reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 21 § 55 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 21 - Department of Environmental Management|Section 55 - Cooperation With Other Governmental Units; Agreements; Federal and Private Grants

Section 55. Said director with the approval of the department shall cooperate with all departments, boards, officials and institutions of the commonwealth and its political subdivisions that may in any way be concerned with matters under its supervision; cooperate and consult with adjoining states and with the United States, or any agency thereof; enter into agreements relative to the federal administration and enforcement of off-shore exploration and extraction beyond the marine jurisdiction of the commonwealth; and may apply for, receive and expend such federal grants or reimbursements or private grants as may be available therefor in carrying out the duties of the division.
MA Gen L ch 21 § 56 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 21 - Department of Environmental Management|Section 56 - License and Lease Requirements; Violations; Penalties; Enforcement

Section 56. No person shall explore by seismic, electronic or any other method for mineral resources on or in said coastal waters or lands thereunder without a license from said director. No person shall, except for purposes of exploration permitted under a license, extract mineral resources from said coastal waters or lands thereunder without a lease issued by said director. Any person violating any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars and, in addition thereto, any equipment, vehicles, boats and appurtenances used in said violation shall be liable to seizure and forfeiture. Any person violating any rule or regulation of the director shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, and his license or lease, if any, shall be subject to revocation or suspension. Violations committed within the coastal waters may be prosecuted in any district which has venue over coastal waters. The division of law enforcement shall enforce the laws, rules and regulations relating to mineral resources.
MA Gen L ch 21 § 59 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 21 - Department of Environmental Management|Section 59 - Watershed Preservation Restrictions Program

Section 59. (a) The secretary of environmental affairs shall establish a program to assist the commonwealth in the acquisition of watershed preservation restrictions, as defined in section 31 of chapter 184, for land classified as watershed land as defined in regulations to be promulgated by the department of conservation and recreation.  (b) The commissioner of the department of conservation and recreation, the ''commissioner'', may from funds appropriated to carry out the provisions of this section, or received from other sources, pay the owner of watershed lands which he determines to be beneficial to the maintenance of the water supply of the commonwealth an amount determined to be equitable but not to exceed the difference between the fair market value of such land and the fair market value of such land restricted for watershed purposes pursuant to this section. Title to such watershed preservation restrictions shall be held in the name of the commonwealth; provided, however, that a city or town in which such land is located, which provides assistance satisfactory to the commissioner, including but not limited to providing of funds or portions thereof toward the purchase of such restriction, the providing of legal services and the enforcement of the preservation restriction, shall hold title to such restrictions jointly with the commonwealth.  (c) Watershed preservation restriction projects shall be administered by conservation commissions in cities and towns in which such commissions have been established, or in a city, by the city council or its delegated agency subject to the provisions of the city charter, or in a town, by the board of selectmen or its delegated agency. The commissioner, subject to the approval of the secretary of environmental affairs, shall establish procedures for the management of such programs.
MA Gen L ch 21 § 60 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 21 - Department of Environmental Management|Section 60 - Watershed Lands Preservation Committee

Section 60. There is hereby created a watershed lands preservation committee in the department of conservation and recreation, the members of which shall be the commissioner of conservation and recreation, the secretary of environmental affairs, the director of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, the director of the division of water supply in the department of environmental protection, 1 member appointed by the speaker of the house, 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the house, 1 member appointed by the president of the senate, 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the senate, and 2 members appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall represent an organization dedicated to conservation of natural resources and 1 of whom shall have expertise in the field of hydrology. The committee shall advise the commissioner of the department of conservation and recreation on the evaluation of projects and shall advise the commissioner on any rules or regulations necessary to carry out the intent of the watershed preservation restriction program.
MA Gen L ch 21 § 61 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 21 - Department of Environmental Management|Section 61 - Watershed Preservation Restrictions Program; Annual Report

Section 61. The commissioner of conservation and recreation shall prepare an annual report on the watershed preservation restriction program. The report shall include the number and geographic distribution of applicants accepted and rejected, the acreage and cost of purchase and such other information as will enable evaluation of the program.
MA Gen L ch 21 § 62 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 21 - Department of Environmental Management|Section 62 - Watershed Preservation Restrictions; Tax Assessment

Section 62. Land under watershed preservation restriction, while remaining under such restriction, shall be assessed for general tax purposes, to reflect the diminution of land value which may be caused by such watershed preservation restriction.
MA Gen L ch 21 § 63 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 21 - Department of Environmental Management|Section 63 - Surveys, Soundings, Drillings or Examinations

Section 63. Whenever the department deems it necessary to make surveys, soundings, drillings or examinations to obtain information for or to expedite the construction of its watershed system, parks, recreational facilities or other projects under its jurisdiction, the department, its authorized agents or employees, may, after due notice by registered or certified mail, enter upon any lands, waters and premises in the commonwealth for the purpose of making surveys, soundings, drillings and examinations as they may deem necessary or convenient for the purposes of this section, and such entry shall not be deemed a trespass nor shall an entry for such purposes be deemed an entry under any condemnation proceedings which may then be pending. The department shall make reimbursement for any injury or actual damage resulting to such lands, waters and premises caused by any act of its authorized agents or employees and shall, so far as possible, restore such lands to the same condition as prior to the making of such surveys, soundings, drillings or examinations.
MA Gen L ch 21 § 64 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 21 - Department of Environmental Management|Section 64 - Annual Report on Dams

Section 64. The commissioner of conservation and recreation, in conjunction with the commissioner of fish and game, the division of fisheries and wildlife, and the riverways program, or any successor agencies, shall annually, on or before June 30, submit a detailed report on all dams, whether on public or private property, to the joint committee on environment, natural resources and agriculture and to the senate and house committees on ways and means. The report shall include (1) a comprehensive list of each person, agency, municipality or entity that owns and operates a dam and the location of each dam where such ownership or operation is registered with the department; (2) a list of specific owners who have failed to meet regulatory requirements including, but not limited to, registration and inspection requirements; (3) the hazard classification status of any dams that pose a threat to public health, safety, welfare, property or the environment and when or whether any such dam has been repaired; (4) a comprehensive list of dams that are abandoned as defined in section 44 of chapter 253; and (5) a comprehensive list of dams, the existence, condition or operation of which poses a threat to freshwater animal and plant and resident or migratory fish species habitat or movement.
MA Gen L ch 21 § 65 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 21 - Department of Environmental Management|Section 65 - Emergency Action Plans for High and Significant Hazard Dams; Inspection Schedule; Review of Hazard Classification

Section 65. (a) As used in this section and section 66, the following words shall, unless the context clearly require otherwise, have the following meanings:—  ''High hazard dam'', a dam located where structural failure will likely cause loss of life and serious damage to homes, industrial or commercial facilities, essential public utilities, main highways or railroads.  ''Low hazard dam'', a dam located where structural failure may cause minimal property damage and loss of life is not expected.  ''Significant hazard dam'', a dam located where structural failure may cause loss of life and damage to homes, industrial and commercial facilities, secondary highways or railroads or interruption of use of service of relatively important facilities.  (b) The department shall ensure that emergency action plans shall be developed for all high hazard dams and significant hazard dams. The department shall establish and make available to dam owners an emergency action plan template. The department shall ensure that necessary local and state dam safety officials have immediate access to such plans in the event of a potential dam failure.  (c) The department shall develop an inspection schedule to ensure that all high hazard dams are inspected at least every 2 years, all significant hazard dams are inspected at least every 5 years and all low hazard dams are inspected at least every 10 years.  (d) The department shall review the hazard classifications of dams at least every 10 years to ensure the accuracy of the dam classification. Requests for review of the hazard classification of a dam shall be made at the expense of the owner of the dam.
MA Gen L ch 21 § 66 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 21 - Department of Environmental Management|Section 66 - Interagency Support for Duties Under Secs. 64 and 65 and Secs. 44 to 48b of Chapter 253

Section 66. The department may consult with and receive inspection and other support from the department of fish and game, the division of fisheries and wildlife and the riverways program, or any successor agencies, to accomplish its duties pursuant to sections 64 and 65 of this chapter and sections 44 to 48B, inclusive, of chapter 253.
MA Gen L ch 21 § 67 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 21 - Department of Environmental Management|Section 67 - System Interruption Devices Required for Newly Installed or Renovated Irrigation Systems to Override and Suspend Programmed Operation of Irrigation System During Periods of Sufficient Moisture; Regulations; Inapplicable to Systems Operating on Agricultural Lands

Section 67. (a) For the purposes of this section, ''irrigation system'' shall mean any assemblage of components, materials or special equipment, which are constructed and installed underground or on the surface, for controlled dispersion of water from any safe and suitable source for the purpose of irrigating landscape vegetation or the control of dust and erosion on landscaped areas and shall include integral pumping systems and required wiring within that system and connections to a public or private water supply system; provided, however, that an irrigation system shall not include plumbing, as defined in section 1 of chapter 142, or a plumbing system.  (b) The department of environmental protection shall promulgate regulations that require system interruption devices for newly installed or renovated irrigation systems to override and suspend the programmed operation of the irrigation system during periods of sufficient moisture. The department shall specify the criteria for the system interruption devices. The regulations shall: (i) be in accordance with generally accepted standards of irrigation practice; (ii) include a requirement that system interruption devices be inspected at least every 3 years by an irrigation contractor certified and in good standing with a nationally recognized association; and (iii) require each irrigation contractor to complete and submit documentation, along with a reasonable fee, which shall reflect the costs of accepting and processing such documentation, to the municipality for each newly installed or renovated irrigation system within the municipality. The department may impose reasonable fines on an irrigation contractor for a violation of the regulations promulgated under this section.  (c) This section shall not apply to systems operating on agricultural lands.
MA Gen L ch 21a § 1 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 21a - Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs|Section 1 - Creation; Secretary; Acting Secretary; Undersecretary

Section 1. There shall be an executive office of energy and environmental affairs, hereinafter called the office, which shall be under the supervision of a secretary of energy and environmental affairs, hereinafter called the secretary. Said secretary shall be appointed by the governor and shall be a person of skill and experience in the field of environmental affairs. Said secretary shall serve at the pleasure of the governor, shall receive such salary as may be determined by law, and shall devote full time to the duties of his office.  In the case of a vacancy in the office of secretary, or in the case of disability, as determined by the governor, or in his absence, the governor may designate an acting secretary to serve as secretary until the vacancy is filled or the absence, or disability, as determined by the governor, ceases. The acting secretary shall have all the powers and duties of the secretary and shall have similar qualifications as the secretary.  The secretary shall, with the approval of the governor, appoint and may remove, an undersecretary of the executive office, hereinafter called the undersecretary. Said undersecretary shall be a person of skill and experience in the fields of administration and environmental affairs, and shall perform such duties as may be assigned by the secretary. The position of undersecretary shall not be subject to the provisions of chapter thirty-one or section nine A of chapter thirty. Said undersecretary shall receive such salary as may be determined by law and shall devote full time during business hours to the duties of his office.
MA Gen L ch 21a § 2a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 21a - Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs|Section 2a - Compromise or Settlement of Claims for Damages for Injury and for Destruction or Loss of Natural Resources; Authority of Secretary

Section 2A. The secretary shall be the state natural resource trustee and may compromise or settle any claim for damages for injury and for destruction or loss of natural resources, including the costs of assessing and evaluating the injury, destruction or loss, incurred or suffered as a result of a release or threat of release, under section 5 of chapter 21E, 42 U.S.C. § 9607(f) 33 U.S.C. § 2706 and other applicable law in accordance with this section. If any such claim, including the costs of assessment, is valued at less than $100,000, or at a higher amount determined in writing by the attorney general, the secretary may settle and compromise the claim if the secretary has given written notice and all pertinent information regarding the settlement to the attorney general or his designee at least 30 days before execution of the settlement. The secretary may settle and compromise claims valued at greater than $100,000, or at a higher amount determined in writing by the attorney general, only with the prior written approval of the attorney general or his designee.
MA Gen L ch 21a § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 21a - Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs|Section 3 - Functions of Secretary; Report

Section 3. The secretary shall conduct comprehensive planning with respect to the functions of the office and shall coordinate the activities and programs of the departments and divisions within the office. He shall continually review the operations of the office with a view toward improving administrative organization, procedures and practices, promoting economy and efficiency.  He shall prepare annually a report of the organization and activities of the office as individually reported by the various departments and divisions within the office, the assignment of functions to various administrative units, officers and employees, and of the established places at which, and the methods whereby, the public may receive information or may make requests, and such other matters as he deem appropriate.  The secretary shall annually evaluate the status of the natural resources of the commonwealth. This evaluation shall be submitted as a part of the report referred to in the preceding paragraph, and it shall be accompanied by recommendations for appropriate actions to be taken to protect the environmental quality of the commonwealth or to conserve and preserve the natural resources of the commonwealth.  In order to carry out the provisions of this chapter the secretary may, and is encouraged to, seek the laboratory, technical, education, and research skills and facilities of state institutions of higher learning.
MA Gen L ch 21a § 4 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 21a - Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs|Section 4 - Powers and Duties of Secretary

Section 4. In order to enable him to coordinate and improve the operations of all departments, divisions and other administrative units within the office, the secretary shall have the following powers and duties concerning any power or duty assigned to any such department, division or other administrative unit:  (1) the power and duty to resolve administrative and jurisdictional conflicts between any such agencies or officers;  (2) the power and duty to implement, upon request of any such agency or officer, programs jointly agreed to by the secretary and such agency or officer;  (3) the power and duty to coordinate and improve program activities involving two or more such agencies or officers;
MA Gen L ch 21a § 4a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 21a - Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs|Section 4a - Coastal Zone Management Office

Section 4A. There is hereby established within the executive office of environmental affairs a coastal zone management office which shall be administered by a director who shall be appointed and may be removed by the secretary. The director shall be a person of skill and experience in the field of coastal zone management. The director shall appoint all necessary employees within his office, except as may be otherwise provided by law. The positions of director and of any employees of the office shall not be subject to the provisions of chapter thirty-one or section nine A of chapter thirty.  The secretary shall direct the coastal zone management office, consistent with state law, to adopt, and from time to time amend rules, regulations, procedures, standards, guidelines, and policies which shall constitute the Massachusetts coastal zone management program. The purpose of the program shall be to secure for the inhabitants of the commonwealth the objectives and benefits of the federal Coastal Zone Management Act, 16 USC 1451 et seq.
MA Gen L ch 21a § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 21a - Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs|Section 5 - Program Review Boards; Appointment; Reports; Expenses

Section 5. The secretary shall have the power to appoint one or more program review boards consisting of individuals who have demonstrated interest and competence in matters relevant to the area under review so that each major program area within the office shall be reviewed by such a board not less than once every four years. The written reports of such reviews shall be submitted to the secretary and shall be available to the public upon request. The members of such boards shall receive no compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses necessary to the performance of their duties.