Records document the federal consistency review process for projects in or affecting the Massachusetts coastal zone, as mandated by the Coastal Zone Management Act. The dataset is maintained by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) under the SCIOPS organization. Reviews are governed by specific procedures, including a 21-day public comment period and a maximum 180-day review timeline.
Use Cases
- Analyze project types and federal agency actions subject to review using the 'federal license or permit application' field.
- Track review timelines and outcomes by examining the 'MEPA Certificate' submission date and the 180-day maximum review period.
- Model policy compliance by correlating project descriptions in the 'federal consistency certification' with specific enforceable program policies on water quality or habitat.
- Study public engagement by analyzing comment periods triggered by the 'public notice in the Environmental Monitor'.
- Identify appeal trends by examining cases where CZM's objection was appealed to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
Strengths
- Clear regulatory framework defined by the Coastal Zone Management Act and 15 CFR 930.
- Structured review process with defined timelines, including a 21-day public comment period and 180-day maximum review duration.
- Specific geographic jurisdiction defined as the Massachusetts coastal zone, extending 3 miles seaward and 100 feet landward of major transportation corridors.
Limitations
- Unknown total number of project records or rows in the dataset.
- Sample data and specific column schema are unavailable, limiting immediate analysis.
- Potential temporal staleness as the last update date is unknown.
Provenance
- Source
- Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM), part of the SCIOPS organization.
- Collection Method
- Collected through a regulatory submission process requiring a MEPA Certificate, federal permit application, and a federal consistency certification from project applicants.
- Time Range
- null
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- Projects in or affecting the Massachusetts coastal zone, from the state's territorial sea (3 miles offshore) to 100 feet landward of specified major transportation corridors.