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Historical Massachusetts environmental information, 1971-2016

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State environmental policy
U.S. environmental policy
Endangered species policy
State endangered species
Federal land policy
Environmental terms
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The historical environmental information below applies to prior years. For more current information regarding environmental policy in Massachusetts, see this article.

Land ownership

See also: Federal land policy and Federal land ownership by state

The federal government owned between 635 million and 640 million acres of land in 2012 (about 28 percent) of the 2.27 billion acres of land in the United States. Around 52 percent of federally owned acres were in 12 Western states—including Alaska, 61 percent of which was federally owned. In contrast, the federal government owned 4 percent of land in the other 38 states. Federal land policy is designed to manage minerals, oil and gas resources, timber, wildlife and fish, and other natural resources found on federal land. Land management policies are highly debated for their economic, environmental and social impacts. Additionally, the size of the federal estate and the acquisition of more federal land are major issues.[1][2]

According to the Congressional Research Service, Massachusetts spans more than 5 million acres. Of that total, 1.62 percent, or 81,692 acres, belonged to the federal government as of 2012. More than 4.9 million acres in Massachusetts are not owned by the federal government, or 0.74 non-federal acres per capita. From 1990 to 2010, the federal government's land ownership in Massachusetts increased by 18,401 acres.[1]

The table below shows federal land ownership in Massachusetts compared to its neighbor, New Hampshire, and a Western state, Nevada. The U.S. National Park Service owned 32,946 acres in Massachusetts compared to 13,168 acres in New Hampshire and 774,751 acres in Nevada. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages endangered species, owned 21,850 acres in Massachusetts compared to 25,989 acres in New Hampshire and 2.3 million acres in Nevada.

Federal land ownership in Massachusetts and other states by agency
State
Agency Massachusetts New Hampshire Nevada
Acres owned Percentage owned Acres owned Percentage owned Acres owned Percentage owned
U.S. Forest Service 0 0.00% 735,519 94.56% 5,764,262 10.12%
U.S. National Park Service 32,946 40.33% 13,168 1.69% 774,751 1.36%
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 21,850 26.75% 25,989 3.34% 2,335,400 4.10%
U.S. Bureau of Land Management 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 47,805,923 83.93%
U.S. Department of Defense 26,896 32.92% 3,131 0.40% 281,442 0.49%
Total federal land 81,692 100% 777,807 100% 56,961,778 100%
Source: Congressional Research Service, "Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data"

Land usage

Recreation

National parks in Massachusetts

Clarksburg State Park in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts has 15 National Park Service units, one wilderness area, one national recreation area and four national historic sites. A study by the U.S. National Park Service found that 9.7 million visitors attended Massachusetts’'s national parks and monuments and generated $469.7 million in visitor spending in 2013.[3]

Federal lands and Indian reservations in Massachusetts by government agency (click the image to enlarge).

State recreation lands

According to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, there were 160 states parks in Massachusetts as of December 2014. The table below contains a list of all state parks in Massachusetts.[4]

Economic activity on federal lands

Oil and gas activity

See also: BLM oil and gas leases by state

Private mining companies, including oil and natural gas companies, can apply for leases from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to explore and produce energy on federal land. The company seeking a lease must nominate the land for oil and gas exploration to the BLM, which evaluates and approves the lease. The BLM state offices make leasing decisions based on their land use plans, which contain information on the land's resources and the potential environmental impact of oil or gas exploration. If federal lands are approved for leasing, the BLM requires information about how the company will conduct its drilling and production. Afterward, the BLM will produce an environmental analysis and a list of requirements before work on the land can begin. The agency also inspects the companies' drilling and production on the leased lands.[5]

In 2013, there were 47,427 active leases covering 36.09 million acres of federal land nationwide. Of that total, no leases were in Massachusetts. In 2013, out of 3,770 new drilling leases approved nationwide by the BLM for oil and gas exploration, no leases were in Massachusetts.[6][7][8][9][10]

The table below shows how Massachusetts compared to neighboring states in oil and gas permits on BLM-managed lands in 2013. Massachusetts had no active leases or acres under lease in 2013.

Oil and gas leasing on BLM lands by state
State Active permits on BLM lands (FY 2013) Total acres under lease (FY 2013) State percentage of total permits State percentage of total acres
Massachusetts 0 0 0.00% 0.00%
Connecticut 0 0 0.00% 0.00%
New Hampshire 0 0 0.00% 0.00%
New York 5 1,183 0.01% 0.00%
Total United States 47,427 permits 36,092,482 acres - -
Source: U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Oil and Gas Statistics"

Payments in lieu of taxes

See also: Payments in lieu of taxes

Since local governments cannot collect taxes on federally owned property, the U.S. Department of the Interior issues payments to local governments to replace lost property tax revenue from federal land. The payments, known as "Payments in Lieu of Taxes" (PILTs), are typically used for funding services such as fire departments, police protection, school construction and roads.[11]

The table below shows PILTs for Massachusetts compared to neighboring states between 2011 and 2013. Massachusetts received more PILTs in 2013 than Connecticut but fewer than New Hampshire and New York.

Total PILTs for Massachusetts and neighboring states
State FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013 State's percentage of 2013 total
Massachusetts $101,403 $114,403 $111,203 0.03%
Connecticut $29,011 $29,612 $28,900 0.01%
New Hampshire $1,750,215 $1,800,869 $1,767,252 0.44%
New York $127,278 $152,301 $144,520 0.04%
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, "PILT"


Legislation and regulation

Federal laws

Clean Air Act

The federal Clean Air Act requires each state to meet federal standards for air pollution. Under the act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency oversees national air quality standards aimed at limiting pollutants from chemical plants, steel mills, utilities, and industrial factories. Individual states can enact stricter air standards if they choose, though each state must adhere to the EPA's minimum pollution standards. States implement federal air standards through a state implementation plan (SIP), which must be approved by the EPA.[12]

Clean Water Act

The federal Clean Water Act is meant to address and maintain the physical, chemical, and biological status of the waters of the United States. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates water pollution sources and provides financial assistance to states and municipalities for water quality programs.[13]

According to research done by The New York Times using annual averages from 2004 to 2007, Massachusetts had 284.50 facilities that were regulated annually by the Clean Water Act. An average of 166.30 facilities violated the act annually from 2004 to 2007 in Massachusetts, and the EPA enforced the act an average of 9.40 times a year in the state. This information, published by the Times in 2009, was the most recent information on the subject as of October 2014.[14]

The table below shows how Massachusetts compared to neighboring states in The New York Times study, including the number of regulated facilities, facility violations, and the annual average of enforcement actions against regulated facilities between 2004 and 2007. Massachusetts had more regulated facilities and more facility violations than Connecticut and New Hampshire and fewer than New York.

New York Times Clean Water Act study, 2004-2007
State Number of facilities regulated Facility violations Annual average enforcement actions
Massachusetts 284.50 166.30 9.40
Connecticut 180.3 72.8 2.7
New Hampshire 101.30 54.80 5.00
New York 1,674.80 855.70 55.10
Source: The New York Times, "Clean Water Act Violations: The Enforcement Record"

Endangered Species Act

The federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 provides for the identification, listing, and protection of both threatened and endangered species and their habitats. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the law was designed to prevent the extinction of vulnerable plant and animal species through the development of recovery plans and the protection of critical habitats. ESA administration and enforcement are the responsibility of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service.[15][16]

Federally listed species in Massachusetts

There were 21 endangered and threatened animal and plant species believed to or known to occur in Massachusetts as of July 2015.

The table below lists the 18 endangered and threatened animal species believed to or known to occur in the state. When an animal species has the word "Entire" after its name, that species will be found all throughout the state.[17]

Endangered animal species in Massachusetts
Status Species
Endangered Beetle, American burying Entire (Nicrophorus americanus)
Threatened Plover, piping except Great Lakes watershed (Charadrius melodus)
Threatened Sea turtle, green Except where endangered (Chelonia mydas)
Endangered Sea turtle, hawksbill Entire (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Endangered Sea turtle, Kemp's ridley Entire (Lepidochelys kempii)
Endangered Sea turtle, leatherback Entire (Dermochelys coriacea)
Endangered Sturgeon, shortnose Entire (Acipenser brevirostrum)
Endangered Tern, roseate northeast U.S. nesting pop. (Sterna dougallii dougallii)
Threatened Tiger beetle, Northeastern beach Entire (Cicindela dorsalis dorsalis)
Threatened Tiger beetle, Puritan Entire (Cicindela puritana)
Threatened Turtle, bog (=Muhlenberg) northern (Clemmys muhlenbergii)
Endangered Turtle, Plymouth Redbelly Entire (Pseudemys rubriventris bangsi)
Endangered Wedgemussel, dwarf Entire (Alasmidonta heterodon)
Endangered Whale, blue Entire (Balaenoptera musculus)
Endangered Whale, finback Entire (Balaenoptera physalus)
Endangered Whale, humpback Entire (Megaptera novaeangliae)
Endangered Whale, North Atlantic Right Entire (Eubalaena glacialis)
Endangered Whale, Sei Entire (Balaenoptera borealis)
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "Endangered and threatened species in Massachusetts"

The table below lists the three endangered and threatened plant species believed to or known to occur in the state.[18]

Endangered plant species in Massachusetts
Status Species
Endangered Bulrush, Northeastern (Scirpus ancistrochaetus)
Endangered Gerardia, sandplain (Agalinis acuta)
Threatened Pogonia, small whorled (Isotria medeoloides)
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "Endangered and threatened species in Massachusetts"

State-listed species in Massachusetts

Under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act, the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game manages its own state list of endangered, threatened and "special concern" species (a special concern species is a native species that has declined in population and could be threatened in the future). All federally listed species also appear on the state list. The complete list of species can be found here.

Enforcement

See also: Enforcement at the EPA

Massachusetts is part of the EPA's Region 1, which also includes Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Environmental policy in Vermont.

The EPA enforces federal standards on air, water and hazardous chemicals. The EPA can engage in its own administrative action against private industries, or it can bring civil and/or criminal lawsuits against them. The goal of environmental law enforcement is usually the collection of penalties and fines for violations of laws like the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. In 2013, the EPA estimated that 149.3 million pounds of pollution, which includes air pollution, water contaminants, and hazardous chemicals, were "reduced, treated or eliminated" and 16.3 million cubic yards of soil and water were cleaned in Region 1. Additionally, 95 enforcement cases were initiated, and 99 enforcement cases were concluded in fiscal year 2013. In fiscal year 2012, the EPA collected $252 million in criminal fines and civil penalties from the private sector nationwide. In fiscal year 2013, the EPA collected $1.1 billion in criminal fines and civil penalties from the private sector nationwide, primarily due to the $1 billion settlement from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill along the Gulf Coast in 2010. The EPA only publishes nationwide data and does not provide state or region-specific information on the amount of fines and penalties it collects during a fiscal year.[19][20][21][22]

One of the EPA's enforcement activities occurred in Boston in 2014. UniFirst, a Boston-based uniforms and work-wear company, was fined $86,660 by the EPA for violating sections of the federal Clean Air Act related to new washers and dryers. Specifically, the company was required to apply for and obtain an operating permit for its washers and dryers but did not. The company was also required to pay $5,000 in compliance costs.[23]

Mercury and air toxics standards

See also: Mercury and air toxics standards
The EPA on mercury capture systems

The EPA implements Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), which are national limits on mercury and other toxic emissions from power plants. As of 2014, approximately 580 power plants, including 1,400 oil- and coal-fired electric-generating units, fell under the federal rule. These standards require power plants to adopt pollution control technologies that contain pollutants like mercury, chromium, nickel, arsenic and acid gases. The EPA has claimed that the standards will "prevent up to 130 premature deaths in Massachusetts while creating up to $1.1 billion in health benefits in 2016."[24][25][26][24][27]

In 2014, the EPA released a study examining the economic, environmental, and health impacts of the MATS standards nationwide. Other organizations have released their own analyses about the effects of the MATS standards. Below is a summary of the studies on MATS and their effects as of November 2014.

EPA study
In 2014, the EPA reported that its MATS rule would prevent roughly 11,000 premature deaths and 130,000 asthma attacks nationwide. The agency also anticipated between $37 billion and $90 billion in "improved air quality benefits" annually. For the rule's cost, the EPA estimated that annual compliance fees for coal- and oil-fired power plants would reach $9.6 billion.[28]

NERA study
A 2012 study published by NERA Economic Consulting, a global consultancy group, reported that annual compliance costs in the electricity sector would total $10 billion in 2015 and nearly $100 billion cumulatively up through 2034. The same study found that the net impact of the MATS rule in 2015 would be the income equivalent of 180,000 fewer jobs. This net impact took into account the job gains associated with the building and refitting of power plants with new technology.[29]

Superfund sites

The EPA established the Superfund program as part of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980.The Superfund program focuses on uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites nationwide. The EPA inspects waste sites and establishes cleanup plans for them. The federal government can compel the private entities responsible for a waste site to clean the site or face penalties. If the federal government cleans a waste site, it can force the responsible party to reimburse the EPA or other federal agencies for the cleanup's cost. Superfund sites include oil refineries, smelting facilities, mines and other industrial areas. As of October 2014, there were 1,322 Superfund sites nationwide. A total of 102 Superfund sites reside in Region 1. There were 31 Superfund sites in Massachusetts as of October 2014.[30][31]

Economic impact
EPA studies
The Environmental Protection Agency publishes studies to evaluate the impact and benefits of its policies. Other studies may dispute the agency's findings or state the costs of its policies.

According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent federal agency, the Superfund program received an average of almost $1.2 billion annually in appropriated funds between the years 1981 and 2009, adjusted for inflation. The GAO estimated that the trust fund of the Superfund program decreased from $5 billion in 1997 to $137 million in 2009. The Superfund program received an additional $600 million in federal funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, also known as the stimulus bill.[32]

In March 2011, the EPA claimed that the agency's Superfund program produced economic benefits nationwide. Because Superfund sites are added and removed from a prioritized list on a regular basis, the total number of Superfund sites since the program's inception in 1980 is unknown. Based on a selective study of 373 Superfund sites cleaned up since the program's inception, the EPA estimated these economic benefits include the creation of 2,240 private businesses, $32.6 billion in annual sales from new businesses, 70,144 jobs and $4.9 billion in annual employment income.[33]

Other studies were published detailing the costs associated with the Superfund program. According to the Property and Environment Research Center, a free market-oriented policy group based in Montana, the EPA spent over $35 billion on the Superfund program between 1980 and 2005.[34][35]

Environmental impact

In March 2011, the EPA claimed that the Superfund program resulted in healthier environments surrounding former waste sites. An agency study analyzed the program's health and ecological benefits and focused on former landfills, mining areas, and abandoned dumps that were cleaned up and renovated. As of January 2009, out of the approximately 500 former Superfund sites used for the study, roughly 10 percent became recreational or commercial sites. Other former Superfund sites in the study became wetlands, meadows, streams, scenic trails, parks, and habitats for plants and animals.[36]


Carbon emissions

See also: Climate change, Greenhouse gas and Greenhouse gas emissions by state

In 2011, Massachusetts ranked 30th nationwide in carbon emissions. Generally, carbon emissions have declined in Massachusetts since 1990. Emissions peaked in 1997 at 84 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. In 2011, the transportation sector accounted for 44.6 percent of the state's total carbon emissions.[37]

Carbon dioxide emissions in Massachusetts (in million metric tons). Data was compiled by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Carbon dioxide emissions in Massachusetts by sector

Pollution from energy use

Pollution from energy use includes three common air pollutants: carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. These and other pollutants are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, which are federal standards limiting pollutants that can harm human health in significant concentrations. Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is also regulated by the EPA, but it is excluded here since it is not one of the pollutants originally regulated under the Clean Air Act for its harm to human health.

Industries and motor vehicles emit carbon monoxide directly when they use energy. Nitrogen dioxide forms from the emissions of automobiles, power plants and other sources. Ground level ozone (also known as tropospheric ozone) is not emitted but is the product of chemical reactions between nitrogen dioxide and volatile organic chemicals. The EPA tracks these and other pollutants from monitoring sites across the United States. The data below shows nationwide and regional trends for carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone between 2000 and 2014. States with consistent climates and weather patterns were grouped together by the EPA to make up each region.[38][39]

Carbon monoxide (CO)

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas produced from combustion processes, e.g., when gasoline reacts rapidly with oxygen and releases exhaust; the majority of national CO emissions come from mobile sources like automobiles. CO can reduce the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood and at very high levels can cause death. CO concentrations are measured in parts per million (ppm). Since 1994, federal law prohibits CO concentrations from exceeding 9 ppm during an eight-hour period more than once per year.[40][41]

The chart below compares the annual average concentration of carbon monoxide in the Northeastern and Southeastern regions of the United States between 2000 and 2014. States with consistent climates and weather patterns are grouped together by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which collects these data, to make up each region. Each line represents the annual average of all the data collected from pollution monitoring sites in each region. In the Northeast, there were 32 monitoring sites throughout 11 states, compared to 22 monitoring sites throughout six states in the Southeast. In 2000, the average concentration of carbon monoxide was 2.7 ppm in the Northeast, compared to 3.91 ppm in the Southeast. In 2014, the average concentration of carbon monoxide was 1.2 ppm in the Northeast, a decrease of 61.1 percent from 2000, compared to 1.52 ppm in the Southeast, a decrease of 56.7 percent from 2000.[42]

NE SE regional comparison.png

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is one of a group of gasses known as nitrogen oxides (NOx). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) measures NO2 as a representative for the larger group of nitrogen oxides. NO2 forms from the emissions of cars, buses, trucks, power plants, and off-road equipment. It helps form ground-level ozone and fine particle pollution, and has been linked to respiratory problems. Since 1971, federal law prohibits NO2 concentrations from exceeding a daily one-hour average of 100 parts per billion (ppb) and an annual average of 53 parts per billion (ppb).[41][43][41]

The chart below compares the annual one-hour average concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the Northeastern and Southeastern regions of the United States between 2000 and 2014. In the Northeast, there were 32 monitoring sites throughout 11 states, compared to 14 monitoring sites throughout six states in the Southeast. In 2000, the one-hour daily average concentration of NO2 was 61.31 ppb in the Northeast, compared to 57 ppb in the Southeast. In 2014, the one-hour daily average concentration of NO2 was 43.98 ppb in the Northeast, a decrease of 28.2 percent since 2000, compared to 38.36 ppb in the Southeast, a decrease of 32.6 percent since 2000.[44]

NE SE regional comparison.png

Ground-level ozone

Ground-level ozone is created by chemical reactions between nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in sunlight. Major sources of NOx and VOCs include industrial facilities, electric utilities, automobiles, gasoline vapors, and chemical solvents. Ground-level ozone can produce health problems for children, the elderly, and asthmatics. Since 2008, federal law has prohibited ozone concentrations from exceeding a daily eight-hour average of 75 parts per billion (ppb). Beginning in 2025, federal law will prohibit ground-level ozone concentrations from exceeding a daily eight-hour average of 70 ppb.[41][45]

The chart below compares the daily eight-hour average concentration of ground-level ozone in the Northeastern and Southeastern regions of the United States between 2000 and 2014. In the chart below, ozone concentrations are measured in parts per million (ppm), which can be converted to parts per billion (ppb). In the Northeast, there were 133 monitoring sites throughout 11 states, compared to 153 monitoring sites throughout six states in the Southeast. In 2000, the daily eight-hour average concentration of ozone was 0.083 ppm, or 83 ppb in the Northeast, compared to 0.082 ppm, or 82 ppb in the Southeast. In 2014, the daily eight-hour average concentration of ozone was 0.066 ppm, or 66 ppb in the Northeast, a decrease of 19.5 percent since 2000, compared to 0.063 ppm, or 63 ppb in the Southeast, a decrease of 23.9 percent since 2000.[46]

NE SE regional comparison.png

State laws

Mass DEP Logo.jpg

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection publishes the state's rules and regulations on air and water quality, site cleanup, spills, hazardous materials, waste and recycling, and more. A complete directory of the state's environmental laws can be found here.[47]

Enforcement

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection is composed of five major environmental divisions:[48]

  • The Air Quality Division maintains air quality and issues permits for major industrial sources of air pollution.[49]
  • The Water Resources Division develops water quality standards for waterways, surface waters and groundwater sources and issues permits for industrial and municipal sources of wastewater and stormwater.[50]
  • The Waste and Recycling Division oversees the handling, processing, recycling and disposing of solid wastes.[51]
  • The Toxics and Hazards Division regulates toxic and hazardous materials and underground storage tanks.[52]
  • The Waste Site Cleanup Division is responsible for immediate responses to environmental emergencies, such as oil spills.[53]

State environmental policy act

See also: State environmental policy acts

The Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act requires that all state agencies take into account the environmental impact of their proposed actions, including state decisions involving permits and financial assistance. Each state agency must "use all practicable means and measures to minimize damage to the environment." Since November 2008, all proposed state actions and decisions have had to take into account their impact on climate change, including additional greenhouse gas emissions and their effects.[54][55]

Environmental impact reports must be prepared by the state agency proposing the action. For projects that require a permit or financial assistance from a state agency, the agency or the person seeking the permit or financial assistance must prepare the environmental report. The report must contain descriptions of the extent of the proposed action and its environmental impact, including a list of reasonable alternatives to the proposed action.[54]

According to the law, "damage to the environment" includes any damage or impairment, including the following:[55]

  • air pollution
  • water pollution
  • pesticide pollution
  • improper sewage disposal
  • reduction of ground water levels
  • increases in flooding
  • destruction of seashores, marine resources or wetlands
  • damage to natural areas, parks or historic sites

Historical budget information

The table below shows state budget figures for Massachusetts' environmental and natural resource departments compared to neighboring states.

Total state natural resource expenditures by state
State Departments/Divisions FY 2013 FY 2012 FY 2011
Massachusetts Environmental Protection; Conservation and Recreation $129,314,000 $116,998,000 $119,109,000
Connecticut Environmental Quality; Environmental Conservation; Clean Air; Solid Waste Management $27,808,772 $26,960,308 $27,572,628
New Hampshire Environmental Services $118,652,082 $198,217,387 $225,939,534
New York Environmental Conservation $897,781,000 $1,085,226,000 $947,722,000
Sources: Massachusetts Office for Administration and Finance, Connecticut General Assembly, New Hampshire Department of Administrative Services, New York Division of the Budget

Major groups

Below is a list of environmental advocacy organizations in Massachusetts.

  • Sierra Club - Massachusetts Chapter
  • Berkshire Natural Resources Council
  • Environmental League of Massachusetts
  • Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters

Ballot measures

Voting on the Environment
Environment.jpg
Ballot Measures
By state
By year
Not on ballot


Below is a list of ballot measures relating to environmental issues in Massachusetts.

Natural resources

Ballotpedia staff have tracked no ballot measures relating to natural resources in Massachusetts.

Environment

Water

Ballotpedia staff have tracked no ballot measures relating to water resources in Massachusetts.

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Massachusetts environmental policy. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Historical Massachusetts environmental information, 1971-2016 - Google News

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Congressional Research Service, "Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data," accessed September 15, 2014
  2. ↑ U.S. Congressional Research Service, "Federal Lands and Natural Resources: Overview and Selected Issues for the 113th Congress," December 8, 2014
  3. ↑ U.S. National Park Service, "2013 National Park Visitor Spending Effects Report," accessed October 14, 2014
  4. ↑ Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, "Massachusetts State Parks," accessed December 2, 2014
  5. ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Oil and Gas Lease Sales," accessed October 20, 2014
  6. ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Number of Acres Leased During the Fiscal Year," accessed October 20, 2014
  7. ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Total Number of Leases in Effect," accessed October 20, 2014
  8. ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Summary of Onshore Oil and Gas Statistics," accessed October 20, 2014
  9. ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Number of Drilling Permits Approved by Fiscal Year on Federal Lands," accessed October 20, 2014
  10. ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Total Number of Acres Under Lease As of the Last Day of the Fiscal Year," accessed October 22, 2014
  11. ↑ U.S. Department of the Interior, "PILT," accessed October 4, 2014
  12. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Understanding the Clean Air Act," accessed September 12, 2014
  13. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Clean Water Act (CWA) Overview," accessed September 19, 2014
  14. ↑ The New York Times, "Clean Water Act Violations: The Enforcement Record," September 13, 2009
  15. ↑ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "Improving ESA Implementation," accessed May 15, 2015
  16. ↑ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "ESA Overview," accessed October 1, 2014
  17. ↑ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "Endangered and threatened species in Massachusetts," accessed July 6, 2015
  18. ↑ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "Endangered and threatened species in Massachusetts," accessed July 6, 2015
  19. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Annual EPA Enforcement Results Highlight Focus on Major Environmental Violations," February 7, 2014
  20. ↑ Environmental Protection Agency, "Accomplishments by EPA Region (2013)," May 12, 2014
  21. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Enforcement Annual Results for Fiscal Year 2012," accessed October 1, 2014 (dead link)
  22. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "EPA Enforcement in 2012 Protects Communities From Harmful Pollution," December 17, 2012
  23. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Enforcement Case Report for UniFirst," accessed December 23, 2014
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Cleaner Power Plants," accessed January 5, 2015
  25. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Basic Information on Mercury and Air Toxics Standards," accessed January 5, 2015
  26. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Basic Information on Mercury and Air Toxics Standards," accessed January 5, 2015
  27. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Mercury and Air Toxics Standards in Massachusetts," accessed September 9, 2014
  28. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Benefits and Costs of Cleaning Up Toxic Air Pollution from Power Plants," accessed October 9, 2014
  29. ↑ NERA Economic Consulting, "An Economic Impact Analysis of EPA's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards Rule," March 1, 2012
  30. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "What is Superfund?" accessed September 9, 2014
  31. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "National Priorities List (NPL) of Superfund Sites," accessed October 7, 2014
  32. ↑ U.S. Government Accountability Office, "EPA's Estimated Costs to Remediate Existing Sites Exceed Current Funding Levels, and More Sites Are Expected to Be Added to the National Priorities List," accessed October 7, 2014
  33. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Estimate of National Economic Impacts of Superfund Sites," accessed September 12, 2014
  34. ↑ Property and Environment Research Center, "Superfund Follies, Part II," accessed October 7, 2014
  35. ↑ Property and Environment Research Center, "Superfund: The Shortcut That Failed (1996)," accessed October 7, 2014
  36. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Beneficial Effects of the Superfund Program," accessed September 12, 2014
  37. ↑ U.S. Energy Information Administration, "State Profiles and Energy Estimates," accessed October 13, 2014
  38. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Air Trends," accessed October 30, 2015
  39. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Basic Information - Ozone," accessed January 1, 2016
  40. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Carbon Monoxide," accessed October 26, 2015
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 41.3 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)," accessed October 26, 2015
  42. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Regional Trends in CO Levels," accessed October 23, 2015
  43. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Nitrogen dioxide," accessed October 26, 2015
  44. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Regional Trends in Nitrogen Dioxide Levels," accessed October 23, 2015
  45. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Ground Level Ozone," accessed October 26, 2015
  46. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Regional Trends in Ozone Levels ," accessed October 26, 2015
  47. ↑ Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, "MassDEP Laws & Rules," accessed December 23, 2014
  48. ↑ Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, "About MassDEP," accessed December 23, 2014
  49. ↑ Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, "Air quality," accessed December 23, 2014
  50. ↑ Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, "Water Resources," accessed December 23, 2014
  51. ↑ Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, "Waste & Recycling," accessed December 23, 2014
  52. ↑ Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, "Toxics and Hazardous Division," accessed December 23, 2014
  53. ↑ Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, "Cleanup of Sites and Spills," accessed December 23, 2014
  54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, "About MEPA," accessed April 7, 2015
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, "MEPA Statute," accessed April 7, 2015
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