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Information About Upcoming Regulatory Updates

The MEPA Office is continuing to engage in a regulatory review effort to update its regulations at 301 CMR 11.00 and associated policies and guidance.

Current Regulations

301 CMR 11.00 (effective January 6, 2023)

Policy Updates

The MEPA Office has proposed straw proposals to update the 2010 MEPA Greenhouse Gas Emissions Policy and Protocol and the 2021 MEPA Interim Protocol on Climate Change Adaptation and Resiliency.

Public comments are available here. 

Language and interpretation services

Notice / Aviso (Spanish) / Adviso (Portuguese) / 公示 (Chinese) / Avi (Haitian Creole) / Thông Báo (Vietnamese)

Written materials for this meeting are translated below into Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese (simplified), Haitian Creole, and Vietnamese. Oral interpretation services for Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, and Haitian Creole will be available for all presentation times/dates. American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters are requested and will be available pending interpreters’ availability.

Special accommodations: If you require any special accommodation to fully participate in the meeting via Zoom, please email MEPA@mass.gov and identify the accommodations or assistance needed.

Translated MEPA Greenhouse Gas Emissions Policy and Protocol meeting materials

Translated Climate Change Adaption and Resiliency Protocol meeting materials

The times and dates of presentations are as follows:

June 18, 2024, 2:00-4:00 pm

  • 2-3pm: Straw Proposal for Proposed Updates to 2010 MEPA Greenhouse Gas Emissions Policy and Protocol
  • 3-4pm: Straw Proposal for Proposed Updates to 2021 MEPA Interim Protocol on Climate Change Adaptation and Resiliency

Video Recording

June 20, 2024, 2:00-4:00 pm

  • 2-3pm: Straw Proposal for Proposed Updates to 2010 MEPA Greenhouse Gas Emissions Policy and Protocol
  • 3-4pm: Straw Proposal for Proposed Updates to 2021 MEPA Interim Protocol on Climate Change Adaptation and Resiliency

Video Recording | ASL | Español | Português| 中文 | Kreyòl Ayisyen | Tiếng Việt

MEPA Advisory Committee

The MEPA Office has formed an advisory committee to guide its regulatory review effort. 

A list of represented organizations and materials from past meetings can be found here. 

Cumulative Impacts Analysis

In March 2021, the Governor signed Chapter 8 of the Acts of 2021, An Act Creating a Next Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy. The Act requires the MEPA Office to develop new regulations by the end of 2021 that would require:

  • Submission of an environmental impact report (EIR) for any project that is likely to cause damage to the environment and is located near an environmental justice (EJ) population;
  • Assessment of potential existing unfair or inequitable environmental burden and related public health consequences for the EJ population; and
  • Analysis of how the proposed project might result in a disproportionate adverse effect on the EJ population.

The Act also directed the Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) to incorporate cumulative impact analysis (CIA) for certain categories of air permits and approvals. MassDEP was directed to propose regulations for accomplishing this goal by 2022.

MassDEP promulgated its cumulative impact analysis regulations on March 29, 2024. The regulations apply to comprehensive plan applications submitted on or after July 1, 2024. More information is available here.

Ways to Participate in MEPA Regulatory Review Effort

Public comments or other inquiries about the MEPA regulatory review process can be sent to MEPA-regs@mass.gov. 

Please note that all comments received by the MEPA office, including the email address and contact information of the sender, will be treated as public records under state and federal public records law.

To subscribe and receive regular updates regarding the MEPA regulatory review effort, please send a blank email  to subscribe-mepa_reg_review@listserv.state.ma.us. Please ensure that both the subject line and the body of the email are blank and that the email does not contain an automatic signature or your email address will not be added to the listserv. If you receive an error message, please contact MEPA@mass.gov. 

Ongoing updates of the MEPA regulatory review effort, including additional opportunities for public participation, will be posted on this page.

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