review includes 10 articles and notes discussing issues relevant to offshore wind.

Reminders

• Boaters' Guide to Tides and Pumpout Facilities - To get the wallet-sized 2004 guide, 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, click here.

Websites
Office of Commonwealth Development (OCD) Website - This new website provides information on OCD's efforts to care for the built and natural environments through SmartGrowth, OCD's sustainable development initiative that integrates energy, environmental, housing, and transportation policies, programs, and regulations. To learn more about SmartGrowth and other OCD initiatives, click here.

Calendar
Green Community Speaker Series Seminar - The North and South Rivers Watershed Association (NSRWA) is hosting GreenScapes: Beautiful Landscapes That Protect Our Water on June 10 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the South Shore Natural Science Center in Norwell, Massachusetts. At this seminar you will learn how to cultivate a beautiful landscape without using excess water and chemicals. Guest speakers Samantha Woods, Executive Director of NSRWA, and Wendy Garpow, NSRWA and the Mass Bays Program, will discuss the evolution of the GreenScapes program, developed for South Shore homeowners in conjunction with the water departments of seven towns in the region. Topics include watering, mowing, fertilizing, herbicides/pesticides, plant choices, and design. The seminar is part of the Green Community Speaker Series and is sponsored by the South Coastal Watershed Network. This seminar is open to the public at no charge, although pre-registration is requested. Contact Wendy Garpow at wendy@nsrwa.org to register.

The Massachusetts Riverways Program Calendar - The Massachusetts Riverways Program has posted its calendar of local events.

Decentralized Wastewater Management Regional Forum - On June 16, in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, EPA and the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission are sponsoring a regional forum on decentralized wastewater management. The forum is an opportunity for New England state and local regulators to discuss the benefits of decentralized systems, issues associated with their use, and wastewater program funding opportunities. The deadline to register is June 2. To register, contact Robert Adler at EPA's Boston Office at adler.robert@epa.gov.

Boston Harbor Educators Conference - Save the date for the Boston Harbor Educators Conference, Boston Harbor: Stewardship of an Ever-Changing Resource, to be held Saturday, October 2 at the University of Massachusetts Boston. For more information contact Peg Collins at Ccndpcllns@aol.com. For al list of conference sponsors, click here.

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

• Bycatch in Northeast Fisheries: Moving Forward - This conference will be held in Wakefield on June 29-July 1 for those interested in both research and public policy aspects of reducing "bycatch."
• Gulf of Maine Summit - This summit will be held October 26-29 in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, and is open to interested citizens, businesses, and organizations from around the Gulf of Maine to discuss current environmental conditions and trends in the area, develop a consensus of indicators of environmental quality, and design an action plan and build partnerships to move forward. Click here for details.
• Massachusetts Coastal Training Program - The 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, click here.

Other Items of Interest
Help Find Horseshoe Crab Spawning Beaches - Each spring, from late April through June, horseshoe crabs come ashore to lay eggs. MarineFisheries is looking for the public's help to identify where horseshoe crabs spawn in Massachusetts to help protect this important resource. The crabs come ashore to mate on the new and full moon tides in May and June. Eggs hatch on the following month's moon tides. For more information, go to the Ecological Research and Development Group website. For the DMF advisory, click here. If you see horseshoe crabs spawning on the beach this spring, please email Frank Germano at frank.germano@state.ma.us.

Watersheds to Air - This 30-minute television special, co-produced by EPA and The Weather Channel, will air on The Weather Channel on Saturday, June 26 at 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. and on Saturday, September 18 at 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.

Tip of the Month
Wading at the Beach? Observe Nesting Shorebirds! - Are you anxious to spend time at the beach? If the water is too cold for swimming, June is a great time to observe nesting shorebirds while relaxing in the sun and waiting for ocean temperatures to rise. Several shorebird species are designated Endangered, Threatened, or Species of Special Concern, and beachgoers can play a part in safeguarding and monitoring their numbers. For more information about threatened shorebird species in Massachusetts, monitoring programs, what beachgoers can do, birdwatching at the shore, and more, click here.

A publication of the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award No. NA03NOS4190087. 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.