Environmental Bond Bill Now Pending in State Legislature

The Neponset River Watershed Association is working with more than 220 other organizations across the state to pass the five-year, $1.5 billion Environmental Bond Bill. The last Environmental Bond Bill was passed in 2002 and expires this year, so passage of a new Environmental Bond this session is essential to protecting rivers, wetlands, and aquifers (as well as forests and parks) while meeting the economic and recreational needs of residents and visitors. 

Bond Bill Amendment for Lower Neponset River Restoration 

NepRWA is also strongly supporting a Neponset Restoration amendment to the Bond Bill, sponsored by Sen. Brian Joyce and/or another legislator. The amendment would add $12 million for a free-standing line item to pay "for restoration, remediation and other necessary environmental improvements to the lower Neponset River." These funds would go to the state Riverways Program and could be spent for things like cleaning up the toxic, PCB-laden sediments in the lower Neponset River and restoring Neponset’s herring and shad runs through dam removal, fish ladders or some other means that is ultimately endorsed by the community as a whole.

Anadromous fish, such as shad and herring, live in the ocean but lay their eggs in freshwater. Currently, they are blocked from 17 miles of excellent upstream habitat on the Neponset and its tributaries by just two dams: the Baker and the Tileston & Hollingsworth. Removal of these dams would greatly enhance the River’s overall health and allow unencumbered canoeing from Walpole to the sea. Best of all, it would save taxpayers millions of dollars by not having to pay for the indefinite repair and maintenance of these 50-year old state-owned dams.

What "bond" funds are and how they differ from "operating" funds 

Bond funds represent money borrowed by the state to pay for so-called "capital" projects, whether those are new highways, new land purchases, or specific river restoration projects. Bond funds are distinct from money spent directly for the day-to-day operation of state government, so-called "operating funds." In addition to environmental bonds, there are highway, education, and other bonds. Thus Legislators who want a major new highway or a new high school in their district may vote against an Environmental Bond Bill, since projects authorized under the Environmental Bond would be competing for the limited amount of money that the state can borrow with projects authorized by the highway or education bonds.

The odd thing about bond legislation, however, is that it doesn’t provide "real" money for projects—it just "authorizes" the Governor to borrow if he decides to do so. Thus passage of the Environmental Bond Bill, and the Neponset River restoration amendment, only "get you to the 50 yard line," as Sen. Brian Joyce of Milton put it. The final 50 yards must come through the Governor’s office, which NepRWA has every intention of pursuing if and when the legislation is enacted.

It’s Time to Take Action!

It only takes a few phone calls to make a big impression on a legislator. Ask your state representative & senator to support House Bill 4446: the Environmental Bond Bill.

In addition to asking for their support for the Environmental Bond overall, please also ask your state representative to support an amendment to the Bond Bill authorizing $12 million for restoration and remediation of the Neponset Watershed. The amendment either will be offered by Sen. Brian Joyce or by another legislator.

For more information about the Environmental Bond Bill, visit www.envirobond.org.

If you don’t know who your legislators are or how to contact them, visit www.wheredoivotema.com. Enter your home address to get the name of your state representative and senator, and then click on their names next to the words "Rep in General Court" and "Senate in General Court" to get their contact information.

Background on the Environmental Bond Bill

The Environmental Bond Bill is the single most important environmental bill to be considered by the Legislature. Projects funded through the Environmental Bond directly affect communities across the state by protecting natural areas, safeguarding water quality, restoring rivers and streams, providing for dam removal, supporting working farms, building our economy and improving our quality of life.

The Environmental Bond is the cornerstone of the Commonwealth's long-term investment in its environment. It provides investments over the next five years for local and statewide projects that protect critical natural areas and wetlands, maintain our parks, beaches and bike paths, offer municipal aid, and more.

The Coalition for the Environmental Bond, representing 250 groups and businesses and a combined membership of more than 400,000 Massachusetts families, is advocating for passage of the Environmental Bond this legislative session before money for all the programs runs out.

The 2008 Environmental Bond will provide the capital funds for vital state environmental programs over the next five years. The 2002 Environmental Bond Bill (and subsequent "Patch Bonds" in 2004, 2006 & 2007) funded more than 76 different programs with important activities around the state. Funds from the 2002 Bond have been largely used up, and many important programs are running out of money, putting our environment, health and safety at risk. Without a new Environmental Bond, many environmental programs will face major cuts that affect our communities, outdoor recreational opportunities, and natural resources.

Absolutely essential environmental investments are funded through this bond, including:

Water Quality Protection
  * Water quality monitoring, assessment and protection - $15 million
  * Dam rehabilitation/removal - $31.5 million
  * Stream flow and groundwater monitoring networks - $25 million
  * Protection and rehabilitation of the lakes and ponds - $5 million
  * DCR stormwater management & Clean Water Act - $30 million
  * Water Pollution Abatement Fund - $50 million
  * Safe Drinking Water Fund - $25 million

Recreational Facilities, Parks and Parkways
  * Recreational Facilities Restoration - skating rinks, swimming pools, basketball courts, playgrounds, beaches, golf courses, forests, parks, harbor islands - $220 million
  * City parks and playgrounds - Urban Self-Help - $55 million
  * New "Signature Parks" in underserved urban areas - $25 million
  * DCR parkways and boulevards repair and improvement - $75 million
  * DCR vehicle bridges repair & improvement - $250 million
  * Mass. Historical Commission preservation grants - $10 million

Wildlife
  * Wildlife Habitat & Endangered Species land acquisition - $73 million
  * Endangered Species Habitat Recovery - $10 million
  * Upland Habitat Management - $8 million
  * Riverways Program - $10 million
  * State Wildlife Action Plan implementation - $11.4 million
  * Fishing and boating access facilities - $6.5 million

Land Protection
  * Town Conservation Areas and parks - Self-Help - $36 million
  * Conservation Partnership Grants to land trusts - $7 million
  * DCR State Forests, Parks, and Reservations land acquisition - $76 million
  * Trails and Greenway corridors - $15 million
  * Drinking Water Protection grants to cities & towns - $22.5 million
  * MassGIS support and improvement - $13 million

Seaports, Coastal & Marine
  * Coastal resources protection, preservation, access & enhancement - $30 million
  * Navigable coastal and inland waterways projects - $12.5 million
  * Harbor and Waterfront Improvement Grants - $60 million

Air, Solid Waste & Pollution
  * Solid waste facilities clean-up and closure - $13 million
  * Hazardous materials cleanup - $32 million
  * Statewide air monitoring network - $4.5 million

Agriculture & Forestry
  * DAR Agricultural Preservation Restriction Program (APR) - $67.7 million
  * DAR agricultural economic and environmental sustainability - $20 million
  * Private forest landowner program - $4 million
  * State Forest management and conservation - $10 million

For more information, please see the website of the Coalition for the Environmental Bond (www.envirobond.org). If you have questions, please contact Jeremy Marin at info@envirobond.org.