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areas and to recommend an appropriate State governmental organization 

 to, in essence, carry out the plan. The Commission's findings will 

 be reported to the Commissioner of Natural Resources. 



Other Massachusetts departments which have organizational responsi- 

 bilities are the Department of Public Works which is also headed by a 

 Commissioner and reports directly to the Governor, and the Department of 

 Commerce and Development which provides planning and program development. 

 A third department, the Department of Administration and Finance acts 

 to provide coordination and to guide joint planning. This department 

 is the agency responsible for personnel, financing, and budget. 



Details on the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of 

 Public Works are included in the tabulations on the following pages. 



The Massachusetts State government assists the local governments in 

 estuarine management and acquisition through their Self-Help Program 

 which consists primarily of funds awarded to town or city conservation 

 commissions. 



The Wetlands Act restricts activities which may pollute the coastal 

 wetlands, whether Dublicly or privately owned. The Act states that 

 "... to immediately provide for the protection of coastal wetlands 

 against the imminent threat of the development of such lands for 

 industrial and other uses detrimental to their preservation in their 

 natural state, therefore, it is hereby declared to an emergency law, 

 necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience." 



