April 22 2026 Meeting Minutes v2

DRAFT MINUTES

THESE DRAFT MINUTES HAVE BEEN PREPARED BY STAFF AS A RECORD OF WHAT OCCURRED AT THE MEETING. AT THE NEXT MEETING, COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL REVIEW THESE MINUTES AND MIGHT MAKE CORRECTIONS BEFORE APPROVING THEM. READERS SHOULD RELY ON THE APPROVED VERSION FOR A COMPLETELY ACCURATE RECORD.

Minutes of April 22, 2026, meeting of the Council on Environmental Quality (Council) via Zoom.

MEMBERS PRESENT: (Remote) Timothy Bishop (Acting Chair), Aimee Petras, Cinzia Lettieri, William Warzecha, Denise Rodosevich, Linda Bowers, and Christopher Donnelly.

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Paul Aresta (Council - Executive Director), Ryan Carboni (Council – Environmental Analyst), Eric Hammerling (Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)), Laschone Garrison (DEEP), Linda Brunza (DEEP), and Kristen O'Neill (DEEP). Members of the public that spoke: Deirdre and Kevin Barbeau.

1. Call to Order: Establishment of a Quorum

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

2. Council Membership – Acting Chair

   Aresta reported that there are two vacancies on the Council, including the acting chair. Aresta noted that Council staff notified the Speaker of the House and the Governor’s Office of the vacancies. Donnelly suggested that the Council consider having a strategy session during the June meeting. Lettieri suggested that it would be helpful for the Council to have an acting chair serve for more than one month at a time. 
   
   Donnelly made a motion to nominate Bishop to serve as acting chair through the Council’s meeting in June; seconded by Lettieri. The motion was approved unanimously.

3. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Inland Wetlands Management Program

   Aresta introduced Kristen O’Neill as DEEP’s Inland Wetlands Management Program Administrator. O’Neill presented information on recent legislation regarding training requirements for inland wetland officials and riparian areas; new procedures for reporting decisions/actions for municipal officials; and plans for improvements to the online training program. O’Neill responded to questions regarding staffing, enforcement of the training provisions, legislation regarding riparian buffers, compliance with reporting requirements, training for municipal water pollution control commissions, and the process for receiving and resolving complaints regarding wetlands.

4. Approval of minutes of March 25, 2026

   Petras made a motion to approve the draft minutes from the Council’s meeting on March 25, 2026; seconded by Lettieri The motion was approved unanimously.

5. Citizen Comment Period

   Deirdre Barbeau expressed concerns regarding a gravel mining operation in Somers and potential impacts to Thrasher Brook. Rodosevich suggested that D. Barbeau contact the legislators that represent that area of Somers to inform them about the situation and to seek assistance in resolving the matter. Kevin Barbeau noted that there has been erosion at the site and suggested that engineered erosion and sedimentation controls should be implemented to address erosion. Warzecha suggested that the proposed project might need a non-consumptive diversion permit. Donnelly suggested that the regional Council of Government might be a resource for information about local environmental concerns.

6. Citizen Complaints and Inquiries Received

• Carboni reported that the Council was contacted by a reporter regarding the Council’s comments on a solar project in Old Saybrook. Council staff provided the reporter with contact information for the then acting chair, who agreed to discuss the Council’s position regarding solar development and potential impacts on core forest.
  
  
• Carboni reported that several individuals contacted the Council to register concerns with DEEP’s proposal to modify existing easements to allow the construction, maintenance and operation of a natural gas pipeline. He added that the individuals were concerned with the potential impacts of the project on local ecosystems, the Connecticut River, and nearby communities. He noted that Council staff replied to the individuals and provided information on the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) process, including opportunities for public participation.
  
  
• Carboni reported that the Council received a complaint regarding a gravel mining operation in Somers. He added that Council staff 1) recommended that the individual contact their local officials, and 2) forwarded the complaint to DEEP’s Stormwater Section and the Bureau of Water Protection and Land Reuse (LWRD). Carboni summarized the responses received from DEEP regarding the complaint.
  
  
• Carboni reported that the Council received a complaint regarding noise in Stamford. He added that Council staff provided the individual with links to the noise regulations for both the State of Connecticut and the City of Stamford, and contact information for Stamford’s Citizen Service Bureau.
  
  
• Carboni reported that the Council received a complaint regarding open space near a housing development in East Haven. He added that the complainant noted that someone had removed the vegetation on the open space parcel. Carboni noted that Council staff suggested that the complainant could reach out to the East Haven Land Trust and/or legislators that represent East Haven, who might be able to work with the City of East Haven to address the situation. Warzecha and Donnelly suggested having the complainant review the deed for the property and potentially involve the City’s attorney.

7. Executive Director’s Report

• Annual Report
  Aresta noted that the draft annual report is mostly complete. Aresta summarized the changes to the draft report since the last meeting, including the addition of data and text for piping plovers and nitrogen discharges. He also summarized the timeline for the release of the annual report to the Governor and stakeholders.
  
  Donnelly made a motion to approve the draft annual report; seconded by Lettieri. The motion was approved unanimously.
  
  
• Review of the Effectiveness of the Council’s Comments to the Connecticut Siting Council
  Carboni reported that Council staff reviewed how the Connecticut Siting Council (CSC) addressed the Council’s comments submitted in 2025. Carboni summarized the CSC scoring and assessment methodology, and the results of the assessment. Aresta noted that there are opportunities for the Council to refine its comments to achieve better outcomes.
  
  
• Federal Local Bridge Program
  Carboni reported that the Town of Canton is proposing to replace the Atwater Road Bridge over Rattlesnake Brook. He added that Council staff reviewed the environmental characteristics of the proposed project and prepared comments that address wetlands and wildlife. Aresta noted that Rodosevich provided correspondence to Council staff suggesting the addition of the word “unit” following the reference to Natural Diversity Database (NDDB), and that the letter also be provided to the NDDB Unit and the inland wetland agency for the Town of Canton.
  
  Petras made a motion to approve the draft comments with the suggested revisions; seconded by Warzecha. The motion was approved unanimously.
  
  Aresta noted that the Council’s website is mostly compliant with the accessibility requirements at this time and that the deadline for meeting the accessibility requirements has been extended by a year. 

8. State Agency and Legislative Actions

a. DEEP

• Minor Revisions to State Implementation Plan - Update
  Carboni reported that DEEP made regulatory amendments to certain air quality regulations, which included the reduction of the annual average ambient impact level for fine particulate matter, reduction of the secondary annual ambient air quality standard for sulfur dioxide, and the addition of the reduced primary annual ambient air quality standard for fine particulate matter. Carboni noted that the Council submitted comments in support of the proposed changes back in September 2025.
  
  
• Public Hearing for  Comprehensive General Permit for Discharges to Surface and Ground Water - Update
  Aresta reported that the Council submitted comments to DEEP regarding the draft Comprehensive General Permit. He added that a public hearing has been requested and will be held on June 1, 2026 with written comments accepted until June 8, 2026. Aresta suggested that the Council could provide its previously submitted comments to the Adjudications Office for consideration. Rodosevich suggested acquiring a copy of the request for the public hearing. Aresta indicated that Council staff will request the public hearing request and other information regarding the Comprehensive General Permit so the Council can assess if additional comments are warranted.

b. Connecticut Siting Council (CSC)

• Petition 1707 (energy, New Britain)
  Carboni reported that Council staff reviewed a proposal from Eversource to modify a portion of a transmission line in New Britain. He summarized the proposed project.
  
  
• Docket 551 (telecom, North Haven)
  Carboni reported that Council staff reviewed a proposal from Homewood Towers LLC, in cooperation with Verizon Wireless, to construct a telecommunications tower in North Haven. He summarized the proposed project.

c. Legislature

• Status of proposed bills
  Aresta summarized the status of proposed bills for which the Council submitted testimony and some changes identified in the joint favorable substitute proposals.

9. Other Business 

Aresta noted that the Council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for May 27, 2026, at 9:30 AM and it will be a remote meeting.

Aresta noted that the annual report subcommittee would not meet again until September 2026.

Lettieri made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 11:14 AM; seconded by Petras. 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.)