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EBC Breakfast Program MEPA Director Alicia McDevitt

EBC Breakfast Program MEPA Director Alicia McDevitt. Thank you to Our Sponsors. Thank you to our Hosts. New EBC Members. Agresource, Inc. - NSTAR Green Street Systems - Pierce Atwood LLP Mirant - Techlaw, Inc.- McCauley Lyman LLC ReEnergy Holdings LLC - CLF Ventures, Inc.

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EBC Breakfast Program MEPA Director Alicia McDevitt

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  1. EBC Breakfast Program MEPA Director Alicia McDevitt

  2. Thank you to Our Sponsors

  3. Thank you to our Hosts

  4. New EBC Members Agresource, Inc. - NSTAR Green Street Systems - Pierce Atwood LLP Mirant - Techlaw, Inc.- McCauley Lyman LLC ReEnergy Holdings LLC - CLF Ventures, Inc. Environmental Risk Sciences, LLP E.L. Harvey & Sons, Inc. - Clean Power Now P.J. Keating Company – Trident Environmental Costello Dismantling Co., Inc

  5. Upcoming EBC Programs June 30: DEP Southeast Regional Meeting July 10: Ocean Management Conference July 17: Dam Program: Dam Removal July 23: RI Networking Cruise July 28: NH Chapter Portsmouth Harbor Cruise August 20: 15th Annual Summer Garden PartySeptember 18: Best Places to Work Tribute

  6. The Evolving Role of MEPA Alicia McDevitt, Director Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office Assistant Secretary for Environmental Review Executive Office of Energy and Environment Affairs Commonwealth of Massachusetts 

  7. Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) June 2009 Updatefor the Environmental Business Council Alicia McDevitt Assistant Secretary and MEPA Director Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs June 26, 2009

  8. Reference Information For copies of all reference materials (GHG Policy, Integrated Review Policy, etc.), visit the MEPA website: http://www.mass.gov/envir/mepa/ For a copy of this presentation, contact: Alicia McDevitt Assistant Secretary of Energy & Environmental Affairs and MEPA Director 617-626-1132 alicia.mcdevitt@state.ma.us

  9. OVERVIEW Snapshot of the Office in June 2009 Update on last year’s initiatives Where is MEPA going in 2009/10? GHG Policy and Protocol

  10. MEPA Office June ‘09 Snapshot • MEPA as barometer of economic activity: • ENF filing numbers year to date 2009 are approximately 25% below recent averages • 2006 - ytd June = 116 (236 total for the year) • 2007 – ytd June = 103 (217 total for the year) • 2008 – ytd June = 105 (195 total for the year) • 2009 – ytd June = 75 • This only accounts for new project filings (new ENFs) • Many projects completing ongoing review • Fluctuates a great deal month to month

  11. Major Private Projects Under Review • Major projects proposed this year: • Plymouth Rock Studios • Patriot’s Place expansion • Prudential Center expansion • Government Center Garage redevelopment • Boston Harbor Garage redevelopment • Ongoing projects continuing/completing review in 2009: • The Commons at Prospect Hill, Waltham • Waterfront Square at Revere Beach • Seaport Square • Pioneer Valley Energy Center • Others to be mentioned

  12. Major Public Projects Undergoing Review • State and Federal funding sources have led to an uptick in public projects: • Funding sources include 2008 Transportation Bond Bill; Accelerated Bridge Repair Bill; American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Federal Stimulus) • Major public projects under review in ‘09 • Public Transit Projects: South Coast Rail, Urban Ring, Green Line Extension, Roxbury-Dot-Mattapan BRT proposal (ARRA) • Accel. Bridge Projects: Longfellow Bridge repairs; Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Project • Numerous MHD Roadway Projects

  13. Other Projects in Litigation or in the News Stoneham Executive Center/Langwood Commons Weaver’s Cove Offshore LNG Westwood Station Greenfield Biomass Russell Biomass Cape Wind Lantana Art. 97 Land Swap, Randolph

  14. Update on Last Year’s Policy Announcements Public Benefit Reviews Integrated MEPA Review/Permitting Policy E-MEPA GHG Policy and Protocol

  15. Public Benefit Regulations: 301 CMR 13.00 Following “An Act Relative to the Licensing Requirements for Certain Tidelands” (Ch. 168 of Acts of 2007), EEA and MEPA developed regulations to implement the Public Benefit Review procedures Final regulations became effective December 28, 2008 Guiding philosophy: Honor mandate to consider public benefit, but don’t make it a new burdensome permitting process

  16. Process: Public Benefit Reviews conducted by MEPA Office on behalf of the Secretary Public comment solicited through the MEPA process Public Benefit Determination (PBD) mandatory for EIR/Waiver projects For ENF-only projects, Secretary has discretion to require a Public Benefit Review Discretionary review expected to be rare

  17. Standards: A Public Benefit is presumed for water dependent uses For non-water dependent uses, Secretary will apply the statutory criteria: PURPOSE AND EFFECT IMPACT ENHANCEMENT PUBLIC TRUST RIGHTS COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY Secretary will apply a preference for on-site amenities

  18. Integrated MEPA/Permitting Final Policy Issued June 2008 for Pilot Program Outgrowth of Patrick Administration Permit Streamlining Efforts Participation is Voluntary Goal is to Incorporate Permitting Level Detail Into MEPA Review Process to Shorten Overall Permitting Time

  19. Eligibility: Reserved for Projects that are Consistent with Public Policy Goals Examples: Transit-Oriented Developments Public Infrastructure Projects Brownfields Redevelopments Renewable Energy Projects Projects in 40R Districts or EOHED “Growth Districts” Projects with Significant GHG-Reduction Commitments

  20. Process: Apply for determination of eligibility Inter-agency pre-filing meeting File ENF for public review and comment Certificate on ENF to set forth scope of EIR/permitting information Interagency/public coordination during DEIR review FEIR to contain high level detail sufficient for permitting decisions FEIR Certificate to contain detailed Section 61 Findings to be used as permit conditions Project proceeds to final permitting

  21. Experience To Date: Hamilton Canal District 1.8 million square feet of development: residential (767,000 sf, 623 units),  commercial (424,000 sf), retail (54,000 sf), parking garage (627,000 sf – 980 spaces) Master Plan development to occur over years Requires permits and review/approvals from: MassHighway, MassDEP, MHC, DHCD, and for Article 97 disposition, from DCR, DCAM and legislature Subject to MEPA GHG Policy and Protocol MEPA filings: EENF - April 2008, DEIR -December 2008, FEIR – March 2009 (FEIR Certificate – May 15th, 2009) Other projects may go forward Considering whether to continue the pilot

  22. E-MEPA MEPA enters the 21st Century! … slowly. Major components: • Updated/revised website • Electronic submission of MEPA review documents (ENFs, EIRs, NPCs) • On-line document review • Electronic submission of comments

  23. Where is MEPA Going in 2009/2010? • Project Review in the New Green Economy • Biomass, Wind, and other controversial green projects • Wind Siting Reform • Oceans Planning • Projects receiving federal stimulus funds under American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) • Green Building Initiatives (next slide)

  24. Other Patrick Administration Green Building Initiatives Large Scale Retail Solar and Efficiency Measures Task Force State Building Code upgraded to IECC as of March 2009 BBRS adoption of a “Stretch” Building Code (municipal opt-in) Green Communities Program Zero Net Energy Buildings Task Force

  25. Global Warming Solutions Act Chapter 298 of the Acts of 2008 (effective 11/5/08) Creates the new Chapter 21N: The Climate Protection and Green Economy Act Requires GHG Emissions reductions: 10% to 25% below 1990 levels by 2020 80% below 1990 levels by 2050 Establishes greenhouse gas registry and reporting for large emitters and retail sellers of electricity EOEEA Secretary to establish a 2020 statewide emissions limit and plan by January 1, 2011 Climate Protection and Green Economy Advisory Committee recently established

  26. Global Warming Solutions Act Act also amended the MEPA Statute, effective 11/5/08 Section 7 of the Act amends Section 61 of Chapter 30 of the General Laws to provide that: In considering and issuing permits, licenses and other administrative approvals and decisions, the respective agency, department, board, commission or authority shall also consider reasonably foreseeable climate change impacts, including additional greenhouse gas emissions, and effects, such as predicted sea level rise.

  27. Evolution of GHG Policy • Greenhouse Gas Emissions Policy and Protocol: • GHG Policy first issued in draft in mid 2007 • “…’damage to the environment’ as used in MEPA includes the emission of greenhouse gases caused by Projects subject to MEPA review.” • Final Effective Date of the Policy October 31, 2007 • Policy revised again in February 2009 in response to statutory change under GWSA • Now applies to ALL projects that require an Environmental Impact Report, unless emissions are considered de minimis

  28. Policy Requirements Requires consideration of feasible measures to “avoid, minimize or mitigate” GHG emissions, as required by MEPA statute Requires quantification of: Emissions Direct emissions from stationary sources i.e., boilers, heaters, combustion turbines, generators, etc. Indirect emissions from energy consumption i.e., purchase and consumption of electricity, steam, or cooling Indirect emissions from transportation i.e., travel by employees, vendors, customers and others Impact of Mitigation on Emissions

  29. Policy Requirements For Stationary Sources: “Baseline” building=code compliant Note, Massachusetts State Building Code recently revised to meet incorporate the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) Preferred Alternative “Lower” GHG Building For Mobile Sources: include workers, deliveries, customers

  30. Policy Requirements What It Does Not Do… Create new thresholds for review Create numerical limits on GHG emissions Create numerical targets on GHG reductions Expect absolutely accurate projections Commitments to emissions-reduction mitigation to be enforceable through Section 61 Findings and self-certification requirements Analysis focused on CO2

  31. Projects Reviewed to Date • 45 projects have been reviewed in accordance with the GHG policy • 13 projects subject to a quantitative GHG analysis in accordance with the policy have completed MEPA review • Stationary source GHG reductions have ranged from 1% to 33% • Mobile source GHG reductions have ranged from 0% to 22%

  32. Breakdown of Project Types 20 mixed-use projects 9 large-scale, “big-box type” retail projects 4 Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plans (CWMPs) 3 energy-related projects (power plants & pipelines) 3 transportation-related projects 3 residential (condominium and single-family dwellings) projects 3 miscellaneous projects

  33. Standard Mitigation Measures • Roof and wall insulation • Energy-efficient windows (glazing, insulated) • Energy-efficient HVAC systems, boilers, generators • Day lighting, cool roof design, building orientation • Energy efficient lighting; motion-sensor activated • EnergyStar appliances • Water efficient fixtures, minimal irrigation • Transportation Demand Management (TDM) measures • Intersection improvements • Transportation managers, form or join a Transportation Management Association (TMA) • Provide on-site services (ATM, food services, etc.) • Pedestrian and bicycle improvements

  34. “Next Step” Mitigation Measures Construct rooftop or on-site solar photovoltaic (PV) systems Incorporate combined heat and power (CHP) technologies Purchase of renewable/green power Third-Party building commissioning Building energy management systems Preparation of a tenant manual to promote sustainable practices (operations, transportation, etc.) Use of transit subsidies to reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips Expand access to public transportation from project site

  35. Lessons Learned/Advice to Practitioners • Integrate GHG reduction planning at early stage of project design • Do the analysis! • Show your work • Do not dismiss mitigation alternatives out of hand • Meet with the MEPA Office • Be creative

  36. Lessons Learned/Challenges In Implementation • MEPA conceptual/planning review vs. need for building design details • Projects other than commercial real estate • Developer/Landlord/Tenant issues • How to allocate responsibilities • Mitigating mobile source emissions • TDM, siting review challenges • Financial Feasibility as a MEPA Issue

  37. Where Do We Go From Here? • In light of: • (a) change to MEPA’s statutory authority via the Global Warming Solutions Act and • (b) feedback from the regulated community expressing concerns about the GHG review process, • GHG Policy revisions now under consideration • Work Group convened in February ’09 • Goals/Objectives of the GHG Policy remain unchanged

  38. Topics Discussed Case-by-case analysis vs. emissions/reduction target or performance standard Project baseline 3rd mitigation case analysis requirement Methodology Categories of emissions to be quantified

  39. Topics Discussed, cont’d. • Enforceability of commitments/ self-certification/ permit requirements • Revisions to the review thresholds • How MEPA should review projects in light of predicted effects of climate change

  40. Response Panel Panel Moderator: Peggy Briggs, Managing Partner, Epsilon Associates Panel Members: Douglas McGarrah, Foley Hoag, LLP Leo Pierre Roy, VHB Barry Fogel, Keegan Werlin, LLP

  41. EBC Breakfast Program MEPA Director Alicia McDevitt

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