Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H3550 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4190 FILED ON: 3/2/2023
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3550
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Kristin E. Kassner
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act to protect water supplies and the environment.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Kristin E. Kassner2nd Essex2/28/2023 1 of 2
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4190 FILED ON: 3/2/2023
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3550
18	18	By Representative Kassner of Hamilton, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Kristin E.
19	19	Kassner for legislation to protect water supplies and the environment. Environment and Natural
20	20	Resources.
21	21	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
22	22	_______________
23	23	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
24	24	(2023-2024)
25	25	_______________
26	26	An Act to protect water supplies and the environment.
27	27	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
28	28	of the same, as follows:
29	29	1 SECTION 1. Section 2 of Chapter 21G shall be amended to strike the definition of safe
30	30	2yield in its entirety and replace with the following and further add a new definition for stress
31	31	3basin: -
32	32	4 ''Safe yield'', the maximum dependable withdrawals that can be made continuously from
33	33	5a water source including ground or surface water annually without depleting the source beyond
34	34	6its ability to be replenished naturally. Provided, however, that such dependability is a function of
35	35	7storage and drought probability.
36	36	8 “Stress basin”, is defined as a basin or sub-basin in which the quantity of streamflow has
37	37	9been significantly reduced, or the quality of the streamflow is degraded, or key habitat factors are
38	38	10impaired.
39	39	11 SECTION 2. Section 5 of Chapter 21G shall be amended to add the following: - 2 of 2
40	40	12 The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) shall re-calculate safe yield for each
41	41	13basin in Massachusetts, based on seasonal supply in the summer months, using data from no
42	42	14earlier than the past 3 years, and taking into account the existence of reservoir storage, or lack
43	43	15thereof.
44	44	16 SECTION 3. Section 5 of Chapter 21G shall be amended to add the following: -
45	45	17 The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) shall calculate safe yield for each of
46	46	18the sub-basins in Massachusetts. Stream Flow calculated by USGS shall be used in this analysis.
47	47	19 SECTION 4. Section 15 of Chapter 21G shall be amended to insert the following after
48	48	20the words “pursuant to this section” as follows: -
49	49	21 Stream flow shall be used in the calculation of drought. A drought level of 4 or 5 in
50	50	22stressed basins or in identified flow depleted basins and sub-basins shall trigger water
51	51	23conservation measures in the watershed. All registrants and permit holders shall be subject to
52	52	24these water conservation measures. In addition, local Boards of Health shall require permits for
53	53	25wells and shall implement water conservation measures for these wells during drought or in
54	54	26identified flow depleted basins.
55	55	27 SECTION 5. Section 20 Chapter 21G shall be amended to insert the following: -
56	56	28 Local boards of health or other permitting bodies that permit private wells in
57	57	29municipalities shall provide annually by December 31st, a report of well permits to the
58	58	30Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).