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BEACON HILL BEAT
DECEMBER 2007

PATRICK FILES $2.9 BILLION TRANSPORTATION BOND BILL TOTALING $4.8 BILLION WITH FEDERAL FUNDING

Governor Deval Patrick filed a $2.9 Billion Transportation Bond Bill to help fund improvements to the Commonwealth’s roads, bridges, and mass transit.  Leveraged with federal funds, the total will be $4.8 Billion.

The multi-year legislation will allow Massachusetts to begin making needed transportation infrastructure improvements.  A report released in March 2007 by the Massachusetts Transportation Finance Commission stated that the cost to maintain the Commonwealth’s current transportation system, and to make other required improvements, exceeds the state’s anticipated available resources by $15 billion to $19 billion over the next 20 years.

The funding initiatives in the Bond Bill include:

• $2.2 Billion for non-interstate federal highway system projects
• $200 Million for interstate projects
• $800 Million for non-federally aided roadway projects
• $13.5 Million for the purchase and maintenance of heavy and light equipment
• $4.2 Million for the removal of hazardous waste materials and other environmental contamination for MassHighway properties
• $500 Million for Chapter 90
• $50 Million for Public Works Economic Development grants
• $15 Million for Small Town Rural Assistance Program grants
  (Towns with populations of 7,000 or less can apply for grants)
• $25 Million for capital assistance to the Regional Transit Authorities.
• $10 Million for the Mobility Assistance Program
• $9 Million for Inter-modal Transportation Centers
• $100 Million for rail improvements, including Transit Planning for projects such as Urban Ring and the South Coast Rail. Funding can be used for land acquisition of land
• $15 Million for Marine Transportation Program
• $20 Million for public infrastructure improvements and affordable housing that support Transit Oriented Development
• $16.7 Million for information technology equipment
• $1 Million for facility reconstruction, rehabilitation and maintenance
• $1.5 Million to purchase and rehabilitation of durable equipment (including vehicles)
• $1.2 Million for security equipment, installation and maintenance
• $700 Million for MBTA projects
• $75 Million will for the Fitchburg Commuter Rail
• $40 Million for improvements at regional airports

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OSHA ISSUES FINAL RULING ON EMPLOYER PAID PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT

The final OSHA ruling on employer paid Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), published in the Federal Register, establishes a policy that all PPE (with a few exceptions, such as steel toed boots and prescription glasses) should be provided, at no cost, to the employee.  OSHA believes that this final ruling will clarify who is responsible for providing PPE, and will lead to greater compliance.  It is estimated there will be 21,000 fewer injuries per year as a result of the ruling. 

The rule provides an enforcement deadline of six months from the date of publication (November 15th) to allow employers time to change their existing PPE payment policies to accommodate the final rule.

A copy of the ruling can be found on the Internet at: www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document
?p_table=FEDERAL_REGISTER&p_id=20094

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MARZILLI ELECTED TO STATE SENATE

On December 11th, Representative Jim Marzilli (D-Arlington) was elected, in a special election, to the State Senate.  He defeated two challengers, Republican Brian Cangiamila and Constitution Party candidate Tom Fallon.  Marzilli has served nine terms in the House, representing Arlington and West Medford, and sat on the Committees on Transportation and Municipal & Regional Government.

In 2001, Marzilli was named "Environmental Legislator of the Year" by the Environmental League of Massachusetts for his work linking environmental protection and tax policy. His Green Building Tax Credit would provide tax incentives to builders who use environmentally sound building practices that reduce energy and water consumption, reduce stormwater runoff and use non-toxic materials.  Marzilli’s focus in the Senate, representing the communities of Arlington, Billerica, Burlington, and Lexington, will be to continue his efforts on environmental and energy issues, health care costs, and state fiscal responsibility.     

Additional information on Senator Marzilli can be found on his webpage at: www.marzilli.org

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CITY OF MARLBOROUGH ENTERS INTO DEP CONSENT ORDER REGARDING RELEASE OF WASTEWATER INTO THE ASSABET RIVER

The City of Marlborough has reached an agreement with the DEP in response to the accidental release of 6,000 gallons of Magnesium Hydroxide (MgOH) at the city's Westerly Wastewater Treatment Plant earlier this year. On May 7th, workers at the treatment plant accidentally allowed the release of approximately 6,000 gallons of MgOH to overflow from a storage tank, ultimately entering the Assabet River. The discharge resulted in elevated pH levels in the Assabet extending from the treatment plant’s outfall, several miles down stream. This was a violation of the Clean Water Act and of the city's discharge permit.

The city has agreed to repair or replace the high-level alarm on the storage tank, as well as to retrofit a spill containment system around the storage tank. The city is also required to develop a notification plan containing a list of local, state, and federal agencies to be contacted in the event of any future by-pass or release. Marlborough also agreed to pay an administrative penalty of $1,000, with the balance of the penalty suspended pending compliance with the terms of the order.

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