The Executive Office of Environmental Affairs is responsible for the protection and enhancement of the Commonwealth's environmental resources.

The Office of the Secretary coordinates land preservation, coastal protection, waste management, drinking water, and clean air programs. The Office is responsible for directing an aggressive land acquisition and protection program which has added 100,000 acres to Massachusetts open space in the last seven years. The Secretariat also ensures compliance with the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act, the Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management Act, the Land Conservation Services Program, and federal mandates such as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Objectives

In Fiscal Year 1999, the Executive Office will reaffirm its commitment to protect the Commonwealth's natural resources with the implementation of a new statewide watershed management program. By coordinating the monitoring and protection efforts of state, local, and regional experts in watershed management, this new program will improve watershed pollution control and eliminate duplication of services. This program will also develop a new statewide data warehouse for environmental information, increase outreach efforts to communities for training in watershed management, and provide grants to local water protection and water quality monitoring organizations.

The Office will also oversee and support the centennial anniversary of the Massachusetts state park system, for which the Cellucci Administration has included an additional $1.8 million to support park improvements.

The Office also supports increased funding in Fiscal Year 1999 to expand land stewardship programs, improve industrial pollution control and monitoring, and hire additional Harbor Islands park staff and environmental police officers.

Budget Recommendations

The Fiscal Year 1999 recommendation for the Executive Office includes an additional $1.88 million to fund the new Massachusetts Watershed Initiative. In addition, the Office supports technical corrections to the Mosquito and Greenhead Fly Control Fund in order to provide a uniform funding mechanism for all cities and towns that participate in the mosquito control program. These corrections will provide sufficient controls on spending without impacting service levels.