SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1669        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 407

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Bruce E. Tarr

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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 relative to the creation of a special commission on coastal erosion.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1669        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 407

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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An Act relative to the creation of a special commission on coastal erosion.

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: Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary there is hereby established a special commission on coastal erosion defense, which shall investigate and document the levels and impacts of coastal erosion in the commonwealth, and develop a strategy and recommendations to reduce, minimize or eliminate the magnitude and frequency of coastal erosion and its adverse impacts on property, infrastructure, public safety and beaches and dunes.

In the performance of its mission, said commission shall make a reasonable assessment of coastal erosion, and a corresponding appraisal of the financial amount of damage to property, infrastructure and beach and dune resources which has been sustained from 1978 to the present, and a reasonable estimate of the value of damage likely to occur in the next ten years under current conditions, regulations and laws.

Based on such assessments, said commission shall evaluate all current rules, regulations and laws governing the materials, methodologies and means which may be used to guard against and reduce or eliminate the impacts of coastal erosion, and shall examine any possible changes, expansions, reductions and laws which would improve the ability of municipalities and private property owners to guard against or reduce or eliminate the impacts of coastal erosion without undue adverse environmental impacts. The commission shall focus particularly on increasing the availability of cost-effective measures to protect against coastal erosion.

The commission shall consist of the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs or a designee, the director of the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, three elected municipal officials from coastal communities appointed by the Governor, two conservation agents from coastal communities appointed by the Governor, a representative of a membership based environmental organization appointed by the Governor, a representative of coastal property owners in the Commonwealth appointed by the Governor, a coastal geologist with relevant experience and knowledge pertaining to coastal erosion appointed by the Governor, a civil engineer with relevant experience and knowledge pertaining to coastal erosion appointed by the Governor, and a representative of the citizens of the Commonwealth appointed by the Governor.

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and its subdivisions shall provide technical support to the commission.

The commission shall file its report, together with recommendations for changes to improve protection against coastal erosion with the clerks of the House and Senate not later than eight months following the passage of this act.