Environmental Justice (EJ) Reference List Form

For use in generating/updating project-specific EJ Reference Lists to provide advance notification as required by 301 CMR 11.05(4).

EJ Reference List Form

Consistent with 301 CMR 11.05(4), any project that (i) meets or exceeds mandatory EIR thresholds, or (ii) will seek to avail itself of expedited review procedures under 301 CMR 11.06(8) and (13), must provide advance notification of the project to a distribution list generated from the “EJ Reference List”. The “EJ Reference List” is a statewide contact list created in consultation with the Office of Environmental Justice and Equity (OEJE) and maintained by the MEPA Office containing community-based organizations (CBOs), tribes, and indigenous organizations. To generate/update a project-specific EJ Reference List, Proponents may download the up-to-date EJ Reference List Form as provided on this page.

*New* Downloadable EJ Reference List Form

Additional guidance on distributing advance notification to a project-specific EJ Reference List

1. The EJ Reference List should be utilized as a starting point, not as a “definitive” contact list, for purpose of conducting public involvement activities. The list should be supplemented as needed or requested over time, as the project conducts community engagement activities.
2. If the Proponent is developing a distribution list to provide advance notification of the project under 301 CMR 11.05(4), the Proponent must send the EJ Screening Form, to all those listed on the "Project EJ Ref List" tab and any supplemental contacts identified. Please visit the EJ Protocols and Resources webpage for additional guidance on providing advanced notification, including guidance on how to proceed if more than 90 days has elapsed since the initial advanced notification was distributed.
3. The EJ Screening Form must be translated into all applicable languages, as discussed in language translation and interpretation guidance. The EJ Screening Form and translated versions of the document (as applicable) should be combined in a single document and sent concurrently to [e-mail] and to all contacts on the project-specific EJ Reference List. The project name, location, and succinct (3-4 sentence) description of the project should be included in the body of the email along with the following verbiage: 

"Community-based organizations and tribal organizations are receiving this notification in accordance with the MEPA Public Involvement Protocol for Environmental Justice Populations, which took effect on January 1, 2022. More information is available on the MEPA website."

4. In the event that the Proponent receives requests to be removed from the project-specific EJ Reference List or of any automatic replies that indicate a contact may no longer be at one of the identified organizations, please indicate contact modifications in the "Proponent Notes" column on the project-specific EJ Reference List, notify [e-mail] of the modification, and await a revised project-specific EJ Reference List from the [e-mail] account.