WETLAND VIOLATIONS
Building on, digging in,
or filling in a wetland (including marsh, swamp, lake, river,
and many small, just generally wet areas) or allowing dirty run-off to enter a wetland, may be a
violation of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act. Work in or near a wetland usually requires a permit from the local Conservation Commission. Queries
or complaints can be directed to the town's
Conservation
Commission, the
Massachusetts
Environmental Strike Force, or the
Massachusetts
DEP's Circuit Rider for the Western Region. You can learn more about how these regulations work, who enforces them, and how to file a complaint or request a Conservation Commission to look into an issue
here.
STORMDRAINS
Stormdrains usually drain
to the nearest pond, lake, stream, or river. So don't dump anything
down a stormdrain that you wouldn't want to swim in!
DUMPING
In Massachusetts, dumping
trash into a wetland, lake, stream, or river may be a violation
of a number of local and state regulations. In reporting a problem,
it's often important to know what is being dumped.
WHAT'S BEING DUMPED?
Is it yard waste (branches,
leaves, grass clippings, etc.) or fill (dirt, gravel, bricks,
rock or cement small than 6 inches in diameter)? If it is, how
much is there and is it in a wetland, pond, lake, river, etc.?
If it is in a wetland of some type, report it to the town's Conservation Commission,
the Massachusetts
Environmental Strike Force, or the Massachusetts
Department of Environmental Protection Wetlands Division Circuit Rider for your part of the state.
It is helpful if you can describe what has been dumped and exactly
where it was dumped. If you know who did it, when it was dumped,
why it was dumped, and how it was dumped, that can all be useful
information.
If
what is being dumped is rock or cement larger than 6 inches
in diameter, it is considered solid waste. Solid waste is also
trash, old bicycles, tires, washing machines, bottles, etc.
Illegal dumping of solid waste can be reported to the town's
Health Department or Board of Health, or to the Massachusetts
Environmental Strike Force.
If hazardous waste is being
dumped illegally, call the Massachusetts
Environmental Strike Force! You can do this annonomously!
If you need further help,
contact BEAT. We may be able to provide you with further information,
and we also be able to help you in reporting violations.
NEED FURTHER HELP?
Contact BEAT.
