Massachusetts Coastal Hazards Commission
Final Report and Recommendations

In February 2006, then Governor Mitt Romney created the Massachusetts Coastal Hazards Commission to review existing coastal hazards practices and policies, identify data and information gaps, and draft recommendations for administrative, regulatory, and statutory changes, if deemed necessary. In May 2007, the Commission has released its final report.

By Chapter

Dedication

Members of Coastal Hazards Commission

Members of Working Groups

Acknowledgements

Acronyms and Abbreviations

Chapter 1 - Introduction    Coastal Hazards in the Commonwealth         Northeasters         Hurricanes         Decreased Sediment Supplies         Sea-Level Rise    Approaches to Address Coastal Hazards    Work of the Coastal Hazards Commission    Report Overview

Chapter 2 - Recommendations    Hazards Information         Flood Insurance Rate Maps         Coastal Hazards Characterization Atlases         Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Maps         Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise Data         Storm Event Data         Storm Damage Projections         Coastal Hazards Information Portal         Coastal Hazards Outreach Evaluation    Policy         Storm-Resilient Communities Program         Executive Orders         Homeowners and Flood Insurance Outreach         Homeowners Insurance Premiums and Coverage         Voluntary Land Acquisition    Planning and Regulations         Hazard Mitigation Plans         Coastal Construction         Local Permit Coordination         Land Subject to Coastal Storm Flowage         Coastal Conference         Transportation Infrastructure and Flooding    Protection         Regional Sand Management         Technical Advisory Committee on Innovative Erosion Control Measures         Prioritization of Public Shoreline Protection Projects

Chapter 3 - Infrastructure Inventory    South Shore Pilot Project    South Shore Preliminary Findings

References

Appendix A - List of Recommendations Appendix B - Coastal Hazards Data and Tools Appendix C - Potential Benefits and Impacts of Protection Alternatives