Agenda Text
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Urging the State Legislature to adopt the Public Lands Preservation Act (SD146, HD271).
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Official Text
Resolution in Support of the Public Lands Preservation Act (SD146/HD271)
WHEREAS, Public lands provide important benefits to the residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by:
• Reducing climate change by storing CO2 in trees and soil,
• Assisting with climate change adaptation by acting as a buffer against floods and other natural disasters,
• Providing clean air and protecting drinking water supplies,
• Supporting agriculture, forestry, wildlife biodiversity, habitat, recreation and tourism, and
• Promoting physical and mental health as people go outdoors and into nature; and
WHEREAS, There is an important public interest for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to enact legislation to preserve our public lands; and
WHEREAS, The Public Lands Preservation Act establishes such governmental measures to preserve our public lands by requiring governmental bodies that wish to change the use of or otherwise dispose of public lands to (i) perform an alternatives analysis and notify the public and the secretary of energy and environmental affairs; (ii) identify replacement land, not already so taken, acquired or dedicated, that is of equal or greater natural resource value as determined by the Secretary of Energy and Environment, acreage, fair market value and of comparable location; and (iii) dedicate the replacement land in perpetuity for the same purposes; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY
RESOLVED, That the Somerville City Council endorses the Public Lands Preservation Act and urges its speedy passage by the Massachusetts Legislature.