INFORMATION ABOUT UPCOMING REGULATORY UPDATES

The MEPA Office is engaged in a “Phase 2” regulatory review effort to consider additional updates to MEPA regulations. The Office has formed an advisory committee to guide this effort.

A list of represented organizations and dates of public meetings can be found here.

The transitional rules regarding environmental justice outreach were RESCINDED on January 1, 2022.

UPDATED Presentation: English | Español | Português | 中文 | Kreyòl Ayisyen | Tiếng Việt
Video Recordings (translations available upon request): NAIOP, EBC

The MEPA Office has finalized two MEPA Environmental Justice Protocols to take effect on January 1, 2022. These protocols will supplement proposed amendments to MEPA regulations at 301 CMR 11.00, which were promulgated on December 24, 2021.

Comments received on MEPA environmental justice protocols are available below:

• Public Comments Received on the MEPA environmental justice Protocols 
• Response to Comments

The text of the MEPA environmental justice protocols can be found below:

• 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)

In March 2021, Governor Baker 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.

The MEPA Office will participate in MassDEP's stakeholder effort to evaluate and seek public comment on development of a CIA methodology. More information is available here. 

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.