Mass Dep Title 5 Revisions

• MassDEP Nitrogen Sensitive Area Online Viewer with Address Look Up
• MassEDEP Nitrogen Sensitive Areas (PDF)

Board of Health Video Messages

• Dartmouth Board of Health Message on Massachusetts Composting, Your Health and the Environment
• Dartmouth Board of Health Message on Proposed MassDEP Title V Regulations Number 1
• Dartmouth Board of Health Message on Proposed MassDEP Title V Regulations Number 2

Board of Health Powerpoint Presentations for Informational Meetings

• November 16, 2022 - Board of Health Informational Meeting for MassDEP Proposed Regulations (PDF)
• November 29, 2022 - Board of Health Informational Meeting for MassDEP Proposed Regulations (PPTX)
• Mass DEP November 30, 2022, NSA and Watershed Permit Public Health Number 1
• December 13, 2022 - Board of Health Informational Meeting for MassDEP Proposed Regulations (PPTX) (Powerpoint opens at the bottom of the screen) - (video embedded in PowerPoint on slide Number 4 and Number 10; you will need to press the arrow on the bottom of the picture)
• MassDEP Public Hearing January 18, 2023
• January 23, 2023, Board of Health informational meeting
• January 23, 2023 - Board of Health Informational Meeting for MassDEP Proposed Regulations - Revised (PPTX) (Powerpoint opens at the bottom of the screen)
• January 23, 2023 - Board of Health Informational Meeting for MassDEP Proposed Regulations (PPTX) (Powerpoint opens at the bottom of the screen)
• January 23, 2023 - Nitrogen Sources to the Slocums River System (PDF)
• January 23, 2023 - Nitrogen Sources to the Westport River System (PDF)
• February 23 2023- Board of  Health Informational Meeting for MassDEP Proposed Regulations (PDF)

Notice

The public comment period for proposed draft regulations has been extended to January 30, 2023, and additional public hearings will be held in January 2023.

Addressed To

MassDEP's Regulations List-Serv and Commissioner's Advisory Committee.

Name & Citation of Regulation

Title 5, State Environmental Code: 310 CMR 15.000 and Watershed Permit Regulations: 314 CMR 21.

Brief Explanation & Rationale for Changes

MassDEP is proposing to amend the Title 5 regulations, 310 CMR 15.000, to enhance the protection of embayments and estuaries - particularly on Cape Cod, the Islands, and Southeastern Massachusetts - from nitrogen pollution originating primarily from wastewater. MassDEP is also filing new draft regulations at 314 CMR 21 to provide a watershed permitting approach to control nitrogen and other pollutants from entering the embayments and estuaries. The draft regulations were previously published for public comment on October 28, 2022, on MassDEP's website at:

• MassDEP Public Hearings & Comment Opportunities
• 310 CMR 15.000: Septic Systems ("Title 5")
• 314 CMR 21.00: Watershed Permit Regulations

Written Comments

The written comment period has been extended from December 16, 2022, to January 30, 2023, at 5 pm. All written comments must include the name and contact information of the person providing the comments. Please email comments to Dep Talks and include Title 5 and Watershed Permit in the subject line.

Web Link to View Regulations

A Public Hearing Notice was previously published in the Massachusetts Register by the Massachusetts Secretary of State on November 11, 2022. MassDEP conducted three public hearings: November 30, 2022, at 6 pm; December 1, 2022, at 1 pm; December 5, 2022, at 6 pm. The recordings are available on MassDEP's:

• YouTube channel and website - 310 CMR 15.000: Septic Systems ("Title 5").
• More information can be found on the 314 CMR 21.00: Watershed Permit Regulations page.