 Air Quality Analysis Required for State Permits Near Certain PopulationsThe Department of Environmental Protection will require key air permit applicants to assess 33 environmental, health, and socioeconomic indicators? Governor Awards Sustainable Materials Recovery Program GrantsHealey-Driscoll Administration Awards $5.2 Million to Support Recycling and Waste Reduction by 283 Municipalities and Regional Groups Governor Announces Grants to Reduce Transportation Sector EmissionsThe grant program, administered by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), will utilize $7.5 million from the Volkswagen emissions fraud settlement and $4 million from the Climate Protection and Mitigation Expendable Trust (Climate Trust) Statewide MassDEP Air Quality AdvisoryCurrently, air quality conditions in North Berkshire are "Moderate" while in Central Berkshire it is "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups." Governor Announces Final Allocation of Volkswagen Settlement FundsA final amendment to the state's VW Settlement Beneficiary Mitigation Plan (BMP) will allocate the funds in three categories. Pittsfield Awarded Funds To Assist in Sewage Notification RequirementsTo celebrate Earth Week, the Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced that $600,000 in grants have been awarded to 10 regional or municipal wastewater utilities and systems across Massachusetts. Governor Announces MassDEP CommissionerHeiple starts on March 20. MassDEP Penalizes Highway Auto Salvage Facility in Northampton182 MTR, LLC must pay $5,750 of the assessed penalty, and MassDEP has agreed to suspend the remaining amount if the site wastewater system is brought into compliance and 182 MTR complies with the Commonwealth's wastewater regulations. Pittsfield Receives Grant for Wastewater ImprovementsThe project is expected to save the city over $500,000 annually while reducing electric utility bills by 35 percent Wastewater Treatment Plant. State Draft Second Amendment to Massachusetts VW Settlement Beneficiary Mitigation PlanThe original BMP and its first Amendment committed $40.7 million of Massachusetts' $75 million share of a national settlement to resolve a vehicle emissions cheating scandal by Volkswagen (VW).  MassDEP Clears Petroleum Product from Housatonic River in PittsfieldThe state Department of Environmental Protection recently cleared a "substantial" amount of petroleum product from the east branch of the Housatonic River. MassDEP Recognizes 'Green Teams' in Berkshire CountyGreen Teams from Hoosac Valley, the Youth Center, and Wahconah Regional High School were recognized. State Awards $1.3 Billion in Loans and Grants to Fund Wastewater and Drinking Water ProjectsThese offerings include nearly $189 million in additional funding that Massachusetts expects to receive from federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and $100 million from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds this year. State Makes Gap Energy Grants Available to Municipalities, Non-Profits and Small BusinessesThe Gap grant program will expedite implementation of previously assessed energy efficiency and clean energy generation projects at qualified facilities. |
