Bill > H997

This bill requires the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) to conduct comprehensive environmental assessments and monitoring of air quality and noise levels specifically in the East Boston neighborhood and Winthrop, which are near Logan Airport. The legislation mandates that Massport conduct air quality monitoring in at least three East Boston locations, track and publicly report air and noise quality data every five years, and prepare detailed reports assessing the environmental impacts of airport operations. The bill also requires Massport, in coordination with the state's public health department, to perform regular environmental risk assessments examining health impacts, which will include air quality monitoring, pollution modeling, exposure analysis, and health surveys related to diseases like cardiovascular, neurological, and respiratory conditions. If air quality or noise standards are not being met, Massport must develop action plans to remediate the affected areas, and the Department of Environmental Protection can issue orders and require corrective measures. Additionally, the bill requires the state to monitor and report on ultrafine particulate matter at air monitoring stations, expanding the scope of environmental tracking. The goal is to address environmental justice concerns and provide transparency about the airport's potential health and environmental impacts on nearby communities.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H997