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Environmental Planning and Sustainability
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Current Projects
In-progress plans and projects related to climate resilience.
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Green Communities
The Green Communities Designation and Grant Program helps municipalities become designated as a “Green Community” and provides funding to qualified municipalities for energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives.
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Merrimack River Revive
The Merrimack River Revive is a regional project that helps communities understand flooding and water quality across the Merrimack River watershed. Led by NMCOG with the Northern Middlesex Stormwater Collaborative (NMSC), the project brings together cities and towns to plan for flooding, protect water resources, and support more equitable solutions across the region.
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Northern Middlesex Stormwater Collaborative (NMSC)
The Northern Middlesex Stormwater Collaborative (NMSC) is a regional stormwater collaborative that undertakes many of the public education, procurement, management and administrative tasks necessary for managing stormwater in the Northern Middlesex region.
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Stormwater Management
EPA’s stormwater regulations require a plan for public education and outreach, as well as good housekeeping practices. The complexity of the regulations, coupled with the need for interaction at all levels of government, encouraged NMCOG to play an active role in assisting its municipalities.
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MEPA Review
The Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA), established in the late 1970s, provides a uniform system for evaluating the environmental impacts of projects that involve state funding, land, or permits. Its purpose is to identify and address potential adverse impacts early in the planning process, ensuring that mitigation measures are developed and incorporated as enforceable permit conditions. As the regional planning agency for Northern Middlesex, NMCOG reviews MEPA filings for projects that may have regional impacts. NMCOG evaluates proposals for consistency with the Regional Strategic Plan for Greater Lowell, NMCOG’s regional policy plan, and other relevant state and local plans related to transportation, land use, housing, open space, and climate resilience. Through formal comment letters, NMCOG provides a regional perspective, highlights cross-community impacts, encourages sustainable development practices, and recommends appropriate mitigation strategies.
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Technical Assistance
NMCOG provides technical assistance at the request of our member communities to undertake local planning activities that advance the goals of NMCOG's regional planning initiatives. NMCOG technical assistance matches technical planning help and expertise with projects in communities who need it.