February 25 2026 Meeting Minutes

COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY MEETING MINUTES - FEBRUARY 25, 2026

Council on Environmental Quality Meeting Minutes 

Minutes of the February 25, 2026, meeting of the Council on Environmental Quality (Council) held via Zoom

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

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Paul Aresta (Council - Executive Director), Ryan Carboni (Council – Environmental Analyst), Eric Hammering (Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)), Laschone Garrison (DEEP), Jordan DiDomenico (DEEP), and Rebecca Dahl (Office of Policy and Management (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. Approval of minutes of January 28, 2026

Lettieri made a motion to approve the draft minutes from the Council’s meeting on January 28, 2026; seconded by Petras. The motion was approved unanimously.

3. Citizen Comment Period

There was no citizen comment.

4. Citizen Complaints and Inquiries Received

• Aresta reported that the Rhode Island Sea Grant Legal Program & Marine Affairs Institute at Roger Williams University (Institute) in Rhode Island sent the Council an email indicating that the Institute is accepting research inquiries. Aresta summarized the process and costs for utilizing the service.
  
  
• Carboni reported that the Council received an inquiry regarding whether the Council is able to assess the proposed environmental impacts of a solid waste facility proposed for Plainfield. He added that Council staff responded that the proposed waste processing and conversion facility would be regulated by DEEP and the Connecticut Siting Council, who have technical staff available to review potential environmental impacts.
  
  
• Carboni reported that the Council received a request for the “Nips” survey responses for six municipalities. He added that Council staff provided survey results for most of the towns requested.
  
  
• Carboni reported that the Council received an inquiry from a legislative aid for Senator Duff regarding information on appropriate agencies/organizations to direct a constituent inquiry regarding climate resources. He added that Council staff provided information for the Departments of Public Health, Mental Health and Addiction Services, and the Children and Families.
  
  
• The Council received an inquiry seeking information about the Connecticut Innovative Energy Solutions Program. He added that Council staff researched the program on the Public Utility Regulatory Authority’s (PURA) website and provided links to the program website and contact information.

5. Executive Director’s Report

• Annual Report
  Aresta reviewed data for several indicators including air quality, swimming at coastal beaches, DEEP inspections and enforcement, eagles, energy storage, installed solar capacity, water temperature in Long Island Sound, electric vehicles, electricity sales in the residential and commercial/industrial sectors, and electric generation. There was general discussion regarding the availability and presentation of greenhouse gas data for certain facilities in Connecticut, the goal for eagles, and electric generation resources.
  
  Warzecha made a motion to approve the draft comments for the bridge project in the Town of Canaan; seconded by Lettieri. The motion was approved unanimously.
  
  
• Federal Local Bridge Program
  Carboni reported that the Council received a press release from the First Selectman for the Town of Canaan regarding the proposed reconstruction of Cobble Road Bridge over Hollenbeck River in Canaan. He added that Council staff reviewed the work area for the proposed bridge project and developed comments that address wildlife (state and/or federally listed species) and wetlands.

6. State Agency and Legislative Actions

a. DEEP

• General Permit to Construct and Operate a Commercial Facility for the Management of Recyclable Materials and Certain Solid Wastes (General Permit)
  Aresta reported that Council staff reviewed the draft General Permit that authorizes the aggregation and management of recyclables and certain solid wastes. He summarized the provisions of the General Permit and noted that draft comments have been developed that address protection of source drinking water, spill prevention, enhanced notifications, and clarification of some content Donnelly made a motion to approve the draft comments for the General Permit; seconded by Lettieri. The motion was approved unanimously.
  
  
• Release-based Working Group – Update
  Aresta noted that the final meeting of the Release-Based Working Group in its current configuration will be on February 26, 2026. He summarized some of the key components of the Release-based Remediation Program.

b. Connecticut Siting Council (CSC) 

• Petition 1702 (telecom, New Canaan)
  Carboni reported that Council staff reviewed a proposal from AT&T to install a 37-foot tall, small cell wireless telecommunications facility in New Canaan. He summarized the proposed project. 
  
  
• Petition 1703 (telecom, Montville)
  Carboni reported that Council staff reviewed a proposal from Verizon to modify an existing 300-foot tall lattice tower and expand the existing facility compound in Montville. He summarized the proposed project.
  
  
• Petition 1704 (solar, Salem)
  Carboni reported that Council staff reviewed a proposal from Tritec Energy Development to construct and operate a 1.99 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Salem. He summarized the proposed project and some of the conditions of the proposed facility site.

c. Legislature

• Testimony submitted for Raised Bill 145, Raised Bill 5155, and Raised Bill 5156
  Aresta reported that Council staff submitted testimony for three bills on February 19 in advance of the Environment Committee’s public hearing on February 20, 2026. He added that the testimony expressed support for the concepts identified in the proposed bills with suggestions for minor refinement.
  
  
• Environment Committee - concepts to be drafted/raised bills
  Aresta noted that the Environment Committee’s meeting agendas for February 11 and February 20, 2026, identified several concepts that might be of interest to the Council. He added that Council staff would review the proposed legislation and develop draft testimony for the Council’s consideration if appropriate.

7. Other Business

Aresta noted that the Council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for March 25, 2026, at 9:30 AM and it will be a hybrid (remote or in-person) meeting.

Aresta noted that the Connecticut Federation of Lakes and the Office of Aquatic Invasive Species are hosting an aquatic invasive species workshop on February 28 in New Haven.

Aresta noted that the University of Connecticut (UConn) recently completed a study on carbon storage by trees along roads in the state. Donnelly noted that the study was in response to legislation; it was conducted utilizing geographic information systems (GIS) ; and it focused on above ground biomass, including tree canopy and tree growth, based on data for 2016 and 2023. 

Bowers made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:30 AM; seconded by Lettieri. 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.)