The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
Timothy J. Toomey, Jr.
Rachel Kaprielian
Martha M. Walz
William N. Brownsberger
Denise Provost
Kevin G. Honan
James B. Eldridge
Michael F. Rush
Robert K. Coughlin
Pamela P. Resor
James E. Timilty
Scott P. Brown
Jarrett T. Barrios
Kay Khan
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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.
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An Act establishing a Charles River water quality commission. |
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. Notwithstanding any general or special law or regulation to the contrary, a special commission, hereafter referred to as the Charles River Water Quality Commission, is hereby established for the purpose of making an investigation and study relative to improving the conditions necessary to and determining the feasibility of bringing the water quality in the Charles River lower basin to a level safe for swimming. The work of this commission shall support the goals established in 1995 by the Clean Charles River 2005 Environmental Protection Agency Initiative and assist with the objectives of the swimmable Charles River working group to improve water quality in the Charles River.
The Charles River Water Quality Commission shall study the water quality of the lower Charles River basin including, but not limited to:
(a) the collection of existing data concerning bacteria, viral, turbidity, clarity, and all other water quality and environmental parameters that may affect human exposure to water from the Charles River;
(b) the collection of existing data concerning sediment volume and quality;
(c) identification of additional data, various technologies, engineering solutions, or environmental solutions necessary with cost estimates to decontaminate toxic sediments from the Charles River;
(d) identification of additional data, various technologies, engineering solutions, or environmental solutions necessary with cost estimates to improve water quality that may impact human exposure to water from the Charles River, and the creation of public swimming areas and facilities in the lower Charles River on department of conservation and recreation property;
(e) sites for the development of public swimming areas along the lower Charles River basin, taking into account current uses, public transportation, and any environmental factors.
The Charles River Water Quality Commission shall be co-chaired by the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on environment, natural resources and agriculture, and consist of 1 member of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house; 1 member of the senate appointed by the senate president; 1 member appointed by the senate minority leader; 1 member appointed by the house minority leader; 1 representative of the Environmental Protection Agency selected by the Governor from 3) nominations recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency; 1 representative from the department of conservation and recreation; 1 representative from the department of environmental protection; 1 representative from the Swimmable Charles River Working Group appointed by the secretary of environmental affairs from 3 recommendations made by the Charles River Conservancy; 1 environmental water expert from a college or university appointed by the secretary of environmental affairs; and 1
representative from the Charles River Watershed Association appointed by the secretary of environmental affairs from 3 recommendations from the Charles River Watershed Association. All members shall serve without compensation for service on the commission. Said commission may consult individuals and entities outside of its membership for research, advice, support and other functions necessary and appropriate to accomplish the commission’s objectives. Said commission shall submit a report,
including legislative recommendations, if any, to the joint committee on environment, natural resources and agriculture and the house and senate committees on ways and means by February 1, 2008.