Budget Amendment ID: FY2020-S3-902

ENV 902

Agricultural Composting Programs

Ms. Chandler moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section ___ the following section:-

"SECTION ___. Chapter 21H of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out subsection 7(b) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:

(b) The department of food and agriculture shall establish, in consultation with the department of environmental protection, an agricultural composting program. Said department of food and agriculture is hereby authorized to establish, in consultation with the department of environmental protection, state and local composting projects, and a demonstration agricultural composting program, and to accept applications for grants from municipalities for the purposes of creating agricultural composting projects. Said department of food and agriculture shall promulgate rules and regulations for the operation of state, local, and demonstration agricultural composting programs provided, however, that any such rules and regulations shall require that all composting projects and facilities comply with local zoning, land use, conservation, and health ordinances, bylaws, and regulations, including but not limited to requirements regarding setback or separation distances, odors, dust and debris, types and quantities of materials, and source of materials – on-site and off-site, and all such projects and facilities shall comply with such local ordinances, bylaws, and regulations."