Definitions

The definitions in 980 CMR 1.01(4): Definitions shall apply to 980 CMR 16.00. For the purposes of 980 CMR 16.00, the additional definitions set forth in 980 CMR 16.02 shall apply, unless the context otherwise requires. Agency Consultation means written, oral, and other communications with Local Government and state agencies with an interest in the permitting of a proposed LCEIF, SCEIF, or other Facility. Community means at a minimum members of the public residing or working within a distance set forth in 980 CMR 15.05(1)(b) from the Facility Boundary of a proposed facility. (Mass. Register #1568, 02/27/2026) Division of Public Participation (DPP) means the Division of Public Participation at the Department established under M.G.L. c. 25, § 12T to assist stakeholders with navigating the Department and the Board pre-filing requirements, clarifying filing requirements, and identifying opportunities to intervene. DPP Opinion means a written communication from the Director of DPP to the Board assessing whether the Applicant has completed the pre-filing consultation and engagement requirements in 980 CMR 16.00 Key Stakeholders means, at a minimum, public interest groups, organizations serving the local community in the vicinity of a proposed Project that could be affected by a proposed Project; abutters of the Project, including residents (both owners and renters) and businesses; community-based organizations, elected or appointed municipal officials (e.g., mayor or town/city manager, relevant Council/Select Board members, Chair(s) of the Conservation Commission, Planning Board, Zoning Board, and Head of the Department of Public Works),regional planning officials; representatives of labor groups (e.g., union locals, building trades councils, central labor councils, and the Massachusetts AFL-CIO)and apprenticeship programs; and federally recognized, state-acknowledged, or state-recognized Tribes. MEPA Office means the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs that administers MEPA and 301 CMR 11.00: MEPA Regulations. OEJE means the Office of Environmental Justice and Equity within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, as established in M.G.L. c. 21A, § 29. Pre-filing Engagement Status Checklist means a document to be filed by an Applicant with DPP approximately midway through the Pre-filing Outreach Period that catalogs the status of pre-filing consultation and engagement requirements and includes supporting documentation identified in 980 CMR 16.00. The checklist shall include an attestation by the Applicant that all statements contained therein are true. Pre-filing Engagement Completion Checklist means a document that reflects completed pre-filing consultation and engagement requirements to be filed by an Applicant with DPP, the Board, and Local Government and state permitting agencies at the completion of the Pre-filing Outreach Period and together with the Pre-filing Notice. The Applicant shall submit supporting documentation identified in 980 CMR 16.00 to DPP at the completion of the Pre-filing Outreach Period. If certain outreach or agency consultation requirements cannot be completed, the Applicant shall attach a statement clarifying the reason for a waiver or partial waiver that was requested from and approved by DPP pursuant to 980 CMR 16.03(1). The checklist shall include an attestation by the Applicant that all statements contained therein are true. Pre-filing Notice means the Notification of Intent to File Application filed by an Applicant with DPP, the Board and Local Government and state permitting agencies no less than 60 days and no more than 90 days prior to filing an Application or a petition to construct with the Board. Pre-filing Outreach Period means the period of time between the start of pre-filing consultation and engagement activities specified in 980 CMR 16.04 and the submission of the Pre-filing Notice to the Board and DPP. For purposes of 980 CMR 16.00, the Pre-filing Outreach Period begins when the Applicant meets with DPP and OEJE. The Applicant may meet with the stakeholders prior to the beginning of the Pre-filing Outreach Period.