1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1756 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2016
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
James Arciero
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act providing for more efficient wetlands.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:James Arciero2nd Middlesex1/17/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1756 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2016
By Representative Arciero of Westford, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2016) of
James Arciero relative to wetlands ordinances in cities and towns. Municipalities and Regional
Government.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2129 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
An Act providing for more efficient wetlands.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 8C of chapter 40 of the Massachusetts General Law as appearing
2in the 2012 official edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the second paragraph the
3following paragraph:-
4 A Conservation Commission may administer and enforce a local wetlands ordinance or
5by-law that is adopted by a municipality, only to the extent that it imposes standards or other
6requirements that are more stringent than or otherwise exceed those set forth in Wetlands
7Protection Act (G.L. Ch. 131 § 40) and regulations (310 CMR 10.00) thereunder, and only if,
8prior to adoption by a municipality, the Department of Environmental Protection shall review
9and approve any such proposed local wetlands ordinance or by-law based upon findings that the
10proposed ordinance or by-law has a generally recognized scientific basis, is a recommended best 2 of 2
11practice technique, is necessary to protect unusual local resources that warrant special or
12enhanced protection, and does not conflict with the Wetlands Protection Act (G.L. Ch. 131 § 40)
13and regulations (310 CMR 10.00) thereunder. An appeal of a decision made under a local
14wetlands ordinance or by-law shall be made to the Department of Environmental Protection in
15accordance with the Wetlands Protection Act (G.L. Ch. 131 § 40) and regulations (310 CMR
1610.00) thereunder.