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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2036 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 918
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Mike Connolly
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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 protecting drinking water and public health from sand mining pollution.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Mike Connolly26th Middlesex1/15/2025John R. Gaskey2nd Plymouth1/16/2025Leigh Davis3rd Berkshire2/28/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2036 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 918
By Representative Connolly of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 918) of
Mike Connolly, John R. Gaskey and Leigh Davis for legislation to creation of a advisory panel
(including members of the General Court) to investigate the scope and scale of sand mining and
its current and potential impact on drinking water. Environment and Natural Resources.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act protecting drinking water and public health from sand mining pollution.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 The General Laws are hereby amended by inserting after chapter xx, the following
2Section:
3 (a) There shall be created a 6 member advisory panel which shall consist of the following
4members or their designees: one member from the office of the secretary of energy and
5environmental affairs with an expertise in geographic information systems (GIS); two members,
6one appointed by the President of the Senate and one appointed by the Speaker of the House of
7Representatives, with knowledge of ecology, ecosystems, forestry and biodiversity and/or from
8the office of the State Geologist; one member from Community Land & Water Coalition or their
9designee; one expert in hydrology nominated by the University of Massachusetts and appointed
10by the Governor; and one Indigenous person with expertise in Indigenous and environmental
11justice issues. 2 of 2
12 (b) The panel shall serve in an advisory capacity only and shall meet monthly or more
13frequently in public meetings to investigate the scope and scale of sand mining.
14 (c) The investigation shall address sand mining in the Commonwealth including (1) the
15current and potential impact on drinking water; (2) impact on Environmental Justice
16communities; (3) climate change mitigation and resilience; (4) air pollution including worker and
17public exposure to respirable crystalline silica from sand mines.
18 (d) Said investigation shall conclude within two years and include recommendations for
19regulatory changes to protect drinking water, worker and public health, and the environment.
20Said changes may include changes to licensing laws for mining, Part I, Title II, Chapter 21B,
21Section 5 of the General Laws.