Massachusetts 2023 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H3215 Introduced / Bill

Filed 02/16/2023

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2650       FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3215
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Jeffrey N. Roy
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to expedite permitting for electric decarbonization infrastructure projects.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Jeffrey N. Roy10th Norfolk1/19/2023 1 of 19
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2650       FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3215
By Representative Roy of Franklin, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3215) of Jeffrey 
N. Roy for legislation to expedite permitting for electric decarbonization infrastructure projects. 
Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
An Act to expedite permitting for electric decarbonization infrastructure projects.
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to 
expedite state permitting for electric utility infrastructure projects that contribute to 
decarbonization of the electric sector in the commonwealth to combat climate change, it is 
hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public 
convenience., therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the 
immediate preservation of the public convenience.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority 
of the same, as follows:
1 The General Laws are hereby amended by inserting after chapter 21O the following 
2chapter 21P:
3 CHAPTER 21P: EXPEDITED PERMITTING FOR ELECTRIC DECARBONIZATION 
4INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
5 SECTION 1.  Title.
6 This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Expedited Permitting for Electric 
7Decarbonization Infrastructure Projects Act”. 2 of 19
8 SECTION 2.  Purpose.
9 It is the purpose of this chapter to consolidate and expedite the state review and 
10permitting processes for electric utility infrastructure projects that contribute to decarbonization 
11and to provide a single forum in which the electric decarbonization infrastructure permitting 
12office created by this chapter may undertake coordinated, timely, and standardized reviews of 
13such projects to facilitate achievement of the commonwealth’s climate change, renewable energy 
14and emissions reduction goals while protecting the environmental resources of the 
15commonwealth.
16 SECTION 3.  Definitions.
17 As used in this chapter the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires 
18otherwise, have the following meanings:
19 (1)“Agency”, an agency, department, board, commission or authority of the 
20commonwealth, and any authority of any municipality which is specifically created as an 
21authority under special or general law.
22 (2)“Applicant”, an electric company that applies for a consolidated permit pursuant 
23to this chapter. 
24 (3)“Best management practices”, broadly accepted industry practices that have been 
25determined by the office pursuant to this chapter to be the most effective and practical means of 
26avoiding, minimizing, or mitigating adverse environmental impacts caused by electric 
27decarbonization infrastructure projects similar to the qualifying project. 3 of 19
28 (4)“Consolidated permit”, a permit issued by the office pursuant to this chapter 21P 
29and the rules and regulations promulgated by the office.
30 (5)“Department”, the department of environmental protection. 
31 (6)“Director”, the director of the office.
32 (7)“Distributed generation”, means as defined section 1 of Chapter 164. 
33 (8)“Distribution”, means as defined in section 1 of Chapter 164.
34 (9)“Distributed energy resources”, means as defined in section 1 of Chapter 164. 
35 (10)“Electric company”, means as defined in section 1of Chapter 164.
36 (11)“Electric decarbonization infrastructure project”, means electric sector 
37infrastructure projects that: (i) improve grid reliability, communications, and resiliency; (ii) 
38enable increased, timely adoption of and interconnection to renewable energy and distributed 
39energy resources; (iii) promote energy storage and electrification technologies necessary to 
40decarbonize the environment and economy; (iv) prepare for future, climate-driven impacts on the 
41transmission and distribution systems; (v) accommodate increased transportation electrification, 
42increased building electrification, and other potential future demands on distribution, 
43interconnection and, where applicable, transmission systems; or (vi) otherwise facilitate or 
44expand the commonwealth’s capacity to realize its statewide greenhouse gas requirements and 
45goals.
46 (12)“Electric-sector modernization plan”, a plan required by and approved pursuant to 
47section 92B of Chapter 164 of the General Laws. 4 of 19
48 (13)“Energy storage system”, means as defined in section 1 of Chapter 164.
49 (14)“Executive office”, the executive office of energy and environmental affairs. 
50 (15)“Generation facility”, means as defined in section 1 of Chapter 164.
51 (16)“Host community”, any municipality within whose jurisdictional boundaries a 
52qualifying project is proposed.
53 (17)“Municipality”, a city, town, or other political subdivision of the commonwealth. 
54 (18)“Non-renewable energy”, means as defined in section 1 of Chapter 164.
55 (19)“Office”, the electric decarbonization infrastructure permitting office created by 
56this chapter.
57 (20)“Permittee”, an electric company that has received a consolidated permit pursuant 
58to this chapter. 
59 (21)“Qualifying project”, an electric decarbonization infrastructure project that:
60 (i)is listed in an electric-sector modernization plan approved by the department of 
61public utilities pursuant to section 92B of Chapter 164;
62 (ii)will interconnect distributed generation, distributed energy resources or energy 
63storage system facilities to the distribution system on the utility side of the point of 
64interconnection and is not otherwise included in an electric-sector modernization plan;
65 (iii)is a transmission system upgrade to support (i) or (ii) above; or
66 (iv)is not otherwise included above. 5 of 19
67 (22)“Renewable energy”, means as defined in section 1 of Chapter 164. 
68 (23)“Secretary”, the secretary of the executive office.
69 (24)“Standard conditions”, permit conditions designed to avoid, minimize, or mitigate 
70potential adverse environmental impacts from the siting, design, construction, and operation of 
71electric decarbonization infrastructure projects, which are codified in the office’s regulations and 
72shall be applicable to all projects that receive a consolidated permit pursuant to this chapter 21P.
73 (25)“Special conditions”, permit conditions deemed necessary by the office to avoid, 
74minimize, mitigate, or offset any potential significant site-specific adverse environmental 
75impacts that may be caused or contributed to by the siting, design, construction, or operation of a 
76qualifying project and are unable to be addressed by standard conditions and best management 
77practices.
78 (26)“Transmission”, means as defined in section 1 of Chapter 164.
79 SECTION 4.  Establishment of Office; Authority.
80 (a)No later than 90 days after the enactment of this chapter, the secretary shall 
81establish the office, consisting of a director appointed by the secretary and such staff as are 
82necessary to undertake the duties of the office under this chapter.
83 (b)The office shall exercise its authority by and through the director.  The director 
84and staff shall collectively have expertise in electric sector decarbonization, permitting 
85requirements for electric infrastructure projects, technical and engineering expertise in electric 
86decarbonization infrastructure projects, and such other areas as are necessary to carry out the 
87purposes of this chapter. 6 of 19
88 SECTION 5.  Funding of the Office.
89 (a)The office shall establish fees for any review of an application for a consolidated 
90permit under this chapter or a violation of this chapter or regulation promulgated hereunder. 
91Such fees shall be set such that they are reasonably expected to cover such reviews and the costs 
92of salaries, services, equipment or other expenses that are incurred by the office including the 
93salaries of the director and all staff, during such review.
94 (b)There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a 
95separate fund. The office shall be the trustee of the fund and shall expend monies to finance 
96operational activities of the office.  The fund shall be 	credited any appropriations, bond proceeds 
97or other monies authorized by the general court and specifically designated to be credited 
98thereto, application fees for permits issued under this chapter and such additional funds as are 
99subject to the direction and control of the office. All available monies in the fund that are 
100unexpended at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund and shall be 
101available for expenditure in the subsequent fiscal year. The office shall record all expenditures 
102made by the office on the Massachusetts management and accounting reporting system 
103according to regulations established by the state comptroller.
104 (c)The office shall, for the purposes of compliance with state finance law, operate as 
105a state agency as defined in section 1 of chapter 29 and shall be subject to the provisions 
106applicable to agencies under the control of the governor including, but not limited to, chapters 7, 
1077A, 10 and 29; provided, however, that the comptroller may identify any additional instructions 
108or actions necessary for the office to manage fiscal operations in the state accounting system and 
109meet statewide and other governmental accounting and audit standards. Unless otherwise  7 of 19
110exempted by law or the applicable central service agency, the office shall participate in any other 
111available commonwealth central services including, but not limited, to the state payroll system 
112under section 31 of said chapter 29 and may purchase other goods and services provided by state 
113agencies in accordance with comptroller provisions. The comptroller may chargeback the office 
114for the transition and ongoing costs for participation in the state accounting and payroll systems 
115and may retain and expend such costs without further appropriation for the purposes of this 
116section. The office shall be subject to section 5D of chapter 29 and subsection (f) of section 6B 
117of chapter 29.
118 (d)In addition to the foregoing, the office shall annually seek funding from state 
119appropriations to fund a dedicated reviewer at the Massachusetts Historical Commission who 
120shall conduct reviews of qualifying projects pursuant to section 106 of the National Historic 
121Preservation Act, when applicable.
122 SECTION 6.  Office Responsibilities; Objectives.
123 (a)The office shall be charged with:
124 (i)developing and promulgating rules and regulations to implement this chapter, 
125including by codifying standard conditions that shall apply uniformly to permitted qualifying 
126projects, including, without limitation, by adopting by reference such standard conditions as have 
127been developed by other agencies;
128 (ii)adopting best management practices that may be incorporated by reference into 
129consolidated permits issued under this chapter, including, without limitation, best management 
130practices that have been developed by an electric company and incorporated into their permits 
131before the enactment of this chapter, and applicable best management practices utilized by  8 of 19
132agencies in permitting similar electric decarbonization infrastructure projects prior to the 
133enactment of this chapter;
134 (iii)receiving, reviewing, and promptly acting upon applications for qualifying 
135projects in accordance with this chapter and the rules and regulations promulgated by the office;
136 (iv)issuing, approving and, as necessary, transferring consolidated permits;
137 (v)monitoring projects permitted pursuant to this chapter and enforcing compliance 
138with all terms and conditions therein; and
139 (vi)conducting public hearings, inter-agency consultations, and other procedures 
140incident to the permitting process that are necessary to effectuate this chapter’s purposes.
141 (b)The office shall, within one year of the enactment of this chapter, promulgate 
142regulations which:
143 (i)establish the consolidated permit application form and application fee for 
144qualifying projects;
145 (ii)codify the consolidated permit application process and timeline for qualifying 
146projects;
147 (iii)establish classes of electric decarbonization infrastructure projects based on 
148common features, including structure and typical environmental impacts;
149 (iv)codify standard conditions that shall apply uniformly to each class of electric 
150decarbonization infrastructure project; 9 of 19
151 (v)develop and incorporate in the consolidated permit, by reference, best 
152management practices for each class of electric decarbonization infrastructure project;
153 (vi)establish criteria for the review of special conditions proposed for inclusion in the 
154consolidated permit;
155 (vii)establish an in lieu fee program for compensatory mitigation;
156 (viii)establish a process and timeline for the review of requests for the modification of 
157consolidated permits previously granted;
158 (ix)establish a protocol for monitoring and compliance enforcement, including any 
159applicable penalties for noncompliance; and
160 (x)establish such additional rules and procedures as necessary to implement and 
161effectuate this chapter.
162 (c)In developing standard conditions which shall apply uniformly to qualifying 
163projects within each class of electric decarbonization infrastructure project, the office shall 
164consult with electric companies, municipalities, the department, the executive office, the 
165department of public utilities, the energy facilities siting board, and other relevant state agencies 
166with applicable subject matter expertise.
167 (d)Prior to the adoption of standard conditions for inclusion in the regulations and 
168consolidated permit, the office shall hold a public hearing to solicit comments from the public.
169 (e)The director shall ensure that the office’s activity pursuant to this chapter provides 
170for and is consistent with the objectives enumerated in this subsection. The director shall also  10 of 19
171ensure that all standard conditions and best management practices, as uniformly applied to each 
172class of electric decarbonization infrastructure projects, advance: 
173 (i)safety;
174 (ii)protection of the environment;
175 (iii)electric sector decarbonization;
176 (iv)minimization or mitigation of land use impacts; (v)advancement of 
177environmental justice; and
178 (vi)minimization or mitigation of impacts on the ratepayers of the commonwealth.
179 SECTION 7.  Consolidated Permits; Transfer and Modification.
180 (a)Upon approving a qualifying project, the office shall issue a consolidated permit 
181to the applicant which encompasses all state and local authorizations necessary for electric 
182decarbonization infrastructure siting, construction, upgrades, and operation.
183 (b)The consolidated permit shall be enforceable by the office in the manner provided 
184in Section 13 and any applicable rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter. All 
185standard conditions, special conditions, and best management practices identified in a 
186consolidated permit shall constitute enforceable provisions of the consolidated permit.
187 (c)The director shall have sole and final discretion over the terms and conditions of 
188the permit, including standard conditions, special conditions, and best management practices; 
189provided, however, the director shall comply with subsection 6(e) of this chapter in selecting 
190applicable standard conditions, special conditions, and best management practices. 11 of 19
191 (d)A consolidated permit issued by the office may be transferred or assigned, subject 
192to the prior written approval of the office, to an electric company that agrees to comply with the 
193terms, limitations, and conditions contained in said permit.
194 SECTION 8.  Standard Conditions and Best Management Practices.
195 (a)The standard conditions established pursuant to this chapter shall be designed to 
196avoid, minimize, or mitigate, to the maximum extent practicable, any potential significant 
197adverse environmental impacts caused or contributed to by the siting, design, construction, 
198upgrades to, or operation of qualifying projects. Such uniform standard conditions shall apply to 
199those environmental impacts the office determines are common to each class of electric 
200decarbonization infrastructure projects.
201 (b)The office shall promulgate regulations establishing an in lieu fee program for 
202compensatory mitigation that effectuates the restoration, establishment, enhancement or 
203preservation of comparable environmental resources through funds paid to a government or non-
204profit entity. The in lieu fee program may be used at the election of the applicant to satisfy the 
205standard of mitigation to the maximum extent practicable and advance the objectives enumerated 
206in subsection 6(e) of this chapter only to the extent that the office finds that avoidance and 
207minimization are not practicable.
208 (c)The office shall develop and incorporate by reference in consolidated permits 
209issued pursuant to this chapter best management practices based on best management practices 
210that have been developed by an electric company and incorporated into their permits before the 
211enactment of this chapter; as well as any applicable best management practices adopted by 
212agencies in permitting similar electric decarbonization infrastructure projects prior to the  12 of 19
213enactment of this chapter. Such best management practices shall become enforceable terms of 
214the consolidated permit when incorporated by reference therein.
215 (d)All standard conditions and best management practices shall, as applied to each 
216qualifying project, conform to or advance the objectives enumerated in subsection 6(e) of this 
217chapter.
218 SECTION 9.  Applicability; Preemption.
219 (a)An electric company may, in lieu of seeking other permits or approvals as are 
220required by the commonwealth, any department, commission, board or subdivision thereof, and 
221any city or town, request that the office issue a consolidated permit for an electric 
222decarbonization infrastructure project in accordance with this chapter. Any such project for 
223which a consolidated permit is issued shall thereafter be built, maintained, upgraded, or operated 
224except in conformity with the terms, standard conditions, and special conditions, if any, 
225contained in the consolidated permit.
226 (b)The office shall have exclusive authority over qualifying projects. No city or town 
227shall have authority over any qualifying project nor shall any city or town enact any bylaw, 
228ordinance, or regulation with respect to qualifying projects.
229 (c)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no other state agency, department, or 
230authority, nor any municipality or agency thereof, may, except as expressly authorized under this 
231chapter or the rules and regulations promulgated under this chapter, require any approval, 
232consent, permit, certificate, contract, agreement, memorandum of understanding, or other 
233condition for the development, design, construction, upgrades to, or operation of qualifying 
234projects for which a consolidated permit has been granted in accordance with this chapter. This  13 of 19
235chapter shall supersede and replace all permitting and authorization requirements for qualifying 
236projects required by the commonwealth, any department, commission, board or subdivision 
237thereof, and any city or town.
238 (d)Nothing in this chapter shall exempt any qualifying project granted a consolidated 
239permit from compliance with all applicable federal laws and regulations.
240 (e)This section shall not apply to:
241 (i)normal repairs, maintenance, replacements, non-material modifications and non- 
242material improvements of electric sector infrastructure, whenever built, which are performed in 
243the ordinary course of business and which do not constitute a violation of any applicable existing 
244permit, including but not limited to projects otherwise exempt under Section 40 of Chapter 131 
245of the General Laws, Chapter 91 of the General Laws, or Section 61 of Chapter 30 of the General 
246Laws; or
247 (ii)projects in or over the territorial sea of the commonwealth; or
248 (iii)     generation facilities.
249 
250 SECTION 10.  Application Review Process; Permit Issuance.
251 (a)Applicants shall initiate the application process for a consolidated permit by 
252submitting a single application in such form and detail as the office shall prescribe in its 
253regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter. Applications shall include, at a minimum the 
254following information, in addition to any other information the office may require: 14 of 19
255 (i)a cover sheet listing all substantive local and state permits and authorizations that 
256the applicant would have otherwise been required to obtain prior to commencing the electric 
257decarbonization infrastructure project;
258 (ii)a description of the proposed project;
259 (iii)an explanation of why the applicant’s project should be considered a qualifying 
260project pursuant to this chapter;
261 (iv)proof of consultation with the host community with respect to the project and its 
262potential impacts;
263 (v)documentation that all Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act requirements for 
264advance notification to environmental justice populations, as defined in section 62 of chapter 30, 
265have been met by the applicant, in accordance with Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act 
266regulations;
267 (vi)an outreach plan for engagement with environmental justice populations, in 
268accordance with Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act regulations;
269 (vii)documentation of compliance with any other pre-application substantive or 
270procedural requirements of the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act and its regulations; and
271 (viii)an application fee in the amount specified by the office in its regulations 
272promulgated pursuant to this chapter.
273 (b)Within thirty days of receiving an application, the office shall determine whether 
274the proposed electric decarbonization infrastructure project is a qualifying project. If the project 
275does not qualify, the director shall deny the consolidated permit and issue a written explanation  15 of 19
276of its determination to the applicant within thirty days of receiving the application. Within fifteen 
277days of receiving notice that an application for a consolidated permit has been denied, an 
278applicant may request reconsideration by the secretary. The secretary shall review the application 
279and office’s determination and may issue a superseding determination that the project qualifies 
280within fifteen days of receiving the request for reconsideration. Applicants may elect to have a 
281pre-application meeting with the office to determine the eligibility of proposed electric 
282decarbonization infrastructure projects.
283 (c)If the office confirms that the applicant’s proposed project is a qualifying project, 
284the office shall, within thirty days of receiving an application, publish public notice of 
285availability of the application. Concurrently with the publication of notice of availability of an 
286application, the office shall forward the application to all state and local agencies that would 
287otherwise have jurisdiction over any authorization required for the proposed project.
288 (d)Upon receiving notification of availability of an application for a consolidated 
289permit from the office, such state agencies shall review the proposed electric decarbonization 
290infrastructure project and identify potential significant site-specific adverse environmental 
291impacts, if any, that may be caused or contributed to by the siting, design, construction, or 
292operation of the project which are unable to be addressed by standard conditions and best 
293management practices. Each agency may, but shall not be required to, propose special conditions 
294that avoid, minimize, or mitigate, to the maximum extent practicable, such impacts, and shall 
295submit a letter containing its recommendations to the office within the public comment period.
296 (e)A sixty day public comment period shall commence on the date of publication of 
297notice of availability of an application. The office may require a site visit if a site visit is  16 of 19
298requested by any local or state agency or public commenter within the first thirty days of the 
299public comment period.
300 (f)The office may consult with any agency recommending special conditions during 
301the public comment period. At the request of the office, an agency may provide support to the 
302office within the scope of their respective statutory expertise, provided, however, that the 
303director shall have sole discretion over which special conditions to include, if any, in the final 
304permit.
305 (g)A public hearing shall be held by the office if the electric decarbonization 
306infrastructure project is proposed within one to five miles of an environmental justice population, 
307as required in regulations promulgated pursuant to the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act, 
308or if requested by twenty-five or more residents of the commonwealth within thirty days of 
309public notice. All hearings conducted pursuant to this chapter shall conform to the procedures 
310established by the office in its regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter. All hearings 
311initiated under this section or pursuant to rules or regulations promulgated pursuant to this 
312section may be conducted by the director or any person to whom the director shall delegate the 
313power and authority to conduct such hearings or proceedings in the name of the office at any 
314time and place.
315 (h)Within thirty days of closure of the public comment period, the office may request 
316information from the applicant that is necessary to identify appropriate standard conditions and 
317best management practices, and to assess any agency recommendations for special conditions. 
318The applicant shall respond to the office’s request for information within thirty days. Failure to  17 of 19
319respond within thirty days may result in a proportional delay in the office’s period for issuing a 
320decision on the application.
321 (i)No later than six months from the date of public notice, the office shall issue a 
322consolidated permit either 	approving or approving with special conditions a qualifying project. 
323The consolidated permit shall specify the state and local permits and authorizations that are 
324encompassed therein and identify enforceable standard conditions and best management 
325practices for the project, except that if a qualifying project is approved with special conditions, 
326such special conditions shall replace or supplement standard conditions and best management 
327practices, as stipulated in the consolidated permit. If the office fails to issue a consolidated 
328permit for a qualifying project within six months of the date of public notice, the permit will be 
329deemed approved and subject to all standard conditions and best management practices identified 
330for electric decarbonization infrastructure projects of that class in the office’s regulations 
331promulgated pursuant to this chapter; subject to such delays caused by the applicant’s failure to 
332timely comply with the agency’s request for information, per subsection 10(h).
333 (j)The office shall conform to the objectives enumerated in subsection 6(e) of this 
334chapter in reviewing an application and selecting applicable standard conditions, special 
335conditions, and best management practices.
336 SECTION 11.  Expedited Appeals Process.
337 (a)Any person aggrieved by the issuance or denial of a consolidated permit or other 
338final decision of the office may seek judicial review of such decision as provided in this section.
339 (b)For purposes of this section, “person aggrieved” shall mean: (i) an applicant for a 
340consolidated permit, or (ii) any other person who timely filed comments during the review of a  18 of 19
341consolidated permit and who can demonstrate substantial adverse impact from the issuance or 
342denial of a consolidated permit unique from any such impacts on the general public.
343 (c)Appeals shall be limited to those filed within thirty days of permit issuance or 
344denial, or other final decision of the office.
345 (d)The Supreme Judicial Court, or, at the discretion of the Court, a single justice 
346thereof, shall have jurisdiction over appeals pursuant to this section and shall have the power to 
347grant such relief as it deems just and proper, and to make and enter an order enforcing, 
348modifying and enforcing as so modified, remanding for further specific findings, or setting aside 
349in whole or in part such decision of the office. The jurisdiction of the Supreme Judicial Court 
350shall be exclusive and its judgment and order shall be final. All such proceedings shall be heard 
351and determined by the court as expeditiously as possible and with lawful precedence over all 
352other matters.
353 (e)The appeal shall be heard on the record and upon briefs to the court in the same 
354manner as appeals heard pursuant to sections 14 through 16 of Chapter 30A of the General Laws. 
355The findings of fact on which such decision is based shall be conclusive if supported by 
356substantial evidence on the record considered as a whole and matters of judicial notice set forth 
357in the opinion. The grounds for and scope of review of the court shall be limited to whether the 
358decision and action of the office is:
359 (i)in conformity with the constitution, laws and regulations of the commonwealth 
360and the United States;
361 (ii)supported by substantial evidence in the record and matters of judicial notice 
362properly considered and applied in the opinion; 19 of 19
363 (iii)    within the office’s statutory jurisdiction or authority;
364 (iv)made in accordance with procedures set forth in this chapter or established by rule 
365or regulation pursuant to this chapter;
366 (v)      arbitrary, capricious or an abuse of discretion; and
367 (vi)made pursuant to a process that afforded meaningful involvement of citizens 
368affected by the facility regardless of age, race, color, national origin and income.
369 SECTION 12.  Monitoring and Enforcement; Permit Suspension and Revocation.
370 (a)The office is authorized to monitor the construction and operation of qualifying 
371projects
372 to ensure compliance with all terms and conditions, including standard conditions, special 
373conditions, and best management practices, set forth in a consolidated permit issued for such 
374project.
375 (b)The office is authorized to take such actions as may be necessary in its discretion 
376to enforce compliance with all terms and conditions, including standard conditions, special 
377conditions, and best management practices, set forth in the consolidated permit, in accordance 
378with its rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter; provided, however, that the 
379office must first issue a detailed notice of the noncompliance to the permittee and allow the 
380permittee fifteen days to cure the noncompliance.