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| Pursuant to the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act ("MEPA" or "the Act"), a project proponent must file an Environmental Notification Form (ENF) when MEPA Review is triggered. This review occurs when a proposed project meets or passes certain thresholds highlighted in the Act.
The ENF provides the public with a description of the proposed project and any accompanying environmental impacts.
MEPA is not a permitting authority. Instead, the Act enables interested agencies and individuals to issue comments and concerns in response to an ENF, in a public forum. Under MEPA, permitting agencies are required to avoid, minimize, and mitigate damage to the environment. The Act facilitates consistent interagency review of a project so that the permitting agencies can practicably protect the environment. These goals of the Act are achieved through the ENF process.
Ultimately the project proponent is better served when MEPA Review is triggered because the proponent can assess all stakeholders' concerns and potential issues before the project proceeds through individual agency permitting.
MEPA review is required when a proposed project meets or surpasses one or more thresholds defined in the Act. Specifically, these thresholds identify projects of a particular nature, size, or location that are likely to cause damage to the environment.
When a threshold is met or surpassed MEPA review is triggered and a project proponent must file an ENF with the Secretary of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs ("EOEA").
Upon filing of the ENF, the Secretary publishes it in the next Environmental Monitor issue. The Environmental Monitor is a publication of the EOEA that provides information on projects under review, recent decisions of the Secretary, and public environmental notices. After publication there is a thirty-day public review and comment period for all interested parties. At the close of the comment period, the Secretary issues a decision as to whether further study under an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is required.
If an EIR is not required, the proponent may then proceed through the permitting process with individual agencies.
(See 301 C.M.R. 11.00, MEPA Regulations)
View
the SouthCoast Offshore Wind Project ENF (888K pdf file)
Pdf files
open with
Adobe Acrobat Reader. 
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