The MEPA Office is under the Energy & Environmental Affairs (EEA) umbrella.

MEPA

There is a potential parallel state track under which the projects might be reviewed, which is the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act, or MEPA. The MEPA Office like the MassDEP, is under the Energy & Environmental Affairs (EEA) umbrella.  Its purpose includes requiring state agencies, such as the MassDEP, to study the environmental consequences of their actions. See  MEPA purpose & intent.
 

On July 6, 2012, FirstLight applied to the MEPA Office for an “Advisory Opinion” about whether “the upcoming licensing of the Northfield Mountain and Turners Falls Projects by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) subjects either project to” MEPA jurisdiction.  That document, though old, is very helpful in understanding the exact language of the pieces of the projects, and the originally projected timeline.  In it, FirstLight essentially argues that they will not be making enough changes to their existing practices allowed under the then-current license to make them subject to MEPA review.  Or if they do make changes that major, it will only be because the FERC makes them, so MEPA shouldn’t get involved until after FERC checks in.  A week later, the MEPA Office agreed, granting them the Advisory Opinion that MEPA review was not necessary.

However, that decision is currently under review and could be revised by the current MEPA Director, who has not stated definitively yet whether or not they agree with this prior opinion, as of June, 2022, nor apparently by February 2023.

Some of us feel that letters to the MEPA Office, encouraging their immediate involvement could be helpful.  MEPA has a strong interest in having parties explore alternatives, and with the climate crisis and the potential 40-50-year license, we think some things will change during that time frame.