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Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup - 7/2/09
Jack Clarke, Director of Public Policy & Government Relations
Jennifer Ryan, Assistant Director for Legislative Affairs
This Week:
New Ocean Plan Makes a Splash
Massachusetts has blazed a new trail with the release of the nation's first ocean management plan. Announced this week by Secretary Ian Bowles of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), the draft plan sets guidelines for managing, reviewing and permitting proposed uses of state waters. The goal of the plan, developed in accordance with the Oceans Act of 2008, is to facilitate decisions through a streamlined framework that will promote sustainable ocean development while considering environmental criteria. Mass Audubon was appointed by Governor Patrick as the environmental representative to the 17-member Ocean Advisory Commission, which has assisted Secretary Bowles with the writing the plan. The management plan will now undergo a public review and comment process. Public hearings on the draft are planned for September. The hearings will be followed by a public comment period of 60 days, closing in mid to late November. The deadline for the final draft is December 31, 2009. Please see the press release for more information, or view the draft ocean management plan on the EEA website.
Learn About Forests and Parks
Calling all tree-huggers! Mass Audubon has developed a new section of our website dedicated to state forests and parks. Check it out at http://www.massaudubon.org/advocacy/forests.php for an introduction to forest stewardship, resources for woodland management and volunteering, and more!
Calendar
Public Meetings Climate Change
Mass Audubon president Laura Johnson has been appointed by Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) secretary Ian Bowles to serve on the state's new Climate Change Adaptation Advisory Committee. The committee will draft a recommendation for the legislature over the coming months, and EEA has been holding public information and input sessions to receive comments and suggestions. The last public information session will be held on: Wednesday, July 15, 2009
3:00 pm 5:00 pm
Minehan Auditorium
Hurley Building
19 Staniford Street
Boston, MA 02114 Please view our previous Roundup for more information on the Advisory Committee. As part of The Global Warming Solutions Act, the State's Interagency Implementation Committee has established working groups focused on specific sectors including transportation, buildings, electricity generation, waste management, and forests. Many of these groups will hold public sessions this July in an effort to get input from experts and the general public. The intended format will include brief presentations from experts followed by open discussion. Sustainable Transport and Development (Christine Kirby DEP, Amy Branger EOT)
Wednesday, July 8, 2009,
3:00 p.m.-- 5:00 p.m.
Executive Office of Transportation
2nd Floor, Conference Room 1
Boston, MA Materials and Waste Management (John Fischer DEP)
Thursday, July 9, 2009,
2:00 -- 4:00 p.m.
Department of Environmental Protection
1 Winter Street, 2nd Floor, Conference Room C
Boston, MA Low Carbon Fuel Supply (Dwayne Breger DOER, Nathan Phelps DPU)
Wednesday, July 9, 2009 (tentative),
3:00 -- 5:00 p.m.
(TBA)
Boston, MA Transportation End Use Efficiency (Marc Breslow EEA, Amy Branger EOT)
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
9:00 -- 11:00 a.m.
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
100 Cambridge St., 2nd Floor, Conference Room A,
Boston, MA Agriculture (Lee Adams DEP, Gerry Palano, DAR)
Friday, July 17, 2009
1:00 -- 5:00 p.m.
Department of Environmental Protection
Worcester, MA Economic Decisions
Governor Patrick will hold a second round of community meetings focused on difficult choices facing the state in these challenging economic times. These meetings will take place in communities throughout the state, and will allow the public to provide input and ask questions. See the schedule to find an upcoming meeting near you. The Patrick administration has also recently launched an online forum where members of the public can participate in similar discussions: http://forum.state.ma.us
Please contact us if you have any questions at: action@massaudubon.org.
About The Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup
The Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup tracks the legislative priorities of Mass Audubon, focusing on the protection of the nature of Massachusetts. We encourage you to forward this newsletter to friends, family, and colleagues and to enlist their support.
If you are not already a member of Mass Audubon's Action Network, we encourage you to join by filling out our online form or by e-mailing us. Membership dues provide vital support for Mass Audubon's advocacy work on Beacon Hill and across the state. If you are not already a Mass Audubon member please join today.
Legislative Tool Kit
Stay In Touch
Senators and Representatives need to hear from their constituents! Contact your legislators and share with them the environmental issues that are important to you.
Find out who represents you in the Senate and House.
Senate and House Sessions Go Live
Consistent with the theme that decision-makers act differently when they know they are being watched, House and Senate sessions are now available on live webcast. Tune in to view live web stream broadcastings of the Senate and House and watch as the Massachusetts legislative process unfolds!
Current Legislation
Access the text of current legislation, bill histories and Massachusetts General Law by visiting one site. We encourage you to visit The General Court's website frequently as it is an important tool for conservation advocates like you!
How to Lobby
Discover effective ways to convey your environmental interests to your Senator or Representative.
View Mass Audubon’s How to Lobby document, and get started now!
How the Law is Made
Learn about the steps a bill takes before becoming law. You can also use our graphic charts to guide you through the life of a bill, from when it is first filed, to when it is signed into law.
 Mass Audubon Advocacy
6 Beacon Street, Suite 1025
Boston, MA 02108
617-523-8448 (phone)
617-523-4183 (fax)
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