2025 Updates: Residual Designation Authority (RDA) Activities Underway for the Charles, Neponset, and Mystic River Watersheds
January 2025
Public Comment Period on Draft RDA Permit and Preliminary RDA Determination
EPA continues to accept public comments on the Draft RDA Permit and Preliminary RDA Determination. Comments can be submitted using the following methods:
- Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA-R01-OW-2024-0492 (our preferred method). Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
- Email: [email protected], and include "Comments on the Preliminary Designation and/or Draft CII GP" in the subject line.
- Mail: U.S. EPA Region 1, Water Division, Attn: Laura Schifman, 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100, Mail Code 06-4, Boston, Massachusetts 02109-3912. If comments are submitted in hard copy form, please also email a copy to [email protected].
The comment period has been extended from January 29, 2025 to March 17, 2025.
EPA hosted a virtual Public Meeting on January 7th 2025. The video recording with closed captions is available. EPA is still working on a Spanish translation of closed captions and will post this soon.
Recording of the January 7, 2025 Public Meeting
EPA is hosting two Public Hearings on January 22nd and January 23rd at 7 PM EST and anyone who wishes to attend is invited to do so. You must register in advance for these hearings. The registration links are below:
- Jan 22, 2025 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
https://usepa.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsfuCsqj8jHUHAEG9FUqtGaWjWZ0SJU-o - Jan 23, 2025 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
https://usepa.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsceGopj8qGFxtlMFPCuBSa_Viuh8oZg0
RDA Parcel-Level Interactive Map
EPA has published its RDA Parcel-Level Interactive Map for the Charles, Mystic and Neponset River Watersheds. The RDA Parcel-Level Interactive Map is intended to give owners of certain private properties that may become subject to the General Permit for Private Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Stormwater Discharges in the Charles, Mystic, and Neponset River watersheds in Massachusetts ("CII GP"), currently in draft form, some preliminary information about the amount of impervious cover ("IC") on their private properties. The map is accessible at https://www.epa.gov/npdes-permits/residual-designation-charles-river-watershed-mystic-river-watershed-and-neponset#ParcelLevelInteractiveMap and at Residual Designation Authority (RDA) Parcel-Level Interactive Mapping Tool.