MassDEP Draft Climate Resilience Regulations & CZM Coastal Resilience Districts

updated 2/15/24: MassDEP extends joint public comment period from March 1 to April 30, 2024 and adds Office Hours. 

MassDEP Resiliency Draft Regulations

In February 2022, MassDEP invited a wide range of stakeholders to participate in a stakeholder advisory panel to inform MassDEP’s proposed resilience-focused regulatory updates with the goal of preparing draft regulations. Beginning this year, there will be information sessions and hearings for Waterways (Chapter 91) resilience regulation amendments and for Wetlands and water quality resilience regulation amendments.

View: Waterways (Chapter 91) draft regulation language and waterways
View: Wetland draft regulation language

Office Hours: Participants are encouraged to submit questions about the Wetlands/401WQC regulations, Stormwater Handbook, and/or Waterways regulations in advance of the session(s) you plan to attend.

• Questions submitted in advance (preferably at least one week) of an Office Hours session will be prioritized. “Live” questions will be considered, as time permits. 
• MassDEP may choose not to address questions at these sessions if not received sufficiently in advance or if the question requires extensive evaluation.
• Please refrain from asking site-specific questions related to projects you may be involved in.
• Submit questions here.

Wetlands and Waterways Resilience Regulations “Office Hours” Schedule

All sessions will be conducted virtually via Zoom, advance registration required, registration links and agendas will be available on our website.

• Office Hours #1: Monday February 26, 2024 1:00-3:30pm. Register.
• Office Hours #2:  Thursday March 14, 2024 1:30-4:00pm. Register.
• Office Hours #3: April 3, 2025 1:30-4:00pm. Register.

Comment Deadline 

April 30th: Extended Public Comment Period closes at 5pm for all regulations.

• Send Waterways Resilience comments to dep.waterways@mass.gov withWaterways Resilience Comments in the subject line.
• Send Wetlands Resilience comments to dep.wetlands@mass.gov with Wetlands-401 Resilience Comments in the subject line.

Prior Information Sessions and Hearings

Waterways (Chapter 91)
January 17    Waterways  2 Public Information Sessions (virtual 1 pm  & 6 pm)

• View presentation
• View first information session
• View second information session 

January 25   Waterways  Public Hearings (virtual 1 pm  & 6 pm)

• View 1pm Public Hearing
• View 6pm Public Hearing

Wetlands: Coastal Resilience & Stormwater

January 18    Wetlands / WQC  2 Public Information Sessions (virtual, 1pm and 6pm) 

January 23    Wetlands / WQC  3rd Public Information Session (virtual, 1pm)

• View Stormwater Draft Regulations Presentation
• View Coastal Draft Regulations Presentation 
• View information sessions (scroll down page)

January 31    Wetlands / WQC 2 public hearings (virtual, 1pm & 6pm)

February 1    Wetlands / WQC 3rd Public hearing (virtual, 1pm)

• View Wetland Public Hearings (scroll down page)

Don't forget to check out the MassDEP Youtube channel

MA ResilientCoasts Initiative

On November 28, 2023, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced ResilientCoast initiative to establish establish Coastal Resilience Districts based on their unique climate impacts. The development of a coastal resilience strategy is a priority action within the state’s ResilientMass Plan. ResilientCoasts will  be led by a new Chief Coastal Resilience Officer under Coastal Zone Management. Read press release.

originally published 01.04.24