Authorizing and directing the director of the Division of Waterways to dredge the harbor area surrounding Houghs Neck in the city of Quincy
Summary
House Bill 906 would authorize and direct the director of the Division of Waterways within the Department of Environmental Quality Engineering to dredge the harbor area surrounding Houghs Neck in Quincy, Massachusetts. The bill is a targeted local infrastructure measure focused on improving navigability and harbor conditions in that specific waterfront area.
The legislation also sets a funding cap, allowing the director to expend appropriated sums for the project up to $800,000. The bill does not itself appropriate money, but it creates statutory authority for the dredging work and establishes the maximum amount that may be spent if funds are provided.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would create a specific statutory mandate for the Division of Waterways to carry out dredging in the harbor area around Houghs Neck in Quincy. It would affect state waterway management and environmental/public works responsibilities by directing a state agency to undertake a local harbor maintenance project, subject to legislative appropriations and the stated spending limit of $800,000.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate, support, or opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text, the measure appears to be a straightforward local infrastructure and harbor-maintenance proposal, likely intended to address a specific municipal or waterfront need rather than a broader policy dispute.
Contention
The main potential points of contention are likely to be fiscal and environmental: whether the state should fund a localized dredging project, whether the $800,000 cap is sufficient, and whether the dredging could raise permitting, habitat, or coastal management concerns. Because no discussion or vote history is available, it is not possible to identify which legislators, agencies, or stakeholders specifically support or oppose the bill.