The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Department of Environmental Protection

NOTICE

Pursuant to M.G.L. c.30A, the Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) gives notice of its intent to revise the Massachusetts Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan program regulations at 310 CMR 44.00; and to rescind the precursor regulations for the Clean Water SRF at  310 CMR 41.   

The Massachusetts CWSRF provides state-subsidized financing of water pollution planning, design, treatment and prevention projects, with significant investment in infrastructure projects that protect the waters of the Commonwealth. DEP proposes the revisions pursuant to its authority in the Massachusetts Clean Waters Act, M.G.L. c.21, ss. 27A. The most significant revision modifies requirements related to new sewer construction financing, specifically, flow limits.  In support of the Administrations Sustainable Development principles, the regulation changes promote density development and retard the use of SRF financing for construction of sewer infrastructure in undeveloped areas. Other provisions codify SRF program policies and practices and are expected to have minimal or no impact upon the program or its financing decisions.

Rescission of the regulations at 310CMR 41 will remove from the record a set of regulations that is obsolete and no longer used to govern SRF projects or financing decisions.

The Department will hold a public hearing to accept comments on the proposed revisions on:

Tuesday September 16, 2008
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
at
MassDEP Boston Office
One Winter Street Boston, MA 02108.

The Department will accept verbal and written comments at the hearing.   Those intending to provide verbal comments at the hearing also are requested to submit a written copy of their comments. The Department will accept written comments until 5:00 p.m. on September 17, 2008.  The proposed revised regulations are available on the Department's website: http://www.mass.gov/dep/.

Questions regarding the hearing and comments on the proposed revisions should be directed to Steven McCurdy, Director of Municipal Services, Department of Environmental Protection, One Winter Street, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02108, 617-292-5779.