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Recent News

• Round 2 Habitat Restoration Update: Draft Restoration Plan/Supplemental Environmental Assessment PowerPoint Presentation (08/20/10) - On August 2, 2010, the MA SubCouncil presented the Round 2 Draft Restoration Plan and SUpplemental Environmental Assessment at a public meeting in Lenox, MA. The Meeting Minutes and an Attendance sheet are also available for review. Please note that the deadline for submitting public comments on the Draft RP/SEA will end at 5:00pm on August 23, 2010. Following the 30-day public comment period, the Final RP/SEA will be developed and presented to the EEA and USFWS for approval.
  
  Written public comments can be sent to:
  Housatonic Draft RP/SEA
  Stantec Consulting Inc.
  30 Park Drive
  Topsham, ME 04086

• Round 2 Habitat Restoration: Threshold Criteria Evaluation Results (06/09/10) - This document summarizes the MA SubCouncil’s evaluation of Threshold Criteria as applied to all Round 2 proposed projects.  Proposed projects referenced in this document may be found here.

• Round 2 Habitat Restoration Update: Draft Restoration Plan/Supplemental Environmental Assessment (07/21/10)- The Draft Restoration Plan/Supplemental Environmental Assessment (RP/SEA) has been approved by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) and the USFWS.  Click here to view the Press Release.  The Draft RP/SEA will be made available for review via a 30-day public comment period to end at 5:00 PM on August 23, 2010.  A public meeting will also be held to present the Draft RP/SEA on August 3, 2010, at the Lenox Town Hall.  Following the 30-day public comment period, the Final RP/SEA will be developed and presented to the EEA and USFWS for approval.

  Public Meeting to Present Round 2 Draft RP/SEA

  August 3, 2010

  Lenox Town Hall

  5:30 – 7:30 PM

  6 Walker Street, Lenox, Massachusetts 01240

   

  Written public comments can be sent to:

  Housatonic Draft RP/SEA

  Stantec Consulting Inc.

  30 Park Drive

  Topsham, ME 04086

   

• Round 2 Habitat Restoration Update (05/28/10) - The Draft Restoration Plan/Supplemental Environmental Assessment (RP/SEA) has been approved by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and is currently being reviewed by the USFWS.  The Draft RP/SEA will be made available for review via a 30-day public comment period.  A public meeting will also be held to present the Draft RP/SEA.  It is anticipated that the Draft RP/SEA will be available in July 2010.  An announcement regarding the results of the initial Threshold Criteria Evaluation will be posted on this website in the near future.
  
  Revised Schedule (subject to change):
  July 2010 - Draft Restoration Plan for Public Comment
  October 2010 - Final Restoration Plan issued by MA SubCouncil
  November 2010 - Awards Provided to Selected Applicant

• Round 2 Habitat Restoration Update (09/21/09) – Proposals have now been reviewed independently by state and federal reviewers and consensus-based review has been performed by the review teams. The MA SubCouncil is currently in the process of selecting a list of preferred alternatives to be considered for funding. After the preferred alternatives are selected, the selected projects will be included in a Draft Restoration Plan/Supplemental Environmental Assessment (RP/SEA). The Draft RP/SEA will be available for review and public comment. A public meeting will also be held to present the Draft RP/SEA.  It is anticipated that the Draft RP/SEA will be available in January 2010. An announcement regarding the results of the initial Threshold Criteria Evaluation will be posted on this website in the near future.
   

• Round 2 Habitat Restoration Update – The MA SubCouncil received 15 proposals requesting nearly $4.5 million in funding.  Proposals may be viewed here.  Proposals were first evaluated by the MA SubCouncil to verify they meet the minimum requirements for consideration as restoration projects (Threshold Criteria Evaluation).  Results of the Threshold Criteria Evaluation will be posted to this website after July 6, 2009. 
  
  As of June 26, 2009, proposals were nearing completion of Independent Evaluation by state and federal reviewers.  Proposals will then commence Consensus-Based Evaluation by state/federal review teams which is anticipated to be complete by the end of July 2009.  For an overview of the proposal evaluation procedure, please see the Final Restoration Project Selection Procedure.
   

• The MA SubCouncil would like to announce that the Round 2 Request for Response (RFR) deadline for habitat restoration proposals has been extended until May 7, 2009. Please see the solicitation announcement on the Commonwealth’s Procurement Access & Solicitation System for additional details regarding the extension. Click here for instructions on accessing the RFR on the Comm-PASS website (Document Number - EEA 09 NRD 02).
   

• For Immediate Release: 1/30/09 - The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Solicit Restoration Proposals for the Housatonic River Watershed.  Click here to read the press release.
   

• Round 2 Habitat Restoration – The Round 2 Request for Responses (RFR) for habitat restoration proposals was released on January 23, 2009, and is available online through the Commonwealth’s Procurement Access & Solicitation System.  Click here to go to the Comm-PASS website (Document Number - EEA 09 NRD 02). Click here for instructions on accessing the RFR.
   

• Applicant Conference: The Massachusetts SubCouncil has scheduled an informational meeting (“Applicant Conference”) to present and respond to questions on the Round 2 solicitation for habitat restoration proposals process. Wednesday, February 25, 2009.

  Important Dates:

  • January 23, 2009 – RFR Release Date
  • February 25, 2009 – Applicant Conference
  • March 11, 2009 – Deadline for Questions on Solicitation
  • March 25, 2009 – Posting of Questions & Responses on
    Comm-PASS
  • April 23, 2009 **Extended to May 7, 2009** – Deadline for Project Proposals
  • October 2009 (subject to change) – Draft Restoration Plan
  • January 2010 (subject to change) – Final Restoration Plan
  • March 2010 (subject to change) – Awards Provided to Selected Applicants
     

• Round 2 Land Protection - Summary of Housatonic River Natural Resource Damages Restoration Process – Click here for information relating to the MA SubCouncil’s emphasis on Land Protection and Habitat Restoration Projects during the Natural Resource Damages Round 2 funding process. 

Public Events Calendar
 

• Applicant Conference - Round 2 Solicitation Informational Meeting - Wednesday, February 25, 2009, Lenox Town Hall, 5:30 – 8:00 PM

• Public Meeting - Land Acquisition Focus Group - Oct. 21, 2008
  Lenox Town Hall, 1:00 PM

• Public Meeting - Round 2 Informational Meeting - Sept. 25, 2008
  Click here to review the presentation.

Press Releases
 

July 2010
7/21/10 - The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Announce the Release of the Round 2 Draft Restoration Plan and Supplemental Environmental Assessment.

January 2009
1/30/09 - The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs in cooperation with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Solicit Restoration Proposal for the Housatonic River Watershed.

September 2008
9/5/08- Public Meeting to discuss Round 2 process

January 2008
1/28/08- The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs in cooperation with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the signing of Round 1 Restoration Projects.

August 2006
8/21/06- Public meeting to present the results of the Review Team’s Round 1 Evaluations of project proposals and ideas September 21, 2006

January 2006
1/25/06- Applicant Conference for Round 1 Funding Solicitation February 7, 2006

December 2005
12/21/05 - Notice of Availability, Round 1 Funding Solicitation: Restoration Project Proposals December 21, 2005

November 2005
11/29/05 - Public meeting to discuss the Notice of Availability, Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment December 13, 2005.

October 2005
10/13/05 - Update on Housatonic River Natural Resources  Damages Fund: Public meeting to be held November 1, 2005.

June 2005
6/30/05 - Restoration Project Selection Procedure Finalized for Housatonic River Funds

May 2005
5/2/05- Public Meeting to discuss DRAFT Restoration Project Selection Procedure May, 11, 2005

February 2005
2/23/05 - Restoration Planning Strategy Finalized for Housatonic River

November 2004
11/24/04 - Public Meeting to discuss DRAFT Restoration Project Evaluation Criteria December 16, 2004

October 2004
10/13/04- Housatonic River Restoration Meetings to Begin October 25, 2004

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