Local Environmental Leadership

Fighting for our local environment

The 9th Essex District is blessed with beautiful natural resources. From Flax and Sluice Ponds in Lynn to Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield.  From hiking through Breakheart Reservation to just relaxing by the Saugus River.

I will fight for higher safety standards on Route 1 to avoid potentially hazardous spills.  I will lead the opposition to lifting the moratorium on burners at the RESCO plant.  I will push for more tax incentives for businesses, municipalities, and property owners to encourage more energy efficient buildings. Finally, I will ensure that there is strict oversight and enforcement from state agencies in protecting our most valuable natural resources.

For example in 2007 the Saugus River was found to be the 3rd in the state for most toxic chemicals discharged with over 1,000 pounds of chemical waste being dumped into the River.  

This is unacceptable.  

Some approaches I would take in dealing with this problem are ones currently being recommended:

Reducing toxic discharges in waterways by mandating switches of hazardous chemicals to safer alternatives.  

Tougher permitting and enforcement by state agencies where there are numeric limits for each type of toxic pollution discharged, and having those limits ratchet down over time while enforcing those limits with credible penalties ... not just strongly worded letters.

Source: https://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/over-230-million-pounds- of-toxics-discharged-into-american-waterways