The LSPA received the following email from MassDEP Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup on September 9, 2025: 

Two new Public Comment Draft documents have been posted for your review at https://www.mass.gov/lists/policies-guidance-technical-support-for-site-cleanup#draft-policies-:      

1. “Guidance on the Use, Design, Construction, Monitoring and Maintenance of Engineered Barriers” [NOTE: this replaces and supersedes the previously posted 2002 Draft.]
2. “Establishing Financial Assurance Mechanisms for Engineered Barriers at Chapter 21E Sites”  [NOTE: this is a new guidance document.]

Guidance on the Use, Design, Construction, Monitoring and Maintenance of Engineered Barriers
The purpose of this document  is to provide clarification and guidance on Engineered Barriers, to help ensure protective and consistent applications of this remedial action alternative. In this guidance document MassDEP:

• Provides a summary of regulatory requirements and provisions on the use, design, construction, monitoring and maintenance of Engineered Barriers;
• Articulates the broad performance standards contained in the MCP for the use, design, construction, monitoring and maintenance of Engineered Barriers; and
• Provides and discusses a detailed set of recommended specifications deemed compliant with relevant performance standards and regulatory requirements.

You can submit comments in two ways:

1. Email comments to the LSPA at [email protected] by October 10, 2025.
2. Send comments directly to MassDEP by October 24, 2025, to John Fitzgerald, PE, MassDEP, 150 Presidential Way, Woburn, MA, 01801; [email protected].

Establishing Financial Assurance Mechanisms (FAMs) for Engineered Barriers at Chapter 21E Sites
The purpose of this guidance is to assist parties establishing FAMs in order to satisfy the requirements of 310 CMR 40.0998(2)(g) and 40.0998(4). 

You can submit comments in two ways:

1. Email comments to the LSPA at [email protected] by October 10, 2025.
2. Send comments directly to MassDEP by October 24, 2025, to Tom Jachym, MassDEP, 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900, Boston, MA, 02114; [email protected].