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ARTICLE · 12 MARCH 2012

A Few Small Steps For Regulatory Reform In Massachusetts: MassDEP Releases Its Final Action Plan

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Yesterday, MassDEP released its Final Action Plan for Regulatory Reform. It pretty consistent with the draft package I summarized last October.

United StatesEnvironment
Seth Jaffe
Seth Jaffe
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Yesterday, MassDEP released its Final Action Plan for Regulatory Reform. It pretty consistent with the draft package I summarized last October. There is some good stuff in the package, but it really is baby steps. MassDEP's own ground rules precluded the adoption of any changes that could not be described as Pareto improvements– If any stakeholder would be made worse off, it just wasn't going to happen. Thus, MassDEP imposed the following limitations to ensure that the changes would not:

  • Cost MassDEP money
  • Impose burdens on municipalities
  • Reduce public process
  • Require statutory change to implement

Given these restrictions, the nature and scope of the proposed changes are not surprising. Many of the changes would relate to the Wetlands Protection Act, and related programs such as Chapter 91 and water quality certifications. Potentially, the most significant of these changes would be creation of a permit by rule in the outer 50' of the buffer zone. As

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