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Commonwealth Rejects Luxury Jet Hangar Project Draft Environmental Impact Report

June 21, 2024

The Mass Secretary of Energy and Environment has rejected the Proponent's Draft Environmental Report for the massive private luxury jet hangar project. In the 53 page rejection, the Commonwealth found the report did not adequately disclose various types of environmental impacts of the project, particularly on the issue of increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The claims by the proponent that the project would have no impact on GHG emissions were found contrary to facts and common sense. Over 1,500 comments filed by the public, public officials, and many environmental organizations regarding the inadequacy of the report (including comments by SOH) have been validated by the findings. An independent study found that the resulting GHG emmissions from the project would dwarf the current emissions of surrounding towns, and would be a major setback to the stated GHG reduction goals of the Commonwealth.

The proponent is now required to adress the deficiencies of their environmental disclosure and resubmit and updates report. The project cannot proceed without an accepted report. There is no definite timeframe for this.

If the proponent properly discloses the impacts of the project, under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) the Secretary must accept the report. The decision of whether to accept those impacts and permit the project is then a political decision outside of the jurisdiction of both local and legislative officials. The quasi-independent agency Massport, that operates the airport, has made it clear it is interested in aviation growth and has driven this project. Only Governor Healey has any power over Massport. The Governor inherited this problem from the prior administration and must reject the project if she is serious about her commitment to the Commonwealth's climate plans.

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