Council on Environmental Quality Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the March 26, 2025, meeting of the Council on Environmental Quality (Council) held in person at 79 Elm Street, Hartford and via Zoom.

MEMBERS PRESENT: (in person) Keith Ainsworth (Acting Chair), Denise Rodosevich, Linda Bowers, (remote) Christopher Donnelly, Aimee Petras, David Kalafa, Timothy Bishop 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 Becca Dahl (OPM). 

1. Call to Order: Establishment of a Quorum
At 9:35 AM, Ainsworth called the meeting to order, took attendance, and confirmed that there was a quorum of Council members present.

2. Approval of minutes of February 26, 2025 and March 5, 2025
Rodosevich made a motion to approve the draft meeting minutes from February 26, 2025 and March 5, 2025; seconded by Bowers. The motion was approved unanimously. Kalafa noted that he was not present at the special meeting on March 5, 2025.

3. Citizen Comment Period
There were no citizen comments.

4. Citizen Complaints and Inquiries Received 

• Carboni reported that the Council received an inquiry regarding regulations governing mechanical rollers. The individual was concerned that vibrations caused by the construction equipment might cause damage to property. He added that Council staff responded that the individual could contact the municipality as this was not an environmental issue that the Council could help resolve.
  
  
• Carboni reported that the Council received an inquiry regarding energy efficiency programs in the state for residential dwellings. He added that Council staff provided the contact information for EnergizeCT and the Connecticut Green Bank.
  
  
• Carboni reported that the Council received a complaint regarding possible illegal fishing in a river/stream, and the complainant wanted someone to discuss the fishing regulations with the individual that was fishing. He added that Council staff provided information for DEEP’s Fisheries Division and the Environmental Conservation Police Office for future reference.
  
  
• Carboni reported that the Council received an inquiry regarding proposed revisions to the resolution for the constitutional amendment for environmental rights. Carboni added that Council staff replied and provided the main points from the testimony that the Council previously submitted. 

5. Executive Director’s Report

• Annual Report
  Aresta reviewed the schedule for the development of the annual report. Aresta presented information for several indicators for the 2024 annual report, including residential, and commercial and industrial (C&I) electricity purchases; zero-carbon electricity generation; bald eagle nesting; electric vehicles; beach closures at inland state parks; transit bus ridership; and forestry. There was general discussion regarding the charts for electricity purchases for the residential and C&I sectors, and the probable reasons why there was an increase in electric sales in the residential sector in 2024. It was suggested that the charts for electricity purchases for both the residential and C&I sectors start at 5,000 million kilowatt-hours (KWh) and utilize the same scale.

6. State Agency Actions 
a. DEEP

• Release-Based Remediation Program (RBRP) – Update
  Carboni reported that DEEP recently held another working group meeting and there was discussion of the development of a tracker application for existing and emergent releases that is intended to create and track cases, schedules, milestones, submittals, and allow certain users make payments. He noted that it would also allow public users, such as realtors and researchers, to view cases and make lists.
  
  
• Notice of Intent to Amend Regulations Concerning Water Pollution Control - Subsurface Water Discharge Permits 
  Aresta noted that DEEP is proposing to amend the regulations, consistent with the provisions of Public Act 23-207, to establish and define categories of discharges that constitute small community sewerage systems, delegate authority to the Department of Public Health, and increase the limits in the existing regulations from 5,000 gallons per day to 10,000 gallons per day. Ainsworth and Warzecha noted that expanding the threshold capacity for subsurface systems to 10,000 gallons per day could have environmental impacts, especially if there were more than one system on the same site.
  
  
• National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for Discharge of Stormwater Associated with Commercial Activity (General Permit)
  Aresta noted that DEEP is proposing changes to the draft General Permit that would authorize the discharge of stormwater associated with commercial activity and certain non-stormwater discharges to waters of the state. He noted that the draft comments are intended to help clarify some of the proposed provisions within the draft General Permit.

Rodosevich made a motion to approve the Council’s draft comments regarding the General Permit; seconded by Bowers. The motion was approved unanimously

b. Connecticut Siting Council (CSC) 
Comments recommended:

• Docket 532 (solar, Torrington)
  Aresta reported that Council staff reviewed a proposal from Lodestar Energy to develop and operate a three-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) facility to be located in Torrington. Ainsworth suggested that to save time, a summary of project details might not be necessary since Council members can review the proposed projects and draft comments in advance of the meeting. It was requested that certain maps (location and/or project layout) and a link to each CSC docket or petition, under consideration by the Council, be provided to the Council members in advance of the meeting. Aresta noted that draft comments have been developed that address forests, wildlife, and water protection and spill prevention.
  
  
• Petition 1657 (energy storage, West Haven)
  Aresta reported that Council staff reviewed a proposal from East Point Energy to develop and operate a 15-MW/60 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery energy storage facility to be located in West Haven. He noted that draft comments have been developed that address the provision of documentation for spill control, noise, and soils. There was discussion regarding the installation of a proposed 20-foot-tall sound wall and the potential impact such a structure could have on lighting, air flow, and/or heat. It was suggested that the draft comments be revised to recommend that the Petitioner assess alternative mechanisms for noise mitigation.
  
  
• Petition 1658 (energy storage, Mansfield)
  Aresta reported that Council staff reviewed a proposal from VFS to develop an 850- kilowatt (KW)/1,720 KWh battery energy storage system in Mansfield. He noted that draft comments have been developed that address the provision of information, wildlife, and cultural/historic resources. 

Bowers made a motion to approve the Council’s comments regarding Docket 532 and Petition 1658, and Petition 1657 with the suggested revisions; seconded by Warzecha. The motion was approved unanimously.

c. Legislature

• Status of proposed legislation for which the Council provided testimony
  Aresta noted that he developed several slides that list the proposed legislation for which the Council provided testimony since the last regular meeting and their current status.
  
  
• Proposed Senate Bill 647
  Aresta noted that this item was tabled from the special meeting on March 5, 2025. Rodosevich summarized some of the provisions of the proposed bill that could impact energy issues and the environment. Petras noted that the proposed bill has not advanced. Ainsworth noted that since the proposed bill has not advanced, comments might not be warranted by the Council at this time.

7. Other Business 
Aresta noted that the Council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for April 23, 2025, and it will be a remote meeting.

Ainsworth noted that there is a vacancy on the Council.

Kalafa made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:55 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.)

¹Passcode: =FVemQ50