On September 17, 2025, at the September Member Meeting in Westborough, MA, the LSPA named their 2025 Contribution to the Practice Award winners.

LSPA President Award

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where LSPs frequently check incorrect boxes: (1) When a Permanent or Temporary Solution Statement (PSS or TSS) has been retracted for any reason (pursuant to a Notice of Noncompliance or other), a new PSS or TSS is required and so, LSPs should not indicate they are submitting a revised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 Board of Registration of Hazardous Waste Site Cleanup Professionals (LSP Board) has announced upcoming exam dates for individuals seeking to become an LSP in Massachusetts. Exams will be offered on the following dates in 2025:

• Thursday, September 4, 2025
• Friday, September 5, 2025
• Tuesday, October 21, 2025
• Wednesday, October 22, 2025

About the LSP Exam
To sit for the exam, candidates must first be deemed eligible by the LSP Board. Eligibility requirements include a combination of education, professional experience, and demonstrated good moral character, as outlined in 309 CMR 3.02.

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.

The LSPA is proud to support the important work of organizations who are creating impact in communities across  the Commonwealth. We’re excited to share a volunteer opportunity* where your experience can make an impact!

Environmental Justice Assistance Network (EJAN): Seeking Pro Bono Environmental Professionals 
Are you an LSP, attorney, public health expert, scientist, or environmental professional that is interested in providing pro bono services to New England communities? Sign up to be included in the EJAN database!

The LSPA received the following email from MassDEP Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup on August 1, 2025: 

Updated Compendium of Analytical Methods (CAM) protocols for Perchlorate, WSC – CAM – VIII B, Analysis of Perchlorate by Ion Chromatography (IC) with Electrospray Ionization/Mass Spectrometry (ESI/MS or ESI/MS/MS) or High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with ESI-MS or ESI-MS/MS, have been posted to MassDEP’s web site at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/compendium-of-analytical-methods-cam#high-performance-liquid-chromatography-hplc-and-ion-chromatography-methods

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:

In 2023, the LSPA awarded a “30for30” grant* to the Massachusetts (MA) Envirothon Program— a long-standing environmental education and competition initiative that empowers high school students to tackle real-world natural resource challenges.

About MA Envirothon
MA Envirothon is the Commonwealth’s leading natural resource education program for high school students, emphasizing hands-on, team-oriented, problem solving and community involvement that prepares young people for environmental careers and active citizenship. It has been a program of the MA State Commission for the Conservation of Soil, Water, and Related Resources.

The LSPA Board is pleased to announce that two candidates have been elected to the LSPA Board of Directors for three-year terms starting on July 1, 2025:

• Adam Cote, LSP, Senior Project Manager, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. 
• John Harvey, LSP, Principal Environmental Scientist, Tighe & Bond. 

Thank you to all who voted.

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.

We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of Kristina Comley Washer, a thoughtful and driven environmental scientist, on June 9, 2025. Kristina was a member of the LSPA from 2021 to 2023 and, in June 2022, she was awarded an LSPA Scholarship.

At the June Membership Meeting on June 11, 2205, the LSP Association Scholarship Fund announced their 2025 recipients. The Fund provides scholarships to LSPA members and members of their immediate families who are enrolled in a degree program at an accredited New England college or university, and qualified Massachusetts residents enrolled in a public or private Massachusetts college or university pursuing a major that is consistent with becoming an LSP or Environmental Professional. Since its inception, the Fund has awarded more than $251,500 in scholarships to 62 deserving students pursuing careers in the environmental field.

This year, the LSP Association Scholarship Fund recognized the following individuals:

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.

The Massachusetts Board of Registration of Hazardous Waste Site Cleanup Professionals (“LSP Board”) has opened a comment period and will hold a public hearing on the proposed amendments to the regulations at 309 CMR 1.00-9.00: Regulations of the Board of Registration of Hazardous Waste Site Cleanup Professionals. The proposed amendments include changes to:

• Continuing education requirements for LSPs and course providers
• Examination procedures
• Definitions, license renewals, and other topics

The proposed amendments, a background document, and public meeting registration link are available on the LSP Board’s website.

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Announces Plan to Rescind 2024 PFAS National Drinking Water Standards
On May 13, 2025, the US EPA announced plans to rescind and revise its national drinking water standards for PFAS. Key highlights include:

• The EPA plans to rescind and reconsider the Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for four PFAS compounds—PFHxS, PFNA, GenX, and PFBS—citing the need for further evaluation.
• EPA will uphold the existing MCLs of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS.
• Public water systems will now have until 2031 to comply with the PFOA and PFOS standards, providing additional time for infrastructure upgrades and treatment implementation.

US EPA plans to begin a new rulemaking process in the fall and to issue a new rule next spring.

The following LSPA practice tip was introduced at the May 2025 Membership Meeting, which was via Zoom from 3:45 PM - 5:00 PM on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

Practice Tip  
Per the 2024 MCP Amendments Q&A, MassDEP generally recommends 25- to 50-foot grid squares when performing systematic grid sampling, though the Q&A acknowledges that sample spacing will depend on the size of the target area and the number of samples to be collected. Justification for the sample grid spacing used should be included in the risk characterization.