Consolidated Amendment "B" to H3400
Energy and Environmental Affairs
Energy and Environmental Affairs
Fiscal Note: $4,849,400
Amendments 282 and 489 have been re-categorized from Transportation
Amendment 106 has been re-categorized from Education and Local Aid
Amendment 423 has been re-categorized to Labor and Economic Development
Amendments from Energy and Environmental Affairs: 7, 13, 54, 55, 68, 70, 74, 76, 86, 88, 99, 104, 106, 111, 112, 113, 124, 126, 153, 154, 156, 172, 174, 251, 253, 259, 261, 267, 277, 280, 281, 282, 299, 306, 312, 315, 316, 326, 328, 333, 374, 375, 378, 381, 388, 390, 393, 395, 397, 402, 424, 439, 460, 464, 489, 491, 496, 514, 536, 543, 548, 549, 564, 583, 586, 591, 597, 605, 622, 630, 631, 640, 654, 668, 669, 672, 682, 684, 692, 699, 702, 709, 714, 718, 719, 731, 735, 739, 745, 758, 781, 794, 798, 825, 835, 841, 849, 866, 867, 877, 879, 887, 892, 926, 933, 938, 943, 944, 953, 964, 965, 966, 978, 986, 989, 995, 996, 1001, 1030, 1035, 1042, 1045, 1051 and 1071
Mr. Dempsey of Haverhill and others move to amend H.3400 in section 2, in item 2000-0100, by inserting after the words “control program” the following:- ; provided, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for a carbon sequestration program in West Springfield;
And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$6,211,774” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $6,311,774;
And further amend said section 2, in item 2210-0106, by inserting after the words “various implementation requirements of said chapter 21l;” the following:- provided further, that not less than $1,629,860 from this item shall be made available for the operation of the toxics use reduction institute program at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell; provided further, that the department shall enter into an interagency service agreement with the University of Massachusetts to make such funding available for this purpose; provided further, that not less than $644,096 from this item shall be made available for toxics use reduction technical assistance and technology in accordance with said chapter 21I; provided further, that the department shall enter into an interagency service agreement with the executive office for energy and environmental affairs to make such funding available for this purpose;
And further amend said section 2, in item 2310-0200, by striking out the figure “$14,311,692” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $14,411,692;
And further amend said section 2, in item 2330-0100, by inserting after the words “sustainable fisheries;” the following:- provided further, that not less than $83,400 shall be expended for a Great Marsh green crab trapping program; provided further, than not less than $175,000 shall be expended for shellfish propagation in Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties to be administered jointly by the director of marine fisheries and counties; provided further, that not less than $450,000 shall be expended for a program of collaborative research by the Division of Marine Fisheries through the Marine Fisheries Institute, in collaboration with the School for Marine Science and Technology at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, that applies innovative technology to assess the biomass of fish, in the region managed by the New England Fishery Management Council; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for programs at the Fishing Academy, Inc., for young people in greater Boston;
And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$5,629,196” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $6,387,596;
And further amend said section 2, in item 2511-0100, by inserting after the words “chaired by the department” the following:- ; provided, that not less than $120,000 shall be expended for the Massachusetts Farm to School Project; provided further, that not less than $80,000 shall be expended for the apiary inspection program; provided further, that not less than $200,000 shall be expended for the cost of any and all products, equipment, and labor associated with the eradication of the arbovirus, as well as the cost of any other type of pesticide or agent, in order to prevent the spread of eastern equine encephalitis and west nile virus in Bristol and Plymouth Counties; provided further, that not less than $300,000 shall be expended to enhance the buy local effort in western, central, northeastern and southern Massachusetts; and provided further, that not less than $40,000 shall be expended for the establishment and administration of a City Fruit Initiative within the New Bedford region to help tree owners grow healthy fruit, provide assistance in harvesting and preserving fruit, promote the sharing of extra fruit and work to protect urban fruit trees;
And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$5,199,798” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $5,939,798;
And further amend said section 2, in item 2511-0105, by inserting after the words “of the total herein;” the following:- provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for Food for the World Inc.; provided further, that not less than $110,000 shall be expended for the operation of the city of Cambridge’s Weekend Backpack Project for Food Assistance;
And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$16,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $16,160,000;
And further amend said section 2, in item 2800-0101, by inserting after the words “General Laws;” the following:- provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for a flood mitigation study in Peabody;
And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$1,025,688” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $1,075,688;
And further amend said section 2, in item 2800-0500, by inserting after the words “General Laws” the following:- ; provided, that not less than $700,000 shall be expended for the Metropolitan Beaches in Lynn, Nahant, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull to be fully maintained and seasonally staffed as recommended by the Metropolitan Beaches Commission in coordination with the department of conservation and recreation; and provided further, that not less than $190,000 shall be expended for matching grants to public and nonpublic entities to support free public events and programs on the metropolitan beaches as part of Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s Better Beaches Grants Program as recommended by the Metropolitan Beaches Commission;
And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$1,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $1,190,000;
And further amend said section 2, in item 2810-0100, by inserting after the words “entities from this item;” the following:- provided further, that not less than $100,000 more than the amount appropriated in item 7008-0900 of section 2 of chapter 165 of the acts of 2014 to the town of Methuen shall be expended for renovations at Nicholson Stadium in Methuen; provided further, that not less than $138,000 shall be expended for the Charles River Conservancy to complete the environmental remediation of a portion of the Lynch Family Skatepark known as the apron in Cambridge; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for a feasibility study to develop a canoe launch, walking paths and hiking trails in Dedham public parks and open space areas including, but not limited to, historic Wigwam Pond; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for open space improvements in Lowell; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for the Central Plymouth County Water District Commission for the improvement and management of lakes and ponds in said district; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for the cleanup of Pilayella algae in Lynn; provided further, that not less than $30,000 shall be expended for the maintenance of Red Rock Park in Lynn; provided further, that not less than $88,000 shall be expended for a grant to the City of Newton Parks and Recreation Department for the purpose of protecting and preserving the water quality of Crystal Lake; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for the long term care and maintenance of Whitman’s Pond in Weymouth; provided further, that not less than $350,000 shall be expended for the purposes of aquatic invasive species control; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for the Blue Hills Trailside Museum; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for the operation of the Blue Hills Observatory and Science Center; provided further, that not less than $75,000 shall be expended for the Let’s Row Boston program administered by Community Rowing, Inc. of Boston; provided further, that not less than $50,000 more than the amount appropriated in item 8000-0600 of section 2 of chapter 165 of the acts of 2014 to the town of Ludlow shall be expended for the public riverwalk at Ludlow Mills for the installation of riverwalk pedestrian safety improvements and required historical signage; provided further, that said public improvements include LED energy efficient safety lighting, riverwalk furnishings and required historical interpretive signage, all of which have been designed, permitted and approved by the Town of Ludlow; provided further, that not less than $35,000 shall be expended for the development and maintenance of a community garden along the MBTA commuter rail and subway tracks in Malden; provided further, that not less than $35,000 shall be expended for the Mystic River Master Plan; provided further, that not less than $35,000 shall be expended for the City of Brockton Parks Department to renovate McKinley Playground; provided further, that not less than 62.5 percent of the amount appropriated in item 2810-0100 of section 2 of chapter 38 of the acts of 2013 for open space improvements in Lowell shall be expended for public safety and open space improvements to parks in Lowell; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for tree re-planting in Worcester; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for athletic field improvements in Millis; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for a playground project in Littleton; provided further, that not less than $40,000 shall be expended for facility repairs at Berry Pond in the Harold Parker State Forest; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for a feasibility study for a community path in Belmont; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended by the town of Douglas for the operation of Douglas State Park; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for Plum Island operated by the city of Newburyport; provided further, that not less than $75,000 shall be expended by the MNF Wastewater District for the design of the MNF Wastewater Treatment Plant; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for improvements of facilities and the revitalization of Coes Pond Beach, also known as the John J. Binienda Memorial Beach, in Worcester; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended for a new children’s playground and basketball court at Parallel Park in Arlington; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended for improvements to the Summer Street Field and its spectator stands in Arlington;
And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$41,268,533” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $44,019,533;
And further amends the bill after section 3, by inserting the following section:-
SECTION 3A. Section 70 of chapter 3 of the General Laws, as inserted by section 6 of chapter 165 of the acts of 2014, is hereby amended by striking out said section 70 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 70. (a) There shall be a permanent commission on the future of the metropolitan beaches to consist of: (i) 5 members of the senate that shall be appointed by the senate president, 1 of whom shall serve as co-chair and 1 of whom shall be the minority leader or a designee. (ii) 7 members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house, 1 of whom shall serve as co-chair and 1 of whom shall be the minority leader or a designee; (iii) 1 member who shall be appointed by the governor or the secretary of energy and environmental affairs or a designee and 1 member who shall be appointed by the commissioner of the department of conservation and recreation or a designee. (iv) the commission will also include 1 member from the metropolitan beach communities of Lynn who shall be appointed by the mayor, Nahant who shall be appointed by the town manager, Revere, who shall be appointed by the mayor, Winthrop, who shall be appointed by the town manager, Quincy, who shall be appointed by the mayor, and Hull, who shall be appointed by the town manager, and 1 member from the East Boston section of the city of Boston, the Dorchester section of the city of Boston and the South Boston section of the city of Boston who shall be appointed by the Mayor of the city of Boston; (v) In addition the commission co-chairs will appoint 4 members to represent Greater Boston’s philanthropic, non-profit, business and academic communities.
The commission shall conduct an annual review of the state of the metropolitan beaches which shall include a comprehensive study examining the existing maintenance, operational and infrastructure needs for those beaches including, but not limited to, any security and capital-intensive repairs necessary to ensure future recreational use of those beaches. The commission shall also examine best management practices and funding alternatives for each beach including, but not limited to, public-private partnerships, nonprofit entities and other financial means that shall ensure access, quality recreational activities, programming and improved water quality and beautification efforts at those beaches. The commission shall also analyze and make recommendations on alternatives and methods to improve access from metropolitan beaches to the Boston Harbor islands.
(b) For the purposes of this section, “metropolitan beaches” shall include, but not be limited to: (i) Nahant beach in the town of Nahant; (ii) Red Rock park, Kings beach and Lynn beach in the city of Lynn; (iii) Revere beach and Short beach in the city of Revere; (iv) Winthrop beach in the town of Winthrop; (v) Constitution beach, Carson beach, City Point beach, M Street beach, Pleasure Bay, Malibu beach, Savin Hill beach, and Tenean beach in the city of Boston; (vi) Wollaston beach and Squantum Point park in the city of Quincy, and (vii) Nantasket beach in the town of Hull.
(c) The commission shall hold annual hearings within close proximity to Boston Harbor beaches to solicit testimony from interested stakeholders including, but not limited to: (i) the executive office of energy and environmental affairs; (ii) the department of conservation and recreation; (iii) the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority; (iv) the Massachusetts Port Authority; (v) the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority; (vi) the Boston Harbor Association, Inc.; (vii) the Boston Harbor Island Alliance, Inc.; (viii) Save The Harbor, Save The Bay, Inc.; (ix) local municipalities; (x) nonprofit organizations; (xi) friends' groups; and (xii) business and community leaders.
(d) The commission shall file a report containing its recommendations with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives and the senate and house chairs of the joint committee on the environment, natural resources and agriculture annually;
And further moves to amend the bill after section 47, by inserting the following section:-
SECTION 47A. Section 144 of chapter 122 of the acts of 2006 is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 4 to 6, inclusive, the words, “ provided, however, that no waiver or exemption shall be granted without the written approval of the secretary of administration and finance."
And further moves to amend the bill by inserting after section 69, the following section:-
SECTION 69A. There shall be a task force convened to review the existing interconnection standards for distributed generation and circuit capacity as a part of the interconnection process in solar panel installation in the commonwealth. The task force shall consist of 7 members: 1 appointee to be chosen by the speaker of the house of representatives, who shall serve as co-chair; 1 appointee to be chosen by the president of the senate, who shall serve as co-chair; the secretary of the executive office of energy and environmental affairs, or a designee; and 1 representative to be chosen by the co-chairs from each of the following: the distribution utilities; the solar industry developers; the department of public utilities; and the president of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, or a designee. The task force may include any additional persons deemed necessary.
The review of the task force shall include, but not be limited to: (1) the proper protocols for the interconnection process to ensure reliability and safety of the electric grid; (2) guidelines for the department of public utilities’ interconnection tariffs; (3) recommendations for who shall contribute to the fiscal impact of infrastructure investment updates,; and (4) the ways in which the circuit capacity cap may be increased in order to accommodate additional interconnected distributed generation.
The task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the general court, along with any draft legislation necessary to carry its recommendation into effect, by filing the report with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives who shall forward the same to the chairs of the joint committee on telecommunications, utilities and energy, and the chairs of the senate and house committees on ways and means not later than October 1, 2015.