Housatonic News

MassDEP Commissioner Kenneth Kimmel, left, Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Mary Griffin and Curt Spalding of EPA take questions about the cleanup plan.

MassDEP Commissioner Kenneth Kimmel, left, Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Mary Griffin and Curt Spalding of EPA take questions about the cleanup plan.

State and federal environmental officials presented a uniform front on Thursday, describing a potential cleanup of the Housatonic River designed to balance the need to protect human health and preserve existing resources.

Public meetings will be held in Massachusetts and Connecticut to discuss the next steps for the potential cleanup of the Housatonic River.

Federal environmental officials say they'll remove up to 1 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment and soil from the Housatonic River and its floodplain.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency intends to remove up to 1 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment and soil from the Housatonic River and its floodplain, according to a brief released by the agency Friday morning.

Updated and re-written: Friday, May 11, 2012 at 3:33 p.m. with Berkshire Scenic Railway's response.

Despite denials by state and federal agencies of any safety issues involving the Berk shire Scenic Railway Mu seum, the Housatonic Railroad Co.

The board is reviewing economic development committees in other municipalities across the state in the hopes of fashioning a framework for a group that would speak to the specific needs of Great Barrington.

It's not every Friday night you get to experience a gallery exhibit opening among children's clothes, computer salesmen, decadent carrot cake, and the occasional hardware supplies and state-of-the-art vacuum cleaners.

Organizers of the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum fear the organization could become a less attractive tourist site in Berkshire County.