COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
ONE WINTER STREET, BOSTON, MA 02108 617-292-5500
DEVALL. PATRICK
Governor
IAN A. BOWLES
Secretary
TIMOTHY P. MURRAY
Lieutenant Governor
LAURIE BURT
Commissioner
April 2, 2009
David J. Mohler
Deputy Secretary for Planning
Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works
Ten Park Plaza
Boston, MA 02116-3969
Dear Mr. Mohler:
This letter is in response to your January 6, 2009 submittal pursuant to the public process
requirements of the Transit System Improvements regulation, 310 CMR 7.36. Subsection (7) of
the regulation requires the Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works (EOT) to
develop an annual update and status report on uncompleted projects. This report was submitted
. to the Massachusetts Department of Enviromnental Protection (MassDEP) on July 1, 2008.
MassDEP and EOT held a public meeting on September 8, 2008. EOT's January 6,2009
submittal provided a summary of and responses to public comments, a written certification that
the public process requirements were met, and a written certification that complete information
was provided on any actual or known project delays, project substitutions, and interim offsets.
By this letter and as required by the regulation, MassDEP determines that EOT has met the
public process and other requirements of3lO CMR 7.36(7)(d). However, based on MassDEP's
th
review of EOT' s annual report and the January 6 submittal, there are two areas where we would
like to be kept up to date to ensure ongoing compliance with the regulation:
1. MassDEP is encouraged by EOT's recommendation that the terminus for the Green Line
Extension be Mystic Valley ParkwayIRoute 16, pending the availability offederal
funding and by EOT's report that it is on track to open the project by December 31, 2014.
However, MassDEP is concerned that other uuresolved issues, such as the siting of the
layover facility, the relocation of Lechmere Station, and the procurement of rolling stock
could potentially delay the completion date of the project.
2. 310 CMR 7.36(2)(h)2 requires EOT to plan and construct 1000 new park and ride
parking spaces. In the annual report, EOT indicates that it has not met the first interim
milestone of 31 0 CMR 7.36(3) to develop a request for proposals for a design consultant,
This information is available in alternate format. Call Donald M. Gomes, ADA Coordinator at 617~556-1057. TDD# 1~866-539·7622 or 1-617-574-6868.
MassDEP on the World Wide Web: http://www.mass.gov/dep
Printed on Recycled Paper
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complete the competitive procurement process, and issue a notice to proceed for a design
consultant for these spaces, but that it is continuing its work to achieve the project
deadline of December 31, 2011.
In the event of a delay of the Green Line Extension or 1000 park and ride parking spaces, the
need for interim emission offset measures per 310 CMR 7.36(4) will be triggered.
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
G1\La~
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Vku,vVle 5w't­
Commissioner
U.S. EPA, Region 1
Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization