[Classifieds] CZ-Mail Alert - Public Input Period Extension

[MBL Classifieds]

Public Input Period Extended to February 28 for Designated Port Area Section of the Mass Leads Act

On November 20, 2024, the Mass Leads Act (Ch. 238 of the Acts of 2024) was signed into law by Governor Maura Healey. The law directs the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), in consultation with the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM), to “complete a review of existing Designated Port Area (DPA) criteria and use restrictions and update relevant regulations based on the results of the review.” 



Through February 28, MassDEP and CZM are accepting public input concerning the following criteria listed in Section 295 of the Act:



A.   the protection of traditional maritime industrial activities; 

B.   the addition of allowable uses consistent with future maritime industrial uses and clean energy activities; 

C.   the reevaluation of compatible uses within designated port areas; 

D.   a requirement, to the extent feasible, that all traditional and new allowed uses be resilient to coastal flood damage; 

E.   examining the feasibility of creating working port easements to purchase development rights from landowners in designated port areas; 

F.    opportunities to create grants and revolving loan funds to update port infrastructure, including conversion from 1 designated port area use to another designated port area use;

G.   consideration of coastal flood resilience for inland neighborhoods; and 

H.   an assessment of new and adjacent areas that could be added to designated port areas to reduce net loss of acreage; 



For additional information and instructions for providing input, see the MassDEP notice<https://www.mass.gov/doc/listening-sessions-mass-leads-act-dpa/download> (PDF, 1 MB).
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