Last week’s freak snowstorm has claimed another victim – the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s (MassDEP) proposed regulatory reforms. In an e-mail (pdf) sent this week, MassDEP announced that, because of the havoc wreaked by the snowstorm, it has extended the deadline for public comment on the proposed reforms from November 21st until December 5th. For more detail, read this earlier post on the proposed reforms. MassDEP still hopes to have regulatory reforms in place by June, 2012.
MassDEP recently experienced a widespread IT failure that will affect Waste Site Cleanup file reviews for for several months. The failure wiped out a large number of scanned files, mostly in the Northeast and Central regional offices. The repair process is expected to take several months. While the repairs occur, anyone wishing to review Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup site files within the NERO region must make an appointment for a traditional paper review. CERO staff will provide electronic copies of requested files. Thanks to our friends at the LSP Association for bringing this to our attention.
On another note, congratulations to Ben Ericson on his recent appointment as MassDEP’s Assistant Commissioner for the Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup (BWSC). Ben’s previous stint as Chief of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Brownfields Unit for the past five years makes him a good fit to head up BWSC.