Mass DEP Recent Changes

As a result of our advocacy MassDEP launched their new web page to help us track this process, but there are changes to some of their previous positions.

As of their January 3, 2024 website update, DEP has committed to:

• Holding the public hearings on line (we asked for this);
• Holding a hybrid public information session where there will be back and forth dialogue (more below);
• Recording the above and making it all available on their website (also new at our request);
• Extending the public comment period from 21  to 35 days,
• Note: They have moved the sign-up for their email list to let us know when hearing dates are set, (we fought hard for this!) to a sidebar instead of buried in their text.

However,

• They are no longer planning a public information session at the start of the process to inform the public about the process and the initial proposal.  The only information the general public will have is
  • what they can glean about the process themselves, and
  • what they read in the Water Quality Certificate (WQC) application itself.
• They have announced that the only publication where the hearing dates will be publicized besides on their website will be the Massachusetts Environmental Monitor. (Do you read this often?)
• They have never agreed to use the email list to advertise any changes to their website like this collection; only for the hearing dates themselves (we just stumbled upon these changes).