SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1731        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 541

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Susan L. Moran

_________________

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 protecting the upper Cape water supply reserve.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Susan L. Moran

Plymouth and Barnstable


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1731        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 541

By Ms. Moran, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 541) of Susan L. Moran for legislation to protect the upper Cape water supply reserve.  Environment and Natural Resources.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act protecting the upper Cape water supply reserve.

 

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

Section 5 of Chapter 47 of the Acts of 2002 (“An Act relative to the Environmental Protection of the Massachusetts Military Reservation”) is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following:-

In evaluating any proposal for new or expanded activity within the Reserve that requires ten acres or more of habitat destruction or clearcutting of forested land, the Commission shall take no action prior to receiving written recommendations from (a) the Community Advisory Council; (b) the Science Advisory Council; (c) the Upper Cape Regional Water Supply Cooperative and (d) the Cape Cod Commission, as to whether the proposed activity violates any of the environmental performance standards included in the final environmental impact report regarding activities on the Reserve, or whether adjustment of the environmental performance standards is warranted.

If, following receipt of the aforesaid recommendations, the Commission determines (a) that the proposed activity does not violate said standards, or (b) adjusting said standards is warranted, the Commission shall hold, at minimum, a public hearing on its proposed determination in Sandwich, Mashpee, Falmouth, or Bourne, prior to publishing a notice of availability of the proposed adjustment.