Six U.S. states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico have joined the Coalition in its campaign to reestablish important safeguards for oil transport in Massachusetts.

Late last month, the state of Washington filed an amicus brief on behalf of Alaska, Oregon, California, Rhode Island, Maine, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in support of the Coalition’s federal appeal of the July 2006 U.S. District Court decision that struck down large portions of The Massachusetts Oil Spill Prevention Act. The ruling removed essential provisions safeguarding the shipment of oil through Buzzards Bay and deemed major provisions of the Act unconstitutional because they covered areas of maritime law regulated by the Coast Guard... Read more [here]

New legislation drafted by the Coalition and filed on January 10 by Senator Mark C.W. Montigny and Representative John F. Quinn calls for the creation of a Rescue Tug and State Pilot Program whereby tug boats would shadow oil tankers as they navigate through Buzzards Bay. Lawmakers from Westport to the Cape and Islands have signed on to the bill, which is modeled after a similar program in Washington State... Read more [here]

As a new administration sets its priorities at the Massachusetts State House, the Coalition is engaging Governor Patrick and his staff on the critical environmental issues facing Buzzards Bay.

Click [here] to view a recent letter from the Coalition to the Patrick/Murray transition working group on Energy and the Environment.

Marshall Marine has been building traditional Cape Cod catboats in South Dartmouth since 1964. The company had its beginnings in New Hampshire in 1962 when founder Breck Marshall began producing traditional American catboats in fiberglass—something few boat builders had yet done. His first design was an 18-footer he called Sanderling after the New England shorebird.

Located on Padanaram Harbor on the Apponagansett River, the Coalition corporate partner builds about 20 to 25 boats a year. In addition to the Sanderling daysailer, they offer a15-foot Sandpiper and the 22-foot family cruiser, Marshall 22. Marshall Marine also stores nearly 100 boats a year and services their own boats as well as those built by other manufacturers.

Last summer, after twenty years of able stewardship by John Garfield, the 45 year-old company was brought back into the Marshall family when Breck Marshall’s son, Geoff, purchased the business. Marshall Marine employs a staff of 11, including Geoff, who manages the business and directs sales.

For several years, Marshall Marine has supported The Coalition for Buzzards Bay through their corporate membership program. When Geoff Marshall took over the business last year, maintaining a commitment to protecting Buzzards Bay was high on his list of priorities. “We definitely wanted to continue the same level of support to the Coalition that had been given by the boatyard’s previous owner, John Garfield,” he says... Read more [here]

There is new and easy way to raise money for The Coalition for Buzzards Bay just by searching the Internet.

It's simple. Use GoodSearch.com like any other search engine—the site is powered by Yahoo!—and each time you do, money is generated for the Coalition. GoodSearch donates 50% of advertising revenue to the nonprofits and schools selected by their users.

We hope that you start using GoodSearch as your main search engine and will also pass this message on to your friends and family. The more people who use GoodSearch, the more money will go towards helping us Save Buzzards Bay. GoodSearch estimates that if 1,000 people use the search engine twice a day for a year, the Coalition could earn $7,300.

For more information about GoodSearch, which has been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Fortune, and OPRAH Magazine, among others, visit www.goodsearch.com.

Economic & Ecological Sustainability for the SouthCoast
Coalition member Carol Steinfeld invites interested individuals to a talk that will explore forming a network to promote economic and ecological sustainability on the SouthCoast. The group will brainstorm priorities and activities in several areas including energy/water, economy, food, and community.

Wednesday, January 31
7:00-8:30 PM
First Unitarian Church, 71 Eighth Street, New Bedford
RSVP: carol@ecowaters.org; 978-760-0034
Click [here] for more information

Lessons from Hurricane Katrina
Drs. John Teal and Susan Peterson will bring home lessons they have discovered as leading scientists who have studied Hurricane Katrina's effects on Louisiana’s environment. After seeing the devastating aftermath firsthand, they hope to spark interest in SouthCoast residents and generate discussion about how to avoid the same problems here. Sponsored by Rochester Land Trust, Sippican Lands Trust, and Mattapoisett Land Trusts.

Sunday, January 28
3:00-5:00 PM
Marion Music Hall, 164 Front Street, Marion
Refreshments will be served, including wine, beer, and hors d’eourves.
Donations will be accepted in lieu of admission.

Much of the Coalition's work puts us at the forefront of the region's top environmental issues. Here are a few recent stories that mention our efforts.

• Local Farmland Wins Protection from Development (Providence Journal)
• Local Tiverton Farm Protected from Developers by Easements (The Newport Daily News)
• Local Lawmakers Want Tugs to Shadow Oil Barges (Standard Times)
• Trash Litters Southcoast Shores (Standard Times)

The Coalition for Buzzards Bay is a member of the Waterkeeper Alliance.

email: e-newsletter@savebuzzardsbay.org

phone: 508-999-6363

web: http://www.savebuzzardsbay.org