The Massachusetts Executive Office of Earth and Environmental Affairs (EEA) seeks to address existing and avoid future environmental harm and related health consequences through the Environmental Justice Policy of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, updated in June 2021; the MEPA Interim Protocol for Analysis of Project Impacts on Environmental Justice Populations, effective January 2022; and the MEPA Public Involvement Protocol for Environmental Justice Populations, effective January 2022 (the EJ Policy and Protocols). The EJ Policy and Protocols are applicable to any project subject to MEPA that also has at least one census block group within 1 mile (or 5 miles if a specific MEPA air quality threshold is exceeded) that meets one or more of the MEPA EJ criteria, defined as:

• Low-Income: The annual median household income is not more than 65% of the statewide annual median household income.

• Minority: Minorities comprise 40% or more of the population.

• English Isolation: 25% or more of households lack English language proficiency.

• Minority and Low-Income: Minorities comprise 25% or more of the population and the annual median household income of the municipality in which the neighborhood is located does not exceed 150% of the statewide annual median household income.

The EJ Policy and Protocols establish analysis and public involvement requirements for projects subject to MEPA. A publicly available data tool, referred to as the EJ Maps Viewer, is available for proponents, stakeholders, and the public to view what MEPA EJ criteria and language access requirements may apply to a project undergoing MEPA review. Additionally, MEPA prescribes the publicly available Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) EJ Tool to assess existing environmental and health burdens of communities. While data are important toward understanding EJ, the EEA emphasizes the importance of community experiences through public involvement as well. The intent of the EJ Policy and Protocols is to use quantitative and qualitative data to identify and then avoid, minimize, or otherwise mitigate any disproportionate adverse effects, defined as either an inequitable burden or unshared benefit, caused by projects.

For more information, visit the MEPA Office’s webpage on EJ Protocols and Resources.