Policies and Guidelines

(1) The Department and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs have established guidelines, policies, and procedures in addition to the APR documents that are periodically updated and that provide further guidance for Owners. Any inconsistency between the language of an APR and the language of a policy or regulation shall be resolved in favor of the APR. The Department shall provide copies thereof to any Owner upon request and post on its website (https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-department-of-agricultural-resources) all APR Regulations and Department policy documents. The ALPC may advise and make a recommendation to the Department for policy development or changes. The ALPC meeting is open to the public and is a forum for the public to comment on proposed changes to policy; however, it shall be the sole discretion of the Commissioner to establish and implement policy. (2) Review. (a) The Department shall review once every three years and in consultation with the ALPC and Board of Agriculture, established under M.G.L. c. 20, § 1, all existing guidance, policies, procedures and regulations relative to the management and oversight of the Program and propose updates to the guidance, policies, procedures or regulations that are necessary to improve and modernize the management of the Program; (b) The Department shall conduct regional public hearings to assess the effectiveness of the Program and existing guidance, policies, procedures and regulations; and (c) The Department shall make a good faith effort to mail a copy of any guidance, policy, or regulation, whether proposed or promulgated to all Owners not less than 21 days prior to the date of the regional public hearing. NON-TEXT PAGE