Environmental Priorities
Environment is a huge set of topics encompassing health, global warming, land protection, and a host of other issues. With the input of dozens of environmental organizations from across the Commonwealth, we have compiled this list of legislation that we will be watching during 2009-2010.
Watch the state Senate and House live from your computer!
In 2006, MLEV pulled together other organizations to create a focused legislative agenda. The resulting coalition, the Mass Green Alliance, working together to strengthen the voice of the green community. The Mass Green Alliance allows us to better speak with one voice to the legislature and public. Although the coalition does not currently include all environmental organizations, we are hoping it will continue to grow in membership and clout. The 2007-2008 legislative session gave Massachusetts significant victories for the environment, including the passage of four of six Mass Green Agenda priority bills.
2009-2010 Environmental Community Agenda
Maintain Our Water Systems. While Massachusetts receives four feet of rainwater annually, many of our waterways are drying up from excessive water withdrawals and lack of recharge of water to refill our aquifers and provide sufficient flow to rivers and streams. This has led to economic impacts associated with increased water pollution, decreased fisheries and species diversity, and loss of recreational opportunities. The Sustainable Water Resources Act will establish science-based streamflow criteria and standards, give municipalities the option to establish an enterprise fund to mitigate local water and sewer impacts, and facilitate the removal of dangerous or unnecessary dams.
Enact the Sustainable Water Resources Act: HB. 834
Sponsors: Rep. Frank Smizik and Sen. James Eldridge
Contact: Steve Long, The Nature Conservancy, at slong@tnc.org or 617-227-7017 ext. 313
Sustain Community Preservation. More than 40% of Massachusetts' communities have adopted the Community Preservation Act (CPA), which allows cities and towns to receive matching funds to protect open space, preserve historic resources, and create affordable housing and recreational areas. Progress under CPA has been strong, but the future is in doubt due to a sharp decrease in the matching funds from the statewide CPA Trust. This bill will stabilize and strengthen CPA by increasing the trust fund matching percentage, making it easier for cities and less affluent communities to adopt CPA and allowing for the rehabilitation of existing recreational areas with CPA funds.
Enact An Act to Sustain Community Preservation: SB. 90
Sponsors: Rep. Stephen Kulik and Sen. Cynthia Stone Creem
Contact: David Bryant, The Trustees of Reservations at dbryant@ttor.org or 781-784-0567 ext. 7504
Jennifer Ryan, Mass Audubon at jryan@massaudubon.org or 617-523-8448
Protect Our Land. Across Massachusetts, there are approximately 90,000 off-highway vehicles but virtually no oversight or enforcement of their use. Although off-highway vehicles are permitted on many trails, they are often used illegally, destroying habitat and wildlife. We support an increase in penalties and fines for offenders of off-road vehicle laws and trespassers on conservation lands. The collected funds from these penalties and fines will go to education, enforcement, restoration, and development of appropriate places to ride.
Enact An Act Relative to the Regulation of Snow and Recreation Vehicles: HB. 3330
Sponsor: Rep. Frank Smizik
Contact: Jennifer Ryan, Mass Audubon at jryan@massaudubon.org or 617-523-8448
Uphold Massachusetts’ Environmental Legacy. During the last legislative session, the Legislature enacted new laws that set high environmental and energy goals for the Commonwealth. However, without the resources to carry out these policies, Massachusetts will forfeit unique opportunities to maintain our national leadership in developing a green economy, protecting public health, and conserving our natural resources. Since 2001, the percentage of the state budget environmental agencies have received has dropped from 1.1% to just 0.7%. We support a responsible and effective environmental budget.
Provide a Responsible and Effective Environmental Budget for FY2011 that focuses on the programs cannot afford to take any more cuts.
• Department of Environmental Protection Administrative: 2200-0100
• Department of Fish and Game Commissioner: 2300-0100
• Department of Conservation and Recreation State and Urban Parks: 2810-0100
Specific funding recommendations to come.
Contact: Megan Amundson, Mass Green Alliance at megan@mlev.org or 617-462-3633
Key
* Joint TUE = Joint Committee on Telecommunictions, Utilities and Energy.
* Joint ENA = Joint Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture.
* Joint MRG = Joint Committee on Municiplities and Regional Government
* Joint CDSB = Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business