The New England Website is currently going through a re-build. Most links will return you to our home page. Our new website is located at www.fws.gov/newengland
A worker cleans up oil on Barney's Joy Beach in South Dartmouth following the Buzzards Bay, Mass., oil spill in 2003.
Credit: USFWS
Informational meetings regarding restoration planning for the 2003 oil spill in Buzzards Bay, MA., will be held on September 21 at Massachusetts Maritime Academy and September 22 at Heritage State Park from 6 to 9 p.m. The Natural Resource Damages Trustee Council invites the public to learn about the development of restoration plans and to offer input on ideas to address the natural resources injured when the Bouchard B-120 barge spilled 98,000 gallons into the bay. An informational poster session will begin at 6 p.m., followed by a formal presentation at 7 p.m. and a question and answer session.
The trustees include the following:
- Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (represented by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection),
- Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management,
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Admirals Hall, Harrington Building
101 Academy Drive
Buzzards Bay, MA 02532 |
Heritage State Park
Davol Street
Fall River, MA 02720 |
Agreement aimed at protecting NH bunny habitat

New England cottontail.
Credit: Linda Cullivan
New Hampshire landowners will be encouraged to conserve New England cottontail habitat under a proposed agreement between the Service and the state. Cottontail habitat has declined by 86 percent in the past 50 years, a major reason the bunny is a candidate for Endangered Species Act protection. The state hopes to see an increase of 3,000 to 5,000 acres managed for the cottontail.
Permit application (pdf 2.24 MB)
Draft agreement (869 KB)
Draft environmental action statement (54 KB)
Federal Register notice
News release (17 KB)
More info
Manhan River Environmental Assessment
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has closed the 30-Day Comment Period for an Environmental Assessment with
a Finding of No Significant Impact for the Manhan River Dam Fish Passage Project in Easthampton, Massachusetts.
The Service's response to submitted comments is provided below.
Questions on the proposed project can be addressed to Melissa_Grader@fws.gov.
Response to Comments Received on Manhan River EA (pdf 350 kb)
Manhan River Environmental Assessment (4.75 MB)
Manhan River Environmental Assessment - Appendices (2.3 MB)
Manhan River Environmental Assessment - Finding of No Significant Impact (673 KB)
Manhan River Environmental Assessment - Press Release (767 KB)
Housatonic River Basin Natural Resources Restoration Plan
The Connecticut Trustee SubCouncil for the GE/Housatonic River NRDAR project is proud to
announce the availability of the Housatonic River Basin Final Natural Resources Restoration Plan,
Environmental Assessment, and Environmental Impact Evaluation for Connecticut.

The Housatonic River’s natural resources were injured
as a result of PBC contamination. Stantec photo.
Housatonic River Basin Final Natural Resources Restoration Plan, Environmental Assessment, and Environmental Impact Evaluation for Connecticut. (2.3 MB)

Little brown bat with
white-nose syndrome
USFWS photo
Other links:
USGS National Wildlife Health Center
Pennsylvania Game Commission Link on WNS
What should you do if you find dead or dying bats, or observe signs of White-Nose Syndrome?
Files in PDF format will require Acrobat Reader to access the content. If you do not have a copy, please select the link [or click the image] to take you to the Adobe website where you can download a free copy. Get Adobe Acrobat Reader
|