HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2731        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 664

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Robert F. Fennell

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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 local on-site sewage disposal systems.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2731        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 664

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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An Act relative to local on-site sewage disposal systems.

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 13 of chapter 21A of the Massachusetts General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 official edition, is hereby amended by striking out the first paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

A board of health may adopt a local on-site sewage disposal systems regulation, only to the extent that it imposes standards or other requirements that are more stringent than or otherwise exceed those set forth in Title 5 of the State Environmental Code, 310 CMR 15.000, and only if, prior to adoption by the board of health, the Department of Environmental Protection shall review and approve any such proposed on-site sewage disposal systems regulation based upon findings that the proposed regulation has a generally recognized scientific basis, is a recommended best practice technique, is necessary to protect unusual local resources that warrant special or enhanced protection, and does not conflict with Title 5 of the State Environmental Code, 310 CMR 15.000.  An appeal of a decision made under a local wetlands ordinance or by-law shall be made to the Department of Environmental Protection in accordance with the Wetlands Protection Act (G.L. Ch. 131 § 40) and regulations (310 CMR 10.00) thereunder.

SECTION 2.The first paragraph of Section 31 of chapter 111, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the second sentence the following sentence:-

A board of health may adopt local on-site sewage disposal systems regulations that contain standards or other requirements that are more stringent than or otherwise exceed those set forth in Title 5 of the State Environmental Code, 310 CMR 15.000, only if, prior to adoption by the board of health, the Department of Environmental Protection shall review and approve any such proposed on-site sewage disposal systems regulation based upon findings that the proposed regulation has a generally recognized scientific basis, is a recommended best practice technique, is necessary to protect unusual local resources that warrant special or enhanced protection, and does not conflict with Title 5 of the State Environmental Code, 310 CMR 15.000.