State environmental agency hearing

The Green Line is not a done deal yet!
Wednesday, Dec. 21, 10 am or 6 pm
Department of Environmental Protection
2nd floor
1 Winter St, Boston (Map)

Download flyer about the meeting (PDF)

To keep the Green Line extensions on track, please attend one of the two Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) public hearings listed above.

Or you can send your written comments by January 17, 2006:

Send an e-mail to: Christine.Kirby@state.ma.us

Mail a letter to:
Christine Kirby
Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Waste Prevention
1 Winter St., 10th floor
Boston, MA 02108

- - -

Background
In May 2005 the state agreed to extend the Green Line along two branches - one to Union Square and another in the Lowell Line right-of-way through Somerville to Medford - as part of its Transit Commitments obligation under the Ozone State Implementation Plan (SIP). But the Ozone SIP must be formally modified by Massachusetts DEP to include these projects and then be accepted by US EPA before they will be on track. The DEP hearings seek to know if the public supports proposed changes in the regulations.

What happens next
1. DEP will prepare a final draft of proposed changes to the State Implementation Plan and submit it to the US Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) for their approval.
2. EPA must review and accept the revised SIP regulations. There will be a written public comment period in early 2006 although there may not be a hearing.
3. The Green Line Extensions must be included in the next Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) – comments in early Summer 2006.
4. A real financing plan must be developed by the Massachusetts Legislature for the SIP Transit Commitments by date of submittal of the MPO RTP to Federal agencies in late Summer 2006.

Download the flyer about the meeting (PDF) for more detailed information.

If you want to read the state documents, you can find them on the DEP website.