General Announcements

Archived MEPA Files

Please note that, with some exceptions, the files for all projects that have undergone MEPA review with an EEA# less than 10140 are now housed in the State Archives Building. If you wish to view any of these files, a request must be made in writing or via e-mail to Josie Wixon, Administrative Assistant, of the MEPA Office. Josie's e-mail address is josephine.wixon@state.ma.us. Because deliverioes are made only pewriodically, please allow up to one month in order to retrieve any requested files.

Draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Policy Available for Comment

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) announces a new policy on Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions which requires that certain projects undergoing MEPA review quantify their greenhouse gas emissions and identify measures to avoid, minimize or mitigate these emissions. The Draft Policy is now available for public review and comment. The Policy will be published in draft form in the July 11, 2007 Environmental Monitor. Public comments shall be received until Friday, August 10, 2007. Comments may be submitted by mail to: MEPA Office, 100 Cambridge Street, 9th Floor, Boston, MA 02114, via fax to 617-626-1181 or via email to briony.angus@state.ma.us. Please reference the EEA Greenhouse Gas Policy in the header of your comments. EEA will issue a final version of the Policy after the close of comments on the Draft. Once the final version is published, EEA will begin including GHG quantification in the scoping certificates for all Projects that are subject to the Policy whose ENFs are filed after the effective date of the publication of the final Policy.

Draft Desalination Policy and Desalination Siting and Monitoring Protocols Available for Comment

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) announces a new policy on Desalination. The Draft Policy and the Draft Protocols are new documents and were developed in response to the recent development of desalination as a potential source of drinking water. The documents provide direction on when desalinized water may be appropriate in the Commonwealth. They also provide predictability of process and of potential requirements during the permitting process.

EEA staff will be accepting public comments postmarked by August 10, 2007. Please mail or e-mail all comments or address any questions to: Kathleen Baskin Director of Water Policy Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900 Boston, MA 02114 Email: Kathleen.Baskin@state.ma.us Fax: (617) 626-1181

Notices of Project Change

Please note that the Environmental Monitor will now include scanned copies of Notices of Project Change (NPCs) in order to facilitate public review and comment. Although not specifically required by the MEPA regulations, we are now requesting that project proponents provide a separate copy of the NPC form (just as with the ENF) in order to facilitate scanning, as well as two copies of the full NPC submission.