The LSPA presented the following compliance tip at the June Membership Meeting at the Hilton Hotel in Woburn, MA on June 13, 2019.  

The LSPA presented the following compliance tip at the May Membership Meeting at the DoubleTree in Westborough, MA on May 16, 2019.  

The LSPA kicked off its “school” year with a great event on September 25^th sponsored by Regenesis. 

We heard a high energy and far ranging talk by Jay Ash, MA Secretary of Housing and Economic Development. Secretary Ash covered topics including his time as Mayor of Chelsea, collaboration with several LSPA members with whom he has worked (all good experiences!), Governor Baker’s bipartisan administration, exciting economic development projects happening statewide, and why he is optimistic about the Massachusetts innovation economy. MassDEP Commissioner Marty Suuberg gave a broad reaching overview of the 25 year privatized program and generously acknowledged the important role of the LSPA in this work. He spoke about MassDEP priorities going forward, including the use of new technology to improve government transparency, emerging contaminants, climate change and resiliency, and brownfields development. Both speakers addressed the value of the work that LSPs and other practitioners do, and its importance to the economic and environmental health of the Commonwealth. 

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has updated its Method for the Determination of Volatile Petroleum Hydrocarbons by Gas Chromatography/Photoionization Detector/Flame Ionization Detector (VPH by GC/PID/FID) and the corresponding CAM protocol, WSC-CAM-IVA, Quality Control Requirements and Performance Standards for the Analysis of Volatile Petroleum Hydrocarbons (VPH) by Gas Chromatography/Photoionization Detector/Flame Ionization Detector in Support of Response Actions under the Massachusetts Contingency Plan. The updates include revised calibration requirements, changes to retention time windows for aliphatic hydrocarbons, required traps for the purge-and-trap process, new requirements for data deliverables, and a series of other minor revisions and clarifications. The revised method may be found here VPH Method by GC/PIC/FID. A complete list of the updates is provided in the preface of the revised method. 

Laboratories that are currently performing VPH by GC/PID/FID must make the necessary adjustments to implement the changes to the method on or before June 1, 2018 to comply with the method requirements and certify that the method is being performed in conformance with the CAM protocol, found here WSC-CAM-IVA. If you have questions about the revised method or CAM protocol, you may contact MassDEP at [email protected].

LSPA’s Western Massachusetts Committee had a record-breaking number of attendees at its membership meeting on Monday, January 29. 

We would like to thank our speakers of the evening: Mr. Jason Barroso, Waste Management, Inc.; Mr. Hugo DelRosso, US Ecology and Ms. Eva Tor, Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup, MassDEP’s Western Regional Office. The speakers addressed the topic of Waste Management Considerations for MCP Projects to an audience of 60+.

April 6, 2017
The LSPA presented the following monthly compliance tip at the April Membership Meeting at Bridgewater State University on April 6, 2017. 

March 16, 2017
The LSPA presented the following monthly compliance tip on March 16, 2017. 

Click here to view all published compliance tips. This document is also posted in the Members Only section of the website under Technical Resources.

As mentioned at the MassDEP Waste Site Cleanup Advisory Committee meeting last month, there will be a meeting on Wednesday, November 16, 2016 to discuss possible revisions to the Massachusetts Contingency Plan provisions concerning Imminent Hazards.

The meeting will be begin at 9:30 am and will be located in Conference Room C on the 2^nd floor of MassDEP’s 1 Winter Street, Boston office.  (The duration of the meeting will depend upon the depth and breadth of the discussion. The room is reserved until 12:00 pm.) Please click here for directions.  

LSPA Comments on MassDEP's Second Public Review Draft LNAPL Guidance 

The LSPA submitted comments on December 18, 2015 to MassDEP on its Second Public Review Draft of Light Nonaqueous Phase Liquids (LNAPL) and the MCP: Guidance for Site Assessment and Closure, Policy #WSC‐14‐450. Read our cover letter and comments. 

LSPA Files Amicus Brief with MA Supreme Judicial Court  

On September 30, 2015, the LSPA filed an Amicus Curiae (“Friend of the Court”) brief with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in the case of Peterborough Oil Company, LLC v. Department of Environmental Protection.  The case is on appeal from Worcester County Superior Court.   

Overview of 2014 MCP 2014 Regulatory Changes: Characterizing and Closing Out NAPL Sites 

The LSPA has prepared an overview as part of a series of topic discussions and resourc  MCP 2014 Regulatory Changes es pertaining to the 2014 MCP changes; this first in the series provides a discussion of key aspects of  the investigation and closure of NAPL sites. Read more.

Request for Information on EPH Results

by: The LSPA Technical Practices Committee

Provisions of the Amended MCP are Fully in Effect

The 2014 MCP is fully in effect.  While most provisions took effect on June 20, 2014, there were certain regulations that became effective on April 25, 2014.  The "unofficial" version of the MCP is available on the DEP website, along with new MCP Questions and Answers.