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WHAT'S NEW?
Agency Seeks Project Ideas
Credit: USFWS
The Service is preparing a draft restoration plan to restore migratory birds and fish impacted by contamination from two Superfund sites in Southington, CT: the Solvents Recovery Service site and the Old Southington Landfill.
Hazardous waste disposed at the sites, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and metals, as well as remedial activities to clean up the sites, degraded and, in some cases, destroyed wetlands and the Quinnipiac River. As a result, the quality and availability of foraging habitat for birds, fish and other wetland-dependant species was reduced. A variety of birds use the area, including great blue and green herons, American black ducks, wood ducks, yellow warblers, tree swallows and Eastern kingbirds. The locations are also important for American eels, brook trout, painted turtles and other aquatic wildlife.
In settlements with the responsible parties, the Service received about $800,000 to restore impacted natural resources. The Service is currently seeking restoration project ideas and welcomes input from the public. Please utilize the project information form (pdf - 1.17MB) to submit restoration project ideas. Submissions are due by May 18, 2012.
Information regarding potential restoration projects, as well as the process for evaluating and selecting proposals is provided in the attached public meeting presentation (pdf - 4.79MB).
For more information, contact Molly Sperduto, USFWS, New England Field Office, at molly_sperduto@fws.gov or 603-223-2541, ext. 20.
Officials invite public comment on restoration of contaminated Massachusetts site
Credit: USFWS
Federal and state agencies encourage feedback on a $3.7 million plan to restore the pollution-damaged Sudbury River watershed containing the Nyanza Chemical Superfund site in Ashland, Mass. The draft plan seeks to restore wildlife and habitat, as well as protect new land and increase public access. The draft restoration plan and its assessment (PDF-1.98 MB) are available for comment through Jan. 23, 2012.
Boston Globe story
More
Public invited to meet on Buzzards Bay oil spill restoration
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?
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