The newest installment of the Risk Characterization Guidance, Chapters 11, 12 and 13, has been posted to MassDEP's MCP Amendments web page. Information can also be found below.

Risk Characterization Guidance Chapters 11-13, Public Review Draft

MassDEP Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) Program
FY27-28 Opportunity and Application
Release Date:  May 13, 2026

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is pleased to announce that the application for the FY2027-28 Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) is now available. This grant opportunity provides $200,000 in funding, with up to $20,000 per community or municipal applicant group selected for an award, to enhance public involvement and promote a better understanding of the cleanup of contaminated sites in their communities.

MassDEP has just posted a new Public Comment Draft document for your review at https://www.mass.gov/lists/policies-guidance-technical-support-for-site-cleanup#draft-policies-      

“Guidance for Persons Performing Response Actions at Massachusetts Contingency Plan Disposal Sites Who May be Generators of Hazardous Waste.”

The following LSPA practice tip was introduced at the April 2026 Membership Meeting, which was held via Zoom on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, from 3:45-5:00 PM.

Practice Tip  
There can be more than one LSP-of-Record for a disposal site. As defined in the MCP (310 CMR 40.0006), an LSP-of-Record is an LSP “…who has rendered an LSP Opinion [at a] site, …”  and remains as such until they provide written resignation to MassDEP. In cases where there are multiple LSPs-of-Record, it may be beneficial to coordinate activities with other parties performing response actions.  

Below please find updates from MassDEP BWSC, including highlights from their recent Advisory Committee Meeting, as well as a notice about their upcoming Office Hours on AEPMMs, as well as updates from the March LSP Board Meeting.

MassDEP BWSC:

Advisory Committee Meeting | February 26, 2026: This meeting covered:

The following LSPA compliance tip was introduced at the February 2026 Membership Meeting, which was held via Zoom on Tuesday, February 11, 2026, from 3:45-5:30 PM.

Compliance Tip  
Per the MCP (at 310 CMR 40.1074(2)(a)5.), where an Active Exposure Pathway Mitigation Measure (AEPMM) is subject to the Obligations and Conditions and other provisions of a Notice of Activity and Use Limitation (NAUL), the sketch plan attached as an exhibit to the NAUL must show the location of the AEPMM. Furthermore, MassDEP has indicated in Notices of Noncompliance that if a sub-slab depressurization system is the AEPMM, a sketch should be provided that shows the locations of suction points, underground piping/manifold piping, and sub-slab soil vapor sampling points, if they are relevant to maintaining the condition of No Significant Risk and meeting the Obligations and Conditions of the NAUL. More than one sketch, such as a sketch of the entire NAUL area and a sketch of the area with the AEPMM, may be necessary to address issues of scale if these details are included. 

MassDEP’s Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup (BWSC) held its quarterly Advisory Committee meeting on November 20, 2025. The full agenda and recording are available on MassDEP’s website. Key takeaways for LSPA members are summarized below.

1. Administrative Updates:

The following LSPA compliance tip was introduced at the November 2025 Membership Meeting, which was held via Zoom on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, from 3:45 PM - 5:00 PM.

Compliance Tip  
Remedy Operation Status (ROS) applies only when an active remedial system, mitigation measure, and/or remedial monitoring program is operating/being conducted to achieve a Permanent Solution (310 CMR 40.0893). In the case of a remedial system, once system operation ceases, continued monitoring of site conditions must occur under Phase V unless (1) the monitoring is being conducted pursuant to 310 CMR 40.0893(6)(d) or (2) the monitoring meets the definition of an Active Remedial Monitoring Program. Limited monitoring to document natural attenuation of residual contamination cannot be performed under ROS.

The LSPA received the following email from MassDEP Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup on Thursday, October 23, 2025: 

MassDEP has posted the Public Comment Draft of Interim Policy Regarding the Re-Use of Soil at Disposal Sites Regulated under the Massachusetts Contingency Plan (COMM-25) dated Oct 24, 2025 under “DRAFT Policies” at https://www.mass.gov/lists/policies-guidance-technical-support-for-site-cleanup#draft-policies- .

MassDEP has revised WSC-CAM-X A, Quality Control Requirements and Performance Standards for the Analysis of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) by Liquid Chromatography/Dual Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in Support of Response Actions under the MCP, now posted at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/compendium-of-analytical-methods-cam#pfas-methods.

For aqueous samples with elevated levels of total suspended solids, Section 1.6 of the CAM Protocol was updated to clarify that the solvent rinse should be performed with the typical solvent used for the extraction of solid materials (e.g., methanolic ammonium hydroxide).

The following LSPA compliance tip was introduced at the September 2025 Membership Meeting, which was held in-person at the DoubleTree Hotel in Westborough, MA on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, from 5:30 - 8:00 PM.

LSPA Practice Tip of the Month
It is important LSPs check the correct boxes when submitting MCP documents. MassDEP has noted two examples where LSPs frequently check incorrect boxes: (1) When a Permanent or Temporary Solution Statement (PSS or TSS) has been retracted for any reason (pursuant to a Notice of Noncompliance or other), a new PSS or TSS is required and so, LSPs should not indicate they are submitting a revised PSS or TSS when they submit the new PSS or TSS; and (2) When putting a site into Remedy Operation Status (ROS), LSPs need to check box #17 when they submit their ROS Opinion, otherwise the MassDEP database will not reflect that the site has transitioned to ROS. If you have questions about BWSC forms, contact [email protected].

The LSPA received the following email from MassDEP Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup on September 9, 2025: 

Two new Public Comment Draft documents have been posted for your review at https://www.mass.gov/lists/policies-guidance-technical-support-for-site-cleanup#draft-policies-:      

The LSPA received the following email from MassDEP Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup on September 4, 2025: 

The newest installment of the Risk Characterization Guidance, Chapters 14 and 17, has been posted to the MassDEP MCP Amendments webpage.  The review/comment period for these chapters is 90 days, until December 5, 2025.

The LSPA received the following email from MassDEP Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup on August 13, 2025: 

MassDEP’s Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) Program

The LSPA received the following email from MassDEP Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup on August 11, 2025: 

The final installment of the 2024 MCP Amendments Q&A has been posted as of August 11, 2025.

Dear LSPA Member,

As the voice of LSPs and environmental practitioners across Massachusetts, the LSPA is actively advocating to strengthen our profession and advance sound environmental policies. Below is a summary of what we’ve been working on recently:

The LSPA received the following email from MassDEP Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup on June 30, 2025: 

MassDEP has published a number of new Compendium of Analytical Methods (CAM) protocols and materials at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/compendium-of-analytical-methods-cam.

The following LSPA compliance tip was introduced at the June 2025 Membership Meeting, which was held via Zoom on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, from 3:45 PM - 5:00 PM.

Compliance Tip  
When OHM from an upgradient source migrates onto a disposal site being addressed for other releases, and regardless of whether DPS has been established, that OHM must be included when evaluating risk and/or otherwise seeking to achieve a Permanent Solution for the disposal site. OHM from an upgradient source is not considered “background” and, for example, cannot be excluded as a contaminant of concern.

The MassDEP Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup (BWSC) has released its revised Policy for “Off-Gas Treatment of Point-Source Remedial Air Emissions” (formerly Policy #WSC-94-150), with a public comment period ending on June 30, 2025.

This Policy concerns air emissions that occur as a result of air stripping of contaminated groundwater, vacuum extraction of soil gases, or any other remedial activity conducted pursuant to MGL Chapter 21E that creates a point-source discharge of contaminants to air. The intent of this Policy is to articulate when off-gas treatment of point-source remedial air emissions may not be necessary to protect human health, safety, public welfare, and the environment.

MassDEP Brownfields Roundtables

The LSPA received the following email from MassDEP on Monday, May 5, 2025.