NCTC Events
On Monday, February 8, 2010 at 7:30 pm, scientist Virginia Burkett will present “Global Climate Change and Wildlife“ in the Byrd Auditorium at the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) in Shepherdstown, WV.
Virginia Burkett is the Chief Scientist for Global Change Research at the U.S. Geological Survey. She was formerly Chief of the Forest Ecology Branch at the National Wetlands Research Center and Associate Regional Chief Biologist for the USGS Central Region. Dr. Burkett has served as Director of the Louisiana Coastal Zone Management Program, Director of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and Assistant Director of the Louisiana Geological Survey. She has published extensively on the topics of global change and low-lying coastal zones. She was a Lead Author on the United Nation's IPCC Third and Fourth Assessment Reports (2001 and 2007) and an IPCC Technical Paper on Water (2007). She coordinated both the Coastal and Southeast synthesis chapters of the U.S. National Assessment of climate change and its impacts. During her career Burkett has been appointed to over 40 Commissions, Committees, Science Panels and Boards.
On Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 7:00 pm, author Ned Tillman will present “The Chesapeake Watershed: A Sense of Place and a Call to Action“ in the Byrd Auditorium at the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) in Shepherdstown, WV. This talk is co-sponsored by the Potomac Valley Audubon Society.
The Chesapeake Watershed helps create a Sense of Place in the reader and offers them a Call to Action to help save the Bay and our planet from a range of human impacts, including global warming. It is a timely book. Blending natural history and personal narrative, the author takes the reader into the murky shallows of the Bay to chase crabs, onto the Eastern Shore to hunt quail, and into the Piedmont to paddle through white water. At the end of each chapter, there are suggestions the reader can pursue to become a better steward of the watershed and our planet.
Ned Tillman is a lifelong resident of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and an active sportsman and environmentalist. He’s enjoyed a career in the environmental industry, and now advises organizations on how to become more sustainable. Ned has served as chair of the County Environmental Sustainability Board, the Howard County Conservancy, and the Maryland Geothermal Energy Commission. He received a BA from Franklin and Marshall College and a MS from Syracuse University in earth and environmental sciences. He has been on the staff of The Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland and president of Target Environmental, Columbia Technologies, and Growth Adventures.
These talks are free and open to the public. The NCTC is located at 698 Conservation Way along Shepherd Grade Rd. in Shepherdstown, WV 25443 approximately 70 miles west of Washington and Baltimore. No tickets or reservations are required. For more information on the series please visit: http://training.fws.gov/history/publiclectures.html or contact Mark Madison (Mark_Madison@fws.gov; 304 876-7276).
Recycling News
EPA Video Contest
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is sponsoring a video contest that challenges filmmakers to produce short, creative videos that highlight the “Three Rs” of individual consumption: reduce, reuse, and recycle. The agency is accepting submissions for the contest, called “Our Planet, Our Stuff, Our Choice,” through Feb. 16. More information on the contest can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/recycle.
Statewide Solid Waste Initiatives Discussed
On January 13, 2010, members of some solid waste authorities met at Stonewall Jackson State Park, near Roanoke, WV to discuss potential future legislative concepts with the desire to improve the recycling and solid waste programs across West Virignia. Representatives of the West Virginia Solid Waste Management Board were also present to answer questions and offer technical guidance to those present.
There were many topics discussed, including but not limited to, potential funding mechanisms for increased recycling, county and statewide recycling goals, legislative resolutions and studies, diversion rates, closed landfills, leachate issues, potential award programs to encourage private industry recycling, and the need for expired medicine collection programs or legislation.
The Berkeley County Solid Waste Authority (BCSWA) is pleased to announce an expansion to metal fence recycling program.
Starting immediately, residents can drop off any type of metal fencing material at the Grapevine Road Recycling Center and the South Berkeley Recycling Center. Examples of such fence material include barb wire, chain link fence, American Wire fencing and farm fencing. Fence material will be accepted regardless of size, length, age or condition. To be acceptable, the fence material must be removed from all fence posts and all other material.
Both the Grapevine Road Recycling Center and the South Berkeley Recycling Center is open Tuesday through Saturday; 9 am to 5pm. The center closes on Sunday's, Monday's and posted holidays. All fencing will be inspected by the recycling center staff prior to acceptance. The BCSWA reserves the right to reject any fence material not considered acceptable. This fence collection program will not offered at the Hedgesville Recycling Center.
Recycling Program Participation Exceeds 100,000 Cars
The local economy may be shrinking and county budgets are smaller but records show that Berkeley County citizens are recycling more than ever. Data collected from electronic and hand counters measured 100,383 vehicles that entered the three Berkeley County drop off recycling centers in 2009. This represents a 13% increase in participation from 2008 where the counters recorded 88,960 vehicles.
Calendar year 2009 was the 14th year of the county's recycling program. The year began with serious concerns as the commodity market had collasped in the previous 4th quarter. However, despite the closure of one center and operational day reductions at the three other centers, data shows that Berkeley County citizens kept recycling.
The Berkeley County SWA wishes to offers its congratulations to the residents of Berkeley County !
The Berkeley County Recycling Program operates under the guidance of the Berkeley County Recycling Plan. It was developed as an effort to conserve landfill space and to continue the gradual implementation of the West Virginia Recycling Act. The recycling program is co-funded by the Berkeley County Commission and the Berkeley County Solid Waste Authority.
To find more information on the Berkeley County Recycling Program visit the webpage at: http://www.berkeleycountyrecycling.com
Any questions or comments should be directed to the Berkeley County SWA at 304-267-9370 or the Berkeley County Recycling Hotline at 304-671-2925 or by e-mail at berkeleycountyswa@msn.com