[MassHistPres] HISTORIC TIDELANDS

[Jodi Purdy-Quinlan]

Dear Fellow Preservationists,

The Coastline of Massachusetts is about to be forever changed as State Regulators and Legislators continue changing the laws that protect it.

We need to act now to prevent sweeping changes to the historic integrity of this precious natural resource.

Please refer to the following information (see below signature) from the Charles River Watershed Association addressing this subject and contact your representatives.

"The bill is particularly destructive of the public trust rights in the tidelands - rights that go back further than the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.  Tidelands exist both along the shore and also inland along our rivers.  In the Charles, tidelands jurisdiction extends up to the Watertown Dam.

In addition, the DEP recently changed the mouth of the historic Weymouth Fore River, the oldest settled river of Mass Bay Colony.

Thank you,
Jodi Purdy-Quinlan
Vice Chairman
Weymouth Historical Commission
75 Middle Street
Weymouth, MA 02189
purdyquinlan at comcast.net
www.weymouth.ma.us

1) Your help is urgently needed! Act Now to Protect the Public's Rights to challenge waterways licenses in the Tidelands! 
 

Contact your state representative and the Speaker of the House and let them know that you support the public's right to challenge waterways licenses and do not want it eliminated.    
 
As reported in the Boston Globe, last week the Legislature's Committee on Finance released a bill, HB 4741, to "streamline" permitting for development.  This pro-developer bill was never given a hearing, is being fast-tracked for passage and could be voted on as early as next week.  We do not expect the Governor to veto it.  Click here to view the Globe article:   http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/03/27/bill_would_foil_a_tactic_used_for_waterfront_access/ 
 

The bill is particularly destructive of the public trust rights in the tidelands - rights that go back further than the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.  Tidelands exist both along the shore and also inland along our rivers.  In the Charles, tidelands jurisdiction extends up to the Watertown Dam.

 

The bill's outrageous provision in Section 8 would eliminate the right of ten citizens to seek administrative review of waterways licensing decisions.  Even more outrageous, Section 9 would eliminate citizens' right to go to court to challenge these decisions.  There is no question that public involvement and the possibility of a citizens' appeal have resulted in far better licenses - licenses that include public access to the waterfront and strong public benefit.  The Fan Pier project is a good example of this.  

 

Please spend a few minutes to safeguard the public legacy in our tidelands. Write or email your legislators today that you oppose these provisions in HB 4741.  Click here to view and download a sample letter: 

http://www.crwa.org/alert/Streamlinedbill0306/HB4741sampleletter.html 

 

To find your legislators, go to: http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php

 

To view the entire action alert, read the bill, and for links to more information, click here:

http://www.crwa.org/alert/Streamlinedbill0306/HB4741issuesconcerns.html