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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1831 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 601
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Dylan A. Fernandes , (BY REQUEST)
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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
resolve:
Resolve to protect drinking water and public health from sand mining pollution.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Meg Sheehan 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1831 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 601
By Mr. Fernandes (by request), a petition (accompanied by resolve, Senate, No. 601) of Meg
Sheehan, that provisions be made for an investigation and study to protect drinking water and
public health from sand mining pollution. 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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Resolve to protect drinking water and public health from sand mining pollution.
1 Resolved, that the General Laws are hereby amended by inserting after chapter xx, the
2following Section:
3 (a) There shall be created a 5 member advisory panel which shall consist of the following
4members or their designees: a designee from the office of the secretary of energy and
5environmental affairs with an Expertise in geographic information systems (GIS); 1 member
6appointed by the President of the Senate the Speaker of the House of Representatives with a
7knowledge of ecology, ecosystems, forestry and biodiversity and or from the office of the State
8Geologist; 1 member from Community Land & Water Coalition or their designee; and 1 expert
9in hydrology nominated by the University of Massachusetts and appointed by the Governor.
10 (b) The panel shall serve in an advisory capacity only and shall meet monthly or more
11frequently in public meetings to investigate the scope and scale of sand mining.
12 (c) The investigation shall address sand mining in the Commonwealth including (1) the
13current and potential impact on drinking water; (2) impact on Environmental Justice 2 of 2
14communities; (3) climate change mitigation and resilience; (4) air pollution including worker and
15public exposure to respirable crystalline silica from sand mines.
16 (d) Said investigation shall conclude within two years and include recommendations for
17regulatory changes to protect drinking water, worker and public health, and the environment.
18Said changes may include changes to licensing laws for mining, Part I, Title II, Chapter 21B,
19Section 5 of the General Laws.