Environmental Laws of MA

Overview

The following links are to federal, state, and local environmental laws, regulations, and policies relevant to watershed management, resource protection, and water quality.

Note: At the state level, Massachusetts General Laws (MGLs) establish the purposes, authority, and financing of a law. Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMRs) provides the “nuts and bolts” rules for the application of the law by specific state agencies. At the municipal level, the same principals hold true. Town Meetings adopt “bylaws” (or City Councils adopt ordinances), and town boards adopt “regulations” to implement these bylaws (or ordinances). In both state and local government, “Policies” may be adopted where there may be ambiguity relating to a provision in the law or regulations. Regulations or laws may also refer to specific performance “standards”, which may be also published and promulgated as needed.

Massachusetts General Laws

Massachusetts Environmental Laws

Massachusetts General Laws relating to Public Health (MGL Chapter 111, municipal Boards of Health laws begin at section 26).

Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (MGL Chapter 131, Section 40).

Massachusetts General Laws relating to protection of coastal wetlands (MGL Chapter 130, Section 105).

Massachusetts General Laws relating to the “Community Preservation Act” (MGL Chapter 44B, click on “next section to scroll through).

Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MGL Chapter 131A)

Massachusetts General Laws relating to Marine Fish and Fisheries (MGL Chapter 130).

Search the Massachusetts General Laws for a term or phrase

Massachusetts General Laws relating to establishment and authority of Conservation Commissions (MGL Chapter 40, Section 8C).


Massachusetts Regulations, Policies, and Standards

Researching Massachusetts Code of Regulations

DEP’s Laws and Regulations Page

DEP’s water related Regulations Page (includes most state DEP related CMR environmental regulations)

DCR’s Regulations Page

State Law Library CMR (Code of Massachusetts Regulations)

DEP’s Wetland Policy Statements Page

Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards

Other Environmental Law Links

BBP page on legal cases and regulations.

Non-criminal citations can be issued by towns for environmental violations (MGL Chapter 40, Section 21D).


Federal Legislation and Law Search

Important external link:U.S. Congress website

Important external link:United States Code of Regulations

Search the United States Code (regulations for all federal laws)

GPO U.S. Government Publishing Office

Massachusetts State Legislators for the Buzzards Bay watershed

State Representatives Reps, as of 2017

Massachusetts State Reps in the Buzzards Bay watershed.
Massachusetts State Reps in the Buzzards Bay watershed.

Look Up Your Massachusetts State Representatives.

State Senators, as of 2017

Massachusetts State Senators in the Buzzards Bay watershed.
Massachusetts State Senators in the Buzzards Bay watershed.

Look Up Your to Massachusetts State Senators.


The Buzzards Bay watershed U.S. House Of Representatives

Congressional Districts of Southeastern Massachusetts for the Buzzards Bay watershed

The Buzzards Bay watershed is mostly within the District of Congressman William Keating, with a small portion of the watershed within the District of Congressman Joseph Kennedy III. Please visit their websites below.

Important external link:Congressman William Keating, Massachusetts, 10th
Important external link:Congressman Joe Kennedy, Massachusetts, 4th