The Environmental Monitor provides information on projects under review by the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office, recent MEPA decisions of the Secretary of Energy & Environmental Affairs, and public notices from environmental agencies. These are the LARGE, potentially ENVIRONMENTALLY DAMAGING projects. Please, take a look at ones in your town/city.
December 22, 2023
- Environmental Monitor – Berkshires
- Environmental Monitor – CT River Valley
- Environmental Monitor – Statewide
- Environmental Monitor – Archives
- How to submit comments to MEPA
- Environmental Monitor – On MEPA Website
Berkshire Index:
- Hancock, Lanesborough, Hinsdale, Cheshire, Dalton – WT-02 Transmission Right-of-Way Reliability Project – Draft Environmental Impact Report Certificate DEIR adequately and properly complies with MEPA – filed 12/15/2023
- Florida, North Adams, Monroe, Adams – E131 Asset Condition Refurbishment (ACR) Project – Draft Environmental Impact Report Certificate DEIR adequately and properly complies with MEPA – filed 12/15/2023
Previous projects in 2023
- Williamstown – Notice of Intent to Initiate an Ecological Restoration Project– (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments) – Notice of Intent by Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation seeking to implement an invasive exotic species mitigation plan at the Lehovec River Walk in Williamstown, Mass. The focus of the mitigation work is to reduce the invasive shrub layer and Japanese knotweed in floodplain forest through a combination of forestry mowing and herbicide application (only low-toxicity wetland approved herbicides will be used). Copies of the NOI may be viewed or acquired by contacting the applicant: Williamstown Rural Lands, at (413) 458-2494. See the Williamstown Conservation Commission website for the meeting schedule to confirm exact dates and agendas. – published 11/22/2023
- Adams – Notice of Public Hearing re: Vegetation Management Plan- (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments) – Department of Agricultural Resources will conduct a regional hearing to receive public comment on the proposed Vegetation Management Plan for the Town of Adams, as submitted by Eammon Coughlin, Community Development Director. Public Zoom hearing will be held December 15, 2023 at 9:00 AM – comments due 12/22/2023
- Florida, North Adams, Monroe, Adams – E131 Asset Condition Refurbishment (ACR) Project – Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) – comments due 12/8/2023
- Hancock, Lanesborough, Hinsdale, Cheshire, Dalton – WT-02 Transmission Right-of-Way Reliability Project – Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) – comments due 12/8/2023
- Cheshire – Notice of Application for a 401 Water Quality Certificate – (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachment) – Reconstruction of bridge over Dry Brook with a new wider bridge, abutments, retaining walls, guardrails, and a roadway typical section consisting of two travel lanes and shoulders – comments due 10/31/23
- Mount Washington – Notice of Application and Issuance of a Draft Groundwater Discharge Permit – (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachment) – YMCA Camp Hi-Rock to discharge up to 10,000 gallons of treated wastewater per day – posted 9/8/23
- Lanesborough & Pittsfield – Pontoosuc Lake Annual Drawdown Project -Single EIR – comments due 9/8/23
- Stockbridge – Notice of Application and Issuance of a Draft Groundwater Discharge Permit– (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachment) – Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health to discharge 58,000 gallons per day of treated sanitary wastewater – posted 8/23/23
- Monterey – Notice of Intent to Initiate an Aquatic Plant Management Program – (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachment) – Lake Garfield Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH), the seasonal Drawdown of Lake Garfield and the limited use of Benthic Barriers – posted 8/9/23
- Cheshire – Notice of Intent to Initiate an Aquatic Plant Management Program – (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachment) – Hoosac Lake/Cheshire Reservoir invasive and Nuisance Aquatic Plant Management Activities will include herbicides, diver-assisted suction harvesting, mechanical harvesting, and benthic barriers to control invasive and nuisance aquatic plant growth in the lake – posted 6/23/23
- Many towns – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachment) – CSX’s vegetation control program – comments due 7/21/2023
- Hinsdale – George Schnopp Road Dam Breach Emergency Stabilization – ENF Certificate – Requires an [AMENDED] Environmental Notification Form – issued 6/23/23
- Sheffield – Notice of Intent to Initiate an Aquatic Plant Management Program (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachment) – McCain Residence use of herbicides and algaecides – posted 6/7/23
- Otis – Notice of Intent to Initiate an Aquatic Plant Management Program (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachment) – White Lily Pond three days of bladderwort removal – posted 6/7/23
- Great Barrington – Notice of Intent to Initiate an Aquatic Plant Management Program – Camp Eisner Pond using a mechanical hydro rake – posted 5/24/23
- Lenox – Notice of Intent to Initiate an Ecological Restoration Project – 1 Melville Court invasive species removal without herbicides – submitted 4/26/23
- Great Barrington, Lenox, Sheffield, Lee, Pittsfield, Stockbridge – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan – Housatonic Railroad – comments due 6/9/23
- Many towns – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan – Eversource – comments due 5/24/23
- Many towns – Eversource – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan – comments due 5/5/23
- Many towns – Pam Am Railways – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan – comments due 5/5/23
- Adams, North Adams, Florida, and Monroe – E131 Asset Condition Refurbishment (ACR) Project – New England Power Company – EENF Certificate – Requires an Environmental Impact Report – issued 3/17/23
- Williamstown – Schow Pond Restoration Project – SEIR Certificate – Adequately and properly complies with MEPA – issued 3/17/23
- Windsor – Notice of Application for a Chapter 91 Waterways License/Permit – Flintstone Road Culvert Improvement Project – submitted 3/22/23
- Lanesborough & Pittsfield – Pontoosuc Lake Annual Drawdown Project – EENF Certificate – issued 3/3/23 – Requires a Single EIR
- Lanesborough & Hancock – Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan – (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachment) – Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC)– comments due 3/24/23
- Alford – Notice of Application for a 401 Water Quality Certificate – bridge replacement – posted 3/8/23
- Pittsfield – Notice of Availability for the Pittsfield Municipal Airport Draft Addendum to the Vegetation Management Plan – (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachment) – posted 1/11/23
- Multiple towns – National Grid Vegetation Management Plan – (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachment) – comments due 1/20/23
- Williamstown – Schow Pond Restoration Project – ENF Certificate – Requires a Single Environmental Impact Report – issued 11/14/22
- Hancock, Lanesborough, Hinsdale, Cheshire, Dalton – Eversource – WT-02 Transmission Right-of-Way Reliability Project – EENF Certificate – Requires an Environmental Impact Report – issued 7/15/22 – BEAT is watching this one that proposes unnecessary tree cutting.
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George Schnopp Road Dam Breach Emergency Stabilization – Hinsdale
EEA # 16700
Issued June 23, 2023
Secretary’s Certificate ENF (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments)
Requires an [AMENDED] Environmental Notification Form – we have not seen this before. Sending them back to square one!
Submitted May 24, 2023
Environmental Notification Form (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments)
Comments due June 13, 2023
For copies contact: Nathaniel Arai, (413) 335-6477, Nathaniel.arai@gza.com
MEPA Analyst: Jennifer Hughes, (617)455-7063, Jennifer.Hughes@mass.gov
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E131 Asset condition Refurbishment (ACR) Project of New England Power – Adams, North Adams, Florida & Monroe
EEA # 16663
Filed December 15, 3023
Draft Environmental Impact Report Certificate (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments)
Determined DEIR adequately and properly complies with MEPA
Published November 8, 2023
Draft Environmental Impact Report DEIR (click on link, then at top click on attachments)
Comments due December 8, 2023
Issued March 17, 2023
Secretary’s Certificate EENF (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments)
Requires an Environmental Impact Report
REMOTE Site Visit Monday, February 27, 2023 at 5:30 pm
Please RSVP to purvi.patel@mass.gov at least one hour before the meeting for instructions on joining the video conference or calling in by phone.
Submitted February 8, 2023
Expanded Environmental Notification Form (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments)
Comments due March 10, 2023
This is a project to replace poles and build new roads along the powerlines. “This work will involve grading,
tree removal, and gravel placement to safely navigate steep slopes.”
BEAT note: The power distribution companies get paid a guaranteed profit to do all this work. And electric ratepayers pay for this in our electric bills. If the power distribution companies really want to improve resilience for their ratepayers, they should focus on installing battery storage at the substations and making it easy and affordable for ratepayers to install batteries in their buildings.
For copies contact: Katy Wilkins, (413) 875-1305, KLWilkins@tighebond.com
MEPA Analyst: Purvi Patel, (617)874-0668, purvi.patel@mass.gov
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Pontoosuc Lake Annual Drawdown Project – Lanesborough & Pittsfield
EEA # 16656
Submitted August 9, 2023
Single Environmental Impact Report (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments)
Comments due September 8, 2023
Issued March 3, 2023
Secertary’s Certificate ENF
Requires a Single Environmental Impact Report
Site visits –
In person – February 14, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Parking lot near the boat ramp off Hancock Road, Pittsfield
Remote – February 15, 2023 at 6:00 pm
REMOTE MEETING. Please RSVP to alexander.strysky@mass.gov at least one hour before the meeting for instructions on joining the video conference or calling in by phone.
Submitted January 25, 2023
Expanded Environmental Notification Form (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments)
Comments due February 24, 2023
For copies contact: Adrienne Dunk, (415) 726-2144, adrienne.dunk@gza.com
MEPA Analyst: Alexander Strysky, (857)408-6957, alexander.strysky@mass.gov
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Schow Pond Restoration Project – Williamstown
EEA # 16614
Issued March 17, 2023
Secretary’s Certificate Single EIR
Adequately and properly complies with MEPA
Submitted February 8, 2023
Single Environmental Impact Report (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments)
Comments due March 10, 2023
Issued November 14, 2022
Secertary’s Certifcate ENF (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments)
Requires a Single Environmental Impact Report
Site visit – November 2, 2022 – 9:30 am
At the site: near parking lot at 225 South Street
REMOTE MEETING. November 2, 2022 – 10:00 am. Please RSVP to alexander.strysky@mass.gov at least one hour before the meeting for instructions on joining the video conference or calling in by phone.
Submitted October 7, 2022
Environmental Notification Form (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments)
Comments due November 7, 2022
For copies contact: Adrienne Dunk, , (413) 726-2144, adrienne.dunk@gza.com
MEPA Analyst: Alexander Strysky 617-626-1025 alexander.strysky@mass.gov
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WT-02 Transmission Right-of-Way Reliability Project – Hancock, Lanesborough, Hinsdale, Cheshire, Dalton
EEA # 16567
Eversource planning on cutting about 137 acres of trees along their right-of-way including rare species habitat, historical/archeological resources, near vernal pools, and crossing outstanding resource waters.
Filed December 15, 3023
Draft Environmental Impact Report Certificate (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments)
Determined DEIR adequately and properly complies with MEPA
Published November 8, 2023
Draft Environmental Impact Report DEIR (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments)
Comments due December 8, 2023
Issued July 15, 2022
Secretary’s Certificate EENF (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments)
Requires an Environmental Impact Report
An online/remote consultation session site visit will be held to receive advice and comments from agencies, officials, and citizens regarding which environmental issues, if any, are significant for this project. Opinions as to the extent and significance of possible environmental impact will be welcome. PLEASE NOTE THAT AN IN-PERSON SITE VISIT MAY BE HELD BASED ON AGENCY AND STAKEHOLDER RVSPS.
Remote consultation – Wednesday, June 22 at 6:00 pm Please RSVP to purvi.patel@mass.gov at least one hour before the meeting for instructions on joining the video conference or calling in by phone.
POTENTIAL IN-PERSON SITE VISIT – Friday, June 24 at noon ( If this is held – Meet at the site: Parking lot of Lanesborough Town Hall/Public Library, 83 N Main St, Lanesborough, MA 01237 – YOU MUST RSVP TO purvi.patel@mass.gov TO INDICATE YOUR INTEREST IN THIS IN-PERSON SITE VISIT BY WED, JUNE 22ND AT 6PM – Please check the Environmental Monitor prior to attending the in-person site visit to determine if this meeting has been canceled.
Submitted June 8, 2022
Expanded Environmental Notification Form (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments)
Comments due July 8, 2022
For copies contact: Rebecca Weissman, (508) 233-8769, Rebecca.Weissman@SWCA.com
MEPA Analyst: Purvi Patel, (617)874-0668, purvi.patel@mass.gov
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Harnett Pond – New Marlborough
EEA # 16444
Issued October 29, 2021
Secretary’s Certificate (pdf) (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments)
Requires a Single Environmental Impact Report
Site visit: October 12, 2021 at 2:00 pm
REMOTE MEETING. Please RSVP to purvi.patel@mass.gov at least one hour before the meeting for instructions on joining the video conference or calling in by phone
Submitted September 22, 2021
Environmental Notification Form (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments)
Proposal to hydraulically dredge the pond
Comments due October 22, 2021
For copies contact: Shannon Boomsma (413) 443-8011 sboomsma@whiteeng.com
MEPA Analyst: Purvi Patel 617-626-1029 purvi.patel@mass.gov
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Comments to MEPA:
The Secretary of Environmental Affairs accepts written comments on projects currently under MEPA review.
Please note that comments submitted on MEPA documents are public records.
Be sure to include the EOEA number on all comments!
MEPA Public Comment Portal
The most efficient way to submit comments on MEPA projects is through the Public Comment Portal. You may register and create an account or submit comments anonymously.
Submit Comments by e-mail
All comments received by the deadline will be provided to the Secretary for review and included in the public record for the project. Comments can be e-mailed directly to the Environmental Analyst reviewing the project. Please reference the project name and EEA# in the subject line of the e-mail. The EEA# and Environmental Analyst assigned to the project can be found in the Environmental Monitor.
MEPA Staff Contact Information
Submit Comments by Mail or Hand Delivery
Electronic comments are preferred; however, written comments may be mailed or hand-delivered to the MEPA office. Office hours are 9 AM – 5 PM.
The mailing address for comments is:
Secretary of the Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)
Attn: MEPA Office [Analyst Name], EEA No. _____
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900 Boston MA 02114
Be sure to include the EOEA number on all comments!
How to Submit Comments to MEPA (this link takes you to the MEPA Site)