Action Alerts!
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August 20th, 2010
ADVISORY DROUGHT: Following recent months of unusually dry weather in most of the state, the Massachusetts Drought Management Task Force (DMTF) issued a Drought Advisory on August 13, 2010 affecting the MassDCR Northeast and Central Regions. Note that the MassDCR affected drought regions do not coincide with the MassDEP Regional boundaries. The Advisory Level Drought Map (depicting the affected municipalities) and press release are posted on the web at: http://mass.gov/dcr/waterSupply/rainfall/drought.htm. Advisory Level Drought affects the following:
Wetlands Protection Act Regulations: Observations of no flow made on August 1, 2010 or thereafter, may not be used to prove a perennial river is an intermittent stream with no Riverfront Area since "Extended Drought" conditions exist. See 310 CMR 10.58(2)(a)1.d. and f. The Extended Drought remains in effect until such time as water resource conditions return to normal. At such time, the DMTF will issue written findings declaring that the drought is over. The written findings declaring the drought over will be posted at the MassDCR web site.
Observations of no flow made before August 1, 2010 may be used to prove a watercourse is intermittent with no Riverfront Area, provided the watercourse is not subject to drawdown from withdrawals of water supply wells, direct withdrawals, impoundments, or other man-made flow reductions or diversions. Intermittent streams and activities within the 100-foot buffer zone are jurisdictional under the Wetlands Protection Act regulations ("Land Under Water" and "Bank") and remain subject to review by Conservation Commissions, if the intermittent stream is located down gradient of other wetlands.
Thomas Maguire, Regional Coordinator
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Wetlands Program
One Winter Street
Boston, MA 02108
telephone: (617) 292-5602
email: thomas.maguire@state.ma.us
web: http://www.mass.gov/dep
May 16, 2010
Help Stop Illegal Off Highway Vehicles on Public and Private Lands!
Illegal riding of off highway vehicles (OHVs – including ATVs, dirt bikes, and snowmobiles) on conservation lands causes tremendous damage. These sensitive areas are often protected with public dollars for wildlife or their unique natural beauty, and the ruts and erosion caused by OHVs can be severe, harming wetlands, wildlife, and endangered species.
Right now, ATVs and other OHVs often operate without clear identifiers like license plates. Fines are meaningless – the average fine for damaging forestlands or riding illegally on public or private lands is $20.00. In January, the Massachusetts Senate passed a bill reforming OHV laws including raising fines significantly. The bill is now before the House Committee on Ways & Means and we need your help to get the bill out of committee and to the House floor for a vote!
Contact your state representative and ask them to speak to House Ways & Means Chairman Charles Murphy and House Speaker Robert DeLeo expressing support for Senate Bill 2257, An Act Relative to Off Highway Vehicles!
To find out who your state Representative is, enter your address at http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php and scroll down to "Rep in General Court."
If you know your Representative's name, you can just call the House switchboard and be put through: 617-722-2000. You can also email. Email addresses can be found here http://www.mass.gov/legis/memmenuh.htm.
Sample Message:
State your name and where you live and ask to speak to the Representative. If they are not there, you can speak to staff.
Tell them that you are calling in support of Senate Bill 2257, which has passed the Senate and is currently before House Ways & Means.
Say that you hope your Representative will speak to the House Ways & Means Chairman and the Speaker soon and let him know that it is an important bill to you. Information about illegal riding in your district can be useful if you have it.
Bill description
Gives enforcement officers the tools they need to stop illegal and destructive riding on public and private lands and provides funding for the development of public trails in appropriate places. The bill will:
- Simplify the registration process and require registration for most OHVs with revenues directed to increasing enforcement capabilities, rider safety education, and the development, maintenance and restoration of OHV trails.
- Fund enforcement - 25% of the fines collected from OHV violations will be split between the applicable law enforcement entities involved in the issuance of the fines.
- Strengthen communication among riders, land managers, conservation organizations, enforcement agencies and other stakeholders by establishing an OHV Advisory Group similar to those in other states.
For more information, read the letter sent by nine major conservation groups OHV Joint Letter.
Thank you for helping to protect the nature of Massachusetts!
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December, 2009
“Ask Your Legislators to Support the Public Lands Preservation Act”
PLPA fact sheet
PLPA Sample Letter
Dear Conservation Commissioners:
The Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions has endorsed the Public Lands Preservation Act (“PLPA,” H. 3438, aka the Article 97 bill aka the No-Net-Loss bill), and we need YOUR help for it to become law.
We believe this bill is important to you. It would strengthen your hand in your administration and preservation of conservation land.
The bill would make it the policy of the Commonwealth to approve change in use or disposition of land acquired for natural resource purposes, which is protected by Article 97 of the constitution, only if there is no feasible alternative and if equivalent replacement land is provided, i.e., there is no net loss. There are exceptions to the replacement requirement for dispositions of buildings and of land which will not undergo physical change as a result of the disposition. The act would cover all land under your jurisdiction.
Although MACC has endorsed the PLPA, we believe that it is important that legislators know that the bill is supported by their individual Conservation Commissions. We ask you to take a formal vote endorsing the PLPA at your next scheduled meeting.
For more information, including a copy of the PLPA, see the fact sheet on the left side of this page and go to:http://www.protectmassenvironment.org/public_lands_preservation_act.htm
When you have voted, let us know, and let your state representative and senator know (see sample letter on left side of this page for download and modification).
Please join MACC in supporting this important legislation.
Action
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