By Mr. Kocot of Northampton, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 791) of Peter V. Kocot and others relative to wood burning electricity producing facilities to determine their potential impact upon the air, water and population of the Commonwealth.  Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Peter V. Kocot

David B. Sullivan

John W. Scibak

Anthony J. Verga

Jennifer M. Callahan

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act relative to biomass combustion facilities.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1.

                Section 159 of chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following: -

“The department shall not permit the transport to or combustion of construction debris, wood treated with compounds containing arsenic, lead, cadmium, asbestos or any other man-made substance in, biomass-fueled facilities that produce electricity for sale and withdraw water for cooling purposes from rivers, streams, lakes or ponds of the Commonwealth.”

SECTION 2.

                The department of environmental protection, department of public health and the MEPA unit of the executive office of environmental affairs shall hold a public hearing, no later than May 1, 2007, on all proposed wood burning, electricity producing facilities to determine their potential impacts upon the air, water and population of the Commonwealth.