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Hi Team,
Join us TONIGHT from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Berkshire Athenaeum for an evening dedicated to exploring ways to promote sustainable biodiversity through intentional gardening and the cultivation of native plants that support native pollinators and wildlife. The event will feature a recorded presentation by Doug Tallamy, an esteemed entomologist, ecologist, and author, where he discusses his book Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens. Following the viewing of Tallamy’s talk, Jim McGrath, the Open Space and Natural Resource Program Manager of Pittsfield’s Parks, will outline plans for native plantings in downtown Pittsfield. Bruce Winn, a Berkshire Community College (BCC) Professor and BEAT board member, will discuss ongoing efforts to transform BCC into a “pollinator campus,” while Terri Stiffler, also a BEAT board member, will lead a discussion on “No Mow May.” The evening will conclude with a silent auction of small items, which also include gift certificates from local businesses and tickets to a Mahaiwe performance. Click here to learn more and RSVP.
And, we invite everyone to join us this Saturday, April 20, for an Earth Day celebration and volunteer opportunity at BEAT’s Environmental Leadership & Education Center! We will have outdoor and indoor activities, and lunch will be provided to all volunteers who join us from 10 AM to noon. Learn more about these Earth Day volunteer opportunities.
That's it for now. Thank you for all you do to protect the environment!
Jane, Rose, Chelsey, John, Lucas, Andrew, and Brittany
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 | "PITTSFIELD, Mass.(April 11, 2024) – In observance of Earth Day on Monday, April 22, 2024, the Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield’s Public Library, is collaborating with Goodwill Industries of the Berkshires and Southern Vermont by hosting a computer recycling collection starting Monday, April 22, and continuing through Saturday, April 27. The event is made possible through a partnership with the Dell-Reconnect residential recycling program. Accepted items include monitors, scanners, computer mice, printers, keyboards, laptop batteries, ink and toner cartridges, computers, hard drives, speakers, cords, and cables. No television sets will be accepted. Data provided by Maryam Kamangar, Goodwill’s Vice President of Executive Affairs & Territory Expansion, shows that from July 2018 to June 2023 the Dell-Reconnect partnership with four Berkshire County Goodwill Stores has recycled 181,115 pounds of computer equipment. 'The Berkshire Athenaeum is excited to partner with Goodwill on this collection for another year. Participating in this program is a great way to support our community and celebrate the mission of Earth Day,' said Technical Services Supervisor Autumn Murray. Recycled items will be accepted during regular library hours in the designated bins. Those bringing in computers and hard drives for recycling are advised to remove all personal data. Neither Dell nor the Berkshire Athenaeum is liable for data removal or protection. The Dell-Reconnect program was created in 2004. Trained staff in 44 states sort and process collected equipment to be picked up and recycled by Dell. Revenue from the program gives back to Dell-Reconnect to support Goodwill’s employment placement and job training services." READ MORE |  | |
Justin Wheeler | Xerces Blog
| "Spring is here. A time when warmer weather naturally turns a winter-weary homeowner’s thoughts towards tackling outdoor chores. The first warm weather of the season may coax us out into the yard, but pollinators in your garden aren’t ready to take a chance on the first warm day. Chrysalides still cling to last season’s dried standing plant material." READ MORE | |
Daniel Rothberg | Inside Climate News
| "In the Nevada valley that is one of the most significant domestic sources of a key element for the energy transition, one company controls the groundwater needed to mine it, another is fighting for a share of it and others are lining up at the tap. Over the past few decades, the United States has imported most of its lithium from Chile and Argentina, but there’s one major domestic source of the mineral—Nevada. Clayton Valley, a remote basin in the nation’s driest state, is home to the Silver Peak mine, where lithium is extracted in gridded ponds that turn neon blue as they recover one of Earth’s lightest elements through solar evaporation. Albemarle, a North Carolina-based company, runs Silver Peak as the only active lithium mine in the U.S. But over the past decade, amid a growing demand for electric vehicles and batteries to store electricity from intermittent renewable sources, dozens of mining companies have rushed to the area, vying for the element critical to the energy transition and the water that’s key to extracting it from the Earth..." READ MORE |
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"PITTSFIELD, Mass. (April 12, 2024) – The City of Pittsfield announces it will be hosting a community meeting on Monday, April 29 at 6 p.m. at the Berkshire Athenaeum, in the auditorium, to present and gather input on the mosquito management plan. Panelists will include Ward 4 City Councilor, James Conant; Conservation Agent, Robert Van Der Kar; Public Health Director, Andy Cambi; Board of Health members Roberta Orsi and Dr. Jeffery Leppo. In addition, Dr. Andrew Lover, the Assistant professor of Epidemiology from the University of Massachusetts and Deputy Director of New England Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Disease (NEWVEC), will be joining this panel. NEWVEC focuses on preventing vector-borne diseases and testing evidence-based solutions for more effective control of ticks and mosquitos across New England. The presentation will include the city’s current mosquito management plan, a brief history, and an overview of regional mosquito management practices. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions following the presentation. READ MORE | |
Brittany Polito | iBerkshires
| "PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Conservation Commission has OKed a zebra mussel pesticide treatment in Onota Lake if the invasive species are confirmed. On Thursday, the panel approved a notice of intent application for the use of EarthTec QZ within a specified treatment area of the lake. 'We're not entirely 100 percent sure that there is an infestation of zebra mussels at Onota Lake. Last September, a water sample was taken and the DNA of zebra mussel was detected in that water sample. This was a water sample taken near the boat ramp at Burbank Park. Subsequent water samples were taken later in the fall and very early this spring, there were still non-detects in those water samples for DNA showing the presence of zebra mussels," Park, Open Space and Natural Resource Program Manager James McGrath said..." READ MORE |  | "Every municipal water system in the country must test for, and limit, the presence of five PFAS chemicals within five years, according to new guidelines set by the federal government. It's the first time these toxic chemicals have been regulated at the national level. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations limit the two most common PFAS chemicals — PFOA and PFOS — to four parts per trillion in drinking water, close to the lowest level at which the chemicals can be detected..." READ MORE | |
Nicola Davis | The Guardian
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"Bumblebees might be at home in town and country but now researchers have found at least one species that is even more adaptable: it can survive underwater.
Scientists have revealed queens of the common eastern bumblebee, a species widespread in eastern North America, can withstand submersion for up to a week when hibernating..." READ MORE
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The Tale of a Lake Tsunami
Declan McCabe | The Outside Story
| "The sharpest contrast between rivers and lakes is in water movement. While rivers flow inexorably downhill, lake water movement is more subtle. Anyone who has weathered a storm on a lake, however, can attest that less consistent water movement does not mean no water movement at all. In fact, at one point, about 5,000 years ago, it seems a tsunami formed on Lake Champlain..." READ MORE | |
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BRINGING NATURE HOME: NATIVE PLANTS & POLLINATORS
Wednesday, April 17 from 6 PM to 8 PM
at Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield, MA
SPRING TREE IDENTIFICATION WALK WITH BEAT + TOURISTS
Thursday, April 18 from 12 PM - 2 PM
at TOURISTS, North Adams, MA
VOLUNTEER: INVASIVE HARDY KIWI REMOVAL
Fridays from 10 AM to 11:30 AM
at Burbank Park, Pittsfield, MA
VOLUNTEER FOR EARTH DAY WITH BEAT: RIVERBANK RESTORATION + LETTER WRITING TO LEGISLATORS
Saturday, April 20 from 10 AM to 1 PM
at BEAT's Environmental Leadership & Education Center, Pittsfield, MA
NAACC AQUATIC CONNECTIVITY FIELD TRAINING DAY (BEAT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY)
Tuesday, April 30 and Tuesday, May 21 from 9 AM to 4 PM
SPRING TREE IDENTIFICATION WALK WITH BEAT + TOURISTS
Thursday, May 2 from 12 PM - 2 PM
at TOURISTS, North Adams, MA
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR
We list events from a variety of local and regional organizations and individuals.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17
Bringing Nature Home: Native Plants & Pollinators — Pittsfield
THURSDAY, APRIL 18
Tree Walk with BEAT + TOURISTS — North Adams
Bird Walks with Ben Nickley — Great Barrington
FRIDAY, APRIL 19
One-Day Track & Sign Certification — Albany
Volunteer with BEAT: Invasive Hardy Kiwi Plant Removal — Pittsfield
The Risks of Over-Reliance on Gas Power Plants — Pittsfield
SATURDAY, APRIL 20
Wake Up the River! With Hoosic River Revival — North Adams
Williamstown Spring Litter Cleanup — Williamstown
Volunteer for Earth Day at Dyken Pond EEC — Cropseyville
Volunteer for Earth Day with BEAT: Riverbank Restoration + Letter Writing to Legislators — Pittsfield
Restoring Native Habitat and Ecosystems at the Lee Library — Lee
Spring Fix-It Fair Lenox — Lenox
MONDAY, APRIL 22
The Awakening Spring — New Marlborough
Vernal Pool Exploration — Dalton
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24
Prepare Community Gardens for Spring — Pittsfield
THURSDAY, APRIL 25
Invasive Species Workdays: Garlic Mustard Challenge at Lehovec Natural Area — Williamstown
Bird Walks with Ben Nickley — Great Barrington
FRIDAY, APRIL 26
Volunteer with BEAT: Invasive Hardy Kiwi Plant Removal — Pittsfield
City Nature Challenge: Spring Ephemerals — Dalton
SATURDAY, APRIL 27
Spring Clean-Up Day — Lenox
Lee Greener Gateway Cleanup and Workday — Lee
Repair Cafe at Sheep Hill — Williamstown
The Hoffmann Bird Club Annual Meeting and Banquet – Featuring a Presentation by Dr. Alan F. Poole — Great Barrington
TUESDAY, APRIL 30
NAACC Aquatic Connectivity Field Training Day (BEAT Volunteer Opportunity) — Pittsfield
WEDNESDAY, MAY 1
Dam Busters 101: Scoping the Dam Removal Projects and Managing Consultants — Online
Mass Pollinator Network Brown Bag Lunch — Online
See Calendar for More
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JOBS
We list jobs related to the environment from a variety of organizations.
Berkshire County Postings
Conservation Projects Coordinator | Housatonic Valley Association | Stockbridge
Senior Teacher Naturalist | Mass Audubon | Lenox
Assistant Director – Williams Outing Club | Williams College | Williamstown
Seasonal Trail Crew 2024 | Berkshire Natural Resources Council | Lenox
Hopkins Memorial Forest Manager | Williams College | Williamstown
Conservation Commission Agent | Town of Lenox | Lenox
Postings with Deadline
Part-time Program Operations Specialist | Climable | Cambridge, MA | 4/17/24
Development and Program Manager | Climable | Cambridge, MA | 4/17/24
Interpretive Naturalist (Seasonal) | Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission | Albany, NY | deadline 4/19/24
Invasive Species Technician | Mohonk Preserve | New Paltz, NY | deadline 4/19/24
Outdoor Educator | The Ashokan Center | Olivebridge, NY | deadline 4/19/24
Communications & Engagement Associate | Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust | Athol, Ma | deadline 4/20/24
Policy Analyst | Center for Applied Environmental Law and Policy | Remote | deadline 4/21/24
Assistant Environmental Analyst – Hudson River Stewardship | NEIWPCC | Staatsburg, NY | deadline 4/21/24
Transportation Planner 2 – Environmental Permitting Specialist | State of Connecticut, Department of Transportation | Newington, CT | deadline 4/22/24
WLFW Resilient Landscapes Project Coordinator | Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever | Remote | deadline 4/24/24
Stewardship Supervisor | MA Department of Agricultural Resources | Remote MA | deadline 4/24/24
Environmental Analyst – Training Specialist | NEIWPCC | Lowell, MA| deadline 4/28/24
Staff Attorney and Program Manager | NEIWPCC | Lowell, MA | deadline 4/28/24
Grants Manager | River Network | Remote | deadline 4/29/24
Director of Research | Savanna Institute | Remote | deadline 4/29/24
Regional Trail Technician | NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation | Saratoga Springs, NY | deadline 4/29/24
Internship – Natural Resource Steward | Student Conservation Association | Northville, NY | deadline 4/30/24
Wildlife Biologist Internship (Ornithology) | MTM Environmental, LLC | Remote | deadline 4/30/24
Shorebird Monitor | Duxbury Beach Reservation, Inc. | Duxbury, MA | deadline 4/30/24
Board Member | Boston Farms Community Land Trust | Boston, MA | deadline 4/30/24
Project Manager – Environmental Monitoring | A.I.S. Inc. | N. Dartmouth, MA | deadline 4/30/24
Natural Resources & Sustainability Specialist | Town of Plymouth | Plymouth, MA | deadline 4/30/24
Ecological Restoration Technician | SWCA Environmental Consulting | Amherst, MA | deadline 4/30/24
Crew Leader – Southern New England | AMC | Russel, MA | deadline 4/30/24
Seasonal Facilities & Grounds Assistant | Mohonk Preserve | New Paltz, NY | deadline 4/30/24
UDRCC Field Tech | Friends of the Upper Delaware River | Various Locations, NY | deadline 5/1/24
Project Manager – Half-Time Independent Contractor | Vermont Biodiversity Alliance | Remote, Vermont | deadline 5/1/24
Director of Development | Mohonk Preserve | New Paltz, NY | deadline 5/1/24
NY Breeding Bird Atlas Point Count Temporary Technicians | Cornell University | Statewide NY | deadline 5/1/24
Sustainable Manufacturing Researcher | ReImagine Appalachia | Remote | deadline 5/1/24
Landscape Crew Member | New Leaf Eco Landscapes LLC | Hudson, NY | deadline 5/1/24
Seasonal Shorebird Technician | The Trustees of Reservations | Martha’s Vineyard, MA | deadline 5/1/24
Seasonal Shorebird Technician | The Trustees of Reservations | Nantucket, MA | deadline 5/1/24
Recent Postings
Research Assistant in Ecology & Field Botany | Hudsonia Limited | Annandale, NY
Research Technician in Ecology | Hudsonia Limited | Annandale, NY
Senior Conservation Manager | Connecticut Farmland Trust | Hartford, CT
Vice President Conservation Programs | Island Conservation | Remote
Marine Spatial Planning Specialist | The Nature Conservancy | Remote
Buildings and Grounds Assistant | Edmund Niles Huyck Preserve, Inc. | Rensselaerville, NY
Seasonal Ranger | Edmund Niles Huyck Preserve, Inc. | Rensselaerville, NY
HR & Benefits Coordinator | American Conservation Experience | Remote
Board & Philanthropy Administrative Assistant | Island Conservation | Remote
Development Officer – Major Gifts | Island Conservation | Remote
Associate Attorney | Center for Applied Environmental Law and Policy | Remote
Natural Resources Assistant (Seasonal) | Plymouth Department of Energy and Environment | Plymouth, MA
Municipal Assistance Coordinator | Mass DEP | Melrose, MA
Deputy Regional Director – Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup | Mass DEP | Springfield, MA
Regional Planner IV | MA Department of Environmental Protection | Boston, MA
Executive Director | Earthworm Recycling | Somerville, MA
Executive Director | Sustainable CT | Storrs, CT
Park Interpreter | Department of Conservation and Recreation | Newburyport, MA
Part-Time Wildlife Technician | Meridian Bird Removal | Hartford, CT
Outdoor Education Specialist Teacher | Attleboro Norton YMCA | Attleboro, MA
Executive Director | Center for Coastal Studies | Provincetown, MA
Invasive Species Assistant | Edmund Niles Huyck Preserve, Inc. | Rensselaerville, NY
Environmental/Outdoor Educator | Taconic Outdoor Education Center | Cold Spring, NY
Conservation Assistant | Spring Farm CARES | Clinton, NY
Offshore Wind Community Manager | Environmental League of Massachusetts | Boston, Ma
Invasives Strike Force Member/Leader | New York-New Jersey Trail Conference | Hudson Valley, NY
Trail Crew Member/Leader | New York-New Jersey Trail Conference | Hudson Valley, NY
Trail Steward Member/Leader | NY-NJ Trail Conference Conservation Corps | Hudson Valley or Catskills, NY
Click Here for More Jobs
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Environmental Monitor
April 10, 2024
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, Lee, Lenox, Pittsfield, Sheffield, Stockbridge – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan – (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments) – Housatonic Railroad Company, Inc. to treat rights-of-way with herbicides during 2024 calendar year. – published 4/10/2024
• Monterey – Notice of Intent to Initiate an Ecological Restoration Project – (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments) – Berkshire Regional Planning Commission project to include live staking, bank erosion mitigation and establishing a riparian buffer garden at 10 Riverwood Way. Aiming to enhance water quality and mitigate nonpoint source pollution in the Lake Garfield Watershed. – published 4/10/2024
• Adams, Deerfield, Florida, Holyoke, North Adams, Williamstown – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan – (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments) – Berkshire & Eastern Railroad to treat rights-of-way with herbicides in 2024 – published 4/10/2024
• Florida, North Adams, Monroe, Adams – E131 Asset Condition Refurbishment (ACR) Project – Final Environmental Impact Report – comments due 5/10/2024
• Hancock, Lanesborough, Hinsdale, Cheshire, Dalton – WT-02 Transmission Right-of-Way Reliability Project – Final Environmental Impact Report – comments due 5/10/2024
• Pittsfield – Notice of Intent to Initiate an Ecological Restoration Project – (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments) – The City of Pittsfield’s Department of Community Development is filing a Notice of Intent (NOI) for an Ecological Restoration Limited Project for the application of the Massachusetts Department Agricultural Resources approved product, Earthtec QZ, within a specified treatment zone within Onota Lake. – published 3/22/2024
• Hinsdale – Notice of Intent to Initiate an Aquatic Plant Management Program- (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments) – The Town of Hinsdale (applicant) is seeking approval to continue an Aquatic Management Program of Plunkett Reservoir. USEPA/State registered herbicides and/or algaecides will be applied to manage non-native and nuisance aquatic vegetation and algae to protect the interests of the Wetlands Protection Act by impeding eutrophication and improving habitat value. – published 3/22/2024
• Dalton, Pittsfield – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan- (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments) – In accordance with the guidelines set forth in Eversource Energy, Western MA’s VMP and YOP, herbicides will be selectively applied to target vegetation by licensed/certified applicators carrying backpack or handheld application equipment for the IVM program. – comments due 4/22/2024
CT River Valley Index:
• Conway – Notice of Application for a 401 Water quality Certificate – (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments) – Application for the replacement of the North Poland Road Bridge over Poland Brook in Conway, Massachusetts by the MassDOT. The proposed work consists of removing a temporary bridge installed in 2023 (which replaced the pre-existing three-span, 65 feet long, 17′-2″ wide bridge) and replacing the bridge with a new single-span structure having a span length of 83′-2″ and a width of 27′-3″. New concrete stub abutments will be constructed immediately behind the existing abutments. – comments due 5/1/2024
• Ludlow – Notice of Application for a 401 Water Quality Certificate – (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments) – Application for the replacement of Bridge #L-16-026, Piney Lane over Broad Brook in the Town of Ludlow, Massachusetts by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The main objective of this project is to improve the existing crossing over Broad Brook. The project is needed since, according to the latest bridge inspection report the culverts are rated in serious condition due to rust, holes and settling within the culverts, erosion due to undermining, scour and poor condition of the pavement and guardrail. – comments due 5/1/2024
• Chicopee, Holyoke, South Hadley – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan – (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments) – Areas identified in the YOP as locations where treatment of Rights of Way with herbicides will be carried out by City of Holyoke Gas and Electric Department in calendar year 2024 are: Electric transmission and distribution lines in Holyoke and Chicopee, steam and condensate lines in Holyoke, gas distribution vaults in Holyoke, canal system in Holyoke and the pathways in Lower Riverside Park and Gatehouse Park in South Hadley. – published 4/10/2024
• 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) – Berkshire & Eastern Railroad to treat rights-of-way with herbicides for the 2024 calendar year. – published 4/10/2024
• Easthampton – Sierra Vista Commons – Secretary’s Certificate DEIR – published 4/1/2024
• Northampton – Downtown Complete Streets Corridor and Intersection Improvements on Main Street (Route 9) – EENF and Site Visit – comments due 4/22/2024
• Palmer, Ware – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan – (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments) – A Yearly Operational Plan has been submitted by Massachusetts Central Railroad for the treatment of rights-of-way with herbicides during the 2024 calendar year. – comments due 5/6/2024
• 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 has been submitted for AMTRAK National Railroad Passenger Corporation to treat rights-of-way with herbicides during the 2024 calendar year. – comments due 5/6/2024
• Amherst, Belchertown, Erving, Leverett, Monson, Montague, Northfield, Palmer, Sunderland – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan – (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments) – New England Central Railroad Company intends to treat rights-of-way with herbicides for the calendar year 2024. – comments due 5/6/2024
• Amherst, Chesterfield, Chicopee, Conway, Cummington, Deerfield, Erving, Gill, Granby, Greenfield, Hadley, Leverett, Montague, Northfield, Shelburne, South Hadley, Sunderland, Warwick, Plainfield – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan- (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments) – In accordance with the guidelines set forth in Eversource Energy, Western MA’s VMP and YOP, herbicides will be selectively applied to target vegetation by licensed/certified applicators carrying backpack or handheld application equipment for the IVM program. – comments due 4/22/2024
Statewide Index:
• Notice of Information Sessions Draft Massachusetts Statewide Total Maximum on Draft statewide TMDL for Pathogen-Impaired Waterbodies – (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments) – The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), Watershed Planning Program (WPP), announces the availability for public comment of the Draft Massachusetts Statewide Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Pathogen-Impaired Waterbodies. A TMDL establishes the maximum amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can receive and still meet water quality standards. The TMDL serves as the regulatory and technical basis for developing integrated water resource management plans designed to restore the water quality of impaired waterbodies. MassDEP will conduct two public information sessions: one in person on May 8th and one virtual on May 9th. – published 4/10/2024
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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.
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