WEEC: Update on MEPA with Tori Kim

ACEC/MA WEEC (Water, Energy and Environmental Comm) Briefing on Zoom

December 16, 2021, 9 - 10 AM on Zoom

For virtual meeting connection information for this session, contact: ACEC/MA

The Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office has issued draft regulations and policies to incorporate Environmental Justice (EJ) into the MEPA process. These regulations will be effective as of January 1, 2022.

Please join us for a presentation of the new regulations and policies by Tori Kim, Assistant Secretary / MEPA Director at the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA).

More on these new MEPA Regulations

Background

On March 26, 2021, Governor Baker signed into law the Climate Roadmap Act, which enacted a new definition of “Environmental Justice [EJ] Population” for purposes of enhancing MEPA review procedures.

If a project exceeds Environmental Notification Form (ENF) thresholds it will automatically require preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for:

• any project that is located within a distance of 1 mile of an EJ population; or
• if a project impacts air quality, for any project that is likely to cause damage to the environment and is located within a distance of 5 miles of an EJ population

MEPA Regulations and Policies

The MEPA Office has completed their revisions to the MEPA regulations and associated public outreach and EJ analysis protocols, as required by the Climate Roadmap Act. The final regulations will be effective January 1, 2022.

This meeting is open to employees of ACEC/MA Member Firms.    
If your firm is an ACEC/MA member, YOU are an ACEC/MA member.   

• For virtual meeting connection information for this session, contact: ACEC/MA  or call 617-227-5551. 
• If you are with an ACEC/MA Member Firm, Join this Committee/Forum HERE.  
• ACEC/MA Committees/Forums are open to all employees of ACEC/MA Member Firms, even if you are located in another state.
• ACEC/MA Membership Questions? Contact us: ACEC/MA or call 617-227-5551.