Surfside Crossing—NLC Continues the Push for Greater Endangered Species Protection Last year the Nantucket Land Council was granted standing in its appeal of the Natural Heritage Endangered Species Program’s (NHESP) Determination regarding endangered species impacts from the proposed 156-unit Surfside Crossing 40b development. In December the NLC received the final decision from the MA Division of Fish and Wildlife, upholding the original NHESP Determination which failed to acknowledge any habitat or protections for the Northern Long Eared Bat (NLEB), a federally threatened and MA state endangered species. The NLEB has been decimated over the past decade declining by 90% across its Northeast range, in part due to the White Nose Syndrome, a disease that has not been found to impact bats living on Nantucket. The Land Council has responded to the decision by filing a complaint, an appeal under MGL c. 30A, which provides for review of state agency administrative decisions. We have worked closely with the Division of Fish and Wildlife in the past on protecting endangered species and hope to continue to do so in the future. In this instance, however, we think they have erred and we have no choice but to continue our work to protect this species by filing another appeal.
Photo credit: Neil Foley
MATT ANDERSON
BOARD
“Serving on the Board of Directors for the NLC means protecting and preserving our island resources for future generations.”
SPOTLIGHT
EDUCATION NEWS
ADVOCACY NEWS
Karen K. Borchert Educational Grants Program For the 26th consecutive year, the Nantucket Land Council proudly provided educational grants for a variety of science and environmental initiatives in Nantucket’s schools. In total, Karen K. Borchert Educational Grants were awarded to five projects: Nantucket Lighthouse School’s Horticulture Program: Rain Harbison, the Nantucket Lighthouse School’s Director of Horticulture, was awarded a grant to provide equipment and supplies for preschool through 8th grade students. Nantucket Intermediate School Reusable Bottles: The NLC teamed up with NIS Health and Physical Education Teacher Galen Gardner to 6
provide each NIS student with a reusable, stainless steel Klean Kanteen water bottle. Nantucket Lighthouse School’s STEM Math Tools: Erin Dancik, Primary Mathematics Teacher, was awarded a grant to purchase hands-on wooden multiplication tools. Nantucket High School Field Trip to Boston Museum of Science: Grade 10-12 AP biology and honors anatomy students traveled to Boston’s Museum of Science Body World exhibit. Nantucket Lighthouse School Ecosystems in a Bottle/Nantucket Lighthouse School’s Nantucket Land Council Science Library: Joni Amaral, Upper Primary Teacher, used her grant money to bring a classic lesson in basic ecology to the Lighthouse School.
