Sea, Sand and Sky: Hello from Rachael Miller, Environmental Policy intern

Monday, February 15, 2016

Hello from Rachael Miller, Environmental Policy intern

Greetings fellow beach lovers,

I'm Rachael Miller, the newest environmental policy intern at Save the Harbor/Save the Bay for the spring semester. I am an undergraduate student in my final semester at Boston University, studying Environmental Analysis and Policy with a minor in Spanish.

Over the summer, I had an internship with the EPA in Washington, DC, where I conducted research for a proposed regulation of methylene chloride and other toxic chemicals under TSCA section 6. While I appreciated the opportunity to work with the government agency that controls
environmental regulation, ultimately I decided a government office wasn't for me.

It is the beginning of my second week at Save the Harbor and I can already tell it is a perfect fit! Before going to DC this summer, I had an idealized image of the EPA being aggressive in its mission to mitigate climate change and protect the many ecosystems in the United States. However, upon seeing the boatloads of hoops the EPA has to jump through just to make an inch of progress, I began looking at other organizations. The main driving force behind my wanting to work at Save the Harbor was their history of success in improving water quality and cleaning up beaches in the Boston community. I was told I would have the opportunity to work on projects I truly cared about, and at the commencement of my internship I would be able to point to something and say, "I did that." For me, being able to see my impact is incredibly rewarding.

Save the Harbor is gearing up for their event Shamrock Splash, and though I know the water will be freezing, I'm so excited to participate in an important fundraiser for the organization. I have spent some time getting the word out for registration. I am also working on a testimony in support of Representative Vincent's House Bill 771, which calls for the closure of Wheelabrator's unlined ash landfill in Saugus, by December 31, 2016. I am so thankful to immediately be working on an issue directly related to environmental policy and am looking forward to many more important projects at Save the Harbor this spring.

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Welcome!

Welcome to Save the Harbor / Save the Bay's Boston Harbor blog "Sea, Sand & Sky".

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is a non-profit public-interest Boston Harbor environmental advocacy organization whose mission is to restore and protect Boston Harbor, Massachusetts Bay, the Boston Harbor Islands, the Boston Harbor region's public beaches, Boston's waterfront and the marine environment and share them with the public, for everyone to enjoy.

Since 1986, Save the Harbor / Save the Bay has been the driving force behind the transformation of Boston Harbor from one of the dirtiest urban harbors in America to one of the cleanest in the world.

As a result of our advocacy, Boston Harbor has been transformed from a "Harbor of Shame" into a source of recreational, educational and economic opportunity and civic pride. Today the beaches of South Boston are among the cleanest urban beaches in the nation, the Boston Harbor Islands are a National Park, and Boston's waterfront has become a compelling destination for residents and visitors alike.

Working with a broad base of civic, corporate, government, scientific, philanthropic and community partners, Save the Harbor / Save the Bay continues to strengthen the connections between communities and the harbor, and promote the increasingly important impact Boston Harbor has on the region’s economy.

Each year Save the Harbor / Save the Bay runs 2 free Youth Environmental Education Programs that combine recreation and hands-on education to bring Boston Harbor alive for thousands of Boston area young people. Since 2003, we have connected nearly 250,000 youth and teens to Boston Harbor, the Boston Harbor Islands, our region's public beaches and Boston's waterfront.