HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3994        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 856

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Adrian C. Madaro

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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 assessing environmental justice in designated port areas.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3994        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 856

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act assessing environmental justice in designated port areas.

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

The secretary of energy and environmental affairs shall establish a special board (“the board”) to identify and assess the cumulative social, economic and public health impacts of permissible land uses and water uses within designated port areas in environmental justice communities as defined in Section 56 of Chapter 8 of the Acts of 2021.

The board shall have five members. The members shall include: the secretary or a designee; 1 member appointed by the governor with expertise in waterfront development; 1 member appointed by the senate president with knowledge or experience with public health and the environment; 1 member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives with knowledge or experience with environmental justice, climate change, disaster preparedness, or racial inequity; 1 member appointed by the senate minority leader; and 1 member appointed by the house minority leader.

The board shall identify and assess: (i) the prevalence of environmental hazards within designated port areas in environmental justice communities; (ii) the cumulative public health impacts of common environmental hazards found within designated port areas in environmental justice communities; and (iii) current and historic economic trends associated with marine industry and water-dependent uses within designated port areas in environmental justice communities, including but not limited to: (a) workforce and employment trends, (b) trends in revenue generation for the Commonwealth and localities that host designated port areas, and (c) any public expenses incurred to attract, maintain and develop permissible land uses and water uses within designated port areas.

The board shall make recommendations on budgetary, regulatory and statutory actions to mitigate any adverse impacts associated with marine industry and water-dependent uses within designated port areas in environmental justice communities.

The board shall submit its findings and recommendations to the secretary, the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives, and the joint committee on environment, natural resources, and agriculture within 90 days after the passage of this act.