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The Massachusetts Chapter works to pass important environmental bills
and the state and local level. To get involved in our legislative
program, please contact
legislate@sierraclubmass.org. This year’s legislative priorities include the below. Those that were
written by or filed on request of the Sierra Club are noted. We also
testify and support MANY other bills and we will post them here as the
legislative session continues.
(S)=Written by - or filed on the request of
- the Sierra Club
RECYCLING and SOLID WASTE
Bottle Bill Update (S)
#H3515/S1480
Formal Title: An Act to Improve Recycling Rates in the Commonwealth
Sponsors: Rep. Alice Wolf, Sen. Cynthia Creem
Contact:
Kathleen.Hornby@state.ma.us
Additional information:
click here
Description: Adds water, sports drinks, and other on-the-go beverages to our
existing successful bottle bill. Would raise $15million in new funds for the
commonwealth with no additional public costs. The update would keep current with
consumer habits by adding sports drinks, water, and other on-the-go beverages.
It would decrease landfill use, as containers take up more space in landfills
than most other types of waste. It would save energy and oil, as PET “#1”
plastic is 99% petroleum. It would increase the current 20% recycling rate of
non-covered containers to 80%, decrease litter, and create jobs in the recycling
sector.
Plastic Bag Ban (S)
H798
Formal Title: An Act Relative To Decreasing Environmental Hazards, Toxins,
and Litter
Sponsors: Rep. Matt Patrick
Contact:
Margaret.Konner@state.ma.us
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht00pdf/ht00798.pdf
With over 1 billion bird/fish/mammal deaths per year, plastic bags in the
environment are reaching a worldwide crisis. They’re slow to break down, and
when they do, they turn into toxic compounds. Only 5.1% are recycled.
Inexpensive and practical alternatives exist, from paper, safe biodegradable
plastics, and reusable cloth bags. This bill exempts small stores under
$500K/year in sales and targets the large supermarkets – many of which have
already stopped providing plastic bags.
Producer Take-Back for Electronics ("EWaste") H 4374
Formal Title: To Require Producer Responsibility For Collection, Reuse, and
Recycling Of Discarded Electronic Products
Sponsors: Rep. William M. Straus
Contact:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht04/ht04374.htm
Requires producers (or first importers) to pay the costs of managing their
discarded electronic products. Products include computers, printers, TVs, video
cassette players, external hard drives and others. This requirement would
provide a financial incentive for producers to design products that are
non-toxic and easy to disassemble, repair, or recycle. Producers are required to
submit a plan to the DEP detailing how they will make recycling convenient for
the consumer. Producer Responsibility programs boost recycling rates and
generate new businesses and jobs in collection, disassembly, and recycling.
GLOBAL WARMING AND AIR QUALITY
No Increase in Coal Burning (S)
H3069
Formal Title: An Act to Reduce Coal Burning and Use
Sponsor: Rep. Lori Ehrlich
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht03pdf/ht03069.pdf
Bans the new construction of coal-burning facilities or coal-gas conversion
facilities. Coal produces more global warming CO2 than any other fuel. Its
mining is environmentally devastating. There’s no such thing as “clean coal”
despite the hype that the coal industry want you to believe. Does not affect
existing coal facilities.
LAND USE
Public Lands Preservation Act (aka “Article 97/No Net Loss”)
(S) H3438
Formal Title: An Act Protecting The Natural and Historic Resources of the
Commonwealth
Sponsors: Rep. Ruth Balser
Contact: Jake.Lambert@state.ma.us
New/Refile: Refile of S2388 (with some modifications)
Bill Text:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht03pdf/ht03438.pdf
Article 97 of the State Constitution requires that public land acquired for
natural resource purposes not be used for other purposes or otherwise disposed
of without a two thirds vote of each branch of the legislature. There is hardly
a city or town in the Commonwealth that does not have some park, playground,
conservation land, or other public land that is meant to be protected by Article
97. The bill would establish policy that no change in use or disposition of
Article 97 land occur without an alternatives analysis and provision of
replacement land.
Establish Old Growth Forest Reserve (S)
H774
Formal Title: An Act Authorizing the Establishment of Old Growth Forest
Reserves.
Sponsor: Rep. Kulik
Contact:
Katherine.Bishop@state.ma.us
New/Refile: Refile of H797
Bill Text:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht00pdf/ht00774.pdf
In Massachusetts, there are only a few small areas of forests that have
escaped the clearcutting of the past. These Old Growth Forests, which are unique
habitats, have been catalogued, and the next step is that they need to be
protected by placing them in a forest reserve.
Local Control of Personal Watercraft (“Jet Skis”)
(S) H2256
Formal Title: An Act Relative to Jet Skis, Surf Jets, Wet Bikes, and Other
Personal Watercraft in Municipalities.
Sponsor: Rep. Jim O’Day
Contact: Rachel.McCook@state.ma.us
New/Refile: Refile of H2356
Bill Text:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht02pdf/ht02256.pdf
Under current law, if a city/town wishes to place some restrictions on
Personal Watercraft (so-called “Jet Skis”), such as limiting hours, or
curtailing use during sensitive waterfowl migration periods, they are unable to
do so. This bill would enable cities/towns to place restrictions on smaller
bodies of water that are enclosed within the municipality if they so desire.
TRANSPORTATION
Unburden the MBTA’s Debt Load H3151
Formal Title: An Act Improving the Finances of the Massachusetts Bay
Transportation Authority.
Sponsors: Rep. Alice Wolf
Contact: Kathleen.Hornby@state.ma.us
New/Refile: Refile of H3694
Bill text:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht03pdf/ht03151.pdf
During the Big Dig construction, the T was forced to accept $2.9 billion of
the project’s debt load. Due to the payments on this and their existing debt
load, the T is struggling to maintain service and equipment. This bill requires
to state to assume the $2.9 billion in debt, which allow the T to maintain
service objectives.
Preserve the North South Rail Link (NSRL) Right-of-way
(S) H3227
Formal Title: An Act To Preserve The Right Of Way For The North South
Rail Link
Sponsors: Rep. Mary Grant
Contact: dale.earl@hou.state.ma.us
New/Refile: Refile of H3496
Bill Text: http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht03pdf/ht03227.pdf
The purpose of building the NSRL project is to create the backbone for a
modern, efficient, convenient rail service that offers an attractive
transportation option for residents and tourists traveling throughout New
England and the entire Northeast. The NSRL will close the only gap in the East
Coast’s intercity rail system. This bill would study the best corridor for the
link and protect it from future building construction that could prohibit its
establishment.
Other bills:
Reinstate the Clean Environment Fund
(S) H766
Formal Title: An Act To Reinstate The Clean Environment Fund
Sponsors: Rep. Koczera
Contact: Cannon.Farrar@state.ma.us
New/Refile: Refile of H792
Bill Text:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht00pdf/ht00766.pdf
The Clean Environment Fund was eliminated by Gov. Weld. These funds were used
to help our cities and towns increase recycling rates – which have unfortunately
steadily fallen since the fund’s demise. This fund is generated by unclaimed
deposits (“Escheatage”). Increase Redemption Center's reimbursements
Support/Increase Handling Fee for Redemption Centers
(S) H3113
Formal Title: An Act Relative to Reusable Beverage Containers
Sponsors: Rep. Pam Richardson
Contact:
Kurt.Stiegel@state.ma.us
New/Refile: new
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht03pdf/ht03113.pdf
Redemption centers are the backbone of our successful Bottle Bill, but our
redemption centers haven't had a raise in 18 years - and are on the verge of
collapse. This bill increases the handling fee that redemption centers receive
by just one cent (from 2.25 cents to 3.25 cents). The price of beverages has
risen considerably over the past 18 years; however the handling fee has not.
This increase will also account for inflation during this time period. The
increase is entirely paid for by beverage distributors, not by the Commonwealth.
Public Postings when making changes to Parks
(S) H758
Formal Title: An Act to Provide Public Input Into Changes to Public Lands and
Buildings Located Thereon
Sponsors: Rep. Kocot
Contact: Diana.Szynal@state.ma.us
New/Refile: Refile of H739
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht00pdf/ht00758.pdf
Currently, there is no requirement that Massachusetts state agencies and
authorities provide advance notice or hold public hearings, before felling
trees, clearing land, building structures, or making other alterations to public
lands. Residents frequently find out about changes only when they see the spray
paint on the trees or the backhoes on site. This bill requires public notice and
input before for significant physical alterations to state parks and other
public natural resource lands could take place.
Place Recycling Receptacles next to Vending Machines
(S) H3137
Formal Title: An Act to Improve Recycling Rates in the Commonwealth by
Providing Recycling Containers Adjacent to Beverage Vending Machines.
Sponsors: Rep. Alice Wolf
Contact:
Kathleen.Hornby@state.ma.us
New/Refile: Refile of H3297
Bill Text:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht03pdf/ht03137.pdf
Additional information:
Beverage vending machines are regulated by the
Commonwealth. With such a wide array of beverages being sold, and the need to
improve the state’s recycling rate, this bill requires that vending machines
have a nearby receptacle for empty beverage containers. Thi bill would place the
responsibility of emptying the recycling containers on the vending machine
owner, instead of having the empty bottles and cans placed in the municipal
waste stream.
Incineration Moratorium
(S) H725
Formal Title: An Act To Prohibit The Incineration Of Solid Waste
Sponsor: Rep. Mark Falzone
Contact: Naomi.Parker@state.ma.us
New/refile: New
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht00pdf/ht00725.pdf
The DEP instituted a moratorium on expanding trash incineration over 17 years
ago. Incineration produces toxins such as dioxins, furans and other
particulates. As a source of energy, burning trash produces more global warming
CO2 than natural gas, oil, or even coal. Current technologies have made
inadequate progress in reducing the toxicity and threat that incineration poses
to the state’s resident. This bill makes our temporary moratorium permanent.
Particulates Effect on Health H2140
Formal Title: An Act Relative To Reporting On Health Effects Of Particulate
Matter
Sponsors: Rep. Denise Provost
Contact:
Mark.Kennedy@state.ma.us
New/Refile: Refile of H5042
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht02pdf/ht02140.pdf
Enables the Department of Public Health and the Center
for Environmental Health to conduct a study of the data on the health effects of
diesel air pollution from cars, trucks, buses, and trains on people in
facilities located within 500 feet of a road (with 50,000 vehicle trips/day) or
rail line using diesel locomotives. The study may also study cancer, respiratory
and cardiovascular incidence resulting from traffic-related particles.
Healthy Breathing Act H808
Formal Title: An Act Reducing Human Exposure To Particulate Matter Pollution
Sponsor: Rep. Denise Provost
Contact:
Mark.Kennedy@state.ma.us
New/Refile: Refile of H840
Bill Text:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht00pdf/ht00808.pdf
Additional information:
This Bill proposes to reduce the number of health
problems that are caused or worsened by human exposure to fine and ultra-fine
particulate matter that results from the burning of diesel fuel. This bill
attempts to limit the construction of specific residential and institutional
facilities (listed below) within 500 feet of areas with harmful diesel exhaust.
Offroad Diesel Equipment
(S) H854
Formal Title: An Act Reducing Diesel Emissions from Non Road Construction
Equipment
Sponsor: Rep. Alice Wolf
Contact:
Kathleen.Hornby@state.ma.us
New/Refile: Refile of H898
Bill Text:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht00pdf/ht00854.pdf
This bill requires that non-road diesel construction
equipment use ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel at 15 parts per billion. This
would permit new advanced emission-control technologies. These engines
contribute greatly to air pollution in many of our cities and towns. This bill
continues efforts to reduce airborne toxins. The resulting reductions in NOx and
particulate emissions from these engines will provide enormous public health
benefits. The EPA estimates that by 2030, controlling these emissions would
annually prevent 12,000 premature deaths, 8,900 hospitalizations, and one
million work days lost nationally.
Please note: Bill status is based on the best
information available to us at time of publication. The status and/or
language of bills can change quickly and the Sierra Club reserves the right
to change its position on a bill based on the most recent data, which may
not be posted on this web site. In many cases, no position on a bill
indicates that it is a recent file or the Sierra Club has not yet completed
a formal analysis and voted to take a position on the proposed legislation.
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