Definitions.

(1) Definitions. 980 CMR 15.00 shall be subject to the definitions of 980 CMR 1.01(4): Definitions; 980 CMR 13.01(4): Definitions; 980 CMR 16.02: Definitions. The following additional definitions shall also apply unless the context or subject matter requires a different interpretation: Benefit means a positive effect as it pertains to public health, the environment, or in ameliorating the effects of climate change. Benefits include, but are not limited to, access to: clean natural resources, including air, water resources, and open space; constructed playgrounds, outdoor recreational paths, facilities, and venues; clean renewable energy sources; affordable access to reliable electricity; improved public health from reduced pollution and environmental contaminants; improved socio-economic opportunity from additional jobs, education, training programs, tax revenues; enhanced environmental enforcement; and funding disbursed or administered by EEA. For the Board to consider Benefits as Project-related for CIA purposes, such Benefit must have a geographic, economic, public health, or scientific nexus to areas of overlap between Burdened Area(s) and a Project’s SGA. A benefit incorporated into a Community Benefit Agreement need not have a geographic, economic, public health, or scientific nexus to a Project Impact. Burden means a negative effect such as destruction, damage or impairment of natural resources that is not insignificant, including but not limited to, climate change, air pollution, water pollution, improper sewage disposal, dumping of solid wastes and other noxious substances, excessive noise, activities that limit access to natural resources and constructed outdoor recreational facilities and venues, inadequate remediation of pollution, reduction of ground water levels, impairment of water quality, increased flooding or stormwater flows, and damage to inland waterways and waterbodies, wetlands, marine shores and waters, forests, open spaces, and playgrounds from private industrial, commercial, or government or private operations or activity that contaminates or alters the quality of the environment and public health. Burdened Area means a Census Block Group, which is subject to an existing unfair or inequitable environmental burden or related health consequence. 980 CMR 15.00 identifies Burdened Areas as those areas that have a MassEnviroScreen Score (MES Score) of 75 or greater (i.e., at or above the 75th percentile, statewide), or an annual median household income of 65% or less of the statewide annual median household income. Census Block Group means a statistical subdivision of a census tract used by the U.S. Census Bureau for data tabulation and presentation. It is a collection of census blocks and is the smallest geographic unit for which the U.S. Census Bureau publishes sample data from its household surveys. Criteria-specific Suitability Score means the score for each criterion in the Site Suitability Report, as assessed following the methods outlined in the Site SuitabilityGuidance, representing the suitability of a site for a given Clean Energy Infrastructure Facility with respect to each criterion. These scores can range from 0.0 (most suitable, lowest impact, and/or greatest benefit) to 5.0 (least suitable, greatest impact, and/or lowest benefit). Cumulative Impact means the combined effects of past and present private, industrial, commercial, federal, state, or municipal projects, operations, development, and other economic activities, in addition to the effects of the proposed Project on: (1) the environment; (2) public health; and (3) reasonably foreseeable effects of climate change. For purposes of 980 CMR 15.00, Cumulative Impact is determined for the area where a Project’s SGA intersects one or more Burdened Area(s). Cumulative Impact Analysis (CIA) means the process by which Applicants and Petitioners shall identify, consider, and address the Cumulative Impact of a Project, as articulated in 980 CMR 15.00. The Board reviews the Applicant’s CIA pursuant to 980 CMR 15.00. Cumulative Impact Analysis Report (CIA Report) means the written report that an Applicant submits as part of an Application or petition to construct for applicable Projects, pursuant to 980 CMR 15.09. Disproportionate Adverse Effect means a Project Impact that is likely to materially exacerbate an Elevated Indicator in a Burdened Area intersecting a Project’s SGA. As used in M.G.L. c. 164, §§ 69G and 69H, “disproportionate adverse impact” is the equivalent of “Disproportionate Adverse Effect.” A Disproportionate Adverse Effect requires consideration of both positive and negative Project Impacts, and results in a net negative impact. Elevated Indicator for a Clean Energy Infrastructure Facility (“CEIF”) means an Indicator that is above the 50th percentile statewide in Massachusetts, prior to consideration of additional Project Impacts. For Fossil Fuel-related Energy Infrastructure, each Indicator is treated as an Elevated Indicator. For purposes of 980 CMR 15.00, an Elevated Indicator is identified solely in those areas where a Project’s SGA intersects one or more Burdened Areas. Facility Boundary means the outermost boundary of the Project site (such as a Project building or other structures, or the outermost areas of construction activity or disturbance), or the Project fence line. For linear projects, or project components, such as transmission lines or pipelines, the Facility Boundary shall be the edge of the right-of-way. Fossil Fuel-related Energy Infrastructure means Facilities subject to Board jurisdiction under M.G.L. c. 164, §§ 69J, 69J¼, that are not CEIFs. Indicator means a statistical measure, which is used to evaluate a Census Block Group’s environmental exposures, environmental effects, climate effects, sensitive populations, and socioeconomic factors. MassEnviroScreen (MES) means a GIS-based mapping tool developed and administered by the Office of Environmental Justice and Equity that uses Indicators to produce an MES Score and provide Indicator data for every Census Block Group across the Commonwealth. MassEnviroScreen Score (MES Score) means the numerical score output from the MES. Noticed Alternative Site or Route means a site or route that an Applicant has submitted for review by the Board, in addition to a Proposed Site or Route, and provided Notice to affected abutters and others concerning this site or route. 980 CMR 15.00 does not impose upon the Applicant an obligation to propose an alternative site or route but recognizes that in certain circumstances the Applicant may be required to do so or may elect to do so. Project Impact means an effect on the environment, socioeconomic and public health conditions, or climate change resiliency, resulting from construction and operation of the Project. A Project Impact can be either positive or negative. Proposed Site or Route means the Applicant’s preferred location for a Project site or route that it submits for approval by the Board. Remedial Action means an action taken that would avoid, minimize, or mitigate one or more Disproportionate Adverse Effects. Site Footprint means the area of land and water encompassed by a CEIF’s equipment, plus any land significantly impacted by construction of the CEIF, including, but not limited to, land altered for clearing, grading, and roadways. Site Suitability Mapping Tool means a web-based mapping tool established and maintained by the EEA in accordance with the Site Suitability Guidance, which contains geographic information system data layers used to determine Criteria-specific Suitability Scores. The mapping tool shall have the capability to automatically calculate a CEIF’s Criteria-specific Suitability Scores by delineating the CEIF Site Footprint in the mapping tool. Site Suitability Report means a written report documenting the Applicant’s Criteria-specific Suitability Scores, any Site Suitability Score Modifiers, as defined in the Site Suitability Guidance, the Applicant is seeking to apply, and any other required supporting documentation, in a form and manner established by the EEA, in consultation with the Board and the Department of Energy Resources. Specific Geographical Area (SGA) means an area in which a proposed facility may be located and is determined based on facility-specific radial distances from the Facility Boundary, as established by the Board in 980 CMR 15.05(1). Each Proposed Site or Route and each Noticed Alternative Site or Route, if any, has its own SGA.