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April 16, 2025

Hi Team,


Join us tomorrow as we recommence our weekly invasive hardy kiwi removal at Burbank Park. Please take note that we are changing the regular date and time of these sessions. If you'd like to join us this week on Thursday April 19th from 11 AM to 12:30 PM, RSVP to team@thebeatnews.org. Sign up here to receive email reminders for hardy kiwi removal volunteer opoortunities.


And, celebrate Earth Day with us on Saturday by giving back to the planet that provides for us with a Trash Cleanup in Pittsfield's Burbank Park!


Burbank Parks sits on the shores of beautiful Onota Lake in Pittsfield, but some areas of the park have been used as dumping sites, and instances of litter can be found throughout. To address this problem, BEAT is asking volunteers to join us at Burbank Park on Saturday, April 19 at 9:30 AM, where we will split into groups to collect and remove trash from designated park areas. We will work until noon, and then free lunch will be provided to all volunteers.


Please RSVP using this form so we know how much food to purchase for lunch. And please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions that we should keep in mind.


That's it for now. Thank you for all you do to protect the environment!


Jane, Rose, Chelsey, John, Andrew, Brittany, and Drake

IN THE NEWS

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PFAS Issue Splits Williamstown Select Board on Sewer Rate


Stephen Dravis | iBerkshires

"WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — About 20 residents and the majority of the Select Board on Monday sent a message to the Hoosac Water Quality District: importing sludge and converting it to compost is a bad deal and unethical. In a rare break from past practice, a divided Select Board voted against recommending that town meeting OK the HWQD's proposed fiscal year 2026 sewer rate. The district's plan to accept sludge from other communities and sell off the resulting compost through waste hauler Casella became an issue this winter when the HWQD presented its proposed FY26 sewer rate to the town's Finance Committee. The district, a joint venture of Williamstown, North Adams and Clarksburg (not a voting member on the district board) has been talking for a couple of years about what will happen if and when the commonwealth bans the production of compost due to the presence of the so-called 'forever chemicals,' PFAS, which the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified as a human carcinogen..." READ MORE

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Spring Ephemerals of Massachusetts Field Guide


MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

"Early flowering plants that produce leaves, bloom, and set seed quickly after the snow melts in the spring are referred to as spring ephemerals. Many people look forward to the appearance of these appealing wildflowers with great excitement as they represent the seasons changing. Spring ephemeral flowers also provide the much-needed first nectar and pollen of the season for over-wintering pollinators, including bumblebee queens, mining bees, halictid or sweat bees, early butterflies, beetles, flies, and gnats. In return, these insects transfer pollen from one plant to another. Spring ephemerals are found in deciduous forests dominated by sugar maple, ash, black cherry, and hop hornbeam trees. Before the trees have their leaves, these wildflowers show up early to take advantage of the unobscured access to sunlight. While the trees are still dormant, spring ephemerals are in a race against time. They take advantage of the above-average nutrient levels in the soil (from decomposing fall leaves) to photosynthesize quickly. This provides the energy they need for flowering, setting seed, and storing carbohydrates for the following year all before the tree canopy blocks sunlight from the forest floor. The forest trees pull large amounts of water out of the soil when they start to grow leaves. The amount of water being absorbed by the trees is so great that it causes groundwater levels to drop. Before this happens, spring ephemerals use the higher moisture levels in the soil to carry out their life cycle. The dampness also helps them tolerate low temperatures they often face in early spring. Please keep in mind that the survival of a plant population depends on each plant’s ability to produce seed for the following year. If you find a location with these beautiful plants, enjoy them in place and do not pick them. Other people who follow in your path will appreciate what you have admired and left untouched, as will the many native pollinator insects that depend on spring ephemerals for their survival." READ MORE

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American Farmers and the USDA Had Finally Embraced Their Role in the Climate Crisis. Then Came the Federal Funding Freeze


Georgina Gustin | Inside Climate News

"For two decades, farmer John Burk has been working to improve the soil on his farm in Michigan, taking a few extra steps to make it more resilient and productive. His efforts have paid off. 'When we have the dry, hot summers or lack of rainfall, our crops can sustain the dry spells better. We don’t have huge yield decreases,' Burk said. 'And when it rains and we have the freak storms, like it seems to do so much now, we don’t have the ponding and all the runoff.' An added bonus: He needs less fertilizer, a major operating expense. But Burk, and tens of thousands of farmers across the country like him, have learned that the Trump administration now considers these steps—which include limiting tillage, planting soil-enriching cover crops or installing water chutes to control erosion—'far left climate' activities. The administration has frozen billions of dollars in funding that pay for these activities while the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and White House conduct ongoing reviews..." READ MORE

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Dalton Health Board Orders Dust-Abatement Plan for Concrete Site


Sabrina Damms | iBerkshires

"DALTON, Mass. — Residents urged for quicker action to address the dust and particulates affecting their neighborhood allegedly from Berkshire Concrete's dig site. During Wednesday's meeting, the Board of Health voted to send a letter to the company requiring a comprehensive plan by April 25. This letter establishes a formal deadline for submitting a detailed plan to address the dust nuisance and notes that failure to comply with this requirement could lead to financial penalties and potential legal action..." READ MORE

New composting program coming to Dalton is a 'win-win' for the town and residents, climate activists say


Dylan Thompson | The Berkshire Eagle

"DALTON — Food scraps in, methane out.

Starting July 1, Dalton will launch its first townwide composting program — a community-driven effort aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions and keeping waste local. The plan became official on Monday night, after the Dalton Select Board approved the Green Dalton Committee's townwide composting program...” READ MORE

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Greenwashed 2024: A Look at Corporate Greenwashing and Tips on How to Spot It


Just Zero

"Many of us worry about how climate change and environmental degradation put current and future generations in danger. Yet several companies build their entire profit model on practices and materials that exploit and damage our environment and communities. That is why consumers around the world look to make environmentally friendly choices when deciding where to spend their money.

But to make these choices, we are often forced to rely on what companies tell us about their business and products through labels, marketing, and advertisements. As consumers, we may have a natural tendency to trust what companies claim. But too often, companies actively mislead the public or fail to disclose potential environmental dangers and health risks associated with their products and practices. And, unfortunately, these companies are often not alone. Elected officials, government agencies, trade associations, nonprofits, and many other powerful interests with wide audiences can help spread these misleading and deceptive messages. This deception is known as greenwashing, and it can lead to serious consequences..." READ MORE

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Early Bird Gets the Nest


Loren Merrill | IThe Outside Story

"As the frost line retreats northward in the early spring, its withdrawal is often closely followed – and occasionally preceded – by the arrival of our most common flycatcher: the eastern phoebe. In fact, depending on where you live, you may already have one nesting above your front door..." READ MORE

COMING UP WITH BEAT

VOLUNTEER WITH BEAT: INVASIVE HARDY KIWI PLANT REMOVAL

THURSDAY, April 17th from 11 AM to 12:30 PM

at Burbank Park, Pittsfield, MA


VOLUNTEER FOR EARTH DAY: TRASH CLEANUP WITH BEAT AT BURBANK PARK

Saturday, April 19th from 9:30 AM to 12 PM

at Burbank Park, Pittsfield, MA


SPRING TREE IDENTIFICATION WALK

Saturday, April 26th from 10 AM to 12 PM

at Fournier Lot, Conway, MA


LAND PROTECTION & ESTATE PLANNING WORKSHOP

Tuesday, April 29th from 6 PM to 7:30 PM

at The Stationary Factory, Dalton, MA

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR 

We list events from a variety of local and regional organizations and individuals. 


WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16

Spotted Lanternfly in North America — Online

Spring Bird Walks With Berkshire Bird Observatory — Great Barrington


THURSDAY, APRIL 17

Volunteer with BEAT: Invasive Hardy Kiwi Plant Removal — Pittsfield

Ripples: Earth Day Walk Along the Hoosic — Williamstown

Spring Salamander & Frog Search — Adams

Recycle Smart MA – AMA About Recycling in MA — Online


FRIDAY, APRIL 18

Spring Migration Bird Walk — Pittsfield

Nice and Easy Walks at Great Falls Discovery Center — Turners Falls

Discover Greylock Family-Friendly Trail Hike — Lanesborough


SATURDAY, APRIL 19

Earth Week Investigation Station and Indoor StoryWalk — Turners Falls

Birding Workshop: Warblers by Ear — Adams

Sheffield’s Super Roadside Clean Sweep — Sheffield

Volunteer for Earth Day: Trash Cleanup with BEAT at Burbank Park — Pittsfield

Vernal Pool Exploration — Dalton

Signs of Spring Mindful Walk — Lanesborough

Spring Repair Cafe at Sheep Hill — Williamstown

Spring Amphibian Search — Lenox


TUESDAY, APRIL 22

Earth Day and Arbor Day Craft — Stockbridge

Tuesday Treks at Dyken Pond — Cropseyville

Earth Day Open House — Lanesborough

iNaturalist City Nature Challenge — Dalton

Choosing a Land Conservation Tool – Landowner Webinar Series: Protecting Your Legacy Through Conservation-based Estate Planning — Online

Singing Back the Buffalo Film — Williamstown


WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23

Spring Bird Walk — Great Barrington

Forest Walk & Yoga — Lanesborough

Spring Cleanup at Spruces Pollinator Garden — Williamstown

Spring Bird Walks With Berkshire Bird Observatory — Great Barrington

Rescue Northern Berkshires Wildlife From Rodenticides — Williamstown + Online

GBLC Community Meeting and Film Screening: Water is Love — Great Barrington


THURSDAY, APRIL 24

Spring Wildflower Exploration on Pleasant Valley’s All Persons Trail — Lenox

Geocaching 101 — Lanesborough

Poetry in Motion — Williamstown

Walks on Stone Hill: Beyond the Cows and the Art — Williamstown


FRIDAY, APRIL 25

Spring Migration Bird Walk — Lenox

Earth Day Celebration and Tree Giveaway — Stockbridge

Arbor Day Forest Health Walk — Lanesborough

Nice and Easy Walks at Great Falls Discovery Center — Turners Falls


SATURDAY, APRIL 26

Earth Day Gathering at Dyken Pond — Cropseyville

Park Serve Day at Mount Greylock State Reservation — Lanesborough

Pleasant Valley Spring Clean-Up — Lenox

Annual Williamstown Litter Cleanup — Williamstown

Tree Identification Walk with BEAT — Conway

Mushroom Cultivation Workshop — Williamstown

Mount Greylock Visitor Center Open House — Lanesborough

Spring Salamander & Frog Search — Lenox


SUNDAY, APRIL 27

Nature Walk: Spring Ephemerals, Birds, and More — Williamstown


MONDAY, APRIL 28

Protect Our Predators: Help Stop Wildlife Poisoning in the Berkshires — Sheffield + Online


TUESDAY, APRIL 29

Tuesday Treks at Dyken Pond — Cropseyville

Turning Stones: A Presentation on Benthic Macroinvertebrates — Williamstown

Bee-Friendly Retailer Scorecard — Online


WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30

Forest Walk & Yoga — Lanesborough

The Small Sit | Backyard Birds: Trends, Changes, and What You Can Do — Online

Dirty Secrets, Clean Soil: A Movement to Ban Toxic Sludge — Online

Spring Wildflowers — Hinsdale

Spring Bird Walks With Berkshire Bird Observatory — Great Barrington


See Calendar for More

JOBS

We list jobs related to the environment from a variety of organizations. 


BEAT is Hiring Summer Interns!

Intern with Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) | Pittsfield


Berkshire County Postings

Greenagers Conservation AmeriCorps Member | Greenagers Inc. | South Egremont, MA | deadline 5/9/25

Programs Director | Williamstown Rural Lands | Williamstown

Councilor Positions for Kids Nature Programs 2025 | Williamstown Rural Lands | Williamstown

Western Massachusetts Conservation Corps | Student Conservation Association | Pittsfield

Outdoor Recreation Internships | Berkshire Regional Planning Commission

Day Camp Environmental Educator | Mass Audubon | Lenox

Camp Counselor | Mass Audubon | Lenox

Preschool Camp Counselor | Mass Audubon | Lenox

Field Teacher/Environmental Educator | Mass Audubon – Pleasant Valley | Lenox

Conservation Agent | Town of Windsor | Windsor


Postings with Deadline

Summer Stewardship and Outreach Intern | Westport Land Conservation Trust | Westport, MA | deadline 4/16/25

BayCoast Bank Summer Stewardship Intern | Westport Land Conservation Trust | Westport, MA | deadline 4/18/25

Connecticut Woodlands Conservation Corps Positions | Connecticut Forest & Park Association | Rockfall, CT | deadline 4/18/25

Regional Campaigns Director | League of Conservation Voters | Remote | deadline 4/20/25

Stewardship Associate | Dutchess Land Conservancy | Milbrook, NY | deadline 4/20/25

Stewardship Internship | Dutchess Land Conservancy | Milbrook, NY | deadline 4/20/25

Park Manager and Assistant Park Managers | Vermont State Parks | VT | deadline 4/20/25

Summer Camp Co-Leader | White Memorial Conservation Center | Litchfield, CT | deadline 4/21/25

Summer Environmental Educator | Westport River Watershed Alliance | Westport, MA | deadline 4/25/25

Watershed Technical Supervisor | City of Cambridge | Cambridge, MA | deadline 4/25/25

Save the Bees Associate | Environment America | Boston, MA | deadline 4/25/25

Canvass Director | Fund for the Public Interest | Boston, MA | deadline 4/25/25

2025 Trustees Summer Day Camps Job Positions | The Trustees of Reservations | Multiple Locations, MA | deadline 4/25/25

2025 Trustees Farm Camps Job Positions | The Trustees of Reservations | Multiple Locations, MA | deadline 4/25/25

Senior Media Specialist | American Bird Conservancy | Remote | deadline 4/26/25

Senior Vice President, Campaigns | League of Conservation Voters | Remote | deadline 4/27/25

Coastal Waterbird Program Crew Leader (Piping Plovers, Terns, Shorebirds) | Mass Audubon Coastal Waterbird Program | Chatham, MA | deadline 4/28/25

Marine Biologist | A.I.S Inc. | Hyannis, MA | deadline 4/29/25

Field Technician | Duxbury Beach Reservation | Duxbury, MA | deadline 4/30/25

Seasonal Fisheries Technician | MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife | Westborough, MA | deadline 4/30/25

Youth Virtual Crew Member | MobilizeGreen | Remote | deadline 4/30/25

Marine Biologist | A.I.S. Inc. | Hyannis, MA | deadline 4/30/25

Senior Land Protection Specialist | Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy | Kent, CT | deadline 4/30/25

USGS Strategic Initiatives Research on Climate Adaptation Fellowship | U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) | Remote | deadline 4/30/25

Senor Land Protection Manager | Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy | Kent, CT | deadline 4/30/25

Outreach & Research Consultant | Woodlands Partnership of Northwest Massachusetts | Littleton, MA | deadline 5/1/25

Land Steward | Kestrel Land Trust | Amherst, MA | deadline 5/1/25

Habitat Restoration and Management Program Manager | MassWildlife – MA Division of Fisheries & Wildlife | Westborough, MA | deadline 5/1/25

Marine Aquarist 1 | Marine Biological Laboratory | Woods Hole, MA | deadline 5/1/25

Woodland Services Field Crew Member | Long View Forest | Westminster, VT | deadline 5/1/25

Field Assistant (Shorebirds, Piping Plovers) | Mass Audubon Coastal Waterbird Program | Multiple Locations, MA | deadline 5/1/25

Office Manager | The Public Interest Network | Boston, MA | deadline 5/2/25

Field Organizer | Student PIRGs | Boston, MA | deadline 5/2/25

Office Manager | Open Space Institute | Albany, NY | deadline 5/2/25

Seasonal Stream Habitat Technician | Trout Unlimited | VT | deadline 5/2/25

Grants & Contract Accountant | American Bird Conservancy | Remote | 5/3/25

Seasonal Land Steward | North Salem Open Land Foundation | North Salem, NY | deadline 5/5/25

Environmental Campaign Organizer | Green Corps | Boston, MA | 5/9/25

Campaign Manager with Environmental Nonprofit | Fund for the Public Interest | Boston, MA | deadline 5/9/25

Policy & Science Director | Beaver Institute | Remote | deadline 5/12/25

Conservation Seasonal Student Summer Intern | Norwell Conservation Commission | Norwell, MA | deadline 5/19/25

Seasonal Maintenance Technicians | Vermont State Parks | Rutland, VT | deadline 5/25/25

Camp Director | The Trustees of Reservations | Lincoln, MA | deadline 5/31/25


Recent Postings

Carbon Portfolio Director | The Nature Conservancy | Remote

Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) Business Manager | The Nature Conservancy | Remote

Trails Conservation Coordinator | Connecticut Forest & Park Association | Rockfall, CT

Community Engagement Manager | Environmental League of Massachusetts | Boston, MA

Communications Manager | Environmental League of Massachusetts | Boston, MA

Habitat Restoration Field Intern | Riverkeeper | Kingston, NY

Summer Farm Educator | Red Gate Farm | Ashfield, MA

Assistant Trails Coordinator | Connecticut Forest & Park Association | Rockfall, CT

AmeriCorps Cape Cod Service Member – Housing Included | Barnstable County AmeriCorps Cape Cod | Barnstable, MA

Communications Specialist, Global Protect Oceans, Lands and Fresh Water | The Nature Conservancy | Remote

Principal Information Security Architect | The Nature Conservancy | Remote

Outdoor Educator | The Ashokan Center | Olivebridge, NY

Executive Director | Bushnell Park Conservancy | Hartford, CT

Environmental Analyst IV – Audits, DOD Projects Manager – (2500022K) | Mass DEP | Springfield, MA

Future Foresters Apprenticeship Coordinator Application | Smokey House Center | Danby, VT

Vice President, Conservation Action, Centers and Sanctuaries | National Audubon Society | Remote

Restoration and Invasive Species Management Applicator | Trillium Invasive Species Management, INC | New Paltz, NY

Consulting Utility Forester | ACRT, Inc. | Yarmouth, MA

Seasonal Park Interpreters and Visitor Services Supervisors | Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation | Multiple locations, Southeastern MA

Adaptation Program Coordinator | The Nature Conservancy | Remote

Senior Digital Strategist | Center for Biological Diversity | Remote

Policy Research Intern | Center for Biological Diversity | Remote

Impact Director | The Charles River Conservancy | Cambridge, MA

Environmental Analyst III – Wetlands Program – (250001UF) | MassDEP | Springfield

Environmental Engineer III – Drinking Water – (250001SE) | MassDEP | Springfield

Environmental Analyst V – Emergency Response Section Chief – (2500020A) | MassDEP | Springfield, MA

Environmental Analyst II – (2500031L) | MassDEP | Springfield, MA

Environmental Analyst I – Asbestos Program Springfield – (2500034Y) | MassDEP | Springfield, MA

Stewardship Intern | Winnakee Land Trust | Rhinebeck, NY

Habitat Restoration and Management Program Manager | Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife | Westborough, MA

Outreach Specialist | ACRT, Inc | Westwood, MA

Invasive Species Management Internship | Agricultural Stewardship Association | Greenwich, NY

Outreach Coordinator Internship | Agricultural Stewardship Association | Greenwich, NY

Restoration and Invasive Species Management Applicator | Trillium Invasive Species Management, INC | New Paltz, NY

Woodland Services Field Crew Member | Long View Forest | Westminster, VT

Traditional Trades Advancement Program – Landscape Stewardship Corps – Springfield Armory National Historic Site | American Conservation Experience | Springfield, MA

Wellbeing and Outdoor Initiatives Coordinator | Amherst College | Amherst, MA

Director, Annual Giving and Donor Engagement | Appalachian Mountain Club | Remote

Project Manager – Office of Climate Resilience | City of Boston | Boston, MA

Woodland Services Field Crew Member | Long View Forest | Westminster, VT

Communications Assistant – Part Time | MassRecycle | Remote

Part-Time Coordinator | Massachusetts Product Stewardship Council | Remote

Sustainability Coordinator | Town of Sherborn | Sherborn, MA

Environmental Internship Summer 2025 | Mass Department of Transportation | Boston, MA

Research Fellow – Safe Drinking Water Facilitator | UMass Amherst | Remote w/travel


Click Here for More Jobs

Environmental Monitor

April 9, 2025


The Environmental Monitor provides information on projects under review by the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office, recent MEPA decisions of the Secretary of Energy & Environmental Affairs, and public notices from environmental agencies.

 

Berkshire Index:

• Great Barrington, Lenox, Sheffield, Lee, Pittsfield, Stockbridge – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan – (click on the link, then a the top, click on attachments) – A Yearly Operational Plan has been submitted for: Housatonic Railroad Company, Incorporated (HRRC) for the treatment of rights-of-way with herbicides during the 2025 calendar year. This plan has been prepared and submitted to the Department of Agricultural Resources by: TEC Associates of South Portland, Maine. One selective herbicide application will take place in the non-sensitive and sensitive area buffer zones along the roadbed portion of the right-of-way using a DAR approved herbicide mixture. This program is targeted toward the eradication of woody and herbaceous plant species germinating within the roadbed and around other fixtures including but not limited to: switches, signals, signs, and highway grade crossings. This application will be followed by a late summer touch-up application in areas of heavy vegetation growth, if necessary. – comments due 5/23/2025

Lee – Notice of Application for a 401 Water Quality Certificate – (click on the link, then a the top, click on attachments) – Notice is given of a 401 Water Quality Certification application for the replacement of Bridge #L04-005, Meadow Street over Powder Mill Brook in the Town of Lee, Massachusetts by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation – Highway Division, Ten Park Plaza, Room 7360, Boston, MA 02116. The bridge replacement project includes removal of the existing wingwalls and abutments as well as streambed restoration to improve the area. Two weirs will also be constructed in order to reduce the scour related to the waterway and bridge. Additional information may be obtained from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation – Highway Division at the above address, attention Courtney Walker or by emailing courtney.l.walker@dot.state.ma.us. Written comments should be sent to Heidi Davis, MassDEP Wetlands Program, 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900, Boston, MA 02114 or heidi.davis@mass.gov within twenty-one days of this notice. Any group of ten persons, any aggrieved person, or any governmental body or private organization with a mandate to protect the environment who submits written comments may appeal the Department’s Certification. Failure to submit written comments before the end of the public comment period may result in the waiver of any right to an adjudicatory hearing. – published 4/9/2025

Williamstown – Notice of Intent to Initiate an Aquatic Plant Management Program – (click on the link, then a the top, click on attachments) – Fred Puddester will file a Notice of Intent (NOI) for the Puddester’s Pond Management Plan with the Williamstown Conservation Commissions on or around April 24, 2025. Fred Puddester is proposing to implement a restoration management program at Puddester’s Pond to manage nuisance plant growth and invasive species. Management actions may include herbicide applications, hand pulling, hydroraking, native replanting, and placement of benthic barriers. Management actions may also include the installation and use of an aeration system to help improve water quality conditions in the pond and the placement of sand around a portion of the pond perimeter to create turtle nesting habitat. The project will improve aquatic habitats that support wildlife species and will restore the natural capacity of the resource area to protect the interests identified in the Wetlands Protection Act (M.G.L. c. 131 §40). The anticipated public hearing date is April 24, 2025. To obtain additional information regarding the dates, times, and locations of the public hearings or to examine copies of the NOI, contact the Williamstown Conservation Commission at Andrew Groff, 31 North Street, Williamstown, MA 01267, (413) 597-8284. To obtain more information regarding this application or to obtain an electronic copy of the application, contact Katie Conese at TRC Companies at kconese@trccompanies.com or (781) 419-7709. – published 4/9/2025

Florida – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan – (click on the link, then a the top, click on attachments) – Edward Sturtevant of Lewis Tree Service, Inc. submitted a YOP to MDAR for Brookfield Renewables Bear Swamp Project in March of 2025. In 2025 Brookfield Renewables Bear Swamp Project will conduct an Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) program on their transmission lines. The intended vegetation control program will be consistent with Brookfield Renewables Bear Swamp Project VMP. In accordance with the guidelines set forth in Brookfield Renewables Bear Swamp Project VMP and YOP, herbicides will be selectively applied to target vegetation by licensed/certified applicators carrying backpack or hand-held application equipment for the IVM program. Brookfield Renewables Bear Swamp Project will only use herbicides recommended by MDAR for use in regulated sensitive areas for their IVM program. Pursuant to 333 CMR 11.04, no herbicides will be sprayed within any designated “no spray sensitive area” instead mechanical only methods will be used to control vegetation. Public notification, by certified mail, will be provided to each “affected” municipality at least twenty-one days prior to any herbicide application. – comments due 5/9/2025

Becket, Dalton, Hinsdale, Pittsfield, Richmond, Washington, West Stockbridge – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan – (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments) – A Yearly Operational Plan for right-of-ways treatment with herbicides during the 2025 calendar year has been submitted for: CSX Transportation, Incorporated (CSX). This plan has been prepared and submitted to the MDAR by: Keith Morris CSX’s vegetation control program for 2025 will be consistent with the VMP and YOP as approved by MDAR and involves an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach where possible. Under the 2025 program, brush control will be limited to mechanical cutting in sensitive areas and sensitive area buffer zones, and mechanical cutting or foliar herbicide applications in non-sensitive areas. Foliar herbicide applications will selectively treat target vegetation and encourage the growth of non-target vegetation. One selective post-emergent herbicide application will take place in ballasted rights-of-way areas and around other fixtures including but not limited to: switches, signals, signs, and highway grade crossings. This post-emergent application will take place in non-sensitive areas and sensitive area buffer zones and is targeted toward the eradication of woody and herbaceous plant species. Areas that do not have vegetation will not be treated. Herbicide applications to the roadbed and areas adjacent to the shoulder will be conducted with a spray truck and/or a backpack sprayer according to the guidelines set forth in the VMP and YOP. Sensitive areas as defined by the Rights-of-Way Management Regulations will receive the full protection afforded by those regulations. All herbicide applications will be done by an applicator properly licensed by MDAR Pesticide Bureau and fully trained in herbicide mixing, handling, and application methods. Applications will commence following approval of the YOP by MDAR. Public notification (by registered mail) will be provided to the chief elected official, Board of Health, and Conservation Commission in each affected municipality at least twenty-one days prior to any herbicide application. – comments due 5/9/2025

Adams, Florida, North Adams, Williamstown – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments) – A YOP for Berkshire & Eastern Railroad for the treatment of rights-of-way with herbicides in the listed municipalities for the calendar year 2025 has been prepared by Keith L. Morris, Environmental Consultant from Leeds, Massachusetts, has been submitted to MDAR. The intended vegetation control program will be consistent with the VMP, as approved by MDAR. Herbicides shall be applied to the roadbed by a spray truck, in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the VMP and the YOP. The herbicides to be applied, Aquaneat, Opensight, Polaris, and MSO Extra are recommended for use in “sensitive areas” by the Department of Environmental Protection, and MDAR. No herbicides shall be applied within a Zone I of a public groundwater source, within 100’ of any Class A public surface water source, within 100’ of any tributary or associated surface water body where the tributary or associated surface water body runs within 400’ of a Class A surface water source, or within 10’ of any tributary or associated surface water body where the tributary or associated surface water body is at a distance greater than 400’ from a Class A surface water source, within a lateral distance of 100’ for 400’ upstream, on both sides of the river, of any Class B Drinking Water Intake, a 50-foot radius around a private well, 10’ from the edge of standing or flowing water or wetlands, within 10’ of the mean annual high water line or any River, or within 10’ of any certified vernal pool (pursuant to 333 CMR 11.04: Sensitive Area Restrictions). Applications of herbicide shall commence after the approval of the YOP by MDAR, following public review and comment. It is anticipated that herbicide application will occur between May – end of August 2025. The YOP contains: maps locating rights-of-way and sensitive areas; the name of the herbicides proposed for use, including application rates, carriers and adjuvants; application techniques and alternative control measures; material safety data sheets and herbicide fact sheets as approved by the DAR; the names of the applicator and YOP supervisor; methods used to identify and mark sensitive areas on the right-of-way; procedures for handling, mixing, and loading of herbicides; and identification of target vegetation in accordance with 333 CMR 11.06(2). Additionally, the YOP contains emergency/contingency measures and local, state and federal emergency contact telephone numbers. – comments due 5/9/2025

Great Barrington – Berkshire Natural Resources Property Exploration Wells – Secretary’s Certificate on FEIR – published 3/26/2025



CT River Valley Index:

• Hadley – Notice of Intent to Initiate an Ecological Restoration Project  (click on the link, then a the top, click on attachments) – The proposed project is seeking approval to initiate an Ecological Restoration Management Program at Lake Warner in Hadley, MA. Project Description: In our ongoing efforts to reduce and prevent eutrophication in Lake Warner, we plan to undertake the following measures: 1. Continue hand-pulling water chestnuts: Volunteers, in collaboration with the Connecticut River Conservancy, will persist in manually removing water chestnuts. 2. Implement a targeted herbicide treatment plan: In areas where hand-pulling has not been effective, we will apply herbicides (DIQUAT) to approximately 10.75 acres of the 70-acre lake to reduce water chestnut populations. 3. Develop and implement a phosphorus sequestration plan: To prevent the release and mobilization of phosphorus, we will create a plan that includes sampling and treatment of both sediment and the water column using a DEP-approved product. Reviewing Conservation Commission(s): Hadley Conservation Commission, 100 Middle Street, Hadley MA 01035. Copies of the NOI may be examined or acquired from the Conservation Commission at conservation@hadleyma.gov, or 413-584-4236, Monday and Friday between 9AM and 4PM. See Conservation Commission website for the meeting schedule for exact dates and agendas: https://www.hadleyma.org/conservation-commission. – published 4/9/2025

Palmer, Ware – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan – (click on the link, then a the top, click on attachments) – A Yearly Operational Plan has been submitted for: Massachusetts Central Railroad (MCER) for the treatment of rights-of-way with herbicides during the 2025 calendar year. This plan has been prepared and submitted to the Department of Agricultural Resources by: TEC Associates of South Portland, Maine. One selective herbicide application will take place in the non-sensitive and sensitive area buffer zones along the roadbed portion of the right-of-way using a DAR approved herbicide mixture. This program is targeted toward the eradication of woody and herbaceous plant species germinating within the roadbed and around other fixtures including but not limited to: switches, signals, signs, and highway grade crossings. This application will be followed by a late summer touch-up application in areas of heavy vegetation growth, if necessary. – comments due 5/23/2025

Amherst – Notice of Intent to Initiate an Ecological Restoration Project – (click on the link, then a the top, click on attachments) – Conservation Commission: Town of Amherst, c/o Erin Jacque, Wetlands Administrator, 4 Boltwood Avenue, Amherst, MA 01002. jacquee@amherstma.gov 413-259-3202. Description: Kellog Brook was culverted approximately 60 years ago. The project will remove the culvert, daylight the stream and establish thousands of square feet of native and wetland plant species in what is currently grass lawn. Additionally, a small bridge will be installed to facilitate pedestrian and vehicular movements. Public Hearing: The public hearing date, time and location will be available on the Conservation Commission’s website: https://www.amherstma.gov/285/Conservation Documentation: Copies of the NOI may be examined at or acquired from the Amherst Conservation Commission at the address and number above. – published 3/26/2025

Amherst, Montague, Belchertown, Northfield, Erving, Palmer, Leverett, Sunderland, Monson – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan – (click on the link, then a the top, click on attachments) – A YOP for treatment of rights-of-way with herbicides for the 2025 calendar year for New England Central Railroad Company, prepared by Keith L. Morris, Environmental Consultant from Leeds, Massachusetts, has been submitted to MDAR. The intended vegetation control program will be consistent with the VMP, as approved by MDAR. Herbicides shall be applied to the roadbed by a spray truck, in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the VMP and the YOP. The herbicides to be applied, Aquaneat, Opensight, Polaris, and MSO Extra are recommended for use in “sensitive areas” by the Department of Environmental Protection, and MDAR. No herbicides shall be applied within a Zone I of a public groundwater source, within 100’ of any Class A public surface water source, within 100’ of any tributary or associated surface water body where the tributary or associated surface water body runs within 400’ of a Class A surface water source, or within 10’ of any tributary or associated surface water body where the tributary or associated surface water body is at a distance greater than 400’ form a Class A surface water source, within a lateral distance of 100’ for 400’ upstream, on both sides of the river, of any Class B Drinking Water Intake, a 50-foot radius around a private well, 10’ from the edge of standing or flowing water or wetlands, within 10’ of the mean annual high water line or any River, or within 10’ of any certified vernal pool (pursuant to 333 CMR 11.04: Sensitive Area Restrictions). Applications of herbicide shall commence after the approval of the YOP by the DAR, following public review and comment. It is anticipated that herbicide application will occur between May – end of August 2025. The YOP contains: maps locating rights-of-way and sensitive areas; the name of the herbicides proposed for use, including application rates, carriers and adjuvants; application techniques and alternative control measures; material safety data sheets and herbicide fact sheets as approved by the DAR; the names of the applicator and YOP supervisor; methods used to identify and mark sensitive areas on the right-of-way; procedures for handling, mixing, and loading of herbicides; and identification of target vegetation in accordance with 333 CMR 11.06(2). Additionally, the YOP contains emergency/contingency measures and local, state and federal emergency contact telephone numbers. – comments due 5/9/2025

Rowe – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan  (click on the link, then a the top, click on attachments) – Edward Sturtevant of Lewis Tree Service, Inc. submitted a YOP to MDAR for Brookfield Renewables Bear Swamp Project in March of 2025. In 2025 Brookfield Renewables Bear Swamp Project will conduct an Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) program on their transmission lines. The intended vegetation control program will be consistent with Brookfield Renewables Bear Swamp Project VMP. In accordance with the guidelines set forth in Brookfield Renewables Bear Swamp Project VMP and YOP, herbicides will be selectively applied to target vegetation by licensed/certified applicators carrying backpack or hand-held application equipment for the IVM program. Brookfield Renewables Bear Swamp Project will only use herbicides recommended by MDAR for use in regulated sensitive areas for their IVM program. Pursuant to 333 CMR 11.04, no herbicides will be sprayed within any designated “no spray sensitive area” instead mechanical only methods will be used to control vegetation. Public notification, by certified mail, will be provided to each “affected” municipality at least twenty-one days prior to any herbicide application. – comments due 5/9/2025

Brimfield, Chester, Huntington, Middlefield, Monson, Montgomery, Palmer, Russell, Springfield, West Springfield, Westfield, Wilbraham – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan – (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments) – A Yearly Operational Plan for right-of-ways treatment with herbicides during the 2025 calendar year has been submitted for: CSX Transportation, Incorporated (CSX). This plan has been prepared and submitted to the MDAR by: Keith Morris CSX’s vegetation control program for 2025 will be consistent with the VMP and YOP as approved by MDAR and involves an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach where possible. Under the 2025 program, brush control will be limited to mechanical cutting in sensitive areas and sensitive area buffer zones, and mechanical cutting or foliar herbicide applications in non-sensitive areas. Foliar herbicide applications will selectively treat target vegetation and encourage the growth of non-target vegetation. One selective post-emergent herbicide application will take place in ballasted rights-of-way areas and around other fixtures including but not limited to: switches, signals, signs, and highway grade crossings. This post-emergent application will take place in non-sensitive areas and sensitive area buffer zones and is targeted toward the eradication of woody and herbaceous plant species. Areas that do not have vegetation will not be treated. Herbicide applications to the roadbed and areas adjacent to the shoulder will be conducted with a spray truck and/or a backpack sprayer according to the guidelines set forth in the VMP and YOP. Sensitive areas as defined by the Rights-of-Way Management Regulations will receive the full protection afforded by those regulations. All herbicide applications will be done by an applicator properly licensed by MDAR Pesticide Bureau and fully trained in herbicide mixing, handling, and application methods. Applications will commence following approval of the YOP by MDAR. Public notification (by registered mail) will be provided to the chief elected official, Board of Health, and Conservation Commission in each affected municipality at least twenty-one days prior to any herbicide application. – comments due 5/9/2025

Bernardston, Buckland, Charlemont, Chicopee, Conway, Deerfield, Easthampton, Erving, Greenfield, Hatfield, Holyoke, Montague, Northampton, Northfield, Orange, Rowe, Shelburne Springfield, Wendell, Whately – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments) – A YOP for Berkshire & Eastern Railroad for the treatment of rights-of-way with herbicides in the listed municipalities for the calendar year 2025 has been prepared by Keith L. Morris, Environmental Consultant from Leeds, Massachusetts, has been submitted to MDAR. The intended vegetation control program will be consistent with the VMP, as approved by MDAR. Herbicides shall be applied to the roadbed by a spray truck, in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the VMP and the YOP. The herbicides to be applied, Aquaneat, Opensight, Polaris, and MSO Extra are recommended for use in “sensitive areas” by the Department of Environmental Protection, and MDAR. No herbicides shall be applied within a Zone I of a public groundwater source, within 100’ of any Class A public surface water source, within 100’ of any tributary or associated surface water body where the tributary or associated surface water body runs within 400’ of a Class A surface water source, or within 10’ of any tributary or associated surface water body where the tributary or associated surface water body is at a distance greater than 400’ from a Class A surface water source, within a lateral distance of 100’ for 400’ upstream, on both sides of the river, of any Class B Drinking Water Intake, a 50-foot radius around a private well, 10’ from the edge of standing or flowing water or wetlands, within 10’ of the mean annual high water line or any River, or within 10’ of any certified vernal pool (pursuant to 333 CMR 11.04: Sensitive Area Restrictions). Applications of herbicide shall commence after the approval of the YOP by MDAR, following public review and comment. It is anticipated that herbicide application will occur between May – end of August 2025. The YOP contains: maps locating rights-of-way and sensitive areas; the name of the herbicides proposed for use, including application rates, carriers and adjuvants; application techniques and alternative control measures; material safety data sheets and herbicide fact sheets as approved by the DAR; the names of the applicator and YOP supervisor; methods used to identify and mark sensitive areas on the right-of-way; procedures for handling, mixing, and loading of herbicides; and identification of target vegetation in accordance with 333 CMR 11.06(2). Additionally, the YOP contains emergency/contingency measures and local, state and federal emergency contact telephone numbers. – comments due 5/9/2025

Longmeadow, Springfield – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan – (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments) – A Yearly Operational Plan for treatment of rights-of-way with herbicides during the 2025 calendar year has been submitted for: AMTRAK National Railroad Passenger Corporation. This plan has been prepared and submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) by: TEC Associates of South Portland, Maine. AMTRAK’s vegetation control program for 2025 will be consistent with the VMP as approved by MDAR and involves an Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) approach. In the 2025 program, brush control will be limited to manual or mechanical cutting in sensitive areas and sensitive area buffer zones. In non-sensitive areas, one foliar application will be conducted to selectively treat brush adjacent to the shoulder using MDAR approved herbicide mixture. One selective herbicide application will take place in the non-sensitive and sensitive area buffer zones along the roadbed portion of the right-of-way using an MDAR approved herbicide mixture. This program is targeted toward the eradication of woody and herbaceous plant species germinating within the roadbed and around other fixtures including but not limited to: switches, signals, signs, and highway grade crossings. This application will be followed by a late summer touch-up application in areas of heavy vegetation growth. Hi-rail vehicles equipped with herbicide application equipment will be used to treat the rights-of-way. Public notification (by certified mail) will be provided to the chief elected official, Board of Health, and Conservation Commission in each affected municipality at least twenty-one days prior to any herbicide application. – comments due 5/9/2025

Agawam – Proposed Gas Station – Secretary’s Certificate on SEIR – published 3/26/2025

Sunderland, Leverett, Deerfield, Shelburne, Ware, Shutesbury, Belchertown, Conway, Pelham – Central to Western Massachusetts Energy Improvement Project – Secretary’s Certificate on ENF – published 3/26/2025

Ware, Palmer – Palmer to Ware Improvement Project – Secretary’s Certificate SEIR – published 3/26/2025

Public Notices

Public Notices listed on BEAT's website are from a variety of sources, from town conservation commissions and select boards to state and federal agencies. These listings are for Berkshire, Hampshire, Hampden, and Franklin counties. Listings are only posted if they are environmental in nature. You can find all public notices for Massachusetts here

BEAT Public Notices PAGE

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