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| CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PERMITS |
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Conservation and Management Permits
Conservation and Management Permits are issued by the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife for projects that trigger certain thresholds of the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA M.G.L. c.30, secs. 61-62H). Typically, projects that require MEPA review are large scale commercial, industrial or subdivision projects that require multiple local and state permits and MEPA oversees the entire project, rather than individual components permitted by other regulatory authorities. If a specific project is scoped for a MEPA review and Massachusetts Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (MNHESP) has records of rare species within or near the project site, the project proponent is required to work with MNHESP to demonstrate that the project will not have a short or long term impact on any rare species in accordance with the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (321 CMR 10.00). If MNHESP determines that the proposed project is likely to adversely affect rare species habitat, they require a Conservation and Management Permit to demonstrate sufficient avoidance of impact and mitigation measures will provide a net benefit to the target species.
Oxbow Associates, Inc. has worked as the primary rare species consultant for 12 projects across Massachusetts which have successfully negotiated an acceptable Conservation and Management Plan with MNHESP. These project sites are located in 7 of the 14 counties of Massachusetts, specifically Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Hampden, Middlesex, Plymouth and Worcester.
OA has prepared and successfully negotiated Conservation and Management Permit Appliactions for species including:
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Projects Regulated only under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act
Although Oxbow is one of the leading firms in Massachusetts specializing in Conservation and Management Permits, more often than not, our projects do not trigger MEPA thresholds. However, if Estimated Habitat is mapped by MNHESP near a project site, the Wetlands Protection Act (310 CMR 10.59) requires the project proponent develop a project design that will avoid direct or indirect impacts jurisdictional wetland habitat . Therefore, many of our projects require us to work only within the jurisdiction of the Wetlands Protection Act. Oxbow staff has field experience that allows us to efficiently evaluate project sites for important habitat features used by many of the state-listed rare species. All of our junior and senior level associates have field biology experience specific to amphibians and reptiles.
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