NEWSLETTER
Our quarterly newsletter captures project spotlights, conferences and events attended, and recent staff updates.

    
ISSUE NO. 17 / January 2017 
Existing generating units at Exelon's Medway facility.
In November 2016, Exelon received permission from the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) to move forward on its expansion of the generating facility in Medway. This was a key approval for this highly efficient project, which will increase system reliability during peak hours of demand. The expansion includes the addition of two GE LMS100 natural gas combustion turbines with diesel as a backup fuel to the existing three turbine-135 megawatt facility. Epsilon was the lead environmental consultant for the preparation of the EFSB Petition and subsequent interrogatories, and offered expert witness testimony through the EFSB hearing process. In addition, Epsilon prepared Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) filings and Air Plan/Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) air permit application, assisted with local approvals, investigated and developed an onsite water supply well, and conducted a sound level measurement program, as well as led an extensive sound modeling, air modeling and wetlands delineation and permitting effort.
 
Along the route of the gas pipeline replacement.
In the same month, National Grid received a Final Decision from the EFSB approving its Mid-Cape Main Replacement Project. This 18.1-mile natural gas pipeline replacement project on Cape Cod will end a moratorium on new or expanded natural gas services in several towns on Cape Cod. Epsilon directed the environmental permitting, assisting National Grid through the permitting process quickly and efficiently. Epsilon managed the preparation of the EFSB Petition and subsequent interrogatory responses, and the submittal of an Expanded Environmental Notification Form (ENF) and Single Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to the MEPA Office as well as a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) Exemption Application to the Cape Cod Commission.
MATEP Receives Final Operating Permit for Third Turbine

MATEP energy facility. (Photo courtesy of MATEP.)
In September 2016, the Medical Area Total Energy Plant (MATEP) received its
final EPA and MassDEP approvals to construct a third turbine. The energy plant provides critical energy for five major hospitals as well as the Harvard Institutes of Medicine and numerous other prestigious medical research centers and teaching institutions in the Longwood Medical Area. Receiving approval for the third turbine was a significant achievement as the turbine will help with energy resiliency and service reliability, which is an issue of increasing concern, particularly in light of events such as Hurricane Sandy. MATEP is a 2013 recipient of the ENERGY STAR Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Award in recognition of outstanding pollution reduction and energy efficiency. This new turbine will allow additional pollution reduction and energy efficiency benefits through the simultaneous generation of electricity and thermal energy.
 
Epsilon provided multimedia licensing for this, new 14 MW combustion turbine. This included the preparation of the PSD and MCPA air applications, MEPA Expanded ENF and Single EIR, and coordinating enhanced public outreach to demonstrate the benefits of the third turbine. Epsilon also assisted with the sound level modeling to ensure the third turbine would be in compliance with local and state noise policies.
Epsilon's Noise Specialists Provide Expert Testimony Throughout the Country

Epsilon's noise specialists are highly respected in the industry and are often called upon to provide expert testimony for a range of projects. In the past few months, they have been particularly busy providing expert testimony for a number of different projects all across the country. In August, Principal Rob O'Neal provided expert testimony on ice throw and blade throw for Apex Clean Energy's Timbermill Wind project located in North Carolina. Associate Rich Lampeter provided expert testimony regarding sound and shadow flicker for NextEra Energy Resources in Clinton County, Missouri as officials there debated changes to their wind energy regulations.
 
In the following months, Rob provided expert testimony on numerous other projects including:
  • Antrim Wind Energy's wind project in New Hampshire, where he provided noise expertise in front of the New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee.
  • The Woburn to Wakefield Transmission Line project being undertaken by both Eversource and National Grid, where he testified before the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board on noise issues.
  • The Casella Waste Systems Juniper Ridge Landfill project in Old Town Maine, where he spoke in front of the Maine Board of Environmental Protection.
  • The West Fork Wind project in Rush County, Indiana where Rob provided expert testimony on noise issues in front of the Board of Zoning Appeals.
  For more information on our expert testimony services, please contact us !
Did you Catch Our Write Up on New RACT Air Emissions Requirements in the Northeast?

Depending on the state or states your firm operates in, air regulatory changes  may be afoot.  Every five years, the Clean Air Act (CAA) requires U.S. EPA to review and, if warranted, revise criteria pollutant standards.  Ozone is a criteria pollutant and the ambient standard for that pollutant has been updated most recently in 2008 and again in 2015. Repercussions of the 2008 update are continuing to work their way through the regulatory process.

Read further for background, schedule, and ramifications summaries.
ConferencesWhere We've Been (And Where We're Going)
Highlighted below are some of the events we attended this past fall.
 
Epsilon returned as an exhibitor to the Massachusetts Airport Management 
Association (MAMA) 2016 Conference. Alyssa Jacobs and Amanda Atwell from Epsilon's Ecological Sciences group staffed the booth and were available to talk to conference attendees about Epsilon's airport-related services. In addition, Amanda spoke on the MAMA Environmental Regulatory Committee panel discussing environmental updates relevant to the airport community.
 
Principal Rob O'Neal spoke during the October 4th EBC Energy Resources Program focused on Wind Turbine Acoustics and Noise Policy Update. The program provided an update on the issues around noise created by wind turbines. Rob provided insight on the findings of the Massachusetts Study on Wind Turbine Acoustics, which was launched by the Commonwealth to advance the understanding of wind turbine acoustics and their effects on the community.
 
Our upcoming events include:
 
EUEC 2017 Conference  | February 8-10, 2017 |  More Info 
Epsilon Speakers: Steve Slocomb and Joe Sabato
 
NECA 2017 Renewable Energy Conference   |  February 9, 2017 |
Epsilon attending and sponsoring
 
MACC Annual Environmental Conference | March 4, 2017 | More Info 
Epsilon Speaker: Mike Howard; Epsilon Attendees: Ecological Sciences Group
 
Click here  to learn more about these and other upcoming events.  
CompanyWhat's New At Epsilon
T he mill in which our office is located went through a name change, so please note the address is now:
   
3 Mill & Main Place
Suite 250
Maynard, MA 01754
 
While we did not physically move offices, we did take the opportunity to brighten up the space. We created a more welcoming entrance and updated conference rooms creating more up-to-date areas for collaboration, among other improvements. Check out our news announcement for more details.
 
Epsilon congratulates Nick DeFilippo on passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, making him an Engineer-In-Training. It is a six-hour test covering a broad range of engineering topics and is the first step in the process for becoming a registered Professional Engineer. Nick joined Epsilon in August 2015 and has played an important role in supporting our air quality projects.
 
We recently welcomed Andrew Thompson to our GIS group as a Senior GIS Specialist. With more than 8 years of consulting experience, he brings a wide range of technical skills to the company. At Epsilon, he will complement our GIS group analyzing geographic data for environmental impact assessments, project alternatives analyses, and routing studies for a range of development projects. Read our news announcement for more details.