Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Review

One important opportunity for citizens to comment on major environmental permits at the State level is the MEPA process.

If a development project is large enough or is proposed in certain critical habitat areas, the applicant must file with the MEPA office and the public is notified through the Environmental Monitor.

Usually, development proposals have already gone through local development reviews before they are noticed in the Monitor -- MEPA is thus usually your last chance to comment on a project, rather than your first chance, but it does provide an additional opportunity for citizens to raise concerns about large projects.

The Monitor will show, on line, the first three or four pages of the "Environmental Notice Form" filed by the applicant. This form will list the name of the developer, and the project's engineering contact so that you may request a copy of the entire document.

Individual citizens, communities, and conservation organizations then have a short window in which to obtain, read, and respond in writing to the MEPA office on the project's impacts.

Your written comments must be filed by the deadline set by the MEPA office. In most cases, this is 20 days from the date the notice is published.

If a large project is required to file an Environmental Impact Report, a notice will appear in the Monitor. In this case, you will have 30 days to respond.

To learn more about how to comment to MEPA, visit their website at: http://www.mass.gov/envir/mepa/

If you do file a comment with MEPA, please copy TRWA.