Earlier this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was ordered by President Trump to repeal the Clean Water Rule which defines which wetlands and waterways are protected under the Clean Water Act. EPA has opened a 30-day public comment period on the repeal which concludes on August 28th and we need your help to… Read more »
Mass Rivers received a $15,000 challenge grant for our drought management work. Thanks to the generous response from new and renewing members, Mass Rivers is just $2000 short of reaching our goal. All new member donations will be matched at 100%. Donation increases from existing members will also be matched. Qualifying donations must be received… Read more »
The Massachusetts Rivers Alliance invites you to participate in the first-ever Lobby for the Rivers Day, on Thursday, March 30th at 11 am, at the State House in Boston. With a new administration in Washington weakening river protection, and news of water disasters around the country, our rivers desperately need our help. One critically important,… Read more »
As a new administration prepares to move into the Oval Office, Mass Rivers is preparing for what may be one of our most challenging years yet. We’ll be pushing back against new threats to water, and building on our recent accomplishments. Here is a brief summary of the issues in 2016 that threatened our rivers… Read more »
Massachusetts Environmental Secretary Matt Beaton acknowledged the severity of the current drought today when he expanded the drought declaration across the entire state. The most severely affected areas, in the northeast and central areas were upgraded to “Drought Warning,” the last step before “Drought Emergency.” The Secretary urged total outdoor water bans in these two areas,… Read more »
Mass Rivers and 44 member groups have asked the Governor’s Environmental Secretary, Matthew Beaton, to take specific actions in response to the current drought in eastern and central Massachusetts. We are urging our state to better safeguard our rivers, wildlife, and water supplies during droughts. Many of our rivers and streams are at record, or… Read more »
Legislation proposed by Governor Baker to transfer authority from the federal government (EPA) to the state (MassDEP) to regulate water pollution will not be voted on this session and has been sent to study. Mass Rivers opposed efforts to transfer authority for regulation from EPA to MassDEP at this time, a move that would cost… Read more »
State Senate proposing cuts to river protection On May 19 the state Senate released its budget proposal for the coming year, and it includes significant new cuts in the programs that keep our rivers healthy. Overall, the Senate is proposing to cut the Department of Environmental Protection by 13% and the Department of Conservation and… Read more »
Noting that “55% of our waterways in Massachusetts are impaired by stormwater,” New England’s EPA Regional Administrator Curt Spaulding briefed a group of state legislators yesterday on the pending storm water permit. The seminar, hosted by Representative Carolyn Dykema and Senator Jamie Eldridge, took place at the State House and also included brief talks by… Read more »
The environmental agencies are beginning to move on implementing E.O. 562, Governor Baker’s March (2015) directive to the state’s executive branch agencies to review all regulations currently on the books. Regulations are to be targeted for retention, elimination (rescission), or amendment, by March 2016. Agencies are asked to look at whether the regulations harm businesses,… Read more »
