The River Current || July 9, 2007 || Issue 52

The twice monthly e-newsletter of the Charles River Watershed Association
...bringing our backyard river to your door...

************

In this issue:
1)       Action Alert #1!  Wetlands protection in danger
2)   Action Alert #2!  Streamflow standards legislation
3)       Managing water demand presentation and panel
************

1) ACTION ALERT #1! Massachusetts wetlands protection to be weakened by eliminating citizens’ right to appeal

MA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has proposed sweeping changes to its wetlands regulations that would eliminate most administrative appeals by local residents.  Currently, 10 townspeople and the abutters to a project can appeal an adverse decision by DEP.  Under the changes, only applicants, conservation commissions and persons meeting the legal standard of “aggrieved” will now be able to commence an appeal.  Appeals will now be heard within DEP instead of by an independent administrative magistrate.  The draft regulations also require all wetland appeals to be heard in four months or less and limit hearings to one day regardless of complexity, and allow DEP to “opt out” of participating in the appeal.  The right to appeal is basic to ensuring strong wetlands protection.  While Massachusetts has been a leader in protecting wetlands, these and other changes will substantially weaken our wetlands protection. 

Public hearings on these changes are being held on July 11, 2007 at 9:00 am at MA DEP, One Winter Street, Boston, and on August 8 at 9am at MA DEP, 627 Main Street, Worcester.  Comments can be submitted by August 13^th electronically to MacDara.fallon@state.ma.us or by mail to MacDara Fallon, DEP Office of General Counsel, One Winter Street, Boston, MA 02108.  The proposed changes are found at http://www.mass.gov/dep/public/publiche.htm or visit CRWA’s website, www.charlesriver.org/alert/wetlands.html

2) ACTION ALERT #2! Streamflow standards legislation

One of CRWA’s top legislative priorities this year is the development of site-specific streamflow standards for Massachusetts.  Passage of House Bill 833, An Act to Protect Rivers and Streams, will protect our rivers by establishing a set of specific criteria for protecting fisheries, aquatic life and other instream uses, such as recreation.  These standards will:

• Account for differences in rivers and water resources as well as the natural variations in water levels during different seasons and different years;
• Recognize that essential human needs are given the highest priority while providing consistent protection for natural resources;
• Continue to make certain that other critical needs, such as flood control and recreation, are met.

A legislative hearing before the Joint Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture on House Bill 833 is scheduled for July 23^rd   For more information on the bill and how you can help get it enacted through letters and calls to your legislators, please visit CRWA’s Action Alert website at www.charlesriver.org/alert/streamflow.html

3) Managing Water Demand: Price vs. Non-Price Conservation Programs

Pioneer Institute and Environmental Business Council invite you to a presentation and panel discussion on Thursday, July 19, 2007, from 8:30 am - 10:30 am at Suffolk University Law School, 120 Tremont Street, Boston, MA. Please RSVP by Monday, July 16 to Melissa Dermarkar at mdermarkar@pioneerinstitute.org or 617-723-2277.

High demand for water during the driest months of the year strains the state's water supplies.
What are the best ways to conserve water during the summer and year round?  Environmental economists Robert Stavins and Sheila Olmstead will present their research comparing water pricing as a method to achieve conservation with other policy approaches, and a panel of experts will discuss their findings.