About the Council
Council Duties Council Members Acknowledgments
Activities of the Council in 2024
Research and Reports
The Council published the 2023 Environmental Quality in Connecticut annual report in May 2024.
In 2023, Public Act 23-76 established a requirement for the Council to conduct a review of “programs and measures of local governments implemented pursuant to subsection (d) of Section 22a-244b,” as part of the Council’s review of the programs and activities of the state and local governments and private organizations, as required by Connecticut General Statutes (CGS) Section 22a-12. Subsection (a) of CGS Section 22a-244b established a five-cent surcharge on any beverage container containing a spirit or liquor of fifty milliliters or less, often referred to as Nips.
For the survey conducted in 2024, the Council found that approximately 32 percent of the funds from the surcharge on the Nips was expended to reduce the generation of solid waste, and approximately 68 percent was expended to reduce the impact of litter caused by such solid waste. See the Miniature Beverage Containers discussion in this 2024 Annual Report for more information as well as the Council’s 2024 Preliminary findings of the review of programs and measures of local governments on the expenditure of funds from the surcharge on spirit or liquor beverage containers of fifty milliliters or less (Nips).
The Council also notes that there was no new data for certain indicators, including rivers and streams, wetlands, marine fishes, bats, forest birds, and turtles. The inclusion of biological indicators requires considerable care in the selection of appropriate species, and the Council is grateful for the advice it received from experts.
Advice to Other Agencies
Council staff reviewed proposals submitted to the Connecticut Siting Council; environmental impact evaluations, and notices prepared by other agencies, consistent with the requirements of the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act; forest management plans; draft request for proposals / bid preferences; draft general permits, studies and reports; and proposed projects funded through the Federal Local Bridge Program and submitted comments when deemed appropriate. The Council provided training to several state agencies and updated the notice templates to assist state agencies to develop notices for publication in the Environmental Monitor.
The Council commented on several state activities and plans, including but not limited to the following:
- DEEP’s Draft Release Based Cleanup Regulations;
- DEEP’s Integrated Water Planning Management V2;
- DEEP’s Proposed Environmental Classification Document;
- Proposed replacement of Kenyonville Road Bridge in Woodstock, Grantville Road Bridge over Mad River and the White Street Bridge over the Still River in Winchester, Day Road Bridge in Pomfret, and Cotton Bridge Road Bridge in Killingly;
- DEEP’s Draft General Permits for 1) the Discharge of Swimming Pool Wastewater to Surface and Ground Waters of the State, 2) Point Source Discharges to Waters of the State from the Application of Pesticides, 3) the Discharge of Dewatering and Remediation Wastewaters, 4) One Day Collections of Certain Wastes and Household Hazardous Waste, 5) Discharges to Surface and Ground Water, 6) Act as a Contractor to Contain or Remove or Otherwise Mitigate the Effects of Certain Releases, and 7) In Situ Remediation: Chemical Oxidation;
- DEEP’s Draft Forest Management Plans for The Preserve State Forest and Salmon River State Forest: Gilead Block;
- DEEP's Shared Clean Energy Program Year 6;
- DEEP’s Regulatory Amendments and Revision to State Implementation Plan;
- DEEP’s draft 2024 Connecticut Clean Hydrogen Roadmap;
- The Long Island Sound Study's Draft Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan;
- The Department of Agriculture’s requirements for Clean Energy Projects on Agricultural Land;
- The Office of Policy and Management’s Draft Conservation and Development Policies Plan 2025-2030;
- 5 applications for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need and 21 Petitions for Declaratory Ruling to the Connecticut Siting Council.
The Council also commented on proposed legislation during the 2024 legislative session that could have impacted Connecticut’s environment.
Public Act 20-9, An Act Revising Provisions of the Transfer Act and Authorizing the Development and Implementation of a Release-Based Remediation Program, stipulated that the Council would be a member of a working group to develop regulations to implement a Release-Based Remediation Program. The Council has participated in the working group through the subcommittees and group meetings. The Council submitted comments to DEEP regarding the Draft Release Based Cleanup Regulations.
Citizen Concerns and Complaints
State law directs the Council to investigate citizen complaints alleging violation of any statute or regulation in respect to environmental quality. In 2024, staff investigated numerous inquiries and complaints including, but not limited to noise; inland and tidal wetland impacts; concerns about forest management plans; the application of pesticides; remediation; development and decommissioning of solar facilities; and water quality. The Council also addressed questions regarding the applicability of the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) to certain proposed state actions. Routine matters are usually addressed by referring the person who inquired or complained to the appropriate person or agency to handle the matter. The Council appreciates the assistance provided by the Departments of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Public Health, and Transportation; the Office of Policy and Management; and others to answer citizen inquiries and resolve complaints.
Every month the Council discusses the inquiries and complaints of environmental consequence that were presented to the Council by staff, individuals, and groups. In 2024, the Council held 12 regular meetings. The approved meeting minutes and link to the meeting recording for all recent meetings are available on the Council’s website.