Route 20 Project Receives Final MEPA Certificate

With the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Final certificate now in hand, Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Route 20 Reconstruction Design Build project in Charlton and Oxford is now moving on to permitting. This 3.2 mile reconstruction project runs between the intersection of Route 12 and Route 20 in Oxford, expanding westerly to the intersection of Route 20/Sturbridge Street and Oxbow Road/Richardson Corner Road in Charlton. Designed to improve both safety and roadway conditions, as well as enhance pedestrian and bicycle access, this large, complex infrastructure project will be a welcome change once complete.

Epsilon has been providing environmental consulting support for this project for over 10 years, working hand-in-hand with project engineers HDR Inc. Our ecological sciences team has managed the extensive environmental planning efforts including:

• wetland delineation of both the roadway improvement limits and wetland mitigation access and site
• wildlife habitat evaluations
• functions and values assessments
• wetland mitigation design
• rare species mitigation planning
• wildlife crossing evaluations at multiple culvert and bridge locations
• all MEPA documentation requirements
• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation requirements.

In addition to the above, Epsilon completed pre-application consultations and coordination for the:

• Section 404 Individual Permit Application
• Section 401 Water Quality Certificate Application
• MESA Conservation and Management Permit application to the MA Natural Heritage Program
• Notices of Intent in the two towns.

Our work has also involved the development of avoidance and minimization measures and a wetlands mitigation plan to satisfy both MassDEP and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

We look forward to seeing this project advance and bring a safer roadway to the communities of Charlton and Oxford!