Join the fight to protect the drinking water of 3+ million in Massachusetts.
Glossary of Key Terms – ACORNS (Alphabetical Order)
501(c)(3)
A section of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code granting federal tax exemption to nonprofit organizations that operate exclusively for charitable, educational, or scientific purposes. Such organizations must refrain from political campaigning.
ACORNS
Advocates for Conservation of Oakham’s Rural Nature & Safety, a nonprofit organization formed by residents to protect local environmental resources, uphold rural character, and advocate for safe, responsible development.
Advocacy
The act of supporting a cause or proposal. ACORNS engages in advocacy to protect Oakham’s environment and rural character, within the bounds of 501(c)(3) law.
Alternative Analysis
An evaluation of other potential sites, technologies, or configurations for an energy project, required to demonstrate that the proposed option is the most feasible and least environmentally damaging.
Aquifer Recharge Zone
An area where water moves from the surface into the underground aquifer, crucial for maintaining local water supplies.
Articles of Organization
A legal document filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to form a nonprofit corporation.
Baseline Data
Information collected before a project begins, used to measure changes or impact. Often important in environmental assessments.
Board of Directors
The governing body of a nonprofit, legally responsible for overseeing the organization’s mission, compliance, and financial health.
Bordering Vegetated Wetlands (BVW)
Wetlands that border on water bodies such as streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds. Protected under state law, BVWs are typically dominated by wetland plant species and subject to strict development limitations.
Buffer Zone
An area of land that provides distance and protection between development and environmentally sensitive areas like wetlands or rivers.
Bylaws
Internal rules adopted by a nonprofit’s board of directors that govern its operations, including meetings, officer roles, and decision-making procedures.
Carbon Footprint
The total amount of greenhouse gases produced directly or indirectly by activities, often measured in units of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e).
Certificate of Environmental Impact and Public Interest
A certificate issued by the EFSB confirming that a proposed project meets all applicable environmental standards and serves the public interest. Required for final project approval.
Citizen Science
Public participation in scientific research and environmental monitoring, often used by grassroots organizations to gather local data.
Climate Resilience
The capacity of communities and ecosystems to adapt and respond to the impacts of climate change, including extreme weather events.
Clustering of Development
A planning strategy to concentrate buildings in one part of a property to preserve open space or environmentally sensitive areas elsewhere.
Community Impact Statement
A document or summary assessing how a proposed project could affect a local community’s well-being, safety, environment, and economy.
Conflict of Interest Policy
A required policy for nonprofits to ensure board members and staff act in the best interest of the organization rather than for personal gain.
Cumulative Impact
The combined, incremental effects of multiple projects or actions over time, which may be greater than any
single project alone.
Decibel Levels
A measurement of sound intensity. Battery projects often require noise impact assessments due to concerns from nearby residents.
Docket Number
A unique identifier assigned by the EFSB to track and reference each specific case or petition filed with the board.
EFSB (Energy Facilities Siting Board)
A Massachusetts state board responsible for reviewing proposals to construct energy facilities, such as power plants and transmission lines, to ensure they meet public need and minimize environmental impacts.
Environmental Notification Form (ENF)
A filing required under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) for projects that may significantly impact the environment.
Fire Safety Concerns (BESS)
Issues surrounding the risk of thermal runaway, toxic gas release, and explosion associated with lithium-ion battery fires.
Floodplain
Low-lying ground adjacent to a river, subject to flooding. Often regulated to protect property, public safety, and water quality.
Grassroots Advocacy
Community-driven efforts to influence public opinion or policy through local organizing, education, and participation.
Greenwashing
A deceptive practice where a project or company presents itself as environmentally friendly without substantial actions or benefits.
Hazard Mitigation
Strategies to reduce risks from natural or human-caused hazards, especially in the context of emergency management and planning.
Hydrologic Connection
The relationship between surface and groundwater systems, often cited in environmental reviews to assess water resource impact.
Hydrology
The scientific study of the movement, distribution, and management of water in the environment. Often assessed in wetland evaluations and stormwater planning.
Impervious Surface
Hard surfaces such as pavement and rooftops that prevent water from soaking into the ground. They increase stormwater runoff and risk to nearby wetlands.
Independent Peer Review
The use of external experts not affiliated with a project to evaluate studies, data, or claims—often recommended for wetlands or hydrologic reports.
Intervenor
An individual or group granted formal status to participate in EFSB proceedings, allowing them to submit evidence, question witnesses, and make legal arguments.
Invasive Species
Non-native plants or animals that can cause harm to local ecosystems. Disturbance from development can often lead to their spread.
Isolated Vegetated Wetlands
Wetlands not connected to surface water bodies. Although sometimes not jurisdictional under federal law, they are often protected under Massachusetts regulations due to their ecological functions.
Local Control
The principle that decisions about land use and development should be made at the local town or city level, not by state agencies or private developers.
Massachusetts General Laws (MGL)
The body of law enacted by the Massachusetts legislature that governs local government, land use, and nonprofit corporations.
NEPA
The National Environmental Policy Act, a federal law requiring environmental assessments for projects receiving federal funding or permits.
Nonpartisan Statement
A declaration made by a nonprofit to clarify that its actions and endorsements are not affiliated with any political party or candidate.
Notice of Intent (NOI)
A formal application under the Wetlands Protection Act submitted to a local conservation commission when proposed work may impact wetland resources.
Open Space
Land that is undeveloped and preserved in its natural state, often critical to protecting biodiversity and water quality.
Order of the Board
The final decision issued by the EFSB, granting or denying approval for a project based on findings of fact, public input, and compliance with applicable laws.
Outreach Committee
A group within an organization like ACORNS that focuses on communication, public engagement, education, and relationship-building.
Permitting Process
The required steps and approvals needed from local, state, or federal agencies before development or construction can occur.
Petition to Construct
A formal application submitted to the EFSB seeking approval for the construction of a major energy facility. It must include details about environmental impacts, alternatives, public need, and consistency with state energy policy.
Precautionary Principle
A strategy to err on the side of caution when the environmental or health impacts of an action are uncertain but potentially serious.
Public Health Impact
The potential effects of development or policy decisions on the physical and mental well-being of a population.
Public Records Request
A legal mechanism allowing individuals to request access to government-held information, often used by watchdog and advocacy groups.
Public Review Process
The formal procedure used by the EFSB to gather public input on proposed energy projects, including public comment periods, public hearings, and opportunities to intervene.
Quorum
The minimum number of board members or organizational members required to be present to conduct official business or make decisions.
Recharge Area
Land where water infiltrates the ground to replenish an aquifer. Often a protected resource due to its role in maintaining water supply and quality.
Resiliency
The ability of a community or ecosystem to withstand or recover from challenges such as climate change, pollution, or industrial development.
Resource Area
Under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, this includes wetlands, banks, rivers, ponds, lakes, and land subject to flooding—all of which receive varying levels of protection.
Right to Farm
A legal protection granted to agricultural operations in certain communities, like Oakham, that preserves farming as a land use and lifestyle.
Right-to-Know Laws
Regulations that ensure the public has access to information about potential hazards, including chemicals used or stored in facilities.
Riverfront Area
A protected area extending 200 feet from the mean annual high water line of any perennial river or stream. Activities in this zone are subject to specific review criteria.
Scoping
The process of identifying the potential environmental impacts and issues that should be studied in depth in an EFSB proceeding. Often occurs at the beginning of the review process.
Site Plan Review
A process by which local boards assess proposed developments for compliance with zoning and environmental regulations.
Siting Criteria
The standards and guidelines used by the EFSB to evaluate whether a proposed energy facility is appropriately located, taking into account safety, environmental, and land use considerations.
Special Interest
A person or group seeking to influence decisions in a way that serves their specific financial or political goals; often contrasted with the public interest.
Stakeholder
Any individual or group with an interest in a particular issue, development, or decision—including residents, local officials, businesses, and environmental organizations.
Stand-Alone BESS Facility
A battery energy storage system not directly tied to a specific renewable generation source, instead connecting to the grid for energy arbitrage and grid support.
Stormwater Runoff
Rainwater or melted snow that flows over land surfaces, which can carry pollutants into nearby waterways. Proper management is crucial to protect wetlands and watersheds.
Thermal Runaway
A chain reaction in batteries where heat builds up uncontrollably, leading to fire or explosion. A key safety issue in lithium-ion BESS.
Transparency
The principle of open, honest communication and decision-making in both government and nonprofit sectors.
Use Variance
A zoning allowance granted by a ZBA that permits land use not typically allowed in a district, often controversial if environmental concerns exist.
Vernal Pool
A seasonal body of water that forms in the spring and typically dries up by late summer, providing essential habitat for species that rely on fish-free breeding areas. Protected under Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act.
Visual Impact
The effect a structure or facility has on the landscape’s aesthetic and character, frequently a concern in rural or scenic communities.
Ware River Watershed
A critical water supply region in Central Massachusetts feeding into the Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs. It includes thousands of acres of protected land and is vital for regional drinking water quality.
Watershed
An area of land that drains rainwater or snow into one location such as a stream, lake, or reservoir. The Ware River Watershed is a major watershed in Oakham, contributing to drinking water for millions.
Watershed Management
The integrated process of managing land and water resources in a watershed to sustain ecosystem health and water quality. Often includes conservation, restoration, and community planning efforts.
Wetland Buffer Zone
The area within 100 feet of a wetland resource area, regulated in Massachusetts to limit development impacts and preserve ecological functions.
Wetland Delineation
The process of identifying and marking the boundaries of a wetland area, typically conducted by environmental professionals using vegetation, soil, and hydrology indicators.
Wetlands
Areas where water covers the soil or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods of time during the year. Wetlands provide critical habitat, filter pollutants, reduce flooding, and support biodiversity. Regulated under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act.
