MEPA Environmental Review
MEPA Environmental Review
(Office of MA Environmental Policy Act)
The MEPA (Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office) review process engages the public in assessing the environmental impacts of projects requiring state actions. It mandates state agencies to evaluate and address potential harm through avoidance, minimization, and mitigation strategies. This process is a fact-finding endeavor and not a permitting process.
1. ENF (Environmental Notification Form) – Project Description
1/17/23 Developers File ENF
2/6/23 MEPA Public Meetings regarding ENF
2/14/23 Public Comment Period for ENF Closes - Over 350 Comments Submitted - Key Comments from:
ENF Summaries
2. DEIR (Draft Environmental Impact Report)
2/24/23 Scope for DEIR from EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper to developers released
Scope Only (29 pp)
Scope and Public Comments (c. 700 pp)
3/15/24 DEIR (Draft Environmental Impact Report) filed by developers to EEA Sec Tepper/MEPA, published by MEPA on 3/22/24
6/14/24 Public Comment Period for DEIR Closes - 1,773 Comments Submitted - Key Comments from:
6/21/24 EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper Rejects Developers’ DEIR in Certificate and Provides Scope for SDEIR
Note: Tepper’s response: pages 1-53; additional pages include key public comments
Next Step: SDIER
NPC (Notice of Project Change) & Phase 1 Waiver
On June 2, 2025, the developers submitted a Notice of Project Change requesting to separate the Navy Hangar renovation from the larger 18-hangar private jet expansion project and asking for permission to start Phase 1 work early.
On August 1, 2025, Rebecca Tepper, Secretary of Massachusetts' Energy and Environmental Affairs, issued her decision on the Navy Hangar Project NPC and a Draft Record of Decision (DROD) proposing to approve the Phase 1 waiver.
Key decisions:
The Navy Hangar renovation does not require a full Environmental Impact Report
The Secretary proposes to allow Phase 1 work (hangar renovation) to begin before the full project review is complete
The developers must still submit additional environmental studies for the remaining project components
The final decision is expected on or before September 5th, 2025
Read more about the NPC here
3. SDEIR (Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Report) - Likely late summer/early fall 2025
On June 21st 2024, Rebecca Tepper, the Secretary of Massachusetts' Energy and Environmental Affairs office, released a certificate that says, "I have reviewed the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) and hereby determine that it does not adequately and properly comply with MEPA and its implementing regulations." The report demands that developers prepare a Supplemental DEIR (SDEIR) with additional analysis, including a supplemental analysis of the project’s potential effects on aviation activity, consideration of additional project alternatives, and consideration of mitigation measures."
4. FEIR (Final Environmental Impact Report) - TBD
Preliminary Filing: Environmental Justice Screening
MEPA Documents
The developers file required reports as part of the MEPA state environmental review process: