POLICY COMMENT LETTERS
Policy Committee members at the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance state house lobby day. Photo: David Mussina
Working closely with MyRWA staff, the Policy Committee is a group of committed volunteers that give a voice to the water, habitat, and wildlife in the Mystic River Watershed. The committee advocates for responsible development that supports clean water, existing habitat, and a healthy environment. The committee ensures that developments are in compliance with environmental legislation.
Join the Policy Committee! Please contact Tracy, Committee Co-Chair, or attend the next Committee Meeting,.
The following comment letters were written after carefully reviewing the Environmental Impact Reports (EIR) submitted by the relevant parties. The comment letters were submitted during the public comment periods to the Attorney General, municipality, Conservation Commission and/or another relevant party.
2023
To: Sean Dunn, MassDEP Air Assessment Branch
Re: Comment on Draft 2023 DEP Annual Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network Plan
To: Purvi Patel, Environmental Analyst, MEPA Office
Re: Draw Seven Park's EENF Filing
To: Chairman Rodrigues, Chairman Michlewitz and Conference Committee members
Re: Support for Senate FY24 Budget for DCR Parks and Recreation Operations
To: Chairman Michael Rodrigues, Senate Committee on Ways and Means
Re: Special Projects Budget, Earmarks (Account 2810-0122)
To: Mr. Jason Ruggiero, Community Engagement Manager Boston Planning and Development Agency
Re: Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) Charlestown efforts in sustainable growth (PLAN)
2022
To: MassDEP's Bureau of Resource Protection, Water Management Programt
Re: New Proposed Revisions to the Water Management Program Regulations (310 CMR 36.00)
To: Chairman Nick Collins, Senate Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets and Chairwoman Danielle Gregoire, House Ways and Means Committee
Re: Securing $38.2 million in non-federal match to unlock $72.5 million in federal funding
To: Christine Hopps, Assistant Director, Waterways Program Department of Environmental Protection
Re: Waterways License Application Number W16-4697
To: Hon. Michael J. Barrett, Senate Chairman on Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy and Hon. Jeffrey N. Roy, House Chairman on Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy
Re: H.3336, S.2135, An Act Relative to Energy Facilities Siting Reform to Address Environmental Justice, Climate and Public Health
2021
To: Kathleen A. Theoharides, Secretary, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Attn: Tori Kim, MEPA Director
Re: Comments on Environmental Notification Form (ENF), Alewife Park, Cambridge
To: MassDEP Attn: Sewage Notification
Re: Comments on 314 CMR 16.00 Notification Requirements to Promote Public Awareness of Sewage Pollution
To: Members of the Arlington Zoning Board of Appeals
Re: Thorndike Place
To: Hon. Antonio Cabral and Hon. Marc Pacheco
Re: Support for Bill H.4189
To: The Honorable John J. Cronin, Chair Senate Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government and The Honorable Lori A. Ehrlich, House Chair House Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government
Re: Testimony in support of H.2198, An Act Relative to the Protection of Wetlands and Water Resources in Chapter 40B Applications
To: George Papadopoulos U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 1 5 (Papadopoulos.george@epa.gov), Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (massdep.npdes@mass.gov)
Re: Comments on Logan Airport Draft NPDES Permit No. MA0000787
To: Shauna Little U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 1 5
Re: Comments on Chelsea River Bulk Petroleum Storage Facilities Draft NPDES Permit Nos. MA0004006, MA0003280, MA0001929, MA0001091, MA0000825
To: Eva Murray Environmental Analyst, MEPA Office Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Re: Woburn Fire Headquarters, EEA #16333
To: Tori T. Kim Assistant Secretary/MEPA Director Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (tori.kim@state.ma.us; MEPA-regs@mass.gov)
Re: Interim Protocol for Environmental Justice Outreach and Interim Protocol for Climate Change Adaptation and Resiliency
To: Erikk Hokenson Office of Coastal Zone Management (erikk.hokenson@mass.gov)
Re: East Boston Designated Port Area (DPA) boundary review
To: Chair Duane Cleak Woburn Conservation Commission
Re: The Vale: Montvale Land LLC NOI DEP# 348-814, Pulte Homes of NE, LLC NOI DEP# 348-819, LCS Woburn LLC NOI DEP# 348-826
2020
To: Dan.mckiernan@state.ma.us, ray@capecodfishermen.org, Sarah.Peake@mahouse.gov, sarah.ferrara@mahouse.gov
Re: Conservation-based TAC for Atlantic Menhaden
To: Senator Barrett, Representative Golden, Senator Creem, Representative Haddad, Senator O’Connor, and Representative Jones, Honorable Members of the Conference Committee
Re: H.4933, Environmental Justice
To: Purvi Patel, Environmental Analyst, MEPA
Re: XMBLY Notice of Project Change, EEA 11595
To: Michael Parker, Chair, City of Boston Conservation Commission
Re: City of Boston Local Wetlands Ordinance Implementation, Initial Regulations
To: Boston Conservation Commission
Re: Notice of Intent for the Eversource Substation 131
To: Secretary Kathleen Theoharides, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Re: MyRWA Comments on Suffolk Downs Redevelopment FEIR
2019
To: The Honorable Anne Gobi and The Honorable Smitty Pignatelli
Re: Strong opposition to House Bill 833
To: Kathleen Theoharides, Secretary Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Re: Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for development of “The Vale”, 22 Hill St., Woburn, MA (EEA No. 15923)
To: Frank Taormina, MassDEP Waterways Regulation Program
Re: 1005 Broadway, Chelsea, Chapter 91 Waterways License Application No. W19-5592-N
To: MassDEP Regulatory Comment Box
Re: Tentative Determination to Adopt a Variance for Combined Sewer Overflow Discharges to Alewife Brook/Upper Mystic River Basin
To: Jerome Grafe, Regional Planner DEP Waterways Regulation Program
Re: Mystic River Bicycle and Pedestrian Crossing, Chapter 91 Dredge Permit, License No. W19-5587
To: Somerville Conservation Commission Rachel Borgatti, Chair
Re: Mystic River Pedestrian and Bicycle Crossing
To: MassDEP Regulatory Comment Box
Re: Tentative Determination to Adopt a Variance for Combined Sewer Overflow Discharges to Alewife Brook/Upper Mystic River Basin
To: Kathleen Theoharides, Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)
Re: Comments on Happy Valley Ventures ENF (EEA No. 16014)
To: Tim Czerwienski, Project Manager, Boston Planning & Development Agency
Re: Comments on Suffolk Downs Redevelopment PDA
To: Ms. Kathleen Theoharides, Secretary, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Re: Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for development of “The Vale”, 22 Hill St., Woburn, MA (EEA No. 15923)
To: Page Czepiga, Environmental Analyst, Secretary of Energy & Environmental Affairs
Re: ENF Mystic River Crossing Bridge
To: Honorable Governor Charlie Baker
Re: Community Path Extension (CPX) being designed and built as part of the Green Line Extension (GLX) project
To: Andrew Wheeler, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and R.D. James, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Department of the Army
Re: Revised Definition of “Waters of the United States,” Docket ID No. EPA-HW-OW-2018-0149
To: The Honorable Anne Gobi, The Honorable William Pignatelli, The Honorable Bruce Tarr, The Honorable Tram Nguyen
Re: Support of H.751/S.490 An Act promoting awareness of sewage pollution in public waters
To: Vandana Rao, Water Policy Director, Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Re: Proposed Updates to the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan
To: Ms. Kathryn Sedor, Esq, Presiding Officer, Energy Facilities Siting Board
Re: Eversource electrical substation on East Eagle Street in E. Boston
To: Mr. Jerome Grafe, MassDEP Waterways Regulation Program
Re: Waterways License Application No. W18-5358; Draw Seven Park Pathway Extension (Charlestown MBTA Facility)
To: Secretary Matthew A. Beaton Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Re: Suffolk Downs Redevelopment DEIR/DPIR
2018
To: Governor Charles D. Baker From: Mystic Watershed Municipal CEOs
Re: Amelia Earhart Dam Resilience Funding
To: Governor Charles D. Baker From: State Legislators
Re: Amelia Earhart Dam Resilience Funding
To: Purvi Patel Massachusett Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Office
Re: Montvale Commons, 22 Hill St., Woburn, MA (EEA #15923)
To: Secretary Matthew A. Beaton Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Re: ENF for 1005 Broadway: (EEA #15908)
To: Alex Strysky, Environmental Analyst Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA)
Re: Mystic Village, 278-326 Mystic Ave, Medford, MA (EEA #15910)
To: Secretary Matthew A. Beaton Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Re: XMBLY, Somerville, MA Draft Environmental Impact Report (EEA #15595)
To: Honorable Robert DeLeo
Re: House Bill 4505 "An Act authorizing Commercial Wharf East Condominium Association under the Tidelands Public Trust Doctrine and preventing residents from being forced to leave.
To: Honorable Members of the Cambridge City Council
Re: Cambridge Citizens’ Petition requesting a Zoning Amendment for a Flood and Heat Resilient Cambridge
To: Tom Nies, Executive Director New England Fishery Management Council
Re: DEIS for Amendment 8 to the Atlantic Herring FMP
To: The Honorable Jeffrey Sánchez, House Chair Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Re: Bill H.4234, An Act Reducing Plastic Bag Pollution
To: The Honorable Anne M. Gobi, Senate Chair and The Honorable William Pignatelli, House Chair, The Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture
Re: Letter of Support for Environmental Bond Bill H. 4318 “An Act promoting climate change adaptation, environmental and natural resource protection, and investment in recreational assets and opportunity,”.
To: Vandana Rao, Executive Director, Massachusetts Water Resources Commission, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Re: Comments on Proposed Changes to the Water Conservation Standards
To: Press Release
Re: Plastic Bag Ban Letter
To: Dan Driscoll, Department of Conservation and Recreation
Re: Draw 7 Park
To: Commissioner Leo Roy Department of Conservation and Recreation
Re: Mystic Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge
To: Alex Strysky, Environmental Analyst Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA)
Re: Wellington Woods, 320 Middlesex Ave., Medford, MA (EEA No. 15804)
To: Vice Chare DiDomenico, Senate Committee on Ways & Means
Re: Public Lands Preservation Act (PLPA, S. 21881)
To: Secretary Matthew Beaton Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Re: EEA 15783, Suffolk Downs Redevelopment ENF
2017
To: Erin Flaherty, MEPA Analyst, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Re: Green Line Extension EEA No. 13886
To: Honorable Anne Gobi, Senate Chairwoman and Honorable William Pignatelli, House Chairman
Re: Testimony on H.2777 Mystic NPDES Delegation
To: Environmental Protection Agency
Re: 2015 Clean Water Rule
To: Ivan Morales-Parra, Environmental Analyst III, MassDEP Waterways Regulation Program
Re: Waterways License Application No. W17-4976
To: Ivan Morales-Parra, Environmental Analyst III, MassDEP Waterways Regulation Program
Re: Comments on the Chapter 91 Waterways License Application Number W17-4959
To: Secretary Matthew Beaton, Secretary Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Re: EF Education First III, FEIR, EEA #15293
To: Ivan Morales, Department of Environmental Protection Wetlands and Waterways Program
Re: Comments on the Ch. 91 Application No. 17-4901, Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC gas transmission line at Mystic Valley Parkway in Arlington, Medford and Somerville
To: Matthew A. Beaton, Secretary Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Re: Wynn Boston Harbor Notice of Project Change, EEA #15060
To: Dr. John F. Quinn, Chairman Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director New England Fishery Management Council
Re: No Midwater Trawling Zone; River Herring
To: Robert Boeri, MA Office of Coastal Zone Management
Re: MBTA Federal Consistency Review
To: Ben Lynch, Department of Environmental Protection Wetlands and Waterways Program
Re: Comments on the Ch. 91 Application No. 16-4842, MBTA Charlestown Bus Facility – Shoreline Stabilization and Yard Improvements Project, Mystic River, Boston & Somerville MA
To: Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Matthew A. Beaton
Re: EEA No. 13886, Notice of Project Change for Green Line Extension (GLX) & Community Path Extension (CPX)
To: Anne Canaday, Environmental Analyst, Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Office
Re: Comments on Notification of Project Change for development of Rivergreen (formerly Rivergreen Technology Park), 3 Air Force Rd., Everett
2016
To: Mr. Jerome Grafe, MassDEP Waterways Regulation Program
Re: Waterways License Application Number W16-4697
To: Mr. Matthew A. Beaton, Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Re: MEPA Environmental Notification Form Mystic Landing, 61 Locust Street, Medford, MA
To: Mr. Lance Grenzeback, Chairman, Winchester Board of Selectmen
Re: Winchester Forest Ridge
To: Frank Taormina, Regional Planner Department of Environmental Protection
Re: Chapter 91 License Application of Suffolk Square Associates III Limited Partnership for development of 295 Canal Street, Malden, MA
To: MassDEP Regulatory Comment Box
Re: Public Notice for the Tentative Determinations to Extend the Variances for CSO Discharges to the Lower Charles River/Charles Basin and Alewife Brook/Upper Mystic River
To: Mr. John K, Bullard, Regional Administrator, NOAA Fisheries
Re: Comments on the Proposed Rule for Fisheries of the Northeastern United States: Atlantic Herring Fishery; Specification of Management Measures for Atlantic Herring for the 2016-2018 Fishing Years (NOAA-NMFS-2016-0050)
To: Mr. Frank Taormina MassDEP Waterways Regulation Program
Re: Application to Amend Waterways License No. 4981 for 245-257 Marginal Street
To: Chairman Rick Robins, Executive Director Chris Moore, Ecosystems and Ocean Planning Committee Chairman G. Warren Elliot Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council
Re: Unmanaged Forage Omnibus Amendment (UFOA)
To: Commissioner Leo Roy, The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
Re: Macdonald Park Improvement Comment letter
To: Alex Strysky, Environmental Analyst MEPA
Re: Shoreline Stabilization and Yard Improvements Project, Charlestown Bus Facility
To: Anne Canaday, Environmental Analyst MEPA
Re: ENF 295 Canal Street, Malden MA
To: The Town of Winchester Zoning Board of Appeal
Re: Petition No. 3738 by FX Winchester, LLC concerning property at 416 Cambridge Street
To: Lisa Berry Engler, Boston Harbor Regional Coordinator, Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management
Re: Draft Boundary Review of the Chelsea Creek Designated Port Area, Chelsea, MA
2015
To: Frank Taormina, Regional Planner, MassDEP Waterways Regulation Program
Re: Waterways License Application Number W15-4480-N, Wynn MA LLC
To: Matthew A. Beaton, Secretary, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)
Re: EEA 15060. Wynn Everett SSFEIR
To: All relevant parties
Re: Policy Statement of the Mystic River Watershed Association Regarding Development of the Mugar Property in Arlington, Massachusetts
To: The Boston Globe Editorial Board
Re: The Globe’s editorial calling for restoration of the Mystic River
To: The Honorable Anne M. Gobi, Senate Chair
Re: Support of S. 433 An Act promoting awareness for safe recreation in public waterways
To: Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council
Re: Atlantic Herring Amendment 8 Scoping Comments
To: Secretary Matthew A. Beaton, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (March 2015)
Re: EEA 15060, Wynn Everett FEIR
To: Newton Tedder, Physical Scientist U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1
Re: Draft Massachusetts Small MS4 General Permit
For additional and/or prior comment letters please contact us.
