It’s been a busy spring at the State House, with numerous environmental bills under consideration by the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. NSRWA has been actively engaged in the legislative process, advocating for policies that protect our waterways, promote climate resilience, and support sustainable water use across the Commonwealth.
Below is a list of the priority bills NSRWA is supporting this legislative session:
H.1003/S.586 An Act relative to maintaining adequate water supplies through effective drought management (aka Drought Bill)
This legislation is essential to ensure that Massachusetts handles drought more effectively and consistently. The Governor currently lacks the authority to require water conservation measures until a full-blown emergency arrives, at which point our resources would already be stressed with increased risks of wildfire and threats to water supply. NSRWA testified on a panel with representatives from the Ipswich River Watershed Association, Charles River Watershed Association, Connecticut River Conservancy and Three Sisters Garden Project.
H.1022/S.563, An Act relative to meeting the Commonwealth’s water infrastructure future
This bill authorizes a capital outlay program aimed at upgrading and expanding Massachusetts’ water infrastructure, but we have concerns about two sections of this bill. Section 3 would establish a commission to review the Interbasin Transfer Act (IBTA) and all but one of the named non-governmental groups recommended for the commission have financial or business interests in water expansion. There are no hydrologists, climate scientists, regional planners, economists, or representatives from affordable housing NGOs. Section 6 similarly proposes a task force for regulatory review and omits the same types of members. NSRWA and a number of other partner organizations signed on to a comment letter, asking the committee to reject these sections and strengthen the IBTA to further protect our rivers that are impaired due to existing withdrawals.
H.1052/S.557 An Act accelerating wetlands restoration
This bill supports wetland restoration projects by aligning permitting with the beneficial results of restoration projects. Thousands of acres of wetlands in Massachusetts are impacted by historic ditching, draining, filling, channelization, introduction of non-native plants, and other alterations that impair their natural functions. While strong laws now protect wetlands from large-scale destruction, action is urgently needed to heal many of these systems and halt ongoing damage and degradation. NSRWA joined other environmental organizations in a comment letter asking the committee to report the bill favorably out of committee in order to eliminate some of the existing regulatory barriers to wetland restoration and streamline the permitting process.
H.984 An Act relative to water flow in the Central Plymouth County Water District
This bill proposes amended language to the Acts of 1964, which established the process by which the City of Brockton could draw water from Silver Lake for drinking water supply, and divert water from Monponsett Pond and Furnace Pond as needed. Furnace Pond flows into the Herring Brook, then the Indian Head River, eventually joining the North River. The current language is ambiguous and the proposed language would require water supply managers to prioritize environmental health and maintain continuous flow to dependent rivers sufficient for habitat viability. This represents an essential step toward healing these three important river systems from the damage done over the past half-century. NSRWA submitted a letter to the committee to take the necessary steps to approve the proposed amendments.
H.4110 An Act to eliminate the North River Commission and put it in the hands of local town conservation commissions
NSRWA will be testifying in opposition to this bill at next week’s hearing. We believe the North River is a shared, regional resource and should therefore be governed by a regional body. Shifting authority to local conservation commissions would lead to inconsistent implementation and management as each Town is likely to interpret the Act differently, apply it unevenly depending on available resources, and be more susceptible to local political pressure. The North River Commission has been responsible for implementing the North River Protection Order since 1978. It stands as a model of consistent, regional stewardship and has played a key role in preserving the river’s ecological, recreational, and scenic values. We believe their authority should be strengthened and not eliminated, in order to better align with the state’s climate resilience goals and ensure coordinated, long-term protection of this critical natural resource.
Fireworks Site letter to Governor
In May, NSRWA and local legislators sent a letter to Governor Healey’s office, urging her to submit a letter of concurrence to propose placing the former National Fireworks Site on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s National Priorities List. The Governor’s letter to EPA is an essential step in the Superfund process and we are hopeful that EPA will consider listing the Fireworks Site at their August meeting.