Bill > S489

This bill amends Massachusetts law to require the state's Department of Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, to establish quality assurance standards for testing water bodies and waterways for bacteria or other pollutants following a discharge from a combined sewage overflow (CSO) outfall. The bill mandates that the Department conduct such testing within a reasonable timeframe after a CSO notification, at multiple locations downstream from each CSO outfall. The Department must compile the data, create a predictive model for post-CSO water quality, and require permittees with high bacteria levels to develop a CSO mitigation plan. The bill also requires permittees to report discharge volumes and install accurate metering equipment, and directs the Department to issue public advisories within established timeframes.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S489