To the Residents of East Longmeadow:

The Conservation Commission meets in the town hall 1st floor hearing room on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month starting at 7:00 P.M. The Commission is charged with the responsibility of administering and enforcing the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (WPA), Rivers Act, and accompanying regulations. Therefore, any and all work within 200 feet of a stream, brook, or river and work within 100 feet from the edge of a wetland area or water body (lake, impoundment, pond, swamp, bog, meadow, etc.) is regulated by the Commission, and permits (Orders of Conditions) must be obtained to perform any work. When work is performed within these areas without a permit, the Commission may issue an Enforcement Order. Any individual who wishes to know whether or not an area or portion of property is regulated by the Commission, such person may file a Request for Determination of Applicability with the Commission, whether or not such person owns the property. The issuance of a building permit form the Building Inspector's office does not relieve project owners or operators from complying with the Wetlands regulations, and usually other permits are necessary before any work can begin. Therefore, the Commission urges anyone contemplating a project to consult with the Commission early in the planning stages to avoid delays later.

In 2003, the Conservation Commission received 10 permit applications (Notices of Intent or Abbreviated Notices of Intent), and also received 8 Requests for Determination of Applicability. This compares with 17 Notices of Intent received in 2002. In addition, the Commission held many on-site inspections of various properties in town. A total of 1 Enforcement Order was issued for violations of the WPA. The Commission continues to find that the Rivers Act, which extends the zone of jurisdiction out to 200 feet from any perennial stream, is impacting a growing number of proposed projects in town, especially in the heavily built up areas along the Pecousic Brook and it's tributaries.

The Commission is also responsible for managing town-owned Conservation Areas - land purchased or donated to the Town for conservation purposes.

Lastly, the Commission recognizes and thanks Robyn D. Macdonald, Administrator and Donna Rau, Secretary for their dedication and hard work throughout the year.

Respectfully submitted,

Stephen Niec, Chairman

George Kingston, Vice Chair

Thomas Stevens, Treasurer

Mary Swords, Member

Michael Salvon, Member

Martha Hamilton, Member

Walter Seifert, Member