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General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Mass. Executive Order #193
By His Excellancy EDWARD J. KING
Governor
PRESERVATION OF STATE
OWNED AGRICULTURAL LAND
Preamble
Agricultural land In Massachusetts is a finite natural resource that is
threatened by competing land use pressure.
The natural resource qualities associated with agricultural land make state
owned agricultural land an irreplaceable economic and environmental asset
when utilized for food production. This land is part of the "common
wealth" of Massachusetts citizens, and the wise use and conservation
of state-owned agricultural land is of broad public value. As the loss
of private agricultural land in the Commonwealth continues, the state-owned
land will play an increasingly important role for the state's remaining
farmers and young people who wish to enter farming. As the state-owned
agricultural land decline in productivity and efficient utilization, so
does the maximum return of benefit to the citizens, of the Commonwealth.
Furthermore, the loss of agricultural
land has had a detrimental affect upon environment quality. Agricultural
land reduces flooding by effectively absorbing precipitation, while replenishing
critical ground water supplies. The open characteristic and natural vegatation
of agricultural land helps purify the air; enhances wildlife habitat;
provides for recreation; and maintains the landscape's aesthetic and historic
quality. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that the Commonwealth's
agricultural land remains available for oresent and future generations.
WHEREAS, the Commonwealth seeks to preservet he productive agricultural
land base on which the Massachusetts agricultural industry and the people
of the Commonwealth depend; and
WHEREAS, state acquisition programs administered by the Department of
Environmental Affairs, pursuant to G.L.c. 132 A, secs 11A-11E and G.L.c.
184 secs 31-33, promote the preservation of private agricultural land;
and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Executive Department of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts to protect, through the administration of current programs
and laws, the Commonwealth's agricultural land base from irreversible
conversion to uses which result in its loss as an essential food production
and environmental resource;
NOW THEREFORE, I, Edward J. King, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of
the Commonwealth, do hereby order and direct all relevant state agencies
to seek to mitigate against the conversion of state-owned agricultural
land and adopt
the policies herewith:
1. State funds and federal grants administered by the state shall not be
used to encourage the conversion of agricultural land to other uses when
feasible alternatives are available.
2. State Agency actions shall encourage the protection of state-owned agricultural
land by mitigating against the conversion of state-owned land to non-agricultural
uses, and by promoting soil and water conservation practices.
3. The Secretary of Environmental Affairs shall identify state-owned land
suitable for agricultural use according to the following criteria:
a. the presence of soil types capable of supporting or contributing
to present or potential commercial agriculture
b. current and historic use for agriculture, and
c. absence of non-farm development.
4. State Agencies controlling state-owned land suitable for agricultural
use shall coordinate agricultural land management policv with the Executive
Office of Environmental Affairs. In managing said land, State Agencies
shall be encouraged to allow for use on a multiple year basis for forage
and food crops.
5. Surplus state-owned land, identified as suitable for agriculture by
the Secretary of Environmental Affairs, shall remain available for agriculture
when compatible with state agency objectives.
6. For purposes of this Executive Order, "agricultural land"
shall be defined as land classified Prime, Unique, or of State and
Local Importance by the USDA Soil Conservation Service, as well as land
characterized by active agricultural use.
7. For the purposes of this Executive Order, "state-owned land"
shall be defined as:
a. all land under the custody or control of a state agency,
b. all lands purchased in whole or in part with state funds or federal
funds administered by the state.
Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this 19th day of March in the
year of our Lord one thousand nine
hundred and eighty one and of the Independence of the United States of
American two-hundred and five
Edward J. King Governor, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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