Videos: Intro to MEPA and How to Participate in MEPA
The MEPA Office prepared two educational video presentations as part of our commitment to improve opportunities to meaningfully involve EJ populations in the MEPA program.
An Introduction to MEPA
This video presentation provides an overview of the MEPA program, with a focus on how MEPA reviews projects near EJ populations. The video is presented by Assistant Secretary and Director of MEPA, Tori Kim.
Video: An Introduction to MEPA
Skip this video An Introduction to MEPA .Note: You may view translated versions of this video by clicking on the languages listed here: Español | Português | 官话 | 粵語 | Kreyòl Ayisyen | Tiếng Việt.
How You Can Participate in MEPA Review
This video presentation provides a step-by-step guide on how members of the public may participate in MEPA reviews, with a focus on how to participate in MEPA review of projects near EJ populations. The video is presented by the MEPA Environmental Justice Liaison, Kate Harson.
Note: Language interpretation in Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Vietnamese, and Haitian Creole will be available for this video shortly.
Video: How You Can Participate in MEPA Review
Skip this video How You Can Participate in MEPA Review.What is MEPA and the MEPA Office?
The Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) is a state law requiring the public study and disclosure of proposed project for which agency action is required. MEPA requires that agencies "use all practicable means and measures to minimize damage to the environment," by studying alternatives to the proposed project, and developing enforceable mitigation commitments.
For a project to require MEPA review, two conditions apply. First, the project must require an agency action—meaning the project is either directly undertaken by an agency (usually a state agency, but some municipal agencies apply) or is undertaken by a third party but requires a permit, financial assistance, or land transfer from an agency. Second, the project must meet or exceed a MEPA review threshold at 301 CMR 11.03.
MEPA review is not a permitting process. MEPA requires public study, disclosure, and development of feasible mitigation for a proposed project. The MEPA Office and EEA Secretary do not issue the final approval for the project, as that decision is issued by the agencies acting on the project. MEPA review occurs before agencies act, so that agencies are aware of the environmental consequences of their actions.
The MEPA Office is part of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), an agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is responsible for day-to-day administration of the MEPA review process. Our job is to solicit comments from the public and agencies; represent the Secretary of EEA at public consultation sessions on projects; coordinate project review with the proponent, consultants, interested agencies and members of the public; and make a recommendation to the Secretary of EEA regarding the adequacy of environmental documentation submitted for a project.
For more information about the purpose of MEPA, watch the “Introduction to MEPA” video.
Environmental Justice at MEPA
The MEPA Office is committed to incorporating environmental justice (EJ) principles into its programs, policies, and activities. To that end, the MEPA EJ Strategy, incorporated as part of the EEA EJ Strategy released in February 2024, outlined a framework to implement Sections 56-60 of Chapter 8 of the Acts of 2021: An Act Creating a Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy (the “Climate Roadmap Act” or “the Act”), which were incorporated into the MEPA statute at M.G.L. c. 30, s. 62 to 62L. The MEPA EJ Strategy also outlined efforts to incorporate EJ principles into internal MEPA operations, such as public involvement and education efforts by the MEPA Office and staff training and hiring.
The MEPA Office promulgated regulations relative to EJ requirements for new project filings effective January 1, 2022, including requirements to enhance opportunities for meaningful participation by EJ populations and analyze project impacts in consideration of existing environmental burdens and public health consequences borne by EJ populations from historical and current activities.
For more information about MEPA’s EJ policies, watch the “Introduction to MEPA” video and skip to the section on “environmental justice at MEPA”.
To find out whether you live in or near an EJ population, visit the EJ Populations in Massachusetts webpage and utilize the interactive EEA EJ Maps Viewer to search for your address.
Find Out About MEPA projects proposed in your neighborhood
Check the Environmental Monitor
The MEPA Office releases an online publication twice a month called the “Environmental Monitor”, which provides notice of new projects that have been filed with the MEPA Office for review, other projects currently under review, scheduled MEPA site visits and consultation sessions, Secretary certificates, and public notices. The Environmental Monitor lists the municipality where each new project is proposed, allowing you to quickly identify if a project is proposed in or near your neighborhood. For detailed instruction on how to navigate the Environmental Monitor, watch the “How You Can Participate in MEPA Review” video and skip to the section on “check the Environmental Monitor.”
View advance notification of new project filings
If you live in or near an EJ population, projects proposed in your area are usually required to submit an “advance notification” to the MEPA Office and to local and statewide community-based organizations (CBOs) and tribes/indigenous organizations included in an EJ Reference List maintained by the MEPA Office in consultation with the EEA Office of Environmental Justice and Equity (OEJE). Advance notifications of new project filings are required for most projects nearby EJ populations, either 45 to 90 days (if first notice) or 30 to 90 days (if second notice) prior to filing the project with MEPA. The advance notification requirement is designed to provide the surrounding community with early notice and information about projects subject to MEPA review and allow individuals, CBOs, and tribes/indigenous organizations to request a meeting with project proponents. For detailed instruction on how to navigate the Environmental Monitor, watch the “How You Can Participate in MEPA Review” video and skip to the section on “reach out to local organizations.”
A list of projects submitting advance notifications is updated monthly and may be viewed here.
How to submit comments on MEPA project filings
Comment periods for MEPA project filings
If a project is subject to MEPA review, the proponent begins by preparing and filing an Environmental Notification Form (ENF) with the MEPA Office. The ENF is published in the next Environmental Monitor. A 30-day review period follows, during the first 20 days of which the MEPA Office conducts a public consultation session (and site visit, as required) and any interested parties (e.g., members of the public, agencies, community-based organizations, municipal representatives, etc.) may review and comment on the ENF. Note that the public comment period may be extended by the Secretary if the proponent fails to meet circulation/Public Notice requirements or at the consent of the proponent. At the close of the review period for an ENF, the Secretary of EEA decides whether to require an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). If the Secretary does not require an EIR, the project has completed MEPA review and may move onto the next stage of project approval.
Effective January 1, 2022, all new MEPA projects located within a "Designated Geographic Area" (as defined in 301 CMR 11.02) around EJ Populations will be required to provide opportunities for public involvement by such EJ Populations prior to filing an ENF or Expanded ENF (EENF). A "Designated Geographic Area" is defined as the area within one mile of the project or EJ population; or, for a project that meets or exceeds MEPA review thresholds at 301 CMR 11.03 (8) (a) and (b) or that generates 150 or more new average daily trips (adt) of diesel vehicle traffic over a duration of one year or more, excluding public transit trips, the area within five miles of the project or EJ Population.
If the Secretary of EEA requires an EIR, the proponent prepares and files it with the MEPA Office. A draft and final EIR are ordinarily required, but the Secretary of EEA may allow an expedited EIR review process through a single EIR or rollover EIR. The secretary publishes notice of the availability of the EIR in the next Environmental Monitor. A 37-day review period follows, during the first 30 days of which any interested party reviews and comments on the EIR. Again, the public comment period may be extended for draft EIRs; however, comment period extensions are not available for final EIR review. At the close of the review period, the Secretary of EEA decides whether the EIR is adequate. For more information about MEPA review and public comment periods, watch the watch the “Introduction to MEPA” video and skip to the section on “what happens during MEPA review”.
Submitting public comments
During the ENF and EIR review and comment periods identified above , members of the public may submit written comment letters on projects through the MEPA comment portal or by emailing the MEPA analyst assigned to review the project. We recommend that comment letters focus on concerns with environmental impacts of the project and suggestions for how to address impacts, more general feedback on how the project could be improved, and comments on whether the project as conducted sufficient public outreach in your community. For detailed instruction on how to prepare and submit comment letters, watch the watch the “How You Can Participate in MEPA Review” video and skip to the section on “submitting public comments.”
Staying informed about MEPA projects
To stay informed about projects currently undergoing MEPA review or to be alerted when new projects are proposed, consider the following resources.
- Follow MEPA on X: @MEPAalerts! Here you will be notified about new projects published in the Environmental Monitor, secretary decisions released, and scheduled MEPA consultation sessions and site walks.
- Send a blank email to subscribe-mepa_environmentalmonitor@listserv.state.ma.us to sign up to receive email notifications when a new Environmental Monitor is published.
- If you comment on a MEPA project ENF or EIR, you will be added to a project’s distribution list and should receive an email if the project files additional documents for MEPA review.