About us
We are responsible for ensuring that our transportation projects are in compliance with MEPA and NEPA. Our unit identifies potential impacts to environmental resources and determines federal and state permitting requirements. MassDOT’s goal is to design and construct projects that avoid, minimize, or mitigate damage to the environment and comply with all federal and state environmental regulations.
Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA)
All MassDOT Highway Division projects that meet or exceed specific thresholds defined by MEPA must be reviewed by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Common thresholds are the cutting of 5 or more living public shade trees of a certain size, disposition or change in use of land or an interest in land subject to Article 97 of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth, and a project of ½ acre or more within a designated Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). Our unit identifies if a project meets or exceeds a MEPA threshold and assists design consultants and municipal partners with the scoping and preparation of MEPA documentation. Additionally, MEPA amended its regulations under 310 CMR 11.00 in January 2022, which now requires additional analyses and outreach for projects within proximity to environmental justice communities. We work closely with design consultants and municipalities to ensure our MEPA documentation is in compliance with these requirements. For more information about MEPA and its thresholds, please visit the visit the MEPA Office website.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
MassDOT construction projects funded through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) must comply with regulations implementing NEPA. FHWA and MassDOT have a Programmatic Agreement that allows projects with limited environmental impacts to meet NEPA requirements through a Categorical Exclusion (CE) Checklist. For large scale transportation projects that have the potential to cause a significant impact to the human environment, our unit assists design consultants in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA) or an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under NEPA. We are responsible for implementing the Programmatic Agreement for Determinations and Approvals of Categorical Exclusions. Please see the Programmatic Agreement below for more information.
Related resources
Below is a list of additional online resources related to MEPA/NEPA responsibilities:
- Guidance for Improving the Quality of Environmental Documentation (IQED)
- Environmental Review Checklist (ERC) – Effective May 2023)
- Categorical Exclusion (CE) checklist form (updates coming soon)
- Categorical Exclusion (CE) Determination Project Narrative and Checklist Detailed Instructions (updates coming soon)
- Programmatic Agreement for Determinations and Approvals of Categorical Exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act
- MassDOT's Public Participation Plan