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September 2008
Offshore drilling in New England a non starter
 Thirty years ago, CLF’s lawsuit led to an extensive offshore drilling moratorium in George’s Bank, one of the most fertile marine areas in the Gulf of Maine. Now, as Congress is poised to debate the issue, CLF has promised to fight the Bush administration’s current plan to open offshore areas to oil drilling.
“Offshore drilling in New England would threaten our ocean’s health and the economic future of thousands of fishing families it’s a non-starter,” said Peter Shelley, CLF Vice President and Director of Massachusetts Advocacy Center, who was part of the CLF legal team that defeated past offshore drilling proposals at Georges Bank. “Over two decades ago we worked hand-in-hand with fishing families to fight wrong-headed drilling proposals and we stand ready to do the same today. It is time to move beyond our addiction to oil and invest in safe, renewable energy.”
>> CLF Press release
>> CLF’s letter to Congress
>> Help CLF Fight Offshore Drilling! Donate today
CLF Speaks Out Against Proposal to Weaken Endangered Species Act
 Last month, CLF and representatives from 104 conservation and scientific organizations representing millions of American's submitted a letter to Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne and Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez calling for increased transparency and opportunities for public participation on a new rule proposal. The rule, published by the Bush administration in the federal register, would radically weaken the Endangered Species Act. The public comment period is limited to 30 days.
The abbreviated timeline and restrictive commenting options raise serious concerns that the Department of the Interior and the Department of Commerce is attempting to rewrite a bedrock environmental statute without allowing for adequate public involvement.
"For one of our nation's most important and successful environmental laws, the thirty-day comment period is woefully inadequate for the public to review and comment on this critical proposal," noted Sean Cosgrove, CLF’s Marine Campaign Director.
>> CLF Press release
>> Organizational comment letter
>>Massachusetts residents
Make Your Voice Heard for Better Public Transit!
 This fall, the Executive Office of Transportation is kicking off a civic outreach effort to talk to Massachusetts residents about their experiences using the transportation system.
Tell us what you observe every day as you move around on the roads, rails, and trails of our state. Come to one of the public workshops listed here and help us to make our transportation system better for everyone.
Hear the latest plans for our ocean waters
 The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) is undertaking a first-in-the-nation effort to develop a comprehensive plan to manage development in state ocean waters.
Listening Sessions The ocean plan development process is just beginning, and the first step is to go out to the public and hear from Commonwealth citizens on their goals for the ocean plan. These public meetings will be held throughout the state, beginning in mid-September and continuing throughout October. The first listening session is scheduled for Thursday, September 18, at 7:00 pm in Boston’s Faneuil Hall.
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