Index:

• Reservoir Road Improvements and Scenic Overlook - North Adams - 4/25/08 -Does not require an Environmental Impact Report
• Ashmere Lake Dam Remedial Repairs - Hinsdale - 4/18/08 - Requires on EIR
• North Adams Plaza Redevelopment - North Adams - Certificate issued 3/14/2008 - requires Single EIR
• Massachusetts Turnpike Authority - All towns and cities along the Mass Pike
• Notice of Public Hearing to delist or change the status of several species on the Massachusetts Endangered Species List - Greenfield (As far as BEAT knows, this will be the closest meeting to the Berkshires.)

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Massachusetts Turnpike Authority

Department of Agriculture - Notice of Receipt of a Yearly Operational Plan for the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority to use herbicides along the Mass Pike.

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Notice of Public Hearing to delist or change the status of several species on the Massachusetts Endangered Species List - Greenfield (As far as BEAT knows, this will be the closest meeting to the Berkshires.)

Natural Heritage proposes delisting the 4-Toed Salamander and changing several other species status.

The Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, Division of Fish and Wildlife has filed a Notice of Public Hearing to delist or change the status of several plants and animals on the Massachusetts Endangered Species List.

Wednesday, May 21,2008,
at 3:00 P.M.
at the Downtown Campus, Greenfield Community College, 270 Main Street, Greenfield, Mass.

See the list of proposed (pdf) changes.

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Reservoir Road Improvements and Scenic Overlook - North Adams
EEA# 14211

Issued April 25, 2008
Secretary's Certificate (pdf) - Does not require an Environmental Impact Report

Submitted March 26, 2008
Environmental Notification Form (pdf)

An Environmental Notification Form (ENF) has been submitted to the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office for this project. As outlined in the ENF, 

MassHighway and the City of North Adams propose the reconstruction and widening of a 0.63 mile segment of Reservoir Road from its northerly terminus at the intersection of Furnace Street southerly to 220 feet north of the intersection with Richview Avenue Extension. The project also involves construction of a new scenic overlook and parking area on the easterly side of Reservoir Road approximately 1,600 feet south of Furnace Street and approximately 500 feet east of #251 Reservoir Road.

The first four pages of the ENF can be viewed here: http://www.mass.gov/envir/mepa/pdffiles/enfs/032608em/14211.pdf A full copy of the ENF can be obtained from the project contact listed below.

A site visit and consultation meeting was held April 9th, 2008 to receive advice and comments from agencies, officials, and citizens regarding which environmental issues are significant for this project. 

Project Contact: Michael Furlong, Massachusetts Highway Department, (617)973- 8067;michael.furlong@mhd.state.ma.us

For copies Michael Furlong (617) 973-8067
MEPA analyst Briony Angus (617) 626-1029

See Berkshire Regional Planning Commission's Clearinghouse Review Committee comments (pdf).

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Ashmere Lake Dam Remedial Repairs - Hinsdale
EEA# 14198

Issued April 18, 2008
Secretary's Certificate (pdf) - Requires an Environmental Impact Report

Environmental Notification Form (pdf) first four pages
submitted March 12, 2008

For copies of the ENF call Gregory Sampson (617) 896-4300
MEPA analyst Briony Angus (617) 626-1029

BEAT is very concerned by what we have heard regarding this dam project. First, that most years the water appears to be drawn down by mistake to a level far below what is permitted. Second, that this dam does not appear to be in nearly as bad shape as many others around the state. Why should this dam receive priority? Perhaps there are legitimate reasons, but it is not clear to us.

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New Marlborough Hill Subdivision - New Marlborough
EEA# 13679

Issued March 28, 2008
Secretary's Certificate (pdf) - Does not require an Environmental Impact Report

Submitted February 20, 2008
Notice of Project Change (pdf)

BEAT Note: See BEAT's comments (pdf) sent to MEPA on March 18, 2008.

When BEAT first heard about this Notice of Project Change (NPC), we contacted the engineer on the project, SK Design Group, to ask for a copy of the NPC. In their response, SK Design stated that we had not been on their distribution list, but they immediately sent us a copy of the NPC. BEAT should have been on their list because we commented on the original project. We were notified by an abutter that they did not receive the NPC in a timely fashion either. BEAT notified the MEPA reviewer, asking that the NPC be resubmitted and sent to all required recipients. MEPA responded that the NPC had been sent to all required recipients - the day AFTER it was mailed to BEAT at our request. MEPA extended the comment period to accomodate the late mailing.

BEAT has an web page about this project.

For copies call Sarah Schultz (413) 443-3537
MEPA analyst Briony Angus (617) 626-1029

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North Adams Plaza Redevelopment - North Adams
EEA# 14180

Issued March 14, 2008
Secretary's Certificate (pdf) Requires an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) - but allowed to file a Single EIR, rather than both a Draft and Final EIR. The Scope in the Certificate points to the need to comply with the new Stormwater Management Policy, the wetland replication area will need more detailed plan and a long-term monitoring plan, and there needs to be more information on traffic and GreenHouse Gas impacts.

Submitted February 6, 2008
Expanded Environmental Notification Form (pdf)

An Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF)[pdf] has been submitted to the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office for this project. As outlined in the EENF, the project involves the redevelopment of an approximately 13.4-acre parcel located on the west side of Route 8 across from the Robert Hardman Industrial Park in North Adams, MA. The project will include the construction of an approximately 126,500 square foot Lowe's Home Improvement Store with an associated 28,630 sf garden center. A 3,600 sf drive-through bank/retail facility will be constructed on an outparcel in the southeasterly corner of the site. The first four pages of the EENF and a more detailed project description are on line. A full copy of the EENF can be obtained from the project contact listed below.

The project requires the preparation of a Mandatory Environmental Impact Report (EIR) because it will result in the generation of more than 3,000 new daily vehicle trips on roadways providing access to a single location. In accordance with Section 11.05(7) of the MEPA regulations, the Proponent has submitted an EENF with a request for a Single EIR.

A site visit and consultation meeting will be held to receive advice and comments from agencies, officials, and citizens regarding which environmental issues are significant for this project. Opinions as to the merits of the Proponent's request for a Single EIR will be welcome.

The meeting was scheduled as follows:

Date:               Friday, February 29th, 2008
Time:              11:00 am
Location:         City Council Chambers, Noth Adams City Hall, 10 Main Street, North Adams

Comments on the project will be welcome in writing prior to March 7th, 2008. A Certificate on the EENF will be issued on March 14th, 2008. Comments may be submitted via mail, email or fax to (617) 626-1181. Please reference EEA #14180 in your comments.

Project Contact:           Lauren Gallagher, VHB, (617) 924-1770 ext. 1643, lgallagher@vhb.com

Pursuant to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, this Meeting Notice is available in alternative formats upon request. Questions on the meeting may be answered by contacting Briony Angus, MEPA Analyst at (617) 626-1029.

Briony Angus
Environmental Analyst,  MEPA Office
Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 626-1029

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Notice of Public Comment for Integrated MEPA/Permitting Review - statewide

Notice of Public Comment for Integrated MEPA/Permitting Review (pdf)
submitted January 23, 2008
Comments due February 22, 2008 extended to 2/29

In 2008, and after receiving public comment, the MEPA office within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs shall commence a new pilot program in which certain projects are subject to an integrated MEPAI permitting review For purposes of the pilot program, integrated review will be reserved for projects that have characteristics deemed consistent with stated public policy goals or projects for
which integrated review would seem to offer particular public policy benefits.

"Integrated review" means using MEPA as the principal decision-making tool for land use permitting at the state level. Integrated review is intended to make MEPA an integral part of permitting, rather than a separate process that precedes permitting.

BEAT's initial comment is that this appears to radically change the MEPA process from a process to make all environmentally relevant information available for the regular decision making process, to a new decision making process that circumvents early public participation. In fact, if we are reading this correctly, the public would not get word of a project until AFTER the scope of the Draft Environmental Impact Report was ALREADY DETERMINED!

Comments should be sent to:

Ian A. Bowles, Secretary of Environment and Energy
Attn: MEPA Office,Deerin Babb-Brott
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900
Boston MA 02114

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Donny Brook Country Club 18-Hole Golf Course - Lanesborough
EOEA No. 13093

Issued March 28, 2008
Secretary's Certificate (pdf) Adequately and properly complies with MEPA

Submitted February 20, 2008
FEIR (Rollover of Supplemental EIR)

Issued February 15, 2008
Secretary's Certificate (pdf) - Adequately and properly complies with MEPA; Supplemental DEIR to be rolled over as FEIR

Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Report
submitted January 9, 2008

For copies call Robert Fournier (413) 443-3537
MEPA analyst Deirdre Buckley (617) 626-1044

Issued 01/03/2007:
Secretary's Certificate (pdf) Requires an Environmental Impact Report

Submitted Novmeber 16-30, 2006
Notice of Project Change (pdf)

Issued 01/13/2006:
Secretary's Certificate [pdf]: Does not adequately and properly comply with MEPA

Issued 12/15/2006
Secretary's Certificate (pdf): Requires a full Environmental Impact Report (draft and final)

For copies: Virginia Allan (617) 536-0975
MEPA Analyst: Deirdre Buckley (617) 626-104 deirdre.buckley@state.ma.us

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