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Particulates Effect on Health
Formal Title: An Act Relative To Reporting On Health Effects Of Particulate Matter
Sponsors: Rep. Denise Provost
Contact: Mark Kennedy Mark.Kennedy@state.ma.us
New/Refile: Refile of H5042
Bill Text: http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht05pdf/ht05042.pdf

Enables the Department of Public Health and the Center for Environmental Health to conduct a study of the data on the health effects of diesel air pollution from cars, trucks, buses, and trains on people in facilities located within 500 feet of a road (with 50,000 vehicle trips/day) or rail line using diesel locomotives. The study may also study cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular incidence resulting from traffic-related particles.

Healthy Breathing Act
Formal Title: An Act Reducing Human Exposure To Particulate Matter Pollution
Sponsor: Rep. Denise Provost
Contact: Mark Kennedy Mark.Kennedy@state.ma.us
New/Refile: Refile of H840
Bill Text: http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht00pdf/ht00840.pdf

This Bill proposes to reduce the number of health problems that are caused or worsened by human exposure to fine and ultra-fine particulate matter that results from the burning of diesel fuel. This bill attempts to limit the construction of specific residential and institutional facilities (listed below) within 500 feet of areas with harmful diesel exhaust.

Additional information:

An Act Reducing Human Exposure To Particulate Matter Pollution
a.k.a. “The Healthy Breathing Act”

This Bill proposes to reduce the number of health problems that are caused or worsened by human exposure to fine and ultra-fine particulate matter that results from the burning of diesel fuel. This bill attempts to limit the construction of specific residential and institutional facilities (listed below) within 500 feet of areas with harmful diesel exhaust.

This bill prevents the issuance of construction licenses for:

• child-care programs, day-care centers, group care facilities or temporary shelters,
• residential development, over-night hospitals, long-term care facilities, schools, or public open spaces,
• convalescent, nursing homes or rest homes of any type…

that are within 500 feet of a high-activity roadway (more than 50,000 vehicles/day), train station or train yard that uses diesel locomotives.

Previously licensed facilities are exempt and re-assessment is only required in the case of expansion or new construction.

Exceptions may be allowed if a developer carries out a health-risk assessment (described in Section 18B of Chapter 21A of the General Laws) and establishes that short and long term exposure to the air at the site does not pose a significant health risk.

An Act Relative to Reporting on Health Effects of Particulate Matter
Rep. Denise Provost

This Bill would enable the Department of Public Health and the Center for Environmental Health to conduct a study of the data on the health effects of diesel air pollution from cars, trucks, buses, and trains on people in facilities located within 500 feet of a road (with 50,000 vehicle trips/day) or rail line using diesel locomotives. The study may also study cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular incidence resulting from traffic-related particles.

The Department of Public Health shall report it’s findings along with recommended actions by the Commonwealth to the house and senate committees on ways and means by (date).

Please note: Bill text is based on pre-filing information provided by State legislative personel. In some cases, bills as filed may differ slightly.