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| 2 | 2 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2439 FILED ON: 1/17/2025 |
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| 3 | 3 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 561 |
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| 4 | 4 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 5 | 5 | | _________________ |
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| 6 | 6 | | PRESENTED BY: |
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| 7 | 7 | | Brendan P. Crighton |
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| 8 | 8 | | _________________ |
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| 9 | 9 | | To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General |
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| 10 | 10 | | Court assembled: |
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| 11 | 11 | | The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: |
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| 12 | 12 | | An Act to streamline permitting for rail electrification. |
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| 13 | 13 | | _______________ |
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| 14 | 14 | | PETITION OF: |
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| 15 | 15 | | NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Brendan P. CrightonThird Essex 1 of 2 |
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| 16 | 16 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2439 FILED ON: 1/17/2025 |
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| 17 | 17 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 561 |
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| 18 | 18 | | By Mr. Crighton, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 561) of Brendan P. Crighton for |
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| 19 | 19 | | legislation to streamline permitting for rail electrification. Environment and Natural Resources. |
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| 20 | 20 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 21 | 21 | | _______________ |
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| 22 | 22 | | In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court |
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| 23 | 23 | | (2025-2026) |
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| 24 | 24 | | _______________ |
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| 25 | 25 | | An Act to streamline permitting for rail electrification. |
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| 26 | 26 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority |
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| 27 | 27 | | of the same, as follows: |
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| 28 | 28 | | 1 SECTION 1. Section 62 of Chapter 30 of the General Laws is hereby amended by |
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| 29 | 29 | | 2inserting the following definitions:- |
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| 30 | 30 | | 3 “Near-zero-emission rail infrastructure”, any infrastructure that supports light rail, heavy |
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| 31 | 31 | | 4rail, regional rail, commuter rail, or intercity rail services which combine a conventional |
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| 32 | 32 | | 5gasoline, diesel or natural gas-powered engine with a battery that can be charged from the |
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| 33 | 33 | | 6electrical grid. |
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| 34 | 34 | | 7 “Zero-emission rail infrastructure”, any infrastructure that supports light rail, heavy rail, |
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| 35 | 35 | | 8regional rail, commuter rail, or intercity rail services which produce zero exhaust emissions of |
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| 36 | 36 | | 9any pollutant or greenhouse gas under all possible operational modes or conditions. |
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| 37 | 37 | | 10 SECTION 2. Chapter 30 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following |
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| 38 | 38 | | 11section:- |
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| 39 | 39 | | 12 Section 62E1/2. 2 of 2 |
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| 40 | 40 | | 13 (a) Notwithstanding section 62B of chapter 30 or any other general or special law to the |
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| 41 | 41 | | 14contrary, any project involving the construction of zero-emission or near-zero-emission rail |
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| 42 | 42 | | 15vehicle infrastructure, or the upgrade of infrastructure into zero-emission or near-zero-emission |
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| 43 | 43 | | 16rail vehicle infrastructure shall be exempted by the executive office of environmental affairs |
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| 44 | 44 | | 17from the requirement to produce environmental impact reports, as specified under section 62E of |
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| 45 | 45 | | 18chapter 30. |
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| 46 | 46 | | 19 (b) Notwithstanding section 62B of chapter 30 or any other general or special law to the |
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| 47 | 47 | | 20contrary, any project involving the construction of infrastructure to power zero-emission or near- |
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| 48 | 48 | | 21zero-emission rail vehicles, or the upgrade of existing power infrastructure to support zero- |
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| 49 | 49 | | 22emission or near-zero-emission rail vehicles shall be exempted by the executive office of |
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| 50 | 50 | | 23environmental affairs from the requirement to produce environmental impact reports, as |
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| 51 | 51 | | 24specified under section 62E of chapter 30. |
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