This course will focus on audit Case Study reviews and discussion of findings. The objective of the course is to provide an innovative and informal training program that allows both MassDEP and the regulated community to "open up the lines of communication" regarding the application of the MCP using "real world" case studies in a small setting environment.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009
9:00 a.m.
Southeast Regional Office
Lakeville, MA

Wednesday, December 9, 2009
9:00 a.m.
Northeast Regional Office
Wilmington, MA

More Information
Web page

Upcoming Circuit Rider Workshop:

The Wetlands Protection Act and Agriculture
Thursday, November 19, 2009
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Townsend Town Hall
272 Main Street
Townsend, MA

For details contact Jennifer.Gensel@state.ma.us.

More Information
Web page

310 CMR 46.00

Pursuant to M.G.L. c.21G, ss. 14 and 20, MassDEP proposes to adopt new regulations at 310 CMR 46.00, Certification of Well Drillers and Filing of Well Completion Reports, to reflect a jurisdictional change of the Well Drillers Program, which was transferred from the Department of Conservation & Recreation to MassDEP effective October 1, 2009. The draft regulations, among other things, contain provisions on qualifications and requirements for well driller certification, information to be filed upon well completion, and provisions on enforcement. These regulations are a revised version of regulations previously within the Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) as 313 CMR 3.00, in order to effectuate an orderly transfer of the Well Driller Program from DCR to DEP.

A public hearing has been held. Monday, November 23, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. is the deadline for public comment.

Proposed Regulation
Web page

Public Hearing Notice
Web page

MassDEP is holding public informational meetings to present the analyses and findings of a planning study conducted by the US Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) to determine the feasibility of sediment and dam removal in the Assabet River so that water quality is improved and the ecological health of the river is restored.

Two public meetings have been scheduled:

Tuesday, November 17, 2009
5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center, Salon E
181 Boston Post Road 
Marlborough, MA 01752

Thursday, November 19, 2009
5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Hale Middle School
55 Hartley Road
Stow, MA 01775

Monday, December 21, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. is the deadline for public comment.

Assabet River TMDL
Web page

Draft Feasibility Study
ACOE Web site

Public Meeting Notice
Web page

MassDEP has issued a draft conditional approval of a Major Comprehensive Plan Application by Palmer Renewable Energy LLC to build and operate a 38-megawatt (MW) biomass-fired power plant at 1000 Page Boulevard in Springfield.  The agency has scheduled a public hearing on the draft conditional approval for the following date and location:

Wednesday, December 2, 2009
7:00 p.m.
John F. Kennedy Middle School
Auditorium
1385 Berkshire Avenue
Springfield, MA 01151

Public comments may also be submitted in writing to marc.simpson@state.ma.us.  Friday, December 4, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. is the deadline for public comment. 

Note: The applicant has provided Spanish translations of the documents for the purpose of environmental justice communication.  Tenga en cuenta: El solicitanta ha proporcionado las versiones en espanol de los documentos para el proposito de communicacion de justica ambiental.

Draft Conditional Approval - Aprobacion Condicional
English: MS Word 524 KB | PDF 1.6 MB - Espanol: MS Word 497 KB | PDF 1.6 MB

Public Hearing Notice - Aviso al Publico
English: Web page - Espanol: MS Word 18 KB | PDF 13 KB

See also the Provisional Approval of Beneficial Use Determination for this facility.

MassDEP has issued a provisional approval draft conditional approval of a BWP SW 40 permit application for a Beneficial Use Determination (BUD) for Palmer Renewable Energy LLC to use construction and demolition (C&D)-derived wood chips as fuel in a 38-megawatt (MW) biomass energy plant it is proposing to build an operate at 1000 Page Boulevard in Springfield.

Public comments may be submitted in writing to daniel.hall@state.ma.us.  Wednesday, November 18, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. is the deadline for public comment. 

Note: The applicant has provided Spanish translations of the documents for the purpose of environmental justice communication.  Tenga en cuenta: El solicitanta ha proporcionado las versiones en espanol de los documentos para el proposito de communicacion de justica ambiental.

Provisional Approval - Aprobacion Provisional
English: MS Word 149 KB | PDF 130 KB - Espanol: MS Word 138 KB | PDF 120 KB

See also the Draft Conditional Air Quality Plan Approval for this facility.

MassDEP has scheduled the following training sessions for owners and operators of facilities subject to state greenhouse gas emissions reporting requirements:

Thursday, December 10, 2009
9:30 a.m.-12:00 noon
MassDEP Central Regional Office
627 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608

Friday, December 11, 2009
9:30 a.m.-12:00 noon
MassDEP Northeast Regional Office
205B Lowell Street
Wilmington, MA 01887

For additional information, see the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting Program page.

The Waste Site Cleanup Program Advisory Committee - whose members represent a variety of business, environmental professional, public interest, municipal, and environmental advocacy organizations - assists MassDEP in developing, implementing, and evaluating the Waste Site Cleanup Program.

Thursday, December 17, 2009
9:30 a.m.
MassDEP Boston
Washington Street Conference Center, 2nd Floor
One Winter Street
Boston, Massachusetts

More Information:
Web page

310 CMR 7.40

MassDEP is proposing amendments to its Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) regulations that would adopt revisions to California Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) requirements for passenger cars and light-duty trucks.  A public hearing has been scheduled for the following date and location:

Wednesday, December 16, 2009
1:30 pm 
MassDEP Boston Office
Washington Street Conference Center
2nd Floor, Rooms B & C
One Winter Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02108

Monday, December 28, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. is the deadline for public comment. 

Proposed Regulations & Technical Support Document
Web page

Public Hearing Notice
Web page