New Protocols
Please note that a new MEPA Interim Protocol on Climate Change Adaptation and Resiliency is now in effect for all ENFs/EENFs as of October 1, 2021.
The MEPA Office has finalized two MEPA Environmental Justice Protocols with effective dates of January 1, 2022:
- FINAL MEPA Public Involvement Protocol for Environmental Justice Populations (effective date of January 1, 2022)
- FINAL MEPA Interim Protocol for Analysis of Project Impacts on Environmental Justice Populations (effective date of January 1, 2022)
These protocols supplement proposed amendments to MEPA regulations at 301 CMR 11.00, which were promulgated on December 24, 2021.
A flow chart to help determine the applicability of the new EJ Rules and Protocols may be found here. A flow chart that illustrates the Single or Rollover EIR process for projects that have EJ Populations located within the DGA may be found here.
More information on MEPA’s regulatory review effort is available here.
Submitting MEPA Filings
The MEPA Office is continuing to accept electronic project submittals. Electronic submittals that are received at MEPA@mass.gov by 5:00 PM on the submittal deadline will be accepted for publication in the next edition of the Environmental Monitor. Please note that a filing will not be published in the Environmental Monitor unless it is complete upon submission.
An electronic copy of the complete submittal (including all attachments) should be sent concurrently to the MEPA Office (MEPA@mass.gov) and to the required distribution list. Please use the following MEPA Distribution List for state agencies, which will continue to be updated to reflect any changes in required distribution format (electronic vs. hard copy) on the part of state agencies. To facilitate review, you may be requested to provide a courtesy hard copy of a project submittal to the MEPA Analyst and/or may be requested to provide a hard copy to the MEPA Office for inclusion in the project file at a future date.
The electronic submittal should be sent to MEPA and state agencies requesting electronic distribution using a file share service. The entire electronic submittal, including appendices and site plans, must be accessible and legible. Additionally, please ensure the submittal meets the following criteria:
- The link to download the electronic submittal must be accessible by others (not just the direct recipient).
- All electronic submittals over 50 pages must include bookmarks or an electronic table of contents that provides direct links to each of the sections and appendices. Alternatively, each section and appendix should be provided as a separate file.
- Permissions must be set to allow for the electronic document to be downloaded from a file sharing website without requiring an individual to create an account. This provision does not apply to secure FTP file sharing websites.
Due to volume restrictions of the mass.gov email system, please do not directly send the electronic submittal as a PDF. Please be prepared to provide copies of electronic submittals in an alternative format (such as reduced file sizes or zip files) to anyone requesting to receive them.
Site Visits
Site visits will continue to be conducted remotely until further notice; however, the MEPA Office may require in-person site visits for larger projects or projects of any size for which there is significant public interest in a site visit. At a minimum, access to the project site should be made available to the MEPA Analyst upon request. The Proponent will be expected to describe the site and share existing conditions photos and site plans in addition to providing an overview of the proposed project. The Proponent will be responsible for providing a call-in/weblink to host the remote consultation session with the capability to share files (i.e., “screen share” capability) and host at least 25 participants through a telephonic or video dial-in feature. If the Proponent is unable to host a remote site visit, it should consult with the MEPA
Office about alternative methods.
Information regarding the consultation session (including the date/time, call-in number, and weblink) will be posted in the Site Visit section of the Environmental Monitor.
Public Comments
During remote MEPA operations, please utilize the Public Comment Portal or email comments directly to the MEPA Analyst assigned to review the project, as identified in the Environmental Monitor. Contact information for the MEPA Analysts may be found here. Please be sure to include the EEA# and project name in the subject line of the email.
Pre-Filing Meetings
Remote pre-filing meetings may be scheduled via this link. As a general matter, pre-filing meetings will be scheduled on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Joint pre-filing meetings with the MEPA Office and the EEA EJ Office will be scheduled on Thursdays Starting September 10, 2023, in-person meetings can be requested on Tuesdays.
Requests for Advisory Opinions, Public Notices, and Other Inquiries
Please continue to send Requests for Advisory Opinions (RAO), public notices for publication in the Environmental Monitor, and any other inquiries to MEPA@mass.gov.