Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30, § 62E: Categories of projects and permits not requiring environmental impact reports; establishment; application

Section 62E. With the approval of the secretary of the executive office having jurisdiction over an agency, or if an agency is not within an executive office, with the approval of such agency, the secretary of environmental affairs shall establish general and special categories of projects and permits which shall or shall not require environmental impact reports based upon the scope and duration of potential impacts from the nature, size and location of said projects or portions thereof which require permits.

No agency shall exempt from an environmental impact report any project that is located in a neighborhood that has an environmental justice population and is reasonably likely to cause damage to the environment, as defined in section 61. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to emergency actions essential to avoid or eliminate a threat to public health or safety or a threat to any natural resource undertaken in compliance with section 62F.