.
EPA Technical Support Center - Through the Watershed and Water Quality Modeling Technical Support Center, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assists regions, state and local governments, and their contractors in implementing programs that comply with the Clean Water Act by providing access to technically defensible tools and approaches that can be used in developing total maximum daily loads, waste load allocations, and watershed protection plans.
EPA Compliance Assistance Centers - EPA, through partnerships with industry, academic institutions, environmental groups, and other agencies, has established 13 sector-specific Compliance Assistance Centers. The EPA-funded centers are designed to help businesses, local governments, and federal facilities in understanding federal environmental requirements. The centers are currently conducting a survey on how well they are meeting their goal in providing environmental compliance resources. First-time users are encouraged to respond to the online surveys.
Funding Opportunities
CNPS Grant Program - CZM has released its RFR for the Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution (CNPS) Grant Program, which provides funding to public and nonprofit organizations for projects that improve coastal water quality, including assessment, identification and characterization of nonpoint sources of pollution; development of transferable tools for NPS control; design of structural control systems; and implementation of innovative and unique demonstration projects that utilize nonpoint source best management practices. Proposals are due November 19. For the RFR, go to the Commonwealth's Comm-PASS website and search solicitation number "ENV 05 CZM 03."
Drinking Water Supply Protection Grants -
EOEA has released an RFR for Drinking Water Supply Protection Grants. These grants will assist municipalities in protecting lands critical to current and future water supplies. The RFR can be accessed from the Commonwealth's COMM-PASS website by searching solicitation number "ENV 05 POL 01." Applications are due December 7.
EPA Environmental Education Grants - EPA's Office of Environmental Education has opened its 2005 grant round and applications are due November 15. The program offers grants for environmental education programs that enhance public awareness, knowledge, and skills for making informed decisions that affect environmental quality. For details on eligibility and how to apply, click here. For the grant notice, see the Federal Register and enter "55622" in Quick Search.
EPA Brownfields Grants - EPA is accepting proposals through November 12 for up to 200 Brownfields assessment, revolving loan fund, and cleanup grants for its 2005 grant round. The grants are for states and communities to assess, clean up, and revitalize Brownfields. For more information, click here.
New England Grassroots Environment Fund - The New England Grassroots Environment Fund is a small grants program designed to foster and give voice to grassroots environmental initiatives in the six New England states. The fund provides grants of up to $2,500 to fuel civic engagement, local activism, and social change. Proposals are due by January 15, 2005 for a March decision.
Reminders - The following funding opportunities listed in the last CZ-Mail are still open:
- Habitat Restoration - The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) is accepting Habitat Restoration Partnership funding proposals through November 12. For the RFP, click here.
- National Whale Conservation - The National Whale Conservation Fund (NWCF) has established funding for government agencies for projects that relate to great whales and/or address anthropogenic threats and is accepting pre-proposal packets through March 1, 2005. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal. Click here for more information.
- Right Whale Recovery - NWCF is accepting pre-proposal applications until March 1, 2005 for Atlantic Coast States Cooperative Planning for Right Whale Recovery Program funding, which is available to coastal government agencies implementing existing conservation and whale recovery programs. See the grant posting for more information.
- Large Whale Gear Challenge - The NWCF and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation are accepting letters of intent for a team-based competition designed to promote development of innovative whale-friendly fishing gear or gear modifications that can be used to decrease large whale entanglements. A letter of intent must be submitted by December 1 with full proposals due March 15, 2005. For application information, click here. For information about existing fishing gear and regulations, review NOAA Fisheries Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan web page.
- Nancy Foster Scholarship Program - Applications for the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program must be received between February 11, 2005 and April 15, 2005. For details, click here or here.
Public Comment
FEMA Mitigation of Severe Loss Pilot Program - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is accepting comments through November 30 on its pilot program for the Mitigation of Severe Repetitive Loss Properties. The pilot program will develop procedures for the distribution of funds to carry out eligible mitigation activities. For details on how to comment go to the Federal Register and enter "55643" in Quick Search.
EPA Oil Pollution Prevention and Response - EPA is accepting comments through November 19 to determine whether alternate regulations are appropriate for non-transportation-related onshore and offshore facilities that handle oil below a certain threshold amount under the Clean Water Act. For details on how to comment go to the Federal Register and enter "56184" in Quick Search.
Right Whale Ship Strike Comment Period Extended - NOAA Fisheries is extending the public comment period through November 15 on the proposed North Atlantic right whale mortality reduction strategy. For details on how to comment, go to the Federal Register and enter "55136" in Quick Search.
Reminders - The following public comment period listed in the last CZ-Mail is still open:
- Ballast Water Treatment System Approval Program - The Coast Guard seeks comment in establishing a new program to approve onboard ballast water treatment systems to assure compliance with federal discharge standards. Comments must be received by December 3. For details on how to comment, go to the Federal Register, and type "47454" in Quick Search.
Products/Publications
New Coast Guide Available - CZM has released the new full-color, spiral-bound Massachusetts Coast Guide to Boston & the North Shore, Volume 1, Second Edition, which highlights more than 400 coastal recreation and public access sites from Salisbury to Hingham. Coast Guide is available through UHI at cost ($6.00 including shipping). To order, click here.
Wetlands Restoration Update - The September Wetlands Restoration Update has been posted.
Invasive Species Assessment Protocol - NatureServe and the Nature Conservancy have developed a new scientific method to determine which non-native species pose the most serious threats to native species and ecosystems. The method is published in a NatureServe report, titled An Invasive Species Assessment Protocol: Evaluating Non-Native Plants for Their Impact on Biodiversity. Detailed instructions and examples are provided to guide land managers through species impact assessments. The report and supporting data, including assessments for more than 300 other non-native plants, are available on the NatureServe website.
Protecting Water Resources with Smart Growth - EPA has released Protecting Water Resources with Smart Growth, a 120-page report to assist state and local governments and water quality professionals in achieving smart growth and water quality goals.
EPA Environmental Management System (EMS) Handbook - EPA has developed a handbook, available on EPA's environmental management systems page, to help utilities better manage their water and wastewater operations. The handbook outlines management processes and procedures that enable a utility to examine, control, and reduce environmental impacts. The handbook also describes how an EMS can help utilities function with greater efficiency and encourage environmental performance.
NOAA Bycatch Workshop Conference Proceedings - NOAA Fisheries has released the proceedings of the 2004 Northeast Regional Bycatch Workshop. The document, titled Bycatch in Northeast Fisheries: Moving Forward, includes the comments to the Northeast Region Bycatch Implementation Plan, which will be released later this year.
Clean Water Act Retrospective - The Association of State & Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators has published Clean Water Act Thirty-Year Retrospective: History and Documents Related to the Federal Statute, which outlines the Clean Water Act's history and discusses some of the most notable federal and state/interstate documents. For more information, click here.
Job Postings
Mass Bays Stormwater Specialist - The Massachusetts Bays Program is posting a stormwater specialist position. The specialist will assist Metro Boston communities (from Swampscott to Hull) with implementing Phase II storm water requirements and as the program grows, will assist other communities along the Massachusetts coast. Tasks include outreach and education, implementation of various technical issues, and assistance with financing and funding challenges. Check the Mass Bays Program website and click on What's New for a link to the posting.
Boston Harbor Regional Coordinator - CZM is seeking a Boston Harbor Regional Coordinator to provide planning, regulatory, and technical assistance to coastal municipalities in the Boston Harbor region (Winthrop, Chelsea, Everett, Boston, Milton, Braintree, Quincy, and Weymouth). Candidates with direct experience applying Chapter 91 and the Waterways Regulations, Municipal Harbor Plan Approval Regulations, and Designated Port Area Boundary Regulations are preferred. Applications are due October 8. For more information, go to the Commonwealth Employment Opportunities website.
Wetlands Restoration Specialist - CZM plans to post a Coastal Wetland Restoration Specialist position responsible for administering, assisting, and planning wetland restoration projects for its Wetlands Restoration Program. Tasks include remote and onsite assessments of potential restoration projects, developing scopes, conducting fieldwork for surveying and monitoring, and more. Check CZ-Mail, and CZM's job and grants page for the announcement.
Gulf of Maine Times Assistant Editor - The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment is seeking an assistant editor and staff writer for the Gulf of Maine Times, the Council's quarterly newspaper. The assistant editor will write and edit feature and news articles. All applications must be postmarked on or before Friday, October 15. For more information about the position and requirements, click here.
Websites
LID Website - Low Impact Development (LID) is an ecologically friendly approach to site development and stormwater management that mitigates development impacts to land, water, and air. A new LID website features case studies and reviews important LID principles, including open space preservation, compact development, impervious surface reduction, and more.
EnviroMapper Version 3 - The EPA Office of Water has released a new version of EnviroMapper for Water, a web-based mapping connection to water data. This latest release features several new data layers, including EPA's national water quality database STORET, National Estuary Program study areas, and the location of nonpoint source projects, and offers data and web page development enhancements.
MACC Forum Website - The Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC) hosts an online Conservation Connections forum page. The forum's focus is commission-to-commission communication and features MACC board member and staff participation on a regular basis. To learn more about the forum and to access a postings archive, click here.
Calendar
Coastal WEB and CPR/Buzzards Bay Grant Announcement Event - On October 5, Environmental Affairs Secretary Herzfelder will announce the recipients of the CPR Grants and Buzzards Bay Mini-Grants and EOEA's Coastal WEB initiative. The event will be held at the Bourne Conservation Pond Park (rain location: Bourne Community Center) at 2 p.m.
Volunteer for COASTSWEEP - UHI and CZM have kicked-off the 17th annual Massachusetts COASTSWEEP. Cleanups are scheduled throughout the month. To find a cleanup near you, check out the COASTSWEEP website.
Landscape Character in Coastal Communities Workshop - From October 6-8, the workshop Endless Summer: Managing Landscape Character in Coastal Communities will be held at Provincetown Town Hall with field study sessions throughout Outer Cape Cod.
Project Design & Evaluation Workshop - The Massachusetts Coastal Training Program will be holding a two-day project design and evaluation seminar, Reaching the Right Audience & Achieving the Right Impact, from October 6-7 at the Ames Mansion at Borderland State Park in Easton. For more information, click here.
New England Intercollegiate Geologic Conference - The Department of Geological Sciences at Salem State College is hosting the 94th Annual New England Intercollegiate Geologic Conference from October 8-10. Conference attendees have an opportunity to participate in three of more than 15 field trips covering bedrock, glacial, archeological, coastal, and engineering geology and will receive a 350-page guidebook.
Technology's Role in Underwater Archaeology - The Massachusetts Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources, the Newburyport Maritime Society, and the Public Archaeology Laboratory, Inc. will host Through the Looking Glass: Technology's Role in Underwater Archaeology on Saturday October 16 from 1-5 p.m. at the Custom House Maritime Museum in Newburyport. The free event highlights the technologies used by marine archaeologists to locate and study shipwrecks and other underwater archaeological sites. RSVP by calling the Newburyport Maritime Society at (978) 462-8681 or by emailing David Trubey. Also, the Massachusetts Historical Commission has posted a calendar of events for October's Massachusetts Archaeology Month.
Water Resources Research Center Conference - The annual Massachusetts Water Resources Research Center Conference, Water Resources in the Northeast: Emerging Issues, will be held Friday, October 22, at the Lincoln Campus Center at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Conference topics include dam removal; fate and transport of pollutants; long-term monitoring of watersheds; the influences of climate change; and citizen-based initiatives for watershed protection.
New England Floodplain and Stormwater Managers Annual Meeting - The New England Floodplain and Stormwater Managers Association will hold its annual meeting and seminar on Friday, October 29 at the Sheraton Harborside in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. A brochure with registration form is available by clicking here, and searching under Upcoming Events.
Call for Abstracts for Marine and Coastal Remote Sensing Conference - The 8th International Conference on Remote Sensing for Marine and Coastal Environments, to be held May 17-19, 2005 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, is accepting abstracts through November 1.
Smart Growth Workshops - The Essex County Forum will host two smart growth events, funded by the CZM Coastal Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) Stewardship Program. The Smart Growth Planning Tools Workshop will be held at the Rowley Public Library on Saturday, November 6 from 8:30a.m.-1:00p.m. Planners will discuss smart growth planning tools for the communities in the Parker River/Essex Bay ACEC and its watersheds. Registration is free, but required. Please contact Susan J. Moses. The Forum will also host a one-day smart growth conference for planners, municipal officials, non-profits, citizens and activists from across Essex County on Friday, November 19 from 8:30a.m.-3:30p.m. at Peabody City Hall. The conference will highlight the county's smart growth success stories and offers attendees the opportunity to learn about smart growth strategies, tools, and approaches that ensure successful projects. Registration is free, but required. Please contact Essex County Forum Director Tracie Hines.
Wetlands Ecology & Conservation Biology Certificate Training - MACC is holding an advanced certificate training program on wetlands ecology and conservation biology on November 19 at Garden in the Woods in Framingham. Topics include the nature and function of resource areas and buffer zones, project impact, and land and water resource protection measures. For additional information, training program offerings, and a registration form, click here.
GeoTools Is Accepting Abstracts - Coastal GeoTools '05 the premier special technology conference for coastal resource professionals, will be held from March 7-10, 2005 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Abstracts are being accepted through October 22.
Solutions to Coastal Disasters 2005 - The Solutions to Coastal Disasters 2005 conference will be held from May 8-11, 2005 in Charleston, South Carolina. Conference topics include coastal erosion, hurricanes, coastal storms, seismic events and tsunamis, climate change, sea level change, and wind.
Reminders: The following calendar items posted in the last CZ-Mail are still to come:
- Boston Harbor Educators Conference - The Boston Harbor: Stewardship of an Ever-Changing Resource conference will be held at the University of Massachusetts Boston on Saturday, October 2.
- Ocean Security Technology Workshop - The Marine & Oceanographic Technology Network will host the Ocean Technology Workshop from October 19-21 at the Hyatt Regency Goat Island in Newport, Rhode Island.
- Stormwater Compliance Seminar - The one-day seminar Stormwater Permitting: Is Your Municipality or Business in Compliance, will be held October 19 at the Omni Parker House Hotel at 60 School Street in Boston, Massachusetts. For more information, click here.
- Gulf of Maine Summit - The summit, Committing to Change, will be held October 26-29 at the Fairmont Algonquin Hotel in St. Andrews, New Brunswick.
- Coastal Zone '05 Call for Abstracts - Coastal Zone '05, the premier conference for coastal resource managers, will be held July 17-21, 2005 at the New Orleans Marriott in New Orleans, Louisiana. The conference, titled Balancing on the Edge, will focus on balancing the issues of land and sea.
- 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
Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail Reopens - The boardwalk has been completed and the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail in Wellfleet is now open for fall visitors.
Nominate a Visionary - The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment is seeking nominations for Gulf of Maine Visionary awards. The accolade is bestowed upon individuals and organizations that show exceptional dedication to preserving and maintaining the quality of the Gulf of Maine. Nominations must be received by October 8. Click here for details and an application form.
NOAA Announces the Return of El Niņo - Scientists have discovered early signs of a returning El Niņo, a weather phenomenon altering normal weather patterns across the United States and other parts of the world. For more information, review the online NOAA magazine article.
Track the Vendee Globe Race and Learn About Ocean Science - The Ocean Planet and Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences websites will feature participation of the vessel Ocean Planet in the Vendee Globe race. Ocean Planet's website and Bigelow's website will follow the race and provide a series of ocean science web references. Content includes weekly satellite email journals from Bruce Schwab, the skipper of Ocean Planet.
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.
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