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