Peer Review Services

Since 2022, BETA personnel have been providing professional peer review services and both technical and administrative support for the administration of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (M.G.L. ch. 131, s. 40 – the Act) and the City of Framingham Wetlands Protection Bylaw (Article V, s. 18 – the Bylaw) to the Framingham Conservation Commission.

BETA performs technical reviews of permits at the request of the Framingham Conservation Commission to assess compliance with the applicable state and local performance standards. Each review consists of a site visit, a technical review with an associated written summary, a presentation of BETA’s findings to the Conservation Commission during meetings, and the drafting of permit documents. These tasks are completed by BETA’s multi-disciplinary permitting and ecological services group.

BETA provided the Framingham Conservation Commission with administrative and technical office support to the city in administrating the Act and Bylaw. Technical responsibilities included site inspections related to Act and Bylaw jurisdiction; providing guidance to potential applicants and residents; official communications with applicants, stakeholders, and residents; assisting with other local, state, or federal proceedings or applications; and grant award support. Administrative duties consisted of coordinating regular Conservation Commission meetings, filing fee administration, general communications, and other non-technical office duties.

Sample Projects:
• Nobscot Scout Reservation – NOI Peer Review
• 74 Main Street – NOI Peer Review
• 333 Belknap Road – NOI Peer Review
• Mary Dennison Park – NOI Peer Review
• Flanagan Drive Pump Station – NOI Peer Review
• Walnut Street Flood Mitigation Project – NOI Peer Review
• Lake Waushakum Resilience Project – NOI Peer Review
• 24 Terri Road – RDA Determination
• 500 Edmands Road – RDA Determination