Massachusetts law
Environmental Laws in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts environmental law combines federal regulation with a substantial state body of statutes administered by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). Core issues include water and air quality, solid and hazardous waste (including the distinctive M.G.L. c. 21E — the Massachusetts Superfund — for contaminated-site liability), wetlands, and permitting.
Last verified: 2026-04-17
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State law
Key Massachusetts Statutes
Chapter 21E is Massachusetts’s Superfund statute, imposing strict, joint-and-several liability for the cleanup of oil and hazardous-material releases at contaminated sites.
The Wetlands Protection Act governs activities affecting wetlands, with a local conservation-commission permitting process that drives significant Massachusetts environmental practice.
State law
Official Sources
Not Legal Advice
This page summarizes publicly available statutes and rules for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by viewing this content. Laws change — always verify with the primary source or consult a licensed attorney in Massachusetts.
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