Great News from the State House

We have exciting news to share from the State House.

Progress was made on our Combined Sewer Overflow Legislation to reduce sewage pollution! Late last week, the bill reported out favorably by the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. This means the bill moves forward!

Passage of our CSO bill would be a major step in reducing sewage pollution — not just in Alewife Brook, but throughout the Boston metropolitan area.

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Thank you!

Our thanks to all of you who helped make this happen, including those who spoke in favor of the bill at the committee hearing, or wrote to the committee, or watched the hearing on the bill, or spoke out in any forum to support ending sewage pollution. A shout out to our partners at the Mystic River Watershed Association, the Charles River Watershed Association, and the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance, who all made strong statements in favor of the bill at the committee hearing.

Massive thanks go to Representatives Dave Rogers & Adrian Madaro, who are the original sponsors of the legislation and helped get it out of committee, as well as all the other legislators who signed on as co-sponsors. We are grateful also for all that our legislators will do as they continue to push the bill forward through the remainder of the legislative session.

 CSO Bill Sponsors Representatives Dave Rogers & Adrian C. Madaro

Sean Garballey, Steve Owens, Patricia Jehlen, Judith Garcia

Rady Mom, Lydia Edwards, Nick Collins, Sal N. DiDomenico, Bruce E. Tarr

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Finally, thanks to the Co-Chairs of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, Senator Rebecca Rausch and Representative Daniel Cahill, who recognized the harm being done by CSOs and the need for strong legislation, and who led the committee to report the bill out with a favorable vote.

Senator Rebecca Rausch & Representative Daniel Cahill

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The bill has a long way to go to become law. Getting a new law enacted is a drawn-out process. The next step for the bill will be a referral to another committee, most likely the House Ways and Means Committee.

We will keep you updated and let you know when and how you can help move it forward for a cleaner Alewife Brook and an end to sewage pollution!