Office of Planning & Development (mezzanine level) City Hall 281 Broadway Revere, Massachusetts 02151 Tel/Fax: 781-286-8185/781-286-8180 Email: revere_concom@revere.org	Belle Isle Marsh
Andrew B. DeSantis, Chair - Christine Robertson, Vice-Chair Members: Joseph James, Joseph LaValle, Vincent Cammarata, Michael Furlong and Paul Mazzone.

Any disturbance of alteration of land in an area either within or near a Wetland Resource Authority or within 100 feet of the 100 yr. flood plain is subject to Conservation Commission jurisdiction. A disturbance can be as substantial as a new commercial development, constructing a new home or an addition or as minor as putting in a new lawn, pool, shed or driveway.

If you answer yes to any of these questions, you are in an area likely subject to the jurisdiction of the Revere Conservation Commission.

Does your land have "standing water"? Does your property "pool" with water after a rainstorm or winter storm? Do you have "phragmites" or common reed or water loving trees/wild plants on your lot? Is your land near to or abut a stream, river, or the ocean? Is your land close to the Salt Marsh or what appears to be Marshland? Are you in a "flood plain" according to the FEMA maps? Do you pay 'flood' insurance? Does your lot abut known conservation land?

Rumney Marsh

What do you need to do as a potential builder if any of these questions apply to you?

If you think that any of these questions may apply to your project, you may have to fill out a required application, such as a Determination of Applicability or Notice of Intent which require Public Hearings the City of Reveres' Conservation Commission in an open and publicly noticed forum.

Information on this website is provided to help you get your project started off in the right direction, it will also allow for you to understand the "Wetlands Protection Act" that is mandated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts General Chapter 131 Section 40. Code of Massachusetts Regulations 310.10 and Title 16 Chapter 16.04 of the Revere City Ordinances detail the requirements for work in areas subject to the Wetlands Protection Act that may apply to your project. Knowledge of these requirements allows you to work in cooperation with the City of Revere, your engineers, architects, builders and others that may be involved with your project. Properly following the required process will ensure that the road to completion of your project, with the proper hearings, permitting, licensing in place, will be completed in a smooth and timely fashion allowing you to finish your project in the most cost-effective manner possible.

More information on the state regulations can be found on the web at:

http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/resources/wetlands.htm

Massachusetts General Law Chapter 131 Section 40 the 'Wetlands Protection Act' is the governing law for enforcement of environmental regulations in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Local communities are allowed to have their own Wetland Bylaws or Ordinances to further protect wetlands within their jurisdiction. The City of Revere Revised Municipal Ordinance has a section entitled Title 16 Environment Chapter 16.04 Wetlands Protection. Some additional requirements for constructing in wetlands in Revere are contained in the Title 17 Zoning section of the City of Revere Revised Municipal Ordinances.

Filings before the Conservation Commission are made to determine whether the proposed work is significant to the statutorily protected interests of the Wetlands Protection Act.

The protected interests of the Wetlands Protection Act include the following:

• Public Water Supply
• Private Water Supply
• Groundwater Supply
• Land Containing Shellfish
• Fisheries
• Storm Damage Prevention
• Prevention of Pollution
• Protection of Wildlife Habitat
• Flood Control

The applicant must show that either the proposed work is not significant to these interests or that the project will contain such provisions that the work will meet performance standards set by Commonwealth of Massachusetts for work in areas where any of the protected interests of a particular wetlands resource area are significant to the Wetlands Protection Act. THE BURDEN OF PROOF IN ALL CASES IS UPON THE APPLICANT.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has codified regulations pertaining to the Wetlands Protection Act in the Code of Massachusetts Regulations 310CMR10.00. This regulation is divided into three main sections, Regulations for All Wetlands, Additional Regulations for Coastal Wetlands and Additional Regulations for Inland Wetlands. Additional Regulations may apply for areas of special environmental value such as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern. Rumney Marsh and Belle Isle Marsh are the two Areas of Critical Environmental Concern in the City of Revere. Various technical publications from from both the federal and state governments are readily available to assist an applicant in making sure their project meets the requirements for building in wetland areas. Additional permit requirements for projects may be required. Projects in filled tidelands require Chapter 91 Licensing. The Revere Conservation Commission has not accepted local responsibility for Chapter 91 Licensing, however an applicant is typically requested to provide documentation that they have received or do not need Chapter 91 Licensing.

Instructions for filing with the Revere Conservation Commission

1. Filings are required for projects subject to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 131 Section 30, The Wetland Protection Act and Title 16 Environment Chapter 16.04 Wetlands Protection of the Revised City of Revere Ordinances. The Massachusetts State Building Code  780 CMR 3107.0 FLOOD-RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION details requirements for residential and commercial structures in flood prone areas.
2. Any proposed project within the affecting costal or inland waters of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts within the City of Revere is required to file prior to proceeding and receiving a building permit if required.
3. Any project that disturbs the ground will require a permit. Activities including installation of a foundation for a home or business, installation of foundations for a porch or other structure, paving of a walkway or a driveway, any filing and adding soil to create a lawn require a filing. Any existing structure which is altered greater than 50% which includes work below the flood height in the 100 flood zone year requires a filing.
4. Most projects will require the filing of a Notice of Intent (NOI). Some smaller projects may only require the filing of a Request for Determination (RDA). A NOI may still be required after the Conservation Commission makes a determination in response to a RDA. Filing of an NOI directly usually saves time. RDA’s are filled to determine whether a NOI filing is required. RDA’s are also used to determine what resources areas are affected by the project and the limits of those  resource  areas are prior to filing a NOI. RDA’s can also be utilized to determine whether a project is subject to the City of Revere’s Wetlands Bylaws. Most projects in Revere requiring the filing of a NOI are subject to filing under Revere’s Wetlands Bylaws. However the filing of one NOI is valid for both the WPA and the City of Revere Wetlands Bylaws.
5. The proponent is required to obtain the correct forms from the Revere Conservation Commission or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. These forms and instructions are available on line at http://www.mass.gov/dep/brp/ww/rpwwhome.htm. Some filings can be done on line at DEP’s website, https://edep.dep.mass.gov/DEPHome.aspx , check the site for applicability.
6. State Regulations regarding the Wetland Protection Act are 310CMR10.00. These are also available on line at http://www.mass.gov/dep/brp/ww/rpwwhome.htm
7. The typical impacted resource (s) in the City of Revere, are coastal resources. However inland resources may also be affected.
8. Public Hearings are required for both RDA’s and NOI’s. Most filings require a continuation of the public hearing from the first meeting at which an application is heard to the following month's meeting due to scheduling of site visits in between and assignment of file number and comments from DEP.
9. Public Hearing Notice is required for publication in the local paper at least seven days before the public hearing. The local paper is the Revere Journal (telephone: 781-453-0588; fax 781-485-1403) and is published week on Wednesday, which means that usually notice is published the week before the meeting is held. You usually need to get the Public Notice to the newspaper for publication by Noon on the Monday before publication. If the Monday is a holiday or there is a holiday on the following Tuesday or Wednesday, you will need to get the Public Notice to the Revere Journal the Thursday before publication. The proponent is required to pay for the public hearing publication directly to the Revere Journal and provide proof that the hearing has been advertised.
10. RDA Filings: Requests for Determination of Applicability require MA DEP WPA Form 1. Fill out Section A including your name and/or applicant and address (Section A1.), the name of a representative if any (Section A2), what you want the Revere Conservation Commission to determine (Section B1), the property address, map/plat, block, parcel/lot numbers (Section C1a., map, block and parcel are available from the City of Revere Assessors Office 781-286-8170),  describe your project (Section C1B) , reference any maps/plans that you have for the project which you will submit with the application (Section C1C.), and describe the proposed work. Section C2A.). After you have read the regulations and think your project is regulated under the WPA is exempt fill out the section that applies (Section C2Bc.) If you know whether you are within jurisdiction of the Rivers Act, a resource with special rules under the WPA , check the appropriate category (Section C3A). Fill out Section C3B to support what you checked in Section C3A if applicable. If Fill out the section for name and address of the property owner, who if not you needs to be notified and sent a copy of the RDA (Section D).  Sign and date application and submit 1 original and 8 copies to the City of Revere Conservation Commission, 281 Broadway, Revere, MA 02151 at least ten (10) days before the next scheduled meeting.  Send a copy to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Northeast Regional Office (DEP NERO, 205B Lowell Street, Wilmington, MA 01887 978-694-3200)
11. NOI Filings: Notice of Intent filings require MA DEP WPA Form 3 ( in some cases it may be possible to use Form 4, the Abbreviated Notice of Intent. Fill out the project location (Section A1). Fill out your name and/or applicant  and address (Section A2). Fill out the name and address of the property owner (Section A3). Fill out the name and address of a representative if any (Section A4),. Fill out the WPA Fee Paid (Section A5,  this amount depends on the type of project and what resources are impacted, this is one of the last things you will fill in). Provide a general description of your project (Section A6). Check the appropriate category for your project (Section A7). Get from the Suffolk County Registry of deeds or Land Court the appropriate listing reference for the last property transfer recorded affecting this property (Section A8). what you want the Revere Conservation Commission to determine, the property address, map/plat, block, parcel/lot numbers (map, block and parcel are available from the City of Revere Assessors Office 781-286-8170), reference any maps/plans that you have for the project which you will submit with the application, And describe the proposed work.. After you have read the regulations and think your project is regulated under the WPA is exempt fill out the section that applies (Section 2Bc.) If you know whether you are within jurisdiction of the Rivers Act, a resource with special rules under the WPA , check the appropriate category (Section 3A). If Fill out the section for name and address of the property owner, who if not you needs to be notified and sent a copy of the RDA (Section D). Fill out Section 3B to support what you checked in Section 3A if applicable. Sign and date application and submit 1 original and 8 copies to the City of Revere Conservation Commission, 281 Broadway, Revere, MA 02151 at least ten (10) days before the next scheduled meeting.  Send a copy to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Northeast Regional Office (DEP NERO, 205B Lowell Street, Wilmington, MA 01887 978-694-3200)
12. Abutter Notification: RDA filings and NOI filings require notification of abutters within one hundred feet of the property boundary line. Copies of Notice of Public Meeting are to be sent by registered mail return receipt at least seven days prior to the date of the public hearing by the applicant. A listing of abutters can be obtained from the City of Revere Assessors Office.
13. Fees: No applications will be heard without the correct fee having been paid to both the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of Revere as applicable. Fees paid to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are required to be accompanied by MADEP Wetland Fee Transmittal Form and are to be sent to Department of Environmental Protection, Box 4062, Boston, MA 02211.
14. File Numbers: No orders are given without a file number assigned from the Department of Environmental Protection. File Numbers can be obtained by e-filing with eDEP or by regular mail.
15. Online Resources: Many resources are available over the Internet from various websites of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Federal Government including online filing, wetlands mapping and information pertaining to Natural Heritage and Endangered Species and Area of Critical Environmental Concern programs.  
16. Completed Application: A completed application submitted to the Revere Conservation Commission must contain an original and eight copies of the following: Notice of Intent Application, Storm water Management Form (if Applicable), NOI Wetland Fee Transmittal w/Fee, FEMA Flood Zone Map, Locus Map, Wetland Resource Areas Map, Layout/Property Plan, Architectural Plan (if Applicable), List of Submissions, Copy of Legal Notice/Abutters Notification.

After You Have Applied for Your Permit

1. When the Commission has received your application (RDA or NOI) it will be reviewed for completeness and if found complete, you will be notified of the date of the public hearing. Public Notice will have to be advertised in The Revere Journal and abutter notification will need to be done in a timely manner before the public hearing in accordance with the regulations.

2. At the public hearing you will be called to the speakers podium by the chair and you or your representative will be asked to inform the Commission of your planned work. Commission members may then ask questions regarding your proposal. Any interested parties and abutters in the audience will be asked if they wish to speak in favor or opposition to your project or have any questions regarding your project.

3. A site visit is usually scheduled by the commission to view the project site. If possible a site visit may be scheduled prior to your hearing. Usually the site visit is scheduled at the public hearing. When the site visit is scheduled at the public hearing the public hearing for your project will be continued to the next monthly meeting of the Commission. Site visits usually take place on a Saturday morning and you or representative is expected to be present. Commission members may ask questions at the site visit.

4. Once the public hearing has been concluded your project is brought forward for a vote by the Commission. The vote can be for either an issuance of an Order of Conditions or a denial of an issuance of an Order of Conditions for the project. An Order of Conditions can be denied by the Commission for incomplete information or failure to address the protected interests of the Wetland Protection Act in accordance with regulations.

5. Appeals of actions can be made by project applicant, aggrieved interested parties or the Department of Environmental Protection. Appeals by the proponent or aggrieved interested parties must be made in writing to the Department of Environmental Protection within ten (10) business days of the issuance of a decision by the Commission. The appellant must utilize the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection's Request for Departmental Action Fee Transmittal Form for filing an appeal. The instructions on this form must be followed completely for the appeal to be considered for acceptance by DEP. Aggrieved interested parties must show participation in the public hearing process in order to have their appeal accepted.

6. When the Commission issues an Order of Conditions for a project the project applicant is required to record the Order at the Suffolk County Registry of deeds and submit proof of the recording to the Commission. Once proof of the recording has been received and the ten day appeal period has passed the project applicant is able to begin their process provided any other required permits have been obtained.

7. Orders from the Revere Conservation Commission expire. This period is typically three years but can be shorter. If your order expires before completion it can be extended. Typically the Commission extends orders for one year by vote. Requests for extensions need to be submitted in writing listing the DEP assigned file number, the project location and the applicant.

8. Upon completion of the project the applicant is required to obtain a Certificate of Compliance from the Commission. The recording of a Certificate of Compliance is necessary to clear title on the property. Real Estate transfers of property with open Orders of Condition have been delayed for the lack of a Certificate of Compliance. The applicant needs to submit a Request for a Certificate of Compliance (WPA Form 8A), an as-built plan signed and stamped by a profession engineer and a signed and stamped elevation certificate to obtain the Certificate of Compliance. The Commission will schedule a site visit to view the completed project for compliance. It found compliant the Commission will vote issuance of the Certificate of Compliance at it's next meeting. If the project is substantially in compliance, a partial compliance certificate may be issued. Ongoing conditions especially regarding maintenance of storm water management requirements may also be part of the issuance of the Certificate of Compliance.

   Violations of the Wetland Protection Act and Revere City Ordinances

Fines can be issued for violations of Chapter 131 Section 40 can be issued up to and including ten-thousand dollars ($10,000) a day for continuing violations. Non-criminal disposition tickets can be issued by the City of Revere for violations of Title 16 Environment, Chapter 16.04 Wetlands Protection of the Revised City of Revere Municipal Ordinances for up to three hundred dollars per day of continuing violation. Most violations are incurred when a property owner undertakes work on their property within the jurisdiction of the Revere Conservation Commission without first filing for a permit.

LINKS

The Powers and Duties of Conservation Commissions are governed by Massachusetts:

General Laws Chapter 40 Section 8c.

Coastal Wetlands Protection:

General Law concerning protection of Coastal Wetlands Chapter 130 Section 105

Wetlands Regulations, Policies, Guidance, Application Forms & FAQS:

Department of Environmental Protection Wetlands Web Page

Chapter 91 Waterways Web Page

Searchable Department of Environmental Protection Notice of Intent Filings

EDEP Electronic Department of Environmental Protection Filing

Searchable Data Base for Environmental Issues and Resources in Massachusetts Communities

Wetlands Map of Revere

Massachusetts Geographic Information Systems Web Page

Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA Technical Bulletin 1-93 Openings in Foundation Walls

Area of Critical Environmental Concern Web Page

MASSDEP Environmental eNewsletter

Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Web Page

Massachusetts State Building Code 780 CMR 3100 Special Construction

Area Maps

(click thumbnail map for larger version - click back button on your browser to return to Concom Webpage)

Areas in Blue on the FEMA maps are the areas of the 100 year flood plain. Any work that disturbs the ground surface in these areas or within 100 feet of these areas are required to file with the Revere Conservation Commission. Any living spaces or utilities constructed within the 100 year flood plain are required to be at least one foot above the Base Flood Elevation. Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Base Flood Elevation Maps) are available at the City of Revere Planning Department 281 Broadway, Revere, MA.

FEMA Floodplain Maps (scale 1"=100m)
FEMA Map Belle Isle East	FEMA Map Belle Isle West	FEMA Map Sales Creek East Branch	FEMA Map Sales Creek West Branch	FEMA Map Lower Beachmont	FEMA Map Chelsea River
FEMA Map Linden Square	FEMA Map Mill Creek North of Broadway	FEMA Map North Revere	FEMA Map Mill Creek South of Broadway	FEMA Map Oak Island Area	FEMA Map Revere
FEMA Map Revere Beach North	FEMA Map Revere Beach South	FEMA Map Sales Creek	FEMA Map Green Creek	FEMA Map Washington Avenue	FEMA Map Snake River Routes 1 & 16
FEMA Map Northgate	FEMA Map Wonderland Area 1	FEMA Map Wonderland Area 2	FEMA Map Kellys Meadows and Lower Revere Street	FEMA Map Point of Pines North	FEMA Map Point of Pines South
				FEMA Map Key - All areas in Concom jurisdiction except .02% chance of annual flood, undetermined and undesignated (last three).
FEMA Map Brown Circle North of Route 107	FEMA Map Brown Circle South of Route 107	FEMA Map Revere Boston at Route 1A
Wetland Resource Area Maps (scale 1"=100m)
Wetland Resource Areas Belle Isle East	Wetland Resource Areas Belle Isle West	Wetland Resource Areas Sales Creek East Branch	Wetland Resource Areas Sales Creek West Branch	Wetland Resource Areas Lower Beachmont	Wetland Resource Areas Chelsea River
Wetland Resource Areas Linden Square	Wetland Resource Areas Mill Creek North of Broadway	Wetland Resource Areas North Revere Coastal	Wetland Resource Areas North Revere Inland	Wetland Resource Areas Oak Island Area	Wetland Resource Areas Mill Creek South of Broadway
Wetland Resource Areas Revere Beach North	Wetland Resource Areas Revere Beach South	Wetland Resource Areas Sales Creek	Wetland Resource Areas Green Creek	Wetland Resource Areas Washington Avenue	Wetland Resource Areas Snake Rive Routes 1 & 16
Wetland Resource Areas Revere Boston Route 1A	Wetland Resource Areas Wonderland Area 1	Wetland Resource Areas Wonderland Area 2	Wetland Resource Areas Kellys Meadows and Lower Revere Street	Wetland Resource Areas Point of Pines North	Wetland Resource Areas Point of Pine South
					Wetland Map Key
Wetland Resource Areas Brown Circle North of Route 107	Wetland Resource Areas Brown Circle South of Route 107	Wetland Resource Areas Northgate	Wetland Resource Areas Linden Square
Locus Maps (scale 1"=200m)
Locus Map Belle Isle East	Locus Map Belle Isle West	Locus Map Sales Creek East Branch	Locus Map Sales Creek West Branch	Locus Map Lower Beachmont	Locus Map Chelsea River
Locus Map Linden Square	Locus Map Mill Creek North of Broadway	Locus Map Mill Creek South of Broadway	Locus Map North Revere Inland	Locus Map North Revere Coastal	Locus Map Oak Island Area
Locus Map Revere Beach North	Locus Map Revere Beach South	Locus Map Green Creek	Locus Map Washington Avenue	Locus Map Snake Rive Routes 1 & 16	Locus Map Northgate
Locus Map Wonderland Area 1	Locus Map Wonderland Area 2	Locus Map Kellys Meadows and Lower Revere Street	Locus Map Point of Pines North	Locus Map Point of Pines South	Locus Map Brown Circle North of Route 107
Locus Map Brown Circle South of Route 107	Locus Map Revere Boston Route 1A
USGS Topographic Maps
USGS Topographic Map 1	USGS Topographic Map 2	USGS Topographic Map 3	USGS Topographic Map 4	USGS Topographic Map 5	USGS Topographic Map 6
USGS Topographic Map 7	USGS Topographic Map 8	USGS Topographic Map 9	USGS Topographic Map 10	USGS Topographic Map 11

Natural Heritage Endangered Species Program Priority Habitats and Estimated Habitat
There is only one area in Revere that is listed by the NHESP and that is at the mouth of the Pines River. This area is a Priority Habitat of Rare Species and also an Estimated Habitat of a Rare Species.	The map of the area shown above is the Belle Isle Marsh in East Boston just on the Boston side of the municipal boundary, the center line of Belle Isle Inlet. It is also a Priority Habitat of Rare Species and also an Estimated Habitat of a Rare Species.