EPA to host Open House on Final Design Plans for New Rail Spurs

08:34AM / Wednesday, October 14, 2026Print Story | Email Story

LENOX, Mass. – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host an Open House on Oct. 21, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Berkshire Scenic Rail Museum located at 10 Willow Creek Road in Lenox.

EPA and General Electric (GE) will provide the public with information and answer questions about the Final Design Plan for the new Rail Loading Areas on the Site. The spurs will be located off Utility Drive in Pittsfield, and the other is adjacent to Woods Pond in Lenox.

"Local, state, and Tribal partners have all reviewed and contributed feedback that shaped this final plan," said EPA New England Regional Administrator Mark Sanborn. "Residents' perspectives are essential as we move forward together to restore clean water and healthy soil across the Berkshire community."

On Sept. 21, 2026, GE submitted the Final Design Plan for Rail Transload Areas in Reaches 5 and 6 (Revised Baseline Restoration Report, Cultural Resource Survey Addendum and Transmittal Letter (https://semspub.epa.gov/src/document/01/704056) to EPA for review and approval.

EPA is requesting public input on this document be sent to R1Housatonic@epa.gov by Friday, November 6th, 2026.

For more information about the Plans and site, please visit:https://www.epa.gov/ge-housatonic.

Tags: EPA,

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

Save & Earn with Greylock

3.30% APY 6-month certificate. Click to learn more! Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Rename

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday.

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to rename the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection.

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data. Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost."

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor.

View Full Story