Boston, Massachusetts, 11/14/08 - Today, MassDEP released draft regulations, 314 CMR 21.00.  These regulations establish a framework for the issuance by MassDEP of Storm Water General Permits (SWGPs) governing discharges from impervious surfaces.  MassDEP plans a series of Public Information Sessions and three hearings, and anticipates promulgation of 314 CMR 21.00 by the end of January, 2009.

Sam Mygatt, a Principal of Epsilon, was a member of a Committee of Stakeholders convened by MassDEP during development of the regulations.  Sam was representing the interests of the Associated Industries of Massachusetts.

Although MassDEP has yet to release proposed General Permits, it plans now to issue two:  one SWGP will apply to all industrial, commercial, institutional and residential facilities statewide, having greater than five acres of impervious area (parking, roofs, sidewalks).  Generally speaking, that statewide SWGP will require adoption of a portion of MassDEP’s current Storm Water Guidelines (which currently apply only to New facilities subject to the Wetlands Protection Act), by all Existing Facilities.  More stringent requirements will apply to Redevelopment of existing Facilities.  Within the Charles River Basin, the applicability threshold will be two acres of impervious area, and each of the Stormwater Guidelines (e.g., infiltration of a portion of stormwater) must be met.  Moreover, special discharge limitations imposed by the TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) Study for the Charles River, including removal of 65% of phosphorus from runoff, must be met.  MassDEP intends to issue a “BMP Tool” stipulating how much removal credit may be obtained from specified Best Management Practices (e.g., infiltration, gravel wetlands, vacuuming of parking lots).

Many aspects of this far-reaching new program will be scrutinized during the public hearing process, including provisions requiring aggregation of contiguous lots, time afforded to come into compliance, definition of Redevelopment Project, variance procedures for projects that cannot physically comply, and the potential for offsetting off-site mitigation.

Sam will be tracking and commenting on the regulations and SWGPs during the months ahead, and will be advising Epsilon clients and staff on the requirements of the new program.

Bedford, Massachusetts, October 27-29, 2008 - Epsilon Associates sponsored the Federal Aviation Administration's biennial Airports Conference, which was attended by over 200 airport managers, federal and state regulators, and other aviation stakeholders.  Sam Mygatt, an Epsilon principal, made a presentation on environmental review of projects at airports, describing Epsilon's experience with the National Environmental Policy Act and state mini-NEPA programs, including the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act, as he has seen them in action on airport improvement projects.  Laura Rome and Vin Tino of Epsilon Associates also participated in the conference, which covered a range of topics, including air quality, noise, airport planning, engineering, wetlands and construction.

Most recently, Epsilon has provided NEPA, MEPA, wetlands, rare species, noise, air quality, and other consulting services at the Barnstable, Nantucket, Plymouth and Turners Falls airports in Massachusetts and the Block Island airport in Rhode Island.

Lowell, Massachusetts, 10/31/08 - This week, Montgomery L’Energia Power Partners, LP successfully introduced fuel to the new combustion turbine at Lowell Power, on Tanner Street.  Lowell Power is a repowering of an 86 MW combined-cycle power plant.  Montgomery Energy replaced the combustion turbine and overhauled other equipment to provide a major improvement in electric generating efficiency and simultaneous reduction in environmental impacts.

Epsilon managed the environmental permitting process on a tight schedule.  Permitting efforts included air quality dispersion modeling, a detailed noise assessment of existing & modified equipment, and upgrades to chemical handling systems.

MAYNARD, Massachusetts - Epsilon Associates is pleased to announce that Vincent Tino, CCM has joined Epsilon as a Senior Consultant specializing in air quality modeling, meteorological and air quality analyses, air permitting and compliance, and project management. 

Mr. Tino has almost 20 years of experience as an air quality meteorologist and modeler.  He has performed air quality analyses for a large variety of emissions sources, as well as for regulatory and non-regulatory applications.  He has been involved with the preparation of emissions and dispersion analyses for both stationary and mobile sources, for regulated and non-regulated pollutants, and for public and private clients.  His extensive knowledge of FORTRAN, the programming language in which most dispersion models are written, allows him to analyze, create, or modify program code to easily debug problems, process large amounts of data, or calculate nonstandard results. 

In addition, Mr. Tino has authored numerous papers and presented them at Air & Waste Management and other conferences.  His technical papers have been on a variety of air quality subjects involving air emissions and air quality models, odor control studies, toxic air pollutants, and air permitting.  He is also a member of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) design review group for the Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT) for determining air quality and noise impacts for airport projects.

As a Senior Consultant at Epsilon, is responsible for conducting dispersion modeling of point and mobile air emission sources, preparing air permit applications, preparing emissions calculations, providing air quality technical support to EIRs, developing Greenhouse Gas modeling capabilities, and marketing Epsilon air quality services.

MAYNARD, Massachusetts, 10/2/08 - Epsilon Associates recently conducted a meeting to discuss the new Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions policy and protocol put into place by the EEA.  The GHG affects numerous Epsilon clients.  Participants included Epsilon air engineers, air modeling experts, MEPA experts, and urban planning experts.  The agenda included MEPA practice to date on various projects, engineering and energy modeling information required for the analyses, successful air modeling techniques, and how to best present results.  Attendees including Sam Mygatt, Vincent Tino, Don Michael, Cindy Schlessinger, Elizabeth Grob and Katie Lesser, all of Epsilon Associates, presented case studies.  Handouts including all recent MEPA decisions on GHG analyses were presented for review by attendees.  Strategies to successfully meet the MEPA guidance for GHG analyses were discussed. 

Epsilon air modeling and regulatory planning experts can provide detailed information regarding how various projects have approached the GHG requirements, what has been successful in the past, and how to meet the requirements going forward.  Epsilon Principal Dale Raczynski served on the working group that developed the policy and protocol.

Follow this link to the MEPA website and the GHG Emissions Policy and Protocol.

Marlborough, Massachusetts, 9/18/08 - Dale Raczynski, a principal at Epsilon Associates, will be speaking at the 6th Annual Massachusetts SWANA Recycling & Solid Waste Conference on September 23 at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel in Marlborough, Massachusetts.

Mr. Raczynski will be joining Tom Mackie of Mackie Shea O'Brien to discuss "Energy from Waste" and their involvement with the Palmer Renewable Energy Project in Springfield.  For more information about this event, please click here for the conference brochure.

Visit www.swana.org for more information about the Solid Waste Association of North America.

BOSTON, Massachusetts, 6/11/08 - Law Seminars International held an advanced MEPA & NEPA Workshop today at the Hilton Boston Back Bay Hotel.  The workshop covered the entire range of current MEPA/NEPA compliance processes, from developing proposals and alternatives through judicial review. The program provided both a broad outline of requirements under NEPA and MEPA, for large and small projects, and addressed more advanced issues of interest to experienced practitioners, including a discussion of recent developments under MEPA and current case law under both MEPA and NEPA. 

Margaret B. Briggs, managing principal at Epsilon Associates, co-moderated the event with Seth D. Jaffe, Esq. of Foley Hoag LLP.  Samuel G. Mygatt, Esq., managing principal at Epsilon Associates, presented an afternoon seminar on the consultant's perspective on selecting the best approach and methodology for complying with technical requirements.

For more details regarding this advanced workshop or other Law Seminars International programs, please click here.

Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, 6/10/08 - As a frequent golfer told WBZ reporter Mish Michaels, a red-tailed hawk has taken up residence near the fifth hole at The Bay Club in Mattapoisett - evidence that the Club's eco-friendly practices are benefiting local wildlife.  The 700-acre facility recently earned the Silver Signature Sanctuary Certificate from Audubon International, and is currently the only course in Massachusetts to hold this certificate.

Epsilon managed The Bay Club at Mattapoisett's environmental permitting process under the Massachusetts Water Management Act, Wetlands Protection Act, Section 401/404 of the US Clean Water Act as well as the preparation of Environmental Impact Reports prepared under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act. To learn more about our golf course projects, please click here.

For more information about this new item, please visit the following links:

• WBZ TV Website Article
• Audubon International's Cooperative Sanctuary Program
• The Bay Club at Mattapoisett

WALTHAM, Massachusetts, 6/5/08 - The Environmental Business Council (EBC) celebrated the 15th Anniversary of the EBEE Annual Awards Ceremony at the Westin Hotel Ballroom in Waltham. Each year in June, the Environmental Business Council of New England recognizes companies, organizations and individuals for outstanding accomplishments in the promotion of a sustainable, clean environment through the EBEE Award Celebration. These awards were created by the EBC to encourage environmental companies, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and environmental professionals to serve as models for others to emulate and, in doing so, further the mission and objectives of the EBC.

This year's Nicholas Humber Environmental Award for Outstanding Collaboration was presented to the Braintree Electric Light Department in recognition of outstanding collaboration during the successful development, financing, licensing and permitting of Braintree Electric’s Thomas A. Watson Generating Station. The award was presented to:

• Bill Bottiggi, General Manager, Braintree Electric Light Department
• Mayor Joseph Sullivan, Town of Braintree
  State Senator Michael Morrissey
  State Representative Joseph Driscoll
• Philip M. Weinberg, Associate Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection on behalf of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
  Robert Varney, Regional Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

About the award:

This award, established by resolution of the Board of Directors on March 4, 2002, recognizes an environmentally-related endeavor which is a joint or shared project between an EBC member and another person or entity and which reflects the global environmental values and human spirit exemplified by Nicholas Humber.

Nicholas Humber (1941-2001) President, Brae Burn Management, was an active member of the EBC. He served as the chair of the EBC's Innovative Technology Committee from 1997 to 2000; and prior to that chaired the International Business Committee. It was a tragic loss to the EBC, Nick's family and friends when it was learned that he was a passenger aboard American Airlines Flight 11, which crashed into the World Trade Center Sept. 11. Nick earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer and received a master's degree from the Wharton Graduate School at the University of Pennsylvania. He worked tirelessly for the environment beginning in 1971 when he joined the newly created US EPA and co-founded the national waste-to-energy and recycling programs. As an adviser to the World Bank, a founder of Energia Global, and past president of BioMed of Boston, Nick's life and career was committed to improving the quality of the environment for current and future generations.

About the Project:

The Watson Station is a 116 MW high efficiency simple cycle power facility currently under construction at BELD's Potter Road location. It will be connected to the grid via BELD's existing 115 kV substation and underground 115 kV transmission.  The first new power plant to begin construction in Massachusetts since 1999, this is a very significant project with capital costs estimated at approx $100M.  The plant is being built with union labor providing significant local employment opportunities.   The project has received wide-spread support from the community.

The project is an outstanding example of successful teamwork and collaboration to meet our growing energy needs.  BELD worked with the Town of Braintree, the state Energy and Executive Affairs Agencies, Senator Morrissey’s office , State Representative Driscoll’s office and the EPA to plan and permit the Watson Station project, helping to meet our energy needs in an environmentally responsible manner. This very efficient and flexible plant (can achieve full power in 10 minutes) will result in less reliance on older units, with attendant air quality benefits.  Also, extensive acoustic controls to ensure continuation of BELDs good relationships with nearby residents.  There is also a Brownfield’s reuse aspect of project as it is being built on the site of a now demolished 1950s vintage plant.

Recent Construction Photographs:

HOUSTON, Texas, 6/4/08 - Epsilon participated in the Windpower 2008 Conference & Exhibition from June 1-4 in Houston, Texas.  Thank you to those who were able to visit us at booth #2108 to learn more about our wind energy services, and congratulations to the winner of our Garmin Nuvi GPS Unit giveaway: Ken Roberts of Sunflower Electric Power Corporation.

About Windpower 2008:

Organized by leaders in the wind energy industry, the Windpower 2008 Conference & Exhibition benefits all wind professionals.  Whether you are an established industry veteran or a newcomer to this exciting and explosive industry, WINDPOWER 2008 has much to offer including 3 days of conference sessions, an interactive tradeshow of wind energy products and services, and numerous networking opportunities.