Council on Environmental Quality Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the April 24, 2024, meeting of the Council on Environmental Quality (Council) held via Zoom.

MEMBERS PRESENT: (remote) Charles Vidich (Acting Chair), Christopher Donnelly, Denise Rodosevich, David Kalafa, and William Warzecha.

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Paul Aresta (Council - Executive Director), Ryan Carboni (Council - Environmental Analyst), Jordan DiDomenico (Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)), Justine Phillips-Gallucci (Office of Policy and Management (OPM)), and Matt Pafford (Department of Administrative Services (DAS)). Members of the public that spoke: Lori Brown, Alicea Charamut, Margaret Miner, and Louise Washer.

1. Call to Order: Establishment of a Quorum
At 9:38 AM, Vidich called the meeting to order, took attendance, and confirmed that there was a quorum of Council members present.

2. Chairs Report
Vidich introduced the Council’s newly hired Environmental Analyst - Ryan Carboni. Carboni introduced himself and provided a summary of his experience.

Vidich suggested revising the Council meeting agenda to immediately address 1) the annual report, draft comments regarding the Kenyonville Road Bridge in Woodstock, and draft comments regarding the Grantville Road Bridge over Mad River and the White Street Bridge over the Still River in Winchester; and 2) Connecticut Siting Council (CSC) Petition 1623 (battery, Waterford) and CSC Petition 1627 (solar, Hamden); and to add CSC Petition 1629 (telecom, East Hartford) to the agenda under item 7b. Kalafa made a motion to revise the meeting agenda as suggested by Vidich; seconded by Warzecha. The motion passed unanimously.

6. Executive Director’s Report

• Rodosevich suggested adding a few items to the recommendations identified in the annual report. Donnelly suggested that the Council could include more information on environmental justice. Warzecha also suggested that additional information regarding contamination of drinking water wells and PFAS chemicals could be added the annual report. Kalafa noted that the current annual report is usually released at this time of the year and suggested completing the current report and adding the suggested information in next year’s report. Rodosevich suggested revising the recommendations by adding “protect potable water sources” and “meet farmland preservation goals” under the promote nature-based solutions recommendation, and “incorporate consideration of the rising sea level in project planning and funding in shoreline communities” under the increase resources for DEEP and other agencies recommendation. Kalafa made a motion to finalize the annual report with the revisions suggested by Rodosevich; seconded by Warzecha. The motion passed unanimously.
  
  
• Rodosevich suggested making one motion for the approval of the comments for the Federal Local Bridge Projects and two CSC Petitions. Aresta specified that the comments address 1) the Kenyonville Road Bridge in Woodstock; 2) the Grantville Road Bridge over Mad River and the White Street Bridge over the Still River in Winchester; 3) CSC Petition 1623; and 4) CSC Petition 1627. Kalafa made a motion to approve the comments for each of the items specified by Aresta; seconded by Donnelly. The motion passed unanimously.

3. Approval of Minutes from March 27, 2024
Rodosevich made a motion to approve the draft minutes from March 27, 2024; seconded by Kalafa. The motion was approved unanimously with Warzecha abstaining.

Kalafa left the meeting at 10:03 and Vidich noted that there was no longer a quorum of Council members present.

4. Citizen Comment Period
Lori Brown, Louise Washer, Margaret Miner, and Alicea Charamut commented on their concerns regarding pesticides. Washer suggested that the Council examine three issues including 1) the electronic storage and retrieval of information regarding pesticide use, 2) whether there are adequate resources to enforce the pesticide regulations and undertake inspections, and 3) education on the use of pesticides that are classified as neonicotinoids (neonics). Charamut also commented on the difficulty of accessing electronic public records. Miner commented on the use of neonics as a seed coating the impact on soil and water quality. Vidich suggested that Council staff add this topic to next month’s agenda, and review the status of the information and recommendations that are identified in the Council’s previous study on pesticides. 

5. Citizen Complaints and Inquiries Received

• Aresta reported that the Council received a complaint alleging that an environmental testing laboratory was not following appropriate quality control (QC) procedures. He added that Council staff provided the complainant with contact information for the Connecticut Department of Public Health’s (DPH) Environmental Laboratory Certification Program.
  
  
• Aresta reported that Council staff investigated the complaint received at the last meeting regarding noise from the Covanta facility in Bristol. He added that Council staff contacted DEEP and the Bristol – Burlington Health District (BBHD) to collect information on the status of the noise issue. Aresta stated that the BBHD indicated that their consultants have not yet released the results of their investigation, and the consultants for the Covanta facility were exploring measures to address an identified noise issue.
  
  
• Aresta reported that the Council received an inquiry regarding the appropriate agency for a site that the complainant believed was contaminated. He added that Council staff provided the contact information for DEEP’s Remediation Division.
  
  
• Aresta reported that the Council received a complaint of “huge oil/gas all over the property”, and responded to the complainant that any release of gas/oil should be reported to DEEP’s Spill Response Unit. He added that Council staff forwarded the email to DEEP’s Spill Response Unit, and one of their staff inspected the publicly accessible areas of the property and reported that no evidence of a release or staining was noted on or around the property.
  
  
• Aresta noted that the Council received an inquiry regarding pesticides, which was discussed earlier in the meeting.
  
  
• Council staff reported that the Council received a copy of a letter from the Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook Wild & Scenic Committee that was sent to DEEP and others regarding their concerns with the conditions at Rainbow Dam in Windsor.

6. Executive Director’s Report (Discussed earlier in the meeting)

7. State Agency and Legislative Actions 
a. DEEP

• Release-Based Remediation Program – update:
  Aresta reported that DEEP held another informational session on April 23, and DEEP discussed conceptual site modeling for a potential release. Aresta explained what a conceptual site model involves and noted that DEEP indicated that the release-based regulations might be released in late 2024/early 2025 to coincide with possible changes to the Connecticut General Statutes.

b. Connecticut Siting Council (CSC) 
No comments recommended at this time:

• Petition 1624 (energy, Newtown)
  Aresta reported that Council staff reviewed a proposal from Eversource Energy to permanently expand the Sandy Hook Substation in Newtown. He summarized the proposed project and the environmental characteristics of the proposed site.
  
  
• Petition 1625 (telecom, Wethersfield)
  Aresta reported that Council staff reviewed a proposal from the town of Wethersfield to expand the compound of an existing telecommunications facility to accommodate a 30-kilowatt (kW) diesel emergency generator. He summarized the proposed project and the environmental characteristics of the proposed site.
  
  
• Petition 1626 (solar, Franklin)
  Aresta reported that Council staff reviewed a proposal from North Franklin Solar One, LLC to construct and operate a 4.975 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) electric generating facility in North Franklin. He summarized the proposed project and the environmental characteristics of the proposed site.
  
  
• Petition 1628 (telecom, Danbury)
  Aresta reported that Council staff reviewed a proposal from 48 Newtown Road Corporation to expand the compound of an existing telecommunications facility to accommodate a 50-kW diesel emergency generator. He summarized the proposed project and the environmental characteristics of the proposed site.
  
  
• Petition 1629 (telecom, East Hartford)
  Aresta reported that Council staff reviewed a proposal from Verizon Wireless to install a wireless telecommunications facility and associated equipment on the roof of a building in East Hartford. He summarized the proposed project and the environmental characteristics of the proposed site.

c. Legislature:

• Raised bills and comments
  Aresta noted that comments were submitted to the Legislature regarding the language in Substitute House Bill 5475. He added that the submitted comments recommended the proposed substitute language be revised to eliminate the provisions that 1) limit public participation in any administrative proceeding, or in any judicial review related to the public trust in environmental resources, and 2) allow the municipality to waive the review and regulation of actions that could impact inland wetlands in areas designated for increased development.
  
  Aresta reviewed the status of certain bills for which the Council previously provided comments.

8. Other Business 

Aresta noted that the next meeting is scheduled for May 22, 2024 at 9:30 AM and it will be a remote meeting.

Rodosevich commented on a recent Earth Day Conference, a proposed constitutional amendment in support of the environment, and the Tweed New Haven Airport. Aresta noted that he would provide the most recent version of the proposed constitutional amendment to Council members.

Warzecha made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:58 AM; seconded by Rodosevich. The motion was approved unanimously. The meeting was concluded.

A recording¹ of the meeting is available online and by email request of the Council (email to: CEQ@ct.gov). (Disclaimer: The transcript associated with the meeting recording is computer-generated and may contain typos that have not been edited.)