5-14-2025

DRAFT COMMENTS TO MASSDEP for 550 MORTON ST.

Comments Due to MassDEP on June 2, 2025.

Hello Supporters, 

I am writing to request your help, and to provide an update on our efforts to protect and preserve a 4-acre greenspace, located in our environmental justice community at 550 Morton Street, Dorchester.  A developer has proposed a destructive project to clearcut mature tree canopy within a wetlands buffer area and bordering an urban stream to install an artificial turf field.

The proposed project is under review in MassDEP's office of appeals, and has been sent back (remanded) for evaluation of the new FEMA map, as this area along Canterbury Brook is at risk of significant flooding.

There is a 30-day comment period which ends on June 2, 2025. 

We are hoping that all of you who are receiving this email will provide comment, and also share our requests with your networks so they can provide comments as well. We need to register as many public comments as possible, requesting MassDEP to deny this project for the reasons listed above.  Please share this request far and wide!

We are providing basic points below to make, and encourage comments to be made in one's own original words.

Please let me know if you have any questions or thoughts.

Thank You.

Our Immediate Requests:

The comment emails should be sent to: jill.provencal@mass.gov 

Please cc: morton.st.residents@gmail.com

Also cc: The EJ Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Leadership Team

· María Belén Power, Undersecretary of Environmental Justice & Equity mariabelen.power@mass.gov

· Crystal Johnson, Assistant Secretary of Environmental Justice  crystal.a.johnson@mass.gov 

· Deneen Simpson, Mass DEP Director of Environmental Justice Deneen.Simpson@mass.gov 

The subject line should be: Brooke Charter School DEP File #006-1931

https://www.mass.gov/lists/brooke-charter-school 

MAIN COMMENT POINTS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT SUBMISSION:

We have sought to understand the MassDEP remand process for 550 Morton St. project, but the materials provided are incomplete and unclear.

We support Residents' request that MassDEP provide complete and meaningful information on the project, reset the public comment period, and hold a virtual public meeting on the project.

Based on what I have read on the project web page: MassDEP should deny this harmful project in an EJ community, as it cannot be conditioned to protect natural resources under MassDEP jurisdiction. Harms include:

• Significant increase in flooding risks, as shown in the revised FEMA map released in July 2024.  The Applicants Bordering Land Subject to Flooding (BLSF) study is from 2023, and therefore could not adequately address these risks.
• Exposure of the community and wildlife to harmful PFAS “forever chemicals” and microplastics from the proposed artificial turf field.  PFAS toxins are known to increase cancer risk, respiratory illness, and reproductive issues.
• Contamination of the Canterbury Brook and the Riverfront Area with chemicals and microplastics
• Creation of a 4-acre heat island
• Loss of Mature Tree Canopy within the wetlands buffer area
• Disparate impacts on natural resources in the Dorchester environmental justice neighborhood
•  Unclear and insufficient information provided on the project web page

Please feel free to customize as you see fit whichever points you choose, or draft your own comment entirely.

Thank you,

Aalana on behalf of the Morton St. 10-Residents’ Group