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Environmental Laws of Massachusetts
Subpages:
Law and the Environment
Overview
The following links are to federal, state, and local environmental laws, regulations, and policies relevant to watershed management, resource protection, and water quality.Note: At the state level, Massachusetts General Laws (MGLs) establish the purposes, authority, and financing of a law. Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMRs) provide the "nuts and bolts" rules for the application of the law by specific state agencies. At the municipal level, the same principals hold true. Town Meetings adopt "bylaws" (or City Councils adopt ordinances), and town boards adopt "regulations" to implement these bylaws (or ordinances). In both state and local government, "Policies" may be adopted where there may be ambiguity relating to a provision in the law or regulations. Regulations or laws may also refer to specific performance "standards", which may be also published and promulgated as needed.
Massachusetts General Court and Laws: Main Page.
Massachusetts Environmental Laws
Massachusetts General Laws relating to Public Health (MGL Chapter 111, municipal Boards of Health laws begin at section 26).Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (MGL Chapter 131, Section 40).
Massachusetts General Laws relating to protection of coastal wetlands (MGL Chapter 130, Section 105).
Massachusetts General Laws relating to the "Community Preservation Act" (MGL Chapter 44B, click on "next section to scroll through).
Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MGL Chapter 131A)
Massachusetts General Laws relating to Marine Fish and Fisheries (MGL Chapter 130).
Search the Massachusetts General Laws for a term or phrase
Massachusetts General Laws relating to establishment and authority of Conservation Commissions (MGL Chapter 40, Section 8C).
Massachusetts Regulations, Policies, and Standards
State Bookstore List of all State Agency Regulations (Code of Massachusetts Regulations or CMR)DEP's Matrix of Statutes and Regulations Page (includes most state DEP related CMR environmental regulations)
DEP's water related Regulations Page (includes most state DEP related CMR environmental regulations)
DCR's Regulations Page
State Law Library CMR (Code of Massachusetts Regulations)
DEP's Wetland Policy Statements Page
Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards
Other Environmental Law Links
BBP page on legal cases and regulations.Non-criminal citations can be issued by towns for environmental violations (MGL Chapter 40, Section 21D).
Federal Legislation and Law Search
Library of Congress Thomas legislation websiteUnited States Congress US Law Code websiteSearch the United States Code (regulations for all federal laws)
GPO Access Beta site: Search the United States Code (regulations for all federal laws)
Massachusetts State Legislators for the Buzzards Bay watershed
State Representatives Reps, as of 2005
List of Links to Massachusetts State Representatives.
State Senators, as of 2005
List of Links to Massachusetts State Senators.
The Buzzards Bay watershed U.S. House Of Representatives
Member Office Web Services
As a result of the 2000 US Census, Massachusetts lost a congressional delegate, and the state was redistricted. Formerly, three congressmen represented the Buzzards Bay watershed. That number has dropped down to two (Congressman James McGovern no longer represents Dartmouth and Westport). Presently the watershed is shared between Congressmen Barney Frank and William Delahunt. Please visit their websites below.
Congressman William Delahunt, Massachusetts, 10thCongressman Barney Frank, Massachusetts, 4th