HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2036        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Mike Connolly

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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 protecting drinking water and public health from sand mining pollution.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2036        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act protecting drinking water and public health from sand mining pollution.

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

The General Laws are hereby amended by inserting after chapter xx, the following Section:

(a) There shall be created a 6 member advisory panel which shall consist of the following members or their designees: one member from the office of the secretary of energy and environmental affairs with an expertise in geographic information systems (GIS); two members, one appointed by the President of the Senate and one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, with knowledge of ecology, ecosystems, forestry and biodiversity and/or from the office of the State Geologist; one member from Community Land & Water Coalition or their designee; one expert in hydrology nominated by the University of Massachusetts and appointed by the Governor; and one Indigenous person with expertise in Indigenous and environmental justice issues.

(b) The panel shall serve in an advisory capacity only and shall meet monthly or more frequently in public meetings to investigate the scope and scale of sand mining.

(c) The investigation shall address sand mining in the Commonwealth including (1) the current and potential impact on drinking water; (2) impact on Environmental Justice communities; (3) climate change mitigation and resilience; (4) air pollution including worker and public exposure to respirable crystalline silica from sand mines.

(d) Said investigation shall conclude within two years and include recommendations for regulatory changes to protect drinking water, worker and public health, and the environment. Said changes may include changes to licensing laws for mining, Part I, Title II, Chapter 21B, Section 5 of the General Laws.