Council on Environmental Quality Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the February 26, 2025, meeting of the Council on Environmental Quality (Council) held via Zoom.

MEMBERS PRESENT: (Remote) Keith Ainsworth (Acting Chair), David Kalafa, Christopher Donnelly Timothy Bishop, Linda Bowers, Aimee Petras, Denise Rodosevich, 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), Laschone Garrison (DEEP), Justine Phillips-Gallucci (Office of Policy and Management (OPM)), Bruce Wittchen (OPM), and Becca Dahl (OPM).

1. Call to Order: Establishment of a Quorum

At 9:30 AM, Ainsworth called the meeting to order, took attendance, and confirmed that there was a quorum of Council members present.

2. Chair’s Report

Ainsworth discussed the duties and role of the Council, which includes speaking in favor of Connecticut's environment. Ainsworth noted that because of the Council’s meeting schedule, the Council is ill-suited to comment on many legislative proposals. He suggested that Council members should track and review proposed legislation, and the Council should take a more active position by commenting on proposed legislation. Ainsworth noted that the Council missed an opportunity to provide comments on a resolution for a constitutional amendment on the environment before the public hearing. Ainsworth noted that the Council could still provide comments to the chairs of the committee and key legislators.

Kalafa made a motion to provide comments in support of section one of the proposed resolution for the constitutional amendment to the appropriate committee(s); seconded by Warzecha. The motion was approved unanimously.

3. Approval of Minutes from January 22, 2025

Bowers made a motion to approve the draft meeting minutes from January 22, 2025; seconded by Warzecha. The motion was approved with Kalafa and Rodosevich abstaining because they were not present at the January 22, 2025, meeting.

4. Citizen Comment Period

No comments were provided during the Citizen Comment Period.

5. Citizen Complaints and Inquiries Received

• Carboni reported that the Council received a complaint regarding the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed forest management activities identified in the draft Forest Resource Management Plan (FMP) for The Preserve State Forest (TPSF) and an inquiry regarding the applicability of the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) for the draft FMP. He added that Council staff prepared a draft letter encouraging DEEP to assess the potential direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of the proposed forest management activities for TPSF.

• Carboni reported that the Council received an inquiry regarding the applicability of CEPA for proposed modifications around the New Haven Green. He added that Council staff provided the citizen with information including links to the CEPA statutes and regulations, the Generic Environmental Classification Document (ECD), and the “What Is Scoping?” webpage on the Council’s website.
  
  
• Carboni reported that the Council received an inquiry regarding the location of any landfills in the town of New Canaan. He added that Council staff provided the individual with information including links to DEEP’s permitted solid waste facilities and the list of contaminated or potentially contaminated sites in Connecticut.

Rodosevich made a motion to provide the letter regarding TPSF to DEEP; seconded by Warzecha. The motion passed unanimously.

6. Executive Director’s Report

• Annual Report
  Aresta presented information for several indicators for the 2024 annual report, including land preservation, farmland, energy storage, electricity conservation, solar power, piping plovers, swimming, and core forests. Ainsworth noted that although the 2023 goals for land preservation haven’t been achieved, the goal line should remain in the chart for 2024. Donnelly suggested that 1) the goal for land preservation should be identified in the annual report, 2) electric savings should be changed to electric reductions, and 3) the basis for determining core forest should be described to minimize any false assumptions about the data. Kalafa suggested that the annual report should include information on how many households could be served by installed or approved energy storage capacity.

7. State Agency Actions

a. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)

• Release-Based Remediation Program – update
  Aresta reported that DEEP held a brief meeting on February 11, and 1) answered questions regarding the revised release-based clean-up regulations, and 2) discussed minor legislative realignments that DEEP has proposed. Aresta added that DEEP also noted that there might be legislation that creates a stakeholder engagement process once the release-based clean-up regulations (RBCR) are adopted.
  
  
• DEEP Agency Specific Environmental Classification Document (ECD) - Update
  Aresta reported that Council staff met with representatives from the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) and DEEP to discuss DEEP’s plans to revise its draft agency specific ECD. Aresta added that according to DEEP, the revised ECD would be noticed in the Environmental Monitor with a comment period to follow.

b. Connecticut Siting Council (CSC)
Comments recommended:

• Docket 530 (telecom, East Haddam)
  Aresta reported that Council staff reviewed a proposal from Homeland Towers LLC to construct and operate a monopole tower and associated equipment in East Haddam. He reviewed the environmental characteristics of the proposed project and site and noted that draft comments have been developed that address wetlands. Bishop had questions regarding wetlands and the slope between the proposed facility compound and the wetland area. Aresta indicated that he would have to calculate the slope for the area between the proposed facility compound and the wetlands. Aresta added that if the slope exceeds 15 percent, he could modify the Council’s comments to emphasize the recommendation to increase the distance between the proposed facility compound and the wetland area.
  
  
• Petition 1656 (energy, Naugatuck-Oxford)
  Aresta reported that Council staff reviewed a proposal from Eversource Energy to modify sections of four 115-kilovolt (“kV”) transmission lines along approximately four miles from South Naugatuck Substation to Beacon Falls Junction, and from Beacon Falls Junction to Beacon Falls Substation in Naugatuck. He noted that draft comments have been developed that address: the provision of certain documents, wetlands and vernal pools, vegetation management, wildlife, spill prevention, inspections, and education. Council members raised questions regarding soil erosion; blasting; the discharge of groundwater; use of herbicides; plantings; and the provisions of the recommended spill prevention plan. Aresta answered the Council members’ questions or indicated that he would need to review the petition materials and would follow up with the requested information.

No comments recommended at this time:

• Docket 529 (Telecom, Haddam)
  Carboni reported that Council staff reviewed a proposal from Homeland Towers and Verizon to construct and operate a monopole tower and associated equipment in Haddam. He summarized the environmental characteristics of the proposed project and site.
  
  
• Docket 531 (telecom, Ansonia)
  Carboni reported that Council staff reviewed a proposal from ARX Wireless Infrastructure and New Cingular Wireless to construct and operate a monopole tower and associated equipment in Ansonia. He summarized the environmental characteristics of the proposed project and site.
  
  Kalafa made a motion and amended it to approve the comments for Docket 530, and Petition 1656 with a possible revision to address the potential environmental impact associated with blasting, if appropriate; seconded by Warzecha. The motion, as amended, passed unanimously

c. Department of Transportation

• Notice of Proposed Land Transfer in Sprague
  Aresta reported that the Department of Transportation proposes to transfer an approximately 47- acre property along the Shetucket River in Sprague. He reviewed the environmental conditions of the property and noted that Council staff has prepared draft comments that include a recommendation for DEEP to review the 47-acre property to determine if the state should retain the parcel as open space or alternatively, impose appropriate restrictions. There was general discussion regarding the use of the parcels as open space. There were suggestions to revise the draft comments to indicate that the Council “strongly” recommends that the state or an appropriate conservation organization should retain the parcels as open space.
  
  Kalafa made a motion to approve the comments with the suggested changes; seconded by Bishop. The motion was approved unanimously.

d. Legislature

Aresta reported that Council staff submitted testimony for proposed House Bill 6830 and House Bill 6917 in advance of the public hearings. He added that a list of bills and concepts related to the environment was developed for the Council’s consideration. Ainsworth noted that Council members could provide guidance for the development of testimony. Ainsworth suggested that testimony be developed as follows: support for House Bill 6248; opposition to Senate Bill 58; opposition to House Bill 6868 Section 4; and support for Senate Bill 9, which includes provisions for the reduction on the use on neonicotinoids. Rodosevich identified House Bill 6280; Senate Bill 732; and Senate Bill 1378. Donnelly noted that there are many proposed bills that are or may be subject to a public hearing and he would need more time to review the proposed legislation. There was additional discussion regarding the opportunity and timing for potentially developing and providing testimony for proposed legislation. Ainsworth made a motion to provide testimony and take a position on the proposed legislation that was discussed; seconded by Rodosevich. The motion passed with Donnelly voting no. Petras made a motion to consider scheduling a meeting in March to address legislative topics; seconded by Bishop. The motion was approved with Ainsworth voting no.

8. Other Business

Aresta noted that the Council’s next meeting is scheduled for March 26, 2025, and it will be a hybrid meeting.

Bowers made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 11:47 AM; seconded by Bishop. The motion was approved unanimously, and the meeting 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.)

¹Passcode: hZTqE=5.