On September 20th, 2019 Green Acton participated in the 2019 Climate Strike. Actions included a standout at Kelly’s Corner in Acton, and participation in the Boston Climate Strike.
Climate Strike Friday Sep 20
Imagine if everyone around the world who cared about making systemic changes to reduce climate change came together for a day to show those in power that the time to make changes is NOW! That day is this Friday, September 20. Actions include a 7am–9am standout at Kelley’s Corner in Acton, and a Boston rally… Continue reading →
Housing Production Plan Reform
In April 2020, the Green Acton Land Use Committee generated, and the GA Board of directors approved and submitted, suggested principles by which they encourage Acton’s Housing Production Plan (HPP) to abide. Many of Green Acton’s principles helped reform the HPP to support more-sustainable policies.
Green Acton Public Statement re: Proposed Piper Lane Building Project, 7/9/2019
[Sent on 7/15/19 to the Board of Selectmen and the Zoning Board of Appeals, from Debra Simes (President) and Jim Snyder-Grant (Co-President), along with a request that this be taken into account in any future deliberations on this project.] This statement asserts Green Acton’s opposition to the proposed application currently under review for the Piper… Continue reading →
Acton’s Health Department and Water Quality
Water is essential to life, and thus to health. Here in Acton, the Town Health Department oversees many water-related activities and entities. It attends to public and private wells, swimming pools, and the NARA Pond swimming beach, potential sources of groundwater contamination (including septic systems, underground storage tanks, and two Superfund sites), and potential sources… Continue reading →
Lack of Progress on Remediation of 1,4-Dioxane at WR Grace Superfund Site
The previous post described the recent progress that has been made in reducing the levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at the WR Grace Superfund Site by extracting and treating the groundwater, as called for in the 2005 Record of Decision (ROD). Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for 1,4-Dioxane.
Progress on Remediation of VOCs at WR Grace Superfund Site
Since 1985, groundwater at the WR Grace Superfund Site in southeast Acton has been extracted and treated for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Data from the 2018 annual monitoring report suggest that this remediation is making progress.
Green Acton Provides Stakeholder Input for WR Grace Superfund Site Five-year Review
As part of its regular schedule of every-five-years reviews of each active Superfund site, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeks input from affected communities. The WR Grace site is up for review this year, and EPA sought input from Green Acton, the Acton Water District, and the Town of Acton Health Department.
IBM “Field Trip”
Debra Simes and Jim Snyder-Grant, two Green Acton officers and board members, were invited to the IBM office in Littleton to explain to its Green Team and interested parties Green Acton’s work on climate, in particular, and how it works with the Town. Debra and Jim presented to 25–30 employees, and then met with some… Continue reading →
Acton Clean-Up Week 2019
Continuing a long-standing annual tradition, Acton Clean-Up Week freshened up our town this spring. Green Acton co-sponsors the event with the Asian American Civic Engagement Alliance (AACEA), and invites all residents — including individuals, families, and organized groups, such as scout troops — to participate. That means picking up trash and recycling in their own… Continue reading →