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CZ-Mail All links on this web page were current and working on the date of publication.
Bruce Carlisle Named Acting Director of CZM On January 29, Ian Bowles, Secretary of Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA) officially named CZM's Assistant Director, Bruce Carlisle, as Acting Director of CZM. Bruce has been with CZM for 13 years, previously serving as the manager of CZM's Wetlands Restoration Program, as well as a policy and technical specialist in wetlands, water quality, and habitat issues. Bruce and holds a Masters in Environmental Policy from Tufts University. CZM Program Evaluation From February 5-9, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) will conduct its regular review of the Massachusetts coastal program. Throughout the week, CZM will host the team of three reviewers (two from OCRM and one from the Florida coastal program), highlighting CZM's programs and partners, and the successes we have had in the last three years. As part of the review, public comments and input are encouraged and we will be holding a public hearing on Tuesday, February 6, at 5:30 in the Atrium of 251 Causeway Street in Boston. Please feel free to come and share your views on CZM. Coastal Hazards Commission Update The Coastal Hazards Commission (CHC) will meet on February 6 at the Pilot House on Lewis Wharf in Boston to discuss the Commission's final recommendations, plans for implementation, and final report. For more information about the Commission, including meeting agendas and summaries, selected presentations, and the draft recommendations, see the CHC website. Secretary Bowles Names New EOEA Management Team On January 5 Secretary of Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles announced the EOEA management team. Jane Corr was named Chief of Staff and will focus on intergovernmental relations, serve as liaison to the Governor's office, and oversee management of the Secretariat. Philip Griffiths will be Undersecretary for Environment and will lead management of the state's four environmental departments toward implementing the Administration's environmental agenda. David Cash will be Assistant Secretary for Policy, working on the development of policy initiatives across the environmental and energy domains. Finally, Robert Keough will serve as Assistant Secretary for Communications and Public Affairs, managing strategic communications and overseeing media relations. Bowles had previously selected Ann Berwick, an environmental consultant and lawyer, to be Undersecretary of Energy. For more details, see the press release. Buzzards Bay Grants In January, the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program (NEP) announced $112,000 in awards to nine municipalities for efforts to protect and restore Buzzards Bay. The grants will help these communities map stormwater outfalls, treat stormwater discharges that are closing shellfish beds, protect and restore wetlands and habitat, and update computer database maps of town parcel boundaries to help local officials manage permits and track natural resources. Recipients of these awards include the towns of Marion, Carver, Plymouth, Westport, Rochester, Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, and Bourne, and the city of New Bedford. For more information, go to the Buzzards Bay NEP website. Wetlands Restoration Grants CZM's Wetlands Restoration Program (WRP) has selected eight proposals to receive awards totaling $200,000 under the FY 2007 Wetland Restoration Grants for Priority Projects. Grant funds will be used by recipients to support construction-related activities and project monitoring. The awardees for construction-related restoration projects are: Ballard Street salt marsh/Town of Saugus - $30,000; Eel River headwaters and wetlands/Town of Plymouth - $20,000; Shore Road salt marsh/Town of Yarmouth - $33,050; and Labor in Vain Brook/Town of Somerset - $25,230. The awardees for monitoring grants are: Association to Preserve Cape Cod - $25,000; Cohasset Center for Student Coastal Research - $26,720; Nantucket Conservation Foundation - $10,000; and Salem Sound Coastwatch /Mass Audubon - $30,000. See the EOEA press release, which includes a summary of each award. $350,000 Grant Awarded to Sesuit Creek Restoration Project On January 19, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced that WRP was awarded a $350,000 National Coastal Wetlands Grant for the Sesuit Creek coastal wetland restoration project. WRP is working with the town of Dennis and many other partners to advance this restoration project, which will restore more than 60 acres of degraded coastal wetlands, as well as a fish run that is important for several diadromous fish species. A portion of the grant will also help fund the acquisition of a six-acre conservation property within the Sesuit Creek watershed. The USFWS grant award will allow the project to proceed toward construction. View the USFWS news release. Grants/Funding Opportunities Water Resources Funding - The Massachusetts Riverways Program is seeking proposals to complete a comprehensive environmental and economic cost benefit analysis for a community's water resource planning and decision-making process. This analysis must include the interconnectedness of water, wastewater, stormwater, and water balances (surface and groundwater) in determining the short- and long-term environmental and economic consequences associated with meeting water resource needs. The objective is to guide communities to the alternatives that will meet their needs and best protect rivers, wetlands, natural resources, and quality of life. For more information, see the grant announcement. Proposals are due February 14. Sea Grant Call for Pre-Proposals - Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute's (WHOI) Sea Grant Program is seeking pre-proposals for the 2008-2010 funding cycle. The theme areas are fisheries and aquaculture, environmental technologies, and estuarine and coastal processes—however, proposals representing other areas will be considered. Regional and collaborative proposals are encouraged—projects that address problems or issues related to regional-scale changes that impact ecosystem-level processes, involve collaboration among a number of Sea Grant programs, and are broad enough in scope to support a multi-disciplinary team effort. Interested applicants are encouraged to attend Sea Grant's open meeting on February 15 at 2:00 p.m. in WHOI's Redfield Auditorium. For more information, see the WHOI Sea Grant website, email Judy McDowell, or call (508) 289-2557. Submissions are due by March 14. Smart Growth Implementation Assistance - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Development, Community, and Environment Division is seeking applicants for the Smart Growth Implementation Assistance (SGIA) Program. Through this program, a team of multidisciplinary experts will provide free technical assistance to communities, regions, or states that want to develop in ways that meet environmental and other local or regional goals. EPA can help with either policy analysis or public participatory processes. For more information, see the SGIA Website. Applications are due by March 8. EPA BEACH Act Grants - EPA has announced the availability of $10 million in grants for beach water-quality monitoring and public notification programs. All 35 coastal and Great Lakes states and U.S. territories maintain monitoring programs using the EPA funding, with an additional focus on developing new rapid analysis technologies for bacteria. Applications are due by April 11. For more information, see the grant announcement or email John Wathen. Reminders - These funding opportunities listed in the last CZ-Mail are still available:
Smart Growth Resources Booklet - The Massachusetts Office of Commonwealth Development (OCD) has developed Smart Growth Resources for Cities and Towns—a booklet that provides a comprehensive listing of financial and technical resources for Massachusetts cities and towns interested in promoting smart growth. The booklet integrates energy, environmental, housing, and transportation policies, programs, and regulations, and coordinates capital spending programs that affect development patterns. Dock and Pier Management Inventory for New England - The NOAA Coastal Services Center has released the free report, Residential Docks and Piers: Inventory of Laws, Regulations, and Policies for the New England Region. Coastal managers throughout the nation face challenges in managing the aesthetic, environmental, navigational, and public-access impacts of dock and pier growth. Through easy-to-use tables, this publication compares state strategies for managing residential docks and piers. Building Better Guide - The Sierra Club has published the 28-page booklet Building Better II: A Guide to America's Best New Development Projects (Clean Water Edition). This report highlights 10 outstanding projects that use innovative design to protect clean water, and recognizes developers, institutions, and communities who are leading the way toward combining a respect for nature with development and redevelopment. New Harmful Algal Blooms Book - Scientists from the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) authored five papers in the recently published book Ecology of Harmful Algae as part of the Ecological Studies—Analysis and Synthesis series. This book provides the latest information on harmful algae, with sections on the distribution, ecology, and physiology of harmful algae, as well as its effects on food webs, links to eutrophication, human impacts, and mitigation. New insights provide information needed to develop stronger predictive models of harmful algal blooms and to more accurately assess the potential risks to humans, wildlife, and ecosystems. For more information, email Greg Doucette. Fisheries Science Report - The American Fisheries Society and Estuarine Research Federation report, Defining and Implementing Best Available Science for Fisheries and Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, provides a discussion about best available science; identifies the limits to creating, distinguishing, and using it; and suggests ways to improve the use of science in environmental policy and management. Ocean Park Stewardship Action Plan - The U.S. National Park Service has developed a strategy to increase the emphasis on ocean resource management and conservation. The Ocean Park Stewardship 2006-2008 Action Plan identifies critical issues and ways to address these issues cooperatively with federal, state, tribal, and private partners. CICEET Progress Reports - The Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology (CICEET) has released the Fall 2006 Progress Reports for its environmental technology development projects. Each project targets a priority challenge faced by natural resource managers in coastal states around the country. With support from CICEET, researchers from academia, industry, and the public sector are developing tools to monitor harmful algal blooms and coastal water quality, manage nutrient pollution, treat contaminated sediments, restore habitats, and support community resiliency. These reports detail progress in gathering data, meeting research objectives, reaching out to coastal managers, and soliciting feedback from potential end users. Coastal Management Survey Results - Results from the 2006 Coastal Resource Management Customer Survey are now available on the NOAA Coastal Services Center website. Data from this periodic survey are used by NOAA and other organizations to better understand the issues and needs of the nation's coastal management community, which includes state regulatory and natural resource management agencies, emergency managers, and others concerned with the management of coastal resources. Coastal Management Newsletter - The latest edition of NOAA's Coastal Programs Division's National Coastal Management Program News features innovative projects and success stories from state and territory coastal management programs, and also highlights NOAA resources available to coastal managers. Coastal Society Bulletin - This Special Edition of The Coastal Society Bulletin provides a brief compendium of the events, sessions, and discussions from the May 2006 Coastal Society Conference held in St. Pete Beach, Florida. Marine Aquaculture Report - The Marine Aquaculture Task Force—organized by researchers from WHOI, with support from the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Lenfest Foundation—has issued a report highlighting the critical need for a new, comprehensive regulatory framework for aquaculture in federal waters. This framework should address environmental issues posed by aquaculture, guide and support the research necessary to resolve outstanding scientific issues, and continue to build on the work already underway to develop best management practices for aquaculture. See the electronic news release for details and a link to the report. DEP eNewsletter - The Winter 2007 eNewsletter from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) features a report on decreased mercury levels in treatment plant sludge, an announcement of a new office on Cape Cod, the latest environmental enforcement actions, and all the latest MassDEP news and updates. Maine Coastal Resources Report - The Maine State Planning Office's Coastal Program has released Managing Maine's Nearshore Coastal Resources: Final Report of the Bay Management Study—the result of a two-year legislatively mandated bay management study. Still Available - This CZM publication, listed in the last CZ-Mail, is still available:
New NOAA Restoration Center Websites - The NOAA Restoration Center has launched two new websites. The revised NOAA Restoration Portal provides comprehensive information about restoration techniques; NOAA restoration programs, projects, and activities; and access to NOAA restoration references. The NOAA Restoration Monitoring Planner guides restoration practitioners through the basic steps of developing a science-based monitoring plan, including hypothesis testing and assessment of a habitat's structure and function. Coastal Development Scenarios - While most people understand the benefits of developing with green space, scenic views, and other "natural" amenities, achieving the right balance between the natural and built environment can be a challenge. The Alternatives for Coastal Development: One Site, Three Scenarios website illustrates three different development scenarios created for a residential area in coastal Georgia. Economic, environmental, and social indicators are calculated and compared for each scenario. Riverways eNewsletter - The January issue of Riverways NewsNotes, an eNewsletter from the Massachusetts Riverways Program, is now available online. This publication features a story about the "Rivers" agenda, as well as grant announcements, an event calendar, online resources, publications, and job opportunities. Coastal Projects under CZM Review Weaver's Cove LNG Facility - CZM is currently conducting a Federal Consistency Review for the Weaver's Cove Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facility planned for Fall River. A determination of consistency is required before federal permits can be issued. Submit comments to CZM by February 13 to: Truman Henson, Project Review Coordinator< Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management 251 Causeway Street, Suite 800 Boston, MA 02114 Comments may also be submitted electronically to Truman Henson. LNG Projects Update - Two Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals proposed for Massachusetts Bay are currently under review by federal and state authorities, including CZM, which is now reviewing each project under federal consistency to ensure that they are consistent with CZM program policies and that they meet state standards. Siasconset Beach Nourishment - The Final Impact Report for the Siasconset Beach Nourishment project was recently reviewed by the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office (MEPA). On January 29, the Secretary of Environmental Affairs determined that no further MEPA review is required and that the project can go to the permitting phase. Public Comment Homeland Security Seeks Comments on Loran System - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is considering the need to continue to operate or invest in the North American LORAN-C Radionavigation System beyond 2007. Submit comments identified by docket number USCG-2006-24685 by February 7, at http://dms.dot.gov. Massachusetts NPS Management Plan - MassDEP is seeking comments on the proposed revisions to the state Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management Plan, which are incorporated into the proposed changes to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) regulations. These revisions are intended to broaden opportunities to use CWSRF funds to mitigate NPS pollution. In addition, the revisions propose to append the Massachusetts Watershed-Based Plan (WBP) as Volume V of the Massachusetts NPS Management Plan. The WBP will provide an important tool that can serve as the basis for future project planning and assessment work, as well as funding decisions and program priorities. A public hearing will be held on February 14 from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon at MassDEP's Boston Office. For more information, see MassDEP's website. Comments are due by February 24. Reminders - The following comment opportunity listed in the last CZ-Mail is still open:
February Is Free at Cape Natural History Museum - February is free-admission month at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History (CCMNH) in Brewster. Come and enjoy the exciting new exhibits and animals—from the history and changing shape of the Cape exhibit to the spectacular aquarium. Also, learn about the natural world through interactive nature programs, free to the public during the February school vacation week. For more information, see the CCMNH website. Conservation Restrictions Federal Income Tax Incentives Workshop - On February 3 from 9:30-11:00 a.m. at the Harwich Community Center, the Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts and local nonprofit land trusts are holding a free workshop about powerful new federal income tax deduction incentives for conservation restrictions, which protect natural resources. By implementing a conservation restriction, a landowner preserves his or her land while retaining ownership and traditional uses as well as realizing lower estate and property taxes. Recent changes to federal tax law, designed to encourage conservation, have increased the tax benefits for landowners who donate a conservation restriction in 2006 or 2007. For more information, visit the Compact's website Climate Change Seminar - On February 5 at 7 p.m., State Senator Robert O'Leary will facilitate an evening focused on global climate change at Cape Cod Community College's Tilden Arts Center. Facing Climate Change will feature Keith Bergman, Provincetown Town Manager and volunteer with The Climate Project—a nonprofit organization founded by Al Gore. Bergman will present a program-premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2006—that mirrors Gore's movie An Inconvenient Truth. Following the presentation, a panel of regional leaders of environmental and renewable-energy related groups will offer their perspectives and options for community and individual action to address the issue. International Polar Year and Climate Change Lecture - On February 6 at 6:00 p.m., the Harvard Museum of Natural History will present a free lecture by Dr. Jim McCarthy, who will draw on his own research and exploration to illuminate the urgent issue of climate change during this International Polar Year (IPY). IPYs are occasions to highlight polar research, and have occurred at 25- or 50-year intervals since 1882-1883. A new IPY has been declared for 2007-2008, which provides an opportunity to understand polar climate change and the implications. For more information, see the museum's visitor page. Climate Change in the Courts Seminar - On February 7 from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., the Roger Williams University School of Law will hold the seminar Gasping for Air: Climate Change in the Courts. A panel of advocates and observers will review and analyze state and federal cases related to climate change. Courses for Teachers - This winter and spring, the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is holding two training courses for teachers. On February 10-11 at the Reserve, "The School of Herring" will detail the amazing story of herring, a local fish species that swims from the ocean into fresh water during spring. This course is free and targets teachers in grades 5-9. In March and April, "Salt Water Studies" will include information, lessons, math and science activities for students, and take-home resources to bring salt water studies into the classroom. This $60 course will be held at the New Bedford Whaling Museum and targets teachers in grades 5-8. Water Quality Monitoring Talk - Join the Westport River Watershed Alliance (WRWA) on February 21 at noon for a talk with Tony Williams from the Coalition for Buzzards Bay. Tony will discuss the Buzzards Bay Water Quality Monitoring Program, which began in 1992 to document and evaluate nitrogen-related water quality and long-term ecological trends in Buzzards Bay. The program is the primary source of long-term data used to assess the health of each of the Bay's 30 major harbors and coves—providing the information needed to make informed, scientifically-based decisions about the restoration and protection of Buzzards Bay. For details, see the WRWA website. Right Whale Lecture Series - In March and April, the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History will be hosting a six-week lecture series on the North Atlantic Right Whale. This series of special talks is being sponsored by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) and the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. All lectures will be held on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., beginning March 7. Twelve Professional Development Points are available for educators attending all six programs—resource materials and ideas for classroom activities will be provided. The fee for all six lectures is $30.00. Reservations are required by February 28—see the CCMNH website. Great Marsh Celebration - On March 4, join members of the Great Marsh Coalition at the Crane Estate in Ipswich for an afternoon that celebrates the beauty and wildlife treasure that is the Great Marsh. From 1-3 p.m., the Trustees of Reservation's John Nove will lead a "Beyond the Beach: Winter Wildlife Walk." From 3-5 p.m., gather in the Great Room for the unveiling of Dorothy Kerper Monnelly's newly published photographic journey, Between Land and Sea: The Great Marsh. This collection of 57 large-format, black-and-white photographs by Monnelly, an Ipswich native, is paired with an essay by journalist Doug Stewart. Refreshments will be provided. Advance copies of the book will be available for sale. Both Monnelly and Stewart will be available for book signing. Please pre-register for both events at boxoffice@ttor.org. Great Marsh Symposium - On March 10, join MassAudubon and the Great Marsh Coalition at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters in Newburyport for the Great Marsh Symposium: Discover a Coastal Treasure in Our Backyard. An outstanding roster of experts will give short presentations on a variety of Great Marsh topics, including sea-level rise, bird banding on Plum Island, and poets and painters of the Marsh, circa 1900. With support from EBSCO Publishing in Ipswich, the Symposium will be held in the new auditorium from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Pre-registration is required as space is limited. A $12.00 registration fee includes light refreshments and a program guide. Please bring your own lunch. For details, go to the Great Marsh Coalition website. Coastal Summit - On March 21-23, the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association will hold a Coastal Summit in Washington, DC. America's Coasts, America's Treasures: National Perspective & Policy will: focus on critical issues affecting beach preservation and management, work to enhance media relations and lobbying skills, offer an understanding of federal budgeting and appropriations, and provide networking opportunities with members of Congress and federal officials. See the conference website to register now. Early registration ends February 16 and space is limited. Urban Rivers Conference—Save the Date - On March 29, EPA New England and the Urban Harbors Institute will host the 1st New England Urban Rivers Conference—The Promise and the Challenge of Urban Rivers at the Federal Reserve Bank, 600 Atlantic Avenue in Boston. Municipal officials, state and federal agencies, environmental and health advocates, nonprofit organizations, neighborhood associations, developers, and urban and regional planners are all invited. Come learn what is working and what resources are available to restore and bring vitality to New England's Urban Rivers. Featured topics include contaminated sediments, stormwater, public access, urban land conservation, environmental justice, urban hydrology, and riverfront design. For more information, contact EPA's Trish Garrigan at (617) 918-1583. New Urbanism Conference - On March 30 in Lowell, the New England Chapter of the Congress for the New Urbanism will hold the second annual conference Developing the New Urbanism II: The New England Perspective. New Urbanism is the concept that development can provide a high quality of life for all residents, while protecting the natural environment. A day of educational sessions is planned with national experts in the field, interactive hands-on seminars, and many networking opportunities. Local and national experts will provide insight on developing within existing infrastructure. Conference on Coastal Environmental Sensing Networks - On April 12-13, the University of Massachusetts Boston Center for Coastal Environmental Sensing Networks (CESN) will hold this two-day conference on extracting, processing, and utilizing information gathered from the coastal environment using sensor networks. LID Conference for Development Industry - On April 5 from 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. a state-wide LID conference and vendor exhibit for the development (real estate) industry will be held at the Sheraton Framingham. The registration fee includes the Vendor Exhibit, continental breakfast, lunch, break refreshments, and a conference portfolio (courtesy of Weston and Sampson, Inc.). Topics include: What Developers Need to Know—LID Concepts and Benefits; LID Site Design, Stormwater Management, Model Bylaw, LID, and Phase II Requirements; Green Building Guidelines and Energy Star/LEED; Cost of Conventional Development vs. LID; as well as six diverse LID project case studies, presented by developers and design engineers. For more information, stay tuned to the CZM calendar page. The conference is co- sponsored by CZM, EOEA, National Association of Home Builders Research Center, Massachusetts Home Builders Association, Environmental Business Council of New England, and EPA. Green Roofs Conference - On April 29-May 1, the Fifth Annual International Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities, Conference, Awards, and Trade Show will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Organized by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities—a nonprofit industry association working to promote the green roof industry in North America—the three-day conference will consist of plenary and specialized sessions focused on three main topics: policies and programs to support green roofs, green roof design and implementation, and research and technical papers on green roof performance. Marine Bioinvasions Conference - On May 21-24, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sea Grant Program will host the Fifth International Marine Bioinvasions Conference in Cambridge. This gathering will examine marine bioinvasion vectors, patterns, distribution, ecological and evolutionary consequences, economic impacts, biosecurity approaches, and natural and invasion impacts on biodiversity. Coastal Zone '07 - On July 22-26, the 15th biennial Coastal Zone conference will be held in Portland, Oregon. Coastal Zone is the largest international gathering of ocean and coastal management professionals in the world, representing federal, state, and local governments, academia, nonprofit organizations, and private industry. Reminders - The following calendar items, posted in the last CZ-Mail, are still to come:
Environmental Education Awards - EOEA is now accepting applications for the 2007 Secretary's Awards for Excellence in Environmental Education. EOEA encourages all Commonwealth K-12 schools to submit nominations for outstanding environmental education programs. For more information, see the EOEA website or email Meg Colclough. Applications are due by March 12. Massachusetts Coastal Stewards to Be Featured on CBS Morning Show - On February 13, The CBS Early Show (channel 4, 8-9 a.m.) will present a story about John Terry, Founder and Director of the Gulf of Maine Institute (GOMI)—a local environmental organization dedicated to inspiring people to take action in the stewardship of the Gulf of Maine and its watershed. The CBS piece will feature a team of Massachusetts GOMI volunteers working to eradicate an invasive perennial pepperweed in the Great Marsh on the North Shore, as well as a team from Chelsea that worked to turn a degraded urban salt marsh into an urban park/preserve. NOAA Is 200! - In 2007, NOAA celebrates its 200th anniversary. NOAA was created in 1807 by President Thomas Jefferson to provide nautical charts to the American maritime community. Efforts to protect fisheries date back to 1871 and, in 1882, the USS Albatross became the first government research vessel built exclusively for fisheries and oceanographic research. Today, NOAA's Office of Coast Survey holds more than 20,000 historical nautical charts and continually updates its collection of 1,000 current charts. NOAA also operates a system of 16 satellites and the National Weather Service, and oversees coastal management. NOAA researchers and employees work daily to enhance weather forecasts; provide longer warning lead times for natural disasters; and enhance our understanding and management of our climate, oceans, and atmosphere. See the NOAA Celebrates 200 Years website for details. Ocean Policy Report Card - The 2006 U.S. Ocean Policy Report Card is an assessment of the nation's collective progress in 2006 toward fulfilling the recommendations of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the Pew Oceans Commission, which have joined together as the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative. The report card gives the nation an overall C- on ocean policy reform—up from D+ last year! One of the sections is on Regional and State Ocean Governance Reform which gets an A-, due in large part to progress made by states like Massachusetts and regional efforts like the Gulf of Maine Council and the Northeast Regional Oceans Council. Marine Policy Fellowships - WHOI Sea Grant is accepting applications for the 2008 Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program. This one-year program is open to any student, regardless of citizenship, who, on April 5, is enrolled in a graduate or professional program in a marine or aquatic-related field at a U.S. accredited institution of higher education. The program, sponsored by the NOAA National Sea Grant College Program, matches highly qualified graduate students with "hosts" in the legislative and executive branches of government located in the Washington, DC area, for a one year paid fellowship. For more information, email Sea Grant or call (508) 289-2398. Social Science Fellowships - OCRM's Estuarine Reserves Division is offering fellowships for masters and doctoral students to conduct social science research within the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. Five fellowships will be available to students whose research focuses on the social, cultural, economic, or policy aspects related to one of the following topics: community resilience; ecological restoration; ecosystem-based management; landscape or seascape change; and at least one fellowship must address climate variability and change. Each $30,000 fellowship requires a 30% match. For more information, go to Grants.gov. Applications are due by February 28. Environmental Fellowship - The Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) is seeking applicants for its Greater Boston Fellowship—an innovative program designed to build the leadership capacity of promising environmental practitioners in the Greater Boston region. Eligible applicants include those who are relatively new to the environmental field, with three to ten years of experience. Environmental is defined broadly to include public health, transportation policy and planning, economic development, and broad-based community organizing. Each year, a new class of associates is selected to join ELP's diverse community of environmental professionals for a year-long program. Get details on the ELP website. Applications are due by February 12. Undergraduate Scholarship Program - NOAA is accepting applications for the 2007 Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program, which provides 100 college undergraduates up to $29,000 for academic studies related to NOAA science, research, technology, policy, management, and education activities, as well as related summer internship designed to provide "hands-on" multi-disciplinary training. Applications are available online. For more information, e-mail the Scholarship Program. Applications are due by February 9. Boat Donations - Many Massachusetts environmental groups participate in boat donation programs. In addition, many of the same entities that accept car donations will also accept boats. Most programs prefer larger vessels that have a resale value. If interested, check out the following websites:
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Boston, MA 02114