Member Resources

Where We Stand
Natural Resources: Air

Air pollution from automobiles is the Commonwealth's greatest air pollution problem. Leagues have been involved in a number of activities over the past 15 years aimed at reducing this pollution. Signatures were collected and a successful statewide referendum in November 1974 allowed the use of Highway Fund monies for mass transportation purposes.

LWVM participated in the effort to pass the legislation for Massachusetts' automobile inspection and maintenance program. Implementation of the law was pursued by participating on the advisory committee, arranging demonstration sessions and distributing public education materials.

For a number of years, the League has opposed relaxation of the open burning ban and the burning of higher sulfur fuels. There has been careful review of the conversion of power plants in the state from oil to coal. These conversions have been undertaken only if the total emissions could be reduced. Most recently the concern about sulfur dioxide emissions comes from the connection to "acid rain."

The state League has coordinated local League action on the renewal of the federal Clean Air Act and passage of acid rain control legislation. Local Leagues have lobbied members of Congress and conducted public information sessions about acid rain.

Further League action involves the enforcement of air pollution laws. In 1971, the League-supported Citizen's Right of Action bill became law. This Massachusetts legislation gives any 10 Massachusetts citizens the right to initiate suit against alleged polluters. One provision of the law permits citizen action against regulatory agencies to make them enforce their rules and regulation; the other permits suits against industrial polluters.

In 1985, the League-supported Administrative Penalties bill became law. This allowed the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Quality Engineering to levy fines against polluters.
Further air quality action included review, comment and lobbying on a variety of legislative and regulatory proposals such as air quality review under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act, the state implementation plans for attainment of national air quality standards in Massachusetts, right-to-know legislation concerning toxic substances in use in a community or workplace (enacted, 1984) and state acid rain control legislation (enacted, 1985).

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