Communicating with your elected officials on environmental issues is an effective way to work for environmental protection at the federal, state, and local level. The Massachusetts Chapter is involved in a myriad of issues statewide. You can help turn the tide on important issues by urging a politician or decision-maker to act on behalf of the environment on the issues below. Your voice counts... be heard! Follow the links below to take action.

Petitions in this section:
Save the Northern Right Whale
Stop Mt. Wachusett Ski Area Expansion
Moratorium on Airport Expansion
Silver Line

Oppose Ski Area Expansion at Mt. Wachusett State Reservation
Proposed expansion of the Wachusett Mountain Ski Area continues to threaten the wildlife, resources, hiking trails, and public water supply of Wachusett Mountain State Reservation. In September 2003, the private developer clear-cut a 140 year old Northern Red Oak Forest which was the buffer zone for an Old Growth Forest, and in an area the state said would be managed in a "hands-off fashion". This summer, the developers and the state are scheduled to clear even more trees on our state parklands! Click here to learn more about the Sierra Club's efforts to protect public lands and rare forest habitat at Mt Wachusett.

Call both your senator and representative TODAY and ask that they oppose this project.

Then please call to the Governor’s office at 617-725-4005 and ask that he cancel the remaining clearcut of our public lands.
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TALKING POINTS
I am opposed to the continued expansion by a private developer on public lands of the Wachusett Mountain Ski Area. This private enterprise leases land from the Department of Conservation and Recreation and is operated by Wachusett Mountain Associates. Ski area expansion requires clear cutting of state owned forest land and will destroy unique wildlife habitat, impact historic and present native cultural resources, degrade a watershed area, and adversely impact a public drinking water supply. The ski area operators do not own the land, and they should not be permitted to destroy more public parklands for the sake of private profit. The management of the mountain should be in the best interest of the general public. We urge you to exercise use your authority as Governor and cancel the remainder of this environmentally devastating project by a private developer on public lands.

Save the Northern Right Whale Sample Letter
There are less than 300 right whales left on Earth, making it one of the world's most endangered species and the world's most endangered large whale. Despite protection under the federal Endangered Species Act, the state continues to evade its responsibilities despite a court order that they reduce risk to the whale. Click here to learn more about the Sierra Club's efforts to save the Northern Right Whale.

Sample Letter - Northern Right Whale
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Dear (representative/senator):

The Northern Right Whale, with only 300 animals left, is threatened with extinction. Marine mammals are threatened with injury and death from a number of human activities and threats. At present, no measure has been adopted that will ensure the survival of the species.
I urge you to enact legislation and/or support measures which would:
1. Instruct the federal government and the state to pass and enforce regulations which prohibit the use of fishing gear which entangles whales and other marine mammals.
2. Instruct the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries to adhere to the stipulations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Environmental Protection Act. These laws require that the human induced mortality rate of Northern Right Whales be zero! This goal must be met to insure the survival of the whale.
3. Enact legislation to tighten restrictions on coastal and wetland development.
4. Place additional restrictions on boating in whale habitat, including whale watching activities.
5. Create legislation that would harshly punish any intentional disturbance of marine mammals by boaters and personal watercraft (e.g. Jet Skis).
6. Support efforts requiring the rerouting of shipping channels traversing whale habitat in federal and international waters, particularly during peak whale migration periods.
7. Restrict or ban the sale of helium filled balloons. For marine animals, balloons may mean death, as do other forms of plastic and ocean debris. Balloons can be ingested by whales, dolphins, turtles, seals, fish and waterfowl, who believe they are food such as jellyfish or squid and then choke on the indigestible plastic.
8. Enact measures to prohibit the usage of Low-Frequency and Mid-Frequency Sonar which is now known to cause death and injury of marine mammals.
9. Reject measures which would exempt the military from our nation's environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act.

Thank you,
(your name)

Please send a copy of your letter to:

Mary Colligan
Assistant Regional Administrator of Protected Resources
National Marine Fisheries Service/Northeast Region
One Blackburn Drive
Gloucester, MA 01930

Moratorium on Airport Expansion
Airport expansion threatens our natural environment and surrounding communities. The resulting high noise levels, pollution and traffic congestion cause numerous social and health problems, including loss of open space and wetlands areas, and despoiled natural recreation areas. Expanded air traffic also erodes property values, which, in turn, adversely impact the maintenance of schools and other community services. Click here to learn more about the Sierra Club's efforts to promote balanced transportation choices for all in Massachusetts and New England.

Sample Letter - Airport Expansion
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Dear (representative/senator):

Airport expansion threatens our natural environment and surrounding communities. The resulting high noise levels, pollution and traffic congestion cause numerous social and health problems, including loss of open space and wetlands areas, and despoiled natural recreation areas. Expanded air traffic also erodes property values, which, in turn, adversely impact the maintenance of schools and other community services.
In order to maximize the utility of our existing air, highway, and rail transportation systems in such a way that we have captured every possible efficiency in each system and made every effort to minimize additional environmental degradation, I urge you to support the following measures:
A moratorium on all airport expansion until:
1. The North/South Rail Link project (NSRL) through Boston is constructed as an alternative to continued airport and highway expansion. The construction of the NSRL will extend the benefits of Amtrak's successful high-speed Northeast Corridor (NEC) to northern Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.
2. The U. S. Department of Transportation (US DOT/ONE DOT) completes a study of all airport, highway and rail systems contained within the FAA's "Eastern Region" and "New England Region" with the objective of reducing demand for short distance air trips under 400 miles. This study will assume the North/South Rail Link construction is complete.
3. A properly funded Citizen's Advisory Committee, representing environmental and community groups throughout the regions, must be involved in the scoping and the evaluation of this study.
Until all these objectives have been reached, I ask you to oppose any further airport expansion in our region.

Thank you,
(your name)

Silver Line
Click here to learn more about the Sierra Club's efforts to promote balanced transportation choices for all in Massachusetts and New England.

Please mail your letter to the Governor and the Transportation Secretary:

Governor Deval Patrick
State House
Office of the Governor
Room 360
Boston, MA 02133

Bernard Cohen, Secretary of Transportation
The Executive Office of Transportation and Construction
10 Park Plaza, Suite 3170
Boston, MA 02116

Sample Letter - Silver Line Should Be Light Rail
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Dear Governor Deval Patrick:

While Massachusetts is suffering a fiscal crisis is not the time to build public transportation projects that will carry fewer passengers for more money. Phase III of the Silver Bus Line will cost at least $1 billion, require tearing up the newly refurbished YMCA, large swaths of Chinatown, the Theater District, and the Boston Common. Using the existing tunnel from Boylston Street tunnel and implementing a light rail option will save the state hundreds of millions of dollars, and according to MBTA studies will increase ridership by 200%-250%. For fifteen years the MBTA has promised service equal to or better than the elevated orange-line that serviced Roxbury. After providing only dirty-diesel bus service for fifteen years that community now suffers asthma rates six times higher than the state average. Please save the taxpayers money and provide justice to the communities affected by installing light rail, the smart, convenient choice.

Thank you,
(your name)