HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2109        FILED ON: 1/20/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2006

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Peter V. Kocot

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act prohibiting clear cutting in state forests and parks.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Peter V. Kocot

1st Hampshire

1/20/2011

Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.

12th Hampden

1/31/2011

Ellen Story

3rd Hampshire

2/4/2011


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2109        FILED ON: 1/20/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2006

By Mr. Kocot of Northampton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2006) of Peter V. Kocot, Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. and Ellen Story for legislation to further regulate the clear cutting of certain forested lands.  Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 765 OF 2009-2010.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

_______________

 

An Act prohibiting clear cutting in state forests and parks.

 

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.  Section 7 of Chapter 21a of the general Laws is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following:-“…provided, that the secretary shall prohibit the clear cutting of any forested lands under his care and custody, unless necessary to eradicate harmful and invasive insect species.  For the purposes of this section, clear cutting shall be defined as the harvesting of more than seventy-five percent of trees within an area and/or contiguous parcels greater than one acre.”

SECTION 2.  Section 40 of Chapter 132 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following:-“…therefore, it is the policy of the Commonwealth to prohibit clear cutting on all state owned lands and lands under the authority of all public and quasi-public authorities, including, but not limited to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and all municipal watershed properties with conservation protection easements purchased by the commonwealth.”