STATE EXTENDS SOUTH COAST RENEWABLES REVIEW TO APRIL 3

 

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has extended its review deadline to April 3, 2024, for the site suitability application for South Coast Renewables, LLC (formerly known as Parallel Products of New England).

South Coast Renewables is seeking to expand its operations at 100 Duchaine Boulevard in New Bedford. MassDEP has been conducting an extensive review of the application since early 2023.

If the state issues a favorable ruling, the new timeline could lead to public hearings on the project starting in May, and a potential decision by the New Bedford Board of Health around Memorial Day.

The state’s review has seen multiple extensions.

Nov. 1, 2023, was the initial deadline for MassDEP to issue a ruling on the application. Amid conversations about sound monitoring and other components of the technical review, MassDEP announced an extension of the review to Dec. 18.

That extension was referenced in Oct. 30 technical comments, and a Nov. 2 letter, from MassDEP to South Coast Renewables Vice President Tim Cusson.

In December 2023, the state announced an additional extension, to Feb. 29, 2024.

In February 2024, the state announced an additional extension, to March 13.

The extension to April 3 will enable further technical review of a revised sound study that South Coast Renewables submitted to MassDEP on March 5.

South Coast Renewables’ revised sound study, and other documents related to the application, can be reviewed online through the state’s public access portal. Search “New Bedford” as the city and then “renewables” as the keyword.

The sound study documents are titled:

  • Record 68_MassDEP Comments on Epsilon Sound Study
  • SCR Sound Report Addendum 03.05.24

A supplemental traffic memo is titled: Supplemental Traffic Memo_MassDEP 2023-11-03

A MassDEP ruling by April 3 could lead to two outcomes:

  • If MassDEP determines that South Coast Renewables’ site suitability application does not meet all relevant criteria, it will issue a negative determination to the New Bedford Board of Health, which then would not proceed with the site assignment process.
  • If Mass DEP determines that the application does meet all relevant criteria, MassDEP will issue a positive determination to the New Bedford Board of Health. The Board of Health would then issue a public notice, conduct its own review, and hold public hearings before voting on whether or not to allow the proposal to move forward.

View multilingual fact sheets on the proposed facility and the site application process here.

MassDEP accepted public comment until Aug. 24, 2023 on South Coast Renewables’ proposed solid waste management facility at its site in the New Bedford Business Park, in New Bedford’s far North End.

Although the official public comment period is closed, interested parties are invited to review the revised sound study and supplemental traffic memo and submit comments for MassDEP’s consideration by March 27, 2024. Comments can be submitted to MassDEP:

  • via email to sero.solidwaste@mass.gov or
  • via U.S. MAIL to: Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, 20 Riverside Drive, Lakeville, MA 02347, Attn: Mark Dakers