HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 351        FILED ON: 1/9/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3445

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act relative to create Cranberry nutrient managment study commission..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.Not withstanding any general or special law or regulation to the contrary, a special commission hereafter referred to as the Cranberry Nutrient Management commission, is hereby established for the purpose of investigating the economic feasibility of conducting remediation practices that will preserve and protect water quality in the Taunton, South Coastal, Buzzards Bay and Cape Cod Drainage Basins.

The Cranberry Water Quality commission shall consist of 10 members; one member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker, one member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate,  a representative of the Department of Environmental Protection, a representative of the Department of Agricultural Resources, representative of the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, a representative of the Plymouth County Conservation District’s Farm Planning Program, a representative of the University of Massachusetts Cranberry Research Station, a representative of the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth’s Center for Marine Science and Technology, a representative of the Coalition for Buzzards Bay and a representative of the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association.

The Cranberry Nutrient Management commission shall identify nutrient management and remediation opportunities in the cranberry industry including but not limited to the identification of additional data, various technologies, engineering solutions or environmental solutions necessary with cost estimates to improve water quality.  The economic viability of the nutrient management opportunities shall be measured by the cost of the installation, the cost of management and operation.

The Cranberry Nutrient Management Commission shall also create a pilot program to implement in the field to serve as model for growers to learn about new technologies.

All members serve without compensation for service on the commission.  Said commission may consult individuals and entities outside its membership for research, advice, support and other functions necessary and appropriate to accomplish the commission’s objectives.  Said commission shall submit a report, including legislative recommendations, if any, to the joint committee on natural resources and agriculture and the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means by December 15, 2007.

The special commission shall dissolve upon completion of its duties and obligations, as indicated by submission of its findings and recommendations.