V-63 



MASSACHUSETTS 



Massachusetts is a relatively snail, densely populated, highly urban, 

 highly industrialized, and affluent New England area. The population 

 of Massachusetts is about 5,400,000; the tidal shoreline is about 1,500 

 linear miles including about 45,000 acres of coastal marshland; and 

 about 85 percent of the people live in urban coastal areas. Owner- 

 ship of the 1,519 miles of shoreline is as follows: 



Federal Government 110 miles or about 4,500 



acres of coastal wetlands 



State Government 45 miles 



Local Government 50 " 



Universities, etc. 25 " 



Private 1289 " 



Massachusetts' coastline is widely used by the surrounding New England 

 and east coast community as a prime resort/vacation/historical area. 

 The condition of Massachusetts' shoreline areas affects not only the 

 populace of Massachusetts but also that of the surrounding area since 

 so many people throng to Massachusetts for their livelihood, enjoyment, 

 and relaxation. 



Massachusetts has developed legislation and corresponding organizational 

 structure for the management of its estuarine areas. The two principal 

 enactments are: An Act Providing for the Protection of the Coastal 

 Wetlands of the Commonwealth (General Laws, Chapter 76P, Act of 1965) 

 and An Act Relative to Removal, Filling, and Dredging in Coastal Waters. 



