Did Trump’s Election Increase the Odds of NPDES Delegation in Massachusetts? I Sure Hope So.

As I noted last spring, the Baker administration had filed legislation to support NPDES delegation to Massachusetts.  At the time, I supported the delegation effort and pleaded with my friends in the environmental community to support it.  Sadly, my pleading fell on deaf ears and the legislation was not enacted.

In supporting the legislation, I pointed out that it would be foolish to oppose delegation on the ground that a Democratic administration in Washington would do a better job protecting the environment from evil polluters than a Republican administration in Boston.  sauce for the goose

Occasionally, I’m right.  On November 8, we held an election.  Now, the shoe is on the other foot, the chickens have come home to roost, and what’s sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander.  In other words, do my friends in the environmental community still think that federal EPA will do a better job enforcing the Clean Water Act in Massachusetts than the Baker administration?

I hope that the administration promptly refiles the necessary legislation and that it is promptly enacted.

One thought on “Did Trump’s Election Increase the Odds of NPDES Delegation in Massachusetts? I Sure Hope So.

  1. How on earth can the Commonwealth even consider delegation when the MassDEP budget has been cut to (and into) the bone over the last several years, and now is facing additional steep cuts? See proposed budget reductions due to tax revenues being lower than anticipated.

    http://www.mass.gov/anf/docs/anf/fy17/budget-savings/fy17-9c-line-item.pdf

    MassDEP can’t fulfill its responsibilities right now and hasn’t been able to do so for the last several years. I understand the reasons for why the Governor seeks delegation, I just don’t see how his effort is fiscally or environmentally responsible at this time.

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