Friday, February 06, 2009

Urban Ring, Minutes January 6, 2009 Urban Ring Public Meeting Posted, Instructions for Submitting Comments

Bob La Trémouille reports:

Archie Mazmanian has been kind enough to pass on the URL for the minutes of the January 6, 2009, Urban Ring Public Meeting.

He has been frustrated with apparent delays in their being posted.

The minutes may be found at: https://www.commentmgr.com/projects/1169/docs/transcript%20final%202.pdf.

Please do not forget that comments on the urban ring environmental submission are due to the state next week. Two dates have been publicized. One was February 9, 2009. The Urban Ring website says February 10, 2009.

Copying the information from the home page, www.theurbanring.com, with edits for simplification:

***********

The Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (RDEIR/DEIS) is now available. Please click here [Ed. you need the home page.] to download a copy of the document.

Print Copies of the RDEIR/DEIS can be found at the following libraries (click on each location to view directions):

. . . .


Comments on the document must be submitted in writing (oral comments made at the public hearing will not be recognized by the MEPA office). A 60-day comment period has been established. Comments must be received no later than February 10, 2009. Written comments must be addressed to:


Secretary Ian A. Bowles
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Attn: MEPA Office, EOEA #12565
Richard Bourre, Assistant Director
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900
Boston, MA 02114
617-626-1181 (fax; please follow up with a print copy of the fax)
Email [ed., link: Richard.Bourre@state.ma.us]

Public comments on the Urban Ring Phase 2 RDEIR/DEIS must be made to the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, through the Commonwealth's Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) process. The federal government conducts its own review of the document to ensure adequacy of the document under the federal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, and accepts public comment to the NEPA process in two ways: First, the comments made at the January 6 Public Hearing will be included in a transcript that will be submitted to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Second, the Executive Office of Transportation will compile all comment letters submitted to the EOEEA Secretary, along with response to comments, and submit them to FTA after the completion of the comment period (which closes on February 10, 2009).

Commenters may also copy the Project Manager at EOT:

Ned Codd
Director of Program Development
Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works
10 Park Plaza, Room 4150
Boston, MA 02116
617-973-7473