Bill > H824

This bill further defines an "environmental justice population" in Massachusetts. The key provisions are: 1) An environmental justice population is a neighborhood that meets at least one of the following criteria: (i) the annual median household income is not more than 65% of the statewide median; (ii) minorities comprise 40% or more of the population; (iii) 25% or more of households lack English proficiency; (iv) minorities comprise 25% or more of the population and the annual median household income of the municipality does not exceed 150% of the statewide median; or (v) the neighborhood is located within 1/2 mile of a Superfund site. 2) The Secretary may designate a geographic portion of a neighborhood that does not meet the above criteria as an environmental justice population upon petition by 10 residents. 3) The Secretary may determine that a neighborhood does not qualify as an environmental justice population if the annual median household income is above 125% of the statewide median, the majority of adults have a college education, the neighborhood does not bear an unfair environmental burden, and it has more than limited access to natural resources.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H824