An unusual public-private coalition is on a search for landowners willing to turn their marginal, boggy farm fields back into wetlands. Time is running out, at least for this year. By March 1, the Vermont office of the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service must commit up to $2.5 million to wetlands restoration, or lose access to the money. In 2009, the local office was able to use only $1.5 million of the $6 million available to it.

Vermont lawmakers and the administration of Gov. Jim Douglas are considering creation of a buyback program to help the owners of the polluting furnaces to replace them with cleaner, more efficient units.The New York Department of Environmental Conservation says one outdoor wood boiler creates as much air pollution as 1,000 oil furnaces. The emissions can trigger asthma attacks and, over a longer period, may contribute to heart and lung diseases.

After eight years in the making, the Nature Conservancy finalized a deal Thursday that adds another 312 acres of forested land to a long list of protected forests in the state. The $850,000 acquisition in Manchester from the Southern Vermont Arts Center is a rich northern hardwood forest located behind the SVAC.

Jason and Nina Bacons’ land is a local treasure, known best and valued most by the nearby residents of Bristol, Monkton, New Haven and Starksboro. Tt is these local people who finished raising $40,000 in late December to complete purchase of an easement that will protect the Bacon property from development and provide public access forever. In doing so, they have joined the growing ranks of grassroots conservationists — groups of neighbors or townspeople who band together to help protect a farm or a forest or a trail network important to the fabric of their community.

The Association of Vermont Recyclers and the Northeast Resource Recovery Association announce joint operations effective immediately, with the overwhelming support of both Governing Boards. NRRA will provide financial and administrative support for AVR programming in Vermont, and expand AVR’s public school recycling program offerings to NRRA communities throughout the Northeast.

WCAX News reports that "the new federal agriculture census says more farms are cropping up around Vermont." According to the census, "there are nearly 7,000 [farms in the state], up 6 percent from the last census in 2002. While the number of dairy farms dropped to 1,200, organic farms are becoming more popular,while other farmers are becoming more diverse in the products they offer." In addition, "the number of vegetable farms increased 20 percent" and "the average age of a farmer rose from 53 to 56."

Vermont.gov reports that "the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is advising people who live near caves and mines to expect unusual levels of bat activity as a result of the White Nose Syndrome that is afflicting hibernating bats. Department officials say reports of sick bats have been coming in most recently from residents in Norwich, Thetford, and Strafford, Vermont near the Elizabeth Mine, a site at which tens of thousands of bats hibernate each winter." Currently, the department is collaborating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and several other state fish and wildlife agencies to "monitor the spread of White Nose Syndrome and to determine the cause of the affliction."

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Vermont Public Radio reports that the Vermont State Park system has set up a Facebook account where "park users can share their favorite parks and their favorite locations and things to do in the parks." Vermont Forest and Parks Commissioner Jason Gibbs hopes the State Park's Facebook friends will help "spread the word about the many opportunities that exist within Vermont's state parks and recruit new visitors."

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Vermont Public Radio reports that Governor Douglas has proposed to close Vermont's environmental laboratory. The proposed cut is in response to the state's $201 million budget shortfall. The laboratory does regular and emergency testing of water, soil and air for toxic materials, and its the closure would save the state $700,000 a year. If the laboratory is closed, "some of the work would end and [some] would be sent to private labs." On Tuesday, six employees urged a legislative committee to keep the lab open, saying Vermont's environmental protection would suffer." The employees also questioned whether the plan would save money or not.

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Vermont Public Radio reports that "the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife is changing the way it manages its fish hatcheries to fight the spread of a deadly fish disease" called viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS. While VHS "has not been found in Vermont," officials believe that "Lake Champlain is at high risk" of infection. As a result, "Vermont will no longer stock fish raised at the fish hatchery in Grand Isle because it gets its water from Lake Champlain. Fish raised there will only be stocked in the lake." Notably, VHS can cause massive die-offs of more than 30 fish species." It was "first detected in Lake Ontario in 2005 and spread throughout the Great Lakes."

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Vermont Public Radio reports that the Agri-Mark dairy co-op, the region's largest dairy cooperative, "wants to phase out use of a controversial growth hormone that's used to boost milk production." Agri-Mark said that it is "following the lead of its customers who have rejected milk from hormone-treated cows." Starting this August, Agri-Mark "will no longer accept milk in New England from cows injected with the hormone" bovine somatatropin, or BST. BST is by the Monsanto Corporation and can "boost milk production in cows by around 15 percent." The use of BST has been "controversial from the start." Indeed, while the Food and Drug Administration has deemed it "safe" and many farmers consider it a management tool," consumer organizations have voiced concerns about BST's impact on cows and humans.

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The Rutland Herald reports that "the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has received a $300,000 Environmental Protection Agency grant to beef up wetlands protection in Vermont through mapping, monitoring and restoration projects that will enhance marshland conservation around the state." The grant will enable thte DEC to "refine identification and assessment of wetlands not identified on the Vermont significant wetland inventory maps." Notably, "wetlands are incredibly important to the health and well-being of our environment, and provide tangible benefits to our communities," said Robert Varney, regional administrator of EPA's New England office.

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The Brattleboro Reformer reports that "the Strolling of the Heifers is partnering with the Carrot Project, a Massachusetts agriculture nonprofit, to provide loans of up to $10,000 to farmers in Vermont and western Massachusetts... The fund is geared specifically to small farmers and only farms with 250 or fewer acres and an annual gross revenue of $250,000 or less will be considered." While introducing the program to a small group of farmers who came out for the meeting, Vermont Agriculture Secretary Roger Allbee commented, "Sometimes credit is not available quickly when farmers need it. This will allow people who need to have something done to use the money to move forward with their operation."

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Vermont Public Radio reports that "the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources has laid off the state's director of environmental enforcement and eliminated his job." The director "oversaw a staff of investigators and lawyers preparing cases against those believed to have violated Vermont's environmental laws or permits." Notably, "the layoff was the first of eight expected at the Natural Resources Agency this month." According to Natural Resources Secretary Jonathan Wood, "The decisions are not easy." Woods added that "he doesn't believe the losses will compromise the agency's ability to protect Vermont's natural resources."

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The Brattleboro Reformer reports that "a disturbing trend has been plaguing recycling centers across Windham County - town recycling sites and Windham Solid Waste Management District have been coming across strange, potentially hazardous items left in recycling bins." Joe Kowalski, operations manager at Windham County Solid Waste Management, explained, "Deer guts are very popular this time of year, and we've also had live kittens dropped off in the recycling." Newfane has also experienced the problem. Recently officials found a portable spetic tank in a recycling bin. Notably, "people leaving inappropriate materials has become such a problem that waste management has considered installing more cameras."

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