314 CMR 9.00
Waterways.
9.02: continued
Commissioner means the Commissioner of the Department.
Confined Aquatic Disposal (CAD). A subaqueous facility (typically a constructed cell or natural
depression) into which dredged sediment is placed and then isolated from the surrounding
environment.
Confined Disposal Facility (CDF). A facility created in open water or wetlands consisting of
confinement walls or berms built up against or extending into existing land.
Corps of Engineers. The United States Army Corps of Engineers, New England Division.
Critical Area. Outstanding Resources Waters as designated in 314 CMR 4.00: Massachusetts
Surface Water Quality Standards, Special Resource Waters as designated in 314 CMR 4.00,
recharge areas for public water supplies as defined in 310 CMR 22.02: Definitions (Zone Is,
Zone IIs and Interim Wellhead Protection Areas for ground water sources and Zone As for
surface water sources), bathing beaches as defined in 105 CMR 445.000: Minimum Standards
for Bathing Beaches (State Sanitary Code: Chapter VII), cold-water fisheries, and shellfish
growing areas.
Dam. Any artificial barrier placed across a watercourse that raises or has the potential to raise
the level of water or which impounds and/or diverts water.
Department. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
Discharge of Dredged or Fill Material. Any addition of dredged or fill material into, including
any redeposit of dredged material within, waters of the United States within the Commonwealth.
The term includes, but is not limited to:
(a) direct placement of fill, including any material used for the primary purpose of replacing
with dry land or of changing the bottom elevation of a wetland or water body,
(b) runoff from a contained land or water disposal area, and
(c) the placement of pilings when it has the effect of fill material.
Disposal Site. A structure, well, pit, pond, lagoon, impoundment, ditch, landfill or other place
or area, excluding ambient air or surface water, where uncontrolled oil or hazardous material has
come to be located as a result of any spilling, leaking, pouring, ponding, emitting, emptying,
discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, discarding, or otherwise disposing of such
oil or hazardous material and is a “disposal site” as defined in M.G.L.c. 21E.
Dredged Material. Sediment and associated materials that are moved from below the mean high
tide line for coastal waters and below the high water mark for inland waters during dredging
activities.
Dredged Material Disposal. The transport, placement, or deposition of sediments or other
material after dredging.
Dredging. The removal or repositioning of sediment or other material from below the mean high
tide line for coastal waters and below the high water mark for inland waters. Dredging shall not
include activities in bordering or isolated vegetated wetlands.
Ecological Restoration Project. A project whose primary purpose is to restore or otherwise
improve the natural capacity of a Resource Area(s) to protect and sustain the interests identified
in M.G.L. c. 131, § 40, when such interests have been degraded or destroyed by anthropogenic
influences. The term Ecological Restoration Project shall not include projects specifically
intended to provide mitigation for the alteration of a Resource Area authorized by a Final Order
or Variance issued pursuant to 310 CMR 10.00: Wetlands Protection or a 401 Water Quality
Certification issued pursuant to 314 CMR 9.00 other than projects implemented pursuant to a
US Army Corps of Engineers-approved in-lien fee program.
Environmental Impact Report. The report described in the Massachusetts Environmental Policy
Act, M.G.L. c. 30, §§ 61 through 62H and 301 CMR 11.00: MEPA Regulations.
9.02: continued
Environmental Monitor. The publication described in 301 CMR 11.19(1).
Environmentally Sensitive Site Design. Design that incorporates low impact development
techniques to prevent the generation of stormwater and non-point source pollution by reducing
impervious surfaces, disconnecting stormwater sheet flow paths, and treating stormwater at its
source, maximizing open space, minimizing disturbance, protecting natural features and
processes, and/or enhancing wildlife habitat.
Fastland. Land above mean high water formed by the placement of dredged or fill material into
waters of the United States within the Commonwealth.
Final Order of Conditions. The Order of Conditions issued by the Commissioner of the
Department after an adjudicatory hearing or, if no request for a hearing has been filed, the
Superseding Order or, if no request for a Superseding Order has been filed, the Order of
Conditions issued under M.G.L. c. 131, § 40 (the Wetlands Protection Act) and 310 CMR
10.05: Procedures.
Ground Water. Water below the land surface in a saturated zone including perched ground
water.
High Water Mark. The present arithmetic mean of high water heights observed over a one-year
period using the best available data as determined by the Department.
Illicit Discharge. Discharge that is not entirely comprised of stormwater. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, an illicit discharge does not include discharges from the following activities or
facilities: firefighting, water line flushing, landscape irrigation, uncontaminated ground water,
potable water sources, foundation drains, air conditioning condensation, footing drains,
individual resident car washing, flows from riparian habitats and wetlands, dechlorinated water
from swimming pools, water used for street washing and water used to clean residential
buildings without detergents.
Improvement Dredging. Any dredging in an area which has not been previously dredged or
which extends the original dredged width, depth, length or otherwise alters the original
boundaries of a previously dredged area.
Innovative Technology. Technology that has not been commercially deployed or is in limited
deployment, and includes, but is not limited to, energy technology that obtains energy from the
ocean, waterway, or conditions associated with the ocean or waterway, other forms of renewable
energy technology.
Intermediate Facility. A site or location that is to be utilized, on either a project-specific
temporary or permanent basis, to manage dredged material prior to its ultimate reuse or disposal
(e.g., barge unloading, stockpiling or storage, dewatering, processing or treatment, truck or train
loading or unloading).
Isolated Vegetated Wetlands. Vegetated areas subject to jurisdiction under 33 U.S.C. 1251 that
are not bordering vegetated wetlands subject to jurisdiction under M.G.L. c. 131, § 40 and
310 CMR 10.55(2): Definition, Critical Characteristics and Boundary.
Land Uses with Higher Potential Pollutant Loads. Land uses identified in 310 CMR 22.20B(2)
and 22.20C(2)(a) through (k) and (m), 22.21(2)(a)1. through 8., and (b)1. through 6.; areas within
a site that are the location of activities that are subject to an individual National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit or the NPDES Multi-Sector General Permit;
auto fueling facilities (gas stations); exterior fleet storage areas; exterior vehicle service and
equipment cleaning areas; marinas and boatyards; parking lots with high intensity use; confined
disposal facilities, and disposal sites.
9.02: continued
Lot. An area of land in one ownership, with definite boundaries.
Low Impact Development Techniques. Innovative stormwater management systems that are
modeled after natural hydrologic features. Low impact development techniques manage rainfall
at the source using uniformly distributed decentralized micro-scale controls. Low impact
development techniques use small cost-effective landscape features located at the lot level.
Maintenance Dredging. Dredging in accordance with a valid license or permit in any previously
authorized dredged area, which does not extend the originally dredged depth, width or length.
Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act or MEPA. M.G.L. c. 30, §§ 61 through 62H and
301 CMR 11.00: MEPA Regulations.
Massachusetts Oil and Hazardous Materials Release Prevention and Response Act or
M.G.L. c. 21E. M.G.L. c. 21E, §§ 1 through 18 and implementing regulations at 310 CMR
40.0000: Massachusetts Contingency Plan.
Massachusetts River and Stream Crossing Standards or the Stream Crossing Standards. The
standards developed by the River and Stream Continuity Partnership as corrected on
March 8, 2012.
Mean High Tide Line. – The line where the arithmetic mean of the high water heights observed
over a specific 19-year metonic cycle (the National Tidal Datum Epoch) meets the shore and
shall be determined using hydrographic survey data of the National Ocean Survey of the U.S.
Department of Commerce.
Mixing Zone. A mixing zone is the limited volume of water allowing for the initial dilution of
a discharge, e.g., from dredging or disposal in waters.
National Environmental Policy Act or NEPA. 42 U.S.C. §§ 4321 through 4345.
Non-invasive Sampling Activities. Sampling activities, which include the collection of water,
soil or sediment samples by techniques (e.g., hand-held augers) that will not significantly disturb
existing wetland resources areas as defined in M.G.L. c. 131, § 40 (the Massachusetts Wetland
Protection Act and 33 U.S.C. § 1257 (the Federal Clean Water Act).
Notice of Intent. The document described in 310 CMR 10.05(4): Notices of Intent.
Oil and Hazardous Material (OHM).
The definitions included in 310 CMR
40.0000: Massachusetts Contingency Plan.
Outstanding Resource Water. A surface water of the Commonwealth so designated in 314 CMR
4.00: Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards.
Person. Any agency or political subdivision of the Commonwealth or the federal government,
public or private corporation or authority, individual, partnership or association, or other entity,
including any officer of a public or private agency or organization.
Practicable. Available and capable of being done after taking into consideration costs, existing
technology, proposed use, logistics and potential adverse consequences (e.g., degradation of Rare
Species Habitat, increased flood impacts to the built environment) in light of the overall project
purposes and is permittable under existing federal and state statutes and regulations.
Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP). An individual who is knowledgeable about the
procedures and methods for characterizing dredged material and contaminated media; is familiar
with Massachusetts and federal regulations applicable to the management of such materials;
performs or oversees the management of sediment and/or contaminated soil as an integral part
of his or her professional duties; and is professionally licensed or certified in a discipline related
to environmental assessment (i.e., engineering, geology, or soil science) by the state or a
recognized professional organization.
9.02: continued
Rare Species. Those vertebrate and invertebrate animal species officially listed as endangered,
threatened, or of special concern by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife under
321 CMR 10.60: Introduction.
Rare Species Habitat. Areas identified as habitat for Rare, Endangered, or species of special
concern by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife's Natural Heritage Program as
published in the Massachusetts Natural Heritage Atlas at the time an application is submitted.
Real Estate Subdivision. The division of a tract of land into two or more lots, including division
where approval is required and where approval is not required under the Subdivision Control
Law, M.G.L. c. 41, §§ 81K through 81GG.
Redevelopment. For purposes of the Stormwater Management Standards as provided in
314 CMR 9.06(6)(a) through (e), redevelopment is defined to include the following projects:
(a) maintenance and improvement of existing roadways including widening less than a
single lane, adding shoulders, correcting substandard intersections, improving existing
drainage systems and repaving;
(b) development, rehabilitation, expansion and phased projects on previously developed
sites provided the redevelopment results in no net increase in impervious area; and
(c) remedial projects specifically designed to provide improved stormwater management
such as projects to separate storm drains and sanitary sewers and stormwater retrofit projects.
Resource Area. Any of the areas specified in 310 CMR 10.25 through 10.35 and 310 CMR
10.54 through 10.58. It is used synonymously with Area Subject to Protection Under
M.G.L. c. 131, § 40, each one of which is enumerated in 310 CMR 10.02(1): Areas Subject to
Protection Under M.G.L. c. 131, § 40.
Restoration Order of Conditions. The Order of Conditions issued pursuant to 310 CMR
10.14: Restoration Order of Conditions for a project that meets the eligibility criteria set forth
in 310 CMR 10.13: Eligibility Criteria for Restoration Order of Conditions.
Salt Marsh. A coastal wetland as defined in M.G.L. c. 131, § 40 and 310 CMR 10.32(2): Salt
Marsh.
SARA 312 Generator. A facility that is required by the Emergency Planning and Community
right to Know Act (EPCRA) also known as Title III of the Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act of 1989 (SARA Title III) to submit an inventory of the location of hazardous
chemicals which are located at the site.
Secretary. The Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
Sediment. For the purposes of dredging means all inorganic or organic matter, including
detritus, situated under tidal waters below the mean high water line as defined in 310 CMR
10.23: Additional Definitions for 310 CMR 10.21 through 10.37; and for inland waters below
the upper boundary of a bank, as defined in 310 CMR 10.54(2): Definition, Critical
Characteristics and Boundary.
Shellfish Growing Area. Land under the ocean, tidal flats, rocky intertidal shores and marshes
and land under salt ponds when any such land contains shellfish. Shellfish growing areas include
land that has been identified and shown on a map published by the Division of Marine Fisheries
as a shellfish growing area including any area identified on such map as an area where shellfish
harvesting is prohibited. Shellfish growing areas shall also include land designated by the
Department in 314 CMR 4.00: Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards as suitable for
shellfish harvesting with or without depuration. In addition, shellfish growing areas shall include
shellfish growing areas designated by the local shellfish constable as suitable for shellfishing
based on the density of shellfish, the size of the area, and the historical and current importance
of the area for recreational and commercial shellfishing.
Single and Complete Project. The total project proposed or accomplished by one or more
persons, including any multiphased activity.
9.02: continued
Special Aquatic Sites means those site identified in Subpart E of 40 CFR Part 230, 404(b)(1),
including sanctuaries and refuges, wetlands, mud flats, vegetated shallows, coral reefs, and riffle
and pool complexes. They are geographical areas, large or small, possessing special ecological
characteristics of productivity, habitat, wildlife protection, or other important and easily
disrupted ecological values. These areas are generally recognized as significantly influencing
or positively contributing to the general overall environmental health or vitality of the entire
ecosystem of a region.
Stormwater Best Management Practice. Structural or nonstructural technique for managing
stormwater to prevent or reduce non-point source pollutants from entering surface waters or
ground waters. A structural stormwater best management practice includes a basin, discharge
outlet, swale, rain garden, filter, or other stormwater treatment practice or measure either alone
or in combination including without limitation any overflow pipe, conduit or weir control
structure that:
(a) is not naturally occurring;
(b) is not designed as a wetland replication area; and
(c) has been designed, constructed and installed for the purpose of collecting, storing,
discharging, recharging or treating stormwater.
Nonstructural stormwater best management practices include source control and pollution
prevention measures.
Stormwater Management System. System for conveying, collecting, storing, discharging,
recharging or treating stormwater on-site including stormwater best management practices and
any pipes and outlets intended to transport and discharge stormwater to the ground water, a
surface water or a municipal separate storm sewer system.
Surface Waters.
All waters other than groundwaters within the jurisdiction of the
Commonwealth, including, without limitation, rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, springs,
impoundments, estuaries, wetlands, coastal waters, and vernal pools.
Test Project. Installation or deployment of water dependent Innovative Technology in situ for
purposes of evaluating its performance and environmental effects.
Vernal Pool. A waterbody that has been certified by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and
Wildlife as a vernal pool. In the event of a conflict of opinion or the lack of a clear boundary
delineation certified by the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife or the Department, the applicant
may submit an opinion certified by a registered professional engineer, supported by engineering
calculations, as to the boundary of the vernal pool. The maximum extent of the waterbody shall
be based upon the total volume of runoff from the drainage area contributing to the vernal pool
and shall be further based upon a design storm of 2.6 inches of precipitation in 24 hours.
Water-dependent. Uses and facilities which require direct access to, or location in, marine, tidal
or inland waters and which therefore cannot be located away from those waters, including any
uses and facilities defined as water-dependent in 310 CMR 9.00: Waterways.
Waters of the Commonwealth. All waters within the Commonwealth, including without
limitation, rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, springs, impoundments, estuaries, wetlands, coastal
waters and ground waters.
Waters of the United States within the Commonwealth. Navigable or interstate waters and their
tributaries, adjacent wetlands, and other waters or wetlands within the borders of the
Commonwealth where the use, degradation, or destruction could affect interstate or foreign
commerce as determined by the Corps of Engineers. Bordering and isolated vegetated wetlands
and land under water are waters of the United States within the Commonwealth when they meet
the federal jurisdictional requirements defined at 33 CFR 328 through 329.
Wetlands Protection Act. M.G.L. c. 131, § 40 and 310 CMR 10.00: Wetlands Protection.
9.02: continued
401 Water Quality Certification or Certification. The document issued by the Department to the
applicant and the appropriate federal agency under 33 U.S.C. 1251, M.G.L. c. 21, § 27 and
314 CMR 9.00 certifying, conditioning, or denying an activity.