Our goal is to provide you with project information, so you can make informed decisions and participate effectively.  Outreach will include strategies and procedures to foster participation throughout a broad geographic area, incorporate many communities and promote the flow of information among numerous interested and concerned stakeholders. Because this is a regional project, we must keep in mind the need to inform residents and businesses about the issues in areas where wastewater planning is not yet underway, while also working with communities already undertaking this work. 

The public involvement program will rely on the project website, email updates and notifications, public meetings and press outreach to keep you informed about project activities and progress.  Public meetings in each of the 3 project sub-regions - Brockton, Mansfield and Taunton - will be held prior to filing the Environmental Notification Form and during the MEPA comment period. Click here for sub-region maps.

The project team will meet with the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) at key milestones.  The TAC will assist the project team by reviewing project materials and providing comments and input, suggesting approaches to evaluations or additional alternatives to consider, contributing their perspectives and advice based on knowledge and expertise, coordinating outreach within their respective communities, anticipating community concerns and taking leadership roles in developing and maintaining collaborations with other communities.  The goal is to invest the TAC in development of the alternatives, thus ensuring that local preferences are incorporated to the maximum degree possible.
 
The TAC includes representatives from the executive and engineering/public works departments of the 15 communities in the project area.  Members represent key constituencies and areas of expertise.  The TAC is divided into 3 sub-groups that will consider issues specific to sub-regions.  The sub-regions are organized around current wastewater treatment facilities; however, this does not preclude considering types of treatment and disposal that are de-centralized.  The TAC will schedule periodic joint meetings with the Taunton River Watershed Study Steering Committee to ensure the projects remain complementary and information is shared effectively. 

Representation:

• Community Executive and Engineering/Department of Public Works Staff – local partners (political/institutional and technical/operational issues)
• Old Colony Planning Council
• Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District
• Metropolitan Area Planning Council
• Wheaton College – individual discharger
• MA Department of Corrections (MCI Bridgewater) – individual discharger
• MA Department of Environmental Protection and other relevant state and federal regulatory agencies
• Taunton River Watershed Study Steering Committee – complementary study
• Taunton River Watershed Alliance – environmental/NGO interests

TAC sub-region groups:          

*Easton is represented in all 3 sub-regions because the community’s location lends it to collaborations within any or all of the sub-regions.