The Attorney General's Commitment to the Environment

The Attorney General's Environmental Protection Division (EPD) enforces state and federal civil environmental laws to protect and preserve our environment.

EPD serves as litigation counsel on environmental issues for various state agencies, particularly those within the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. EPD handles the Commonwealth's civil litigation to enforce environmental protection programs established by state statutes and regulations, including laws governing air pollution, water pollution, water supply, waterways, wetlands, hazardous and solid waste. To ensure that the Commonwealth's own agencies abide by all applicable environmental laws, EPD plays a key role under the Clean State Initiative, bringing enforcement actions against those agencies in court where the Attorney General, in his enforcement discretion, deems action necessary. EPD also initiates and intervenes in state and federal litigation, and participates in administrative proceedings before federal agencies on significant environmental issues. EPD defends lawsuits challenging the actions of state environmental agencies and the legality of state environmental laws. Under the 1998 Brownfields amendments to Massachusetts law, Chapter 21E, EPD uses Covenant Not to Sue Agreements to promote the redevelopment of contaminated sites throughout the Commonwealth. Finally, EPD advances legislative and policy initiatives that the Attorney General deems important to protect the public and promote a safe, healthy and clean environment.

To learn more about the work of Attorney General Reilly’s Environmental Protection Division, click on one of the links to the left.