Statehouse: Hearing Tuesday on funding for coastal infrastructure

Local leaders plan to convene at the Statehouse in Boston on Tuesday to discuss local seawalls and coastal infrastructure.

The Legislature’s Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture is hosting a hearing on several bills filed by Marshfield State Representative Jim Cantwell, which directly impact the issues of dredging, seawall repair and dam protection.

One of the key bills proposed by Cantwell would create a public safety infrastructure revolving fund, which is styled after the Water Pollution Abatement Trust. It would allow municipalities to access funds in the form of loans for the repair, reconstruction or maintenance of seawalls and other oceanfront public safety infrastructure.

In an email to local leaders, who he says he hopes will attend the hearing, Cantwell writes that the bill would also allow loans to be used for dams and other inland water-related infrastructure as well.

Cantwell says in the email that he learned of the hearing last week, and is interested in having local leaders provide testimony from their respective vantage points, and support the need for the legislation.

The hearing starts at 10:30 a.m. at the Statehouse. At least one Marshfield selectman, and several other local leaders, have indicated they are planning to go.