Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) — Project Review Thresholds (MGL c. 30 §§61-62I) (MA)
Tracked preemption from the Massachusetts overlay bundle.
Overview
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Effective
1972-12-15
Sunset
—
Authority
state
Scope
state:MA
Other Massachusetts preemptions
Massachusetts Chapter 40Y — Starter Home Zoning Districts (Opt-In)Massachusetts MBTA Communities Act — Multi-Family Zoning Requirement (MGL c. 40A §3A)Massachusetts Chapter 40S — Smart Growth School Cost ReimbursementMassachusetts Chapter 40R — Smart Growth Zoning Overlay District (Opt-In)Massachusetts Rivers Protection Act — Riverfront Area (MGL c. 131 §40)Boston Planning Department (former BPDA) Article 80 Development ReviewMassachusetts Outstanding Resource Waters & DCR Watershed ProtectionCape Cod Commission Regional Land Use Authority (St. 1989, c. 716)
Trigger predicate
When this evaluates true for a parcel, the law's preempted fields take precedence over base zoning.
AND
- OR
project.requires_state_agency_action==Trueproject.receives_state_financial_assistance==Trueproject.requires_state_permit==True
- OR
project.land_alteration_acres≥25project.new_adt_trips≥2000project.water_withdrawal_gpd≥100000project.sewer_discharge_gpd≥100000project.dwelling_units≥100project.parking_spaces_added≥300- AND
parcel.within_acec==Trueproject.land_alteration_acres≥0.5
Preempted fields
3 fields on the base district schema are rewritten when the trigger fires.
| Field | Op | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
review_type | require_additional | mepa_environmental_notification_form | ENF filing with EEA Secretary; 30-day review (20-day comment period + 10 days for Certificate). Subject matter limited to fields within MEPA jurisdiction (agency-action / financial-assistance projects: full scope; permit-only projects: scope limited to subject matter of permit). |
review_type | require_additional | mepa_environmental_impact_report | EIR mandatory when ≥50 acres land alteration, ≥3,000 new ADT, ≥2.5 MGD surface water (1.5 MGD groundwater), ≥1 acre salt marsh or 10 acres other wetlands altered, any new/expanded sewage discharge to Outstanding Resource Water, or per Certificate determination |
review_type | constrain | section_61_findings_required | MGL c. 30 §61: each state agency permit issued after MEPA review must include written findings demonstrating all feasible mitigation measures have been adopted to minimize damage to the environment |
Citation
Authority source
MGL c. 30 §§61-62I (MEPA, enacted 1972); 301 CMR 11.00 (MEPA Regulations); 2026 amendments effective Jan 30 2026 (streamlining housing / mixed-use review)
§ MGL c. 30 §§61-62I; 301 CMR 11.03 (thresholds); 301 CMR 11.06 (ENF); 301 CMR 11.07 (EIR)
Research notes
Massachusetts analog to NEPA. Jurisdiction is not universal — MEPA applies only when (a) project undertaken by a state agency, (b) receives state financial assistance, OR (c) requires a state permit (in which case review scope is limited to subject matter of the permit). Pure private projects on private land with only local approvals are exempt regardless of size. Key 301 CMR 11.03 thresholds: ENF triggered at 25+ acres alteration, 2,000+ new ADT, 100,000+ gpd water/sewer, 100+ urban-redevelopment dwelling units; mandatory EIR at 50+ acres, 3,000+ ADT, 2.5 MGD surface (1.5 MGD groundwater), 1+ ac salt marsh / 10+ ac wetlands altered, any new discharge to ORW. ACEC areas: any project ≥0.5 acres triggers ENF. Single-family dwellings and multifamily ≤50 units (when only state action is DEP Superseding Order of Conditions) are exempt. Jan 30 2026 amendments narrowed mandatory EIR triggers for qualifying housing/mixed-use projects (Nixon Peabody 2026-01-30). Environmental Justice (EJ) population areas trigger enhanced public participation and lower review thresholds for air-quality-affecting projects per 301 CMR 11.06(7). Certificates issued by EEA Secretary; non-compliance bars state agency action.