About the Council - Activities in 2025
Council Duties Council Members Acknowledgments
Activities of the Council in 2025
Research and Reports
The Council published its 2025 annual report, Environmental Quality in Connecticut, in April 2026.
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 review conducted for 2025, the Council found that approximately 34 percent of the funds from the surcharge on the Nips were expended to reduce the generation of solid waste, and approximately 66 percent were expended to reduce the impact of litter caused by such solid waste. See the Miniature Beverage Containers discussion in this 2025 annual report for more information as well as the Council’s 2025 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 completed an internal review of the regulatory, monitoring, and management programs for pesticides in Connecticut. This internal review, Pesticides in Connecticut, was prepared for Council members on what information is known, what information is needed, and what approaches should be taken to better understand which restricted-use pesticides are being sold, how much is being applied, and where the pesticides are being applied in the state.
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 and assistance to several state agencies to develop notices for publication in the Environmental Monitor.
As noted above, the Council commented on several state activities and plans, including but not limited to the following:
- The Connecticut Army National Guard's planned Environmental Assessment for Facility Alterations and Additions at 139 Tower Avenue in Groton;
- Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (DEEP) Connecticut Climate Action Plan;
- The Old Colony Road Bridge in Eastford and the South River Road #2 Bridge in Tolland;
- DEEP's draft 2024 Integrated Water Quality Report (IWQR);
- DEEP's Environmental Impact Evaluations for the proposed Regional Composting Facility in Kent, Regional Composting Facility in Manchester, and Regional Composting Facility for Southeastern Connecticut in Preston;
- DEEP's Notice of Scoping for Proposed Modification of Easements to Allow a 199-psig Natural Gas Distribution Pipeline Within Portions of Hurd State Park and Connecticut Valley Railroad State Park Trail and Notice of Scoping for Town of Coventry Water Pollution Control Facility in Coventry;
- DEEP’s Notice of Intent to Amend Air Quality Regulations and Revise the State Implementation Plan;
- DEEP's Shared Clean Energy Facility Program Year 7;
- Draft Forest Management Plans for Meshomasic State Forest- Mountain Block, Pachaug State Forest - Wyassyp Block, Mattatuck State Forest - Cave-Black Rock Block, James Goodwin State Forest, Centennial Watershed State Forest - Easton Reservoir Block, and Centennial Watershed State Forest - Lakeville Reservoir Block;
- DEEP’s General Pretreatment Permit for Significant Industrial Users (SIU) Discharges to Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW), National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for the Discharge of Stormwater from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4), General Pretreatment Permit for Non-Significant Industrial User Discharges to Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW), General Permit for the Discharge of Drinking Water from Construction Activities, and Draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for Discharge of Stormwater Associated with Commercial Activity.
- Department of Transportation (DOT) proposed land transfer in Sprague and Department of Administrative Services (DAS) proposed land transfer in Newington.
- The Council provided comments for eight (8) applications for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need and 27 Petitions for Declaratory Ruling to the Connecticut Siting Council.
The Council also commented on proposed legislation, which could have impacted Connecticut’s environment, during the 2025 legislative session.
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 participated in the working group through group meetings and submitted comments to DEEP regarding the 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 2025, staff investigated numerous inquiries and complaints including, but not limited to, noise/vibration; inland wetland impacts; concerns about forest management plans; the application of pesticides; solid waste; development of telecommunications and solar facilities; water quality; and land use. 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; municipal agencies, 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 2025, the Council held 12 regular meetings and one special meeting. The approved meeting minutes and links to the meetings’ recording for all recent meetings are available on the Council’s website.