December 13, 2011
More than 20 years ago, Congress ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate toxic air pollution. It's done that for most industries, but not the biggest polluters - coal and oil-burning power plants.
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September 23, 2011
It's almost unheard of in the Midwest and and other parts of the country. But here in New England, the charm of historic homes often also comes with not-so-charming oil burners. And if your home uses oil heat, you may need to make an update. View Video >>

August 9, 2011
Every year across Massachusetts, more than 30,000 tons of non-carbonated beverage bottles are buried in landfills, burned in waste-to-energy plants, or tossed onto our streets, parks and beaches. That's enough plastic bottles to fill Fenway Park - from the press box to the Green Monster - five times. Read more >>

July 20, 2011
Thank you to Senator Downing and Chairman Keenan, and through you to the Committee. On behalf of the Patrick-Murray Administration and the Department of Environmental Protection, I appreciate the opportunity to testify before you today in strong support of an Expanded Bottle Bill in Massachusetts. Read more >>

May 26, 2011
Over the last decade, funding for environmental programs has been slashed, and disproportionately so, according to the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. Without funding, the process for obtaining approvals necessary for business activity and job creation grinds to a slow crawl and produces unpredictable... Read more >>

May 25, 2011
I am pleased to be here this morning to talk about the number one environmental challenge Cape Cod faces - nutrient loading to our waterways. The Cape's water bodies, particularly the estuaries on south facing beaches but also in our ponds and other waterways, are degrading due to the dramatic increase in population... Read more >>

May 25, 2011
It was April 8, 2011, when an accident at the Suttles/Dana Transport site in Grafton caused a nitric acid vapor cloud to emerge from the rear of the property on Westborough Road. The initial concern was that the acid vapor was heading towards the nearby North Grafton Elementary School. Read more >>

May 25, 2011
A quiet Sunday night in March was suddenly disturbed by a massive explosion at the Bostik manufacturing plant in Middleton. The explosion blew apart one of the buildings, and officials and residents feared the subsequent fire might release chemical contaminants into the air and into the Ipswich River... Read more >>

May 19, 2011
It's not every day the real estate community and the environmental community share common ground. Increasingly, however, we understand a healthy economy and a healthy environment are mutually beneficial. Read more >>

May 18, 2011
It was July 27, 2010, when a tractor-trailer carrying approximately 40,000 pounds of waste acid pulled into the Blandford service plaza along the westbound lane of the Massachusetts Turnpike. The truck driver noticed liquid leaking from the back of the trailer, and he contacted state police. Read more >>

May 13, 2011
It was just before 8 a.m. last Wednesday when two reactive chemicals were mistakenly mixed by workers at the G&W Foundry in Rehoboth. It resulted in an out-of-control exothermic reaction that ignited a fire in the rear of the 60,000-square-foot building at 128 Bay State Road. The four-alarm fire spread quickly... Read more >>

May 10, 2011
Glenn Haas and Barbara Kwetz, recently retired from MassDEP are recipients of the U.S. EPA's Prestigious Regional Environmental Awards. Following are excerps from the EPA news release as well as photos from the event. Read more >>

May 9, 2011
The Environmental Business Council of New England and their Executive Director Dan Moon sent out the following e-mail to EBC members supporting a MassDEP budget level of $48 million. I appreciate the support from Dan and the EBC. Read more >>

April 17, 2011
MassDEP has long been a nation-leader, establishing protective environmental standards while continually innovating to find the most economical way to implement them. Governor Deval Patrick has always said that the choice between the economy and the environment is a false choice, as environmental protection... Read more >>

April 11, 2011
In recent years, MassDEP's budget has been significantly reduced, from a high of $62 million in 2002 to $46 million in fiscal year 2011. Staffing has been cut commensurately, from 1200 full time equivalents in 2002 to 840 today. Yet MassDEP's responsibilities have increased rather than contracted during... Read more >>

February 7, 2011
Holding General Electric accountable for 40 years of pollution by requiring the company to clean up the Housatonic River is a critical matter of generational responsibility. Governor Patrick and his environmental agencies are committed to doing everything in their power to see this natural resource... Read more >>