May 27 2026 Meeting Minutes

Council on Environmental Quality Meeting Minutes

MEMBERS PRESENT: (Remote) Timothy Bishop (Acting Chair), Aimee Petras, Cinzia Lettieri, William Warzecha, Denise Rodosevich, 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), and Jordan DiDomenico (DEEP). Members of the public that spoke: Frank Zitkus, Ann Zitkus, Diane Hoffman, and State Representative Joseph Gresko.

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. Approval of minutes of April 22, 2026

   Donnelly made a motion to approve the draft minutes from the Council’s meeting on April 22, 2026; seconded by Petras. The motion was approved unanimously.

3. Citizen Comment Period

   • Frank Zitkus commented on DEEP’s Draft Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) Evaluation and suggested that carbon storage should be considered a NBS, and the state should accelerate the acquisition of open space for both carbon sequestration and carbon storage. F. Zitkus also suggested identifying and acquiring natural areas and designating them as preserves that would not be actively managed.
   
   
   • Ann Zitkus also commented on DEEP’s Draft NBS Evaluation and noted that NBS should focus on nature and natural processes and suggested that carbon storage should be included in the Draft NBS Evaluation.
   
   
   • Diane Hoffman expressed support for the comments raised by Ann Zitkus and Frank Zitkus.

4. Citizen Complaints and Inquiries Received

   • 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 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 an inquiry regarding light pollution and whether the Council requires that the review and evaluation process for proposed state construction projects include outdoor lighting fixture specifications. He added that the Council responded by clarifying the Council’s role in the CEPA process and provided links to the Environmental Classification Document and the Environmental Review Checklist.
     
     
   • Carboni reported that the Council received an inquiry/complaint from a resident concerned about Japanese Knotweed on a neighbor’s property. He added that Council staff provided information regarding management options for Japanese Knotweed and other resources available in the state.

5. Executive Director’s Report

   • Annual Report
     Aresta reported that the annual report was provided to the Governor’s Office, and notices were sent to legislators, press contacts, and subscribers. He reviewed the user response report for the email notice sent to subscribers and the user utilization data for the Council’s website for the period immediately following the release of the annual report. Bishop provided a summary of his interview with a member of the press and noted that the interview should be available in a week or two.
     
     
   • Parcel Data
     Aresta summarized efforts by Council staff to quantify open space land held by conservation partners and others. Carboni summarized two methods Council staff used for assessing Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA) data that is provided by each municipality to their respective Council of Government or Regional Planning Agency. Carboni added that staff looked at ownership information and the state use description or unit type field to help identify and quantify open space parcels. Aresta noted that some ownership information is missing for some of the CAMA data and there is a lot of variability in the state use description designation assigned by municipalities.

6. State Agency and Legislative Actions

   a. DEEP

   • Comprehensive General Permit for Discharges to Surface and Ground Water (GP) - Update 
     Aresta reported that at the last meeting, Council staff informed the Council that there would be a hearing for the draft Comprehensive GP to receive public comments. He added that Council staff requested a copy of the Petition and other pertinent information and reviewed that information to determine if additional comments by the Council are warranted. He summarized the key points raised by the petitioner and noted that additional comments by the Council are not recommended.
     
     
   • Draft Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) Initiative Program Evaluation
     Aresta reported that DEEP has prepared an evaluation of how to integrate and advance NBS in the state that support climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, ecosystem resilience, and biodiversity through state and federal programs administered by DEEP and other agencies. He added that Council staff developed draft comments that primarily address: 1) expansion of the designations of NBS for various programs, and 2) consideration of NBS for DEEP’s operations with an example of the evaluation of clean energy proposals. Rodosevich and Donnelly raised questions regarding the types of programs selected for the evaluation of NBS and whether the programs were chosen based on the use or provision of funding. Aresta noted that the Council’s comments could be revised to suggest that DEEP expand the list of programs assessed in the Draft NBS Evaluation to other programs that might not provide grant funds. There was general discussion regarding consideration of carbon storage and how best to address specific problems with NBS as an alternative to other potential solutions.
     
     Rodosevich made a motion to approve the comments regarding DEEP’s NBS Evaluation with a recommendation that DEEP expand the list of programs being evaluated to those that have NBS connections, and to reflect the fact that carbon storage is as essential as carbon sequestration; seconded by Petras. The motion was approved unanimously.
     
     
   • Request for Comment - Draft Environmental Assessment-Necropsy Laboratory
     Aresta reported that DEEP proposes to build a new laboratory at the Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area (WMA). He summarized the proposed project and some of the environmental characteristics of the proposed site. He noted that no comments are recommended.

   b. Connecticut Siting Council (CSC)

   Comments recommended:

   • Docket 552 (telecom, Hamden)
     Carboni reported that Crown Castle Towers, T-Mobile, and Verizon propose to construct and operate a 125-foot monopole telecommunications tower in Hamden. He summarized the proposed project and some of the environmental characteristics of the proposed site. He added that draft comments have been developed that address protection of wetlands and drinking water, and flood hazard mitigation.

   No comments recommended:

   • Petition 1708 (Solar, Windsor Locks)
     Carboni reported that Council staff reviewed a proposal from Verogy to construct and operate a 3.0 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic facility in Windsor Locks. He added that the proposed project consists of a solar canopy configuration located over a parking lot at Bradley International Airport.
   
   
   • Petition 1709 (telecom, Hartford)
     Carboni reported that Council staff reviewed a proposal from Verizon Wireless to install and operate a small wireless telecommunications facility and associated equipment on the roof of a condominium building in Hartford. He summarized the proposed project and some of the characteristics of the proposed site.
     
     Warzecha made a motion to approve the comments regarding Docket 552; seconded by Lettieri. The motion was approved unanimously.

   c. Legislature

   • Status of proposed bills
     Aresta summarized the status of proposed bills for which the Council submitted testimony and noted some key provisions identified in the public acts. Petras noted that Public Act 26-61 included provisions that preserved the funding for DEEP to assist with outreach efforts to inland wetlands agencies for protection of riparian areas. State Representatives Joseph Gresko noted some important provisions of environmental legislation this session, including the preservation of open space and agricultural land, the formation of a pesticide working group, and extension of the solar programs.

7. Other Business

   Aresta noted that the Council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for June 24, 2026, at 9:30 AM and it will be a hybrid (remote or in-person) meeting.
   
   Donnelly suggested adding an item to the next meeting agenda to consider direction and work of the Council.
   
   Frank Zitkus noted concerns about the surcharge on miniature alcohol beverage containers (Nips). Bishop and Representative Gresko commented on the program and the use of funds from the surcharge on Nips.
   
   Lettieri made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 11:10 AM; seconded by Rodosevich. The motion was approved unanimously. The meeting was concluded.

A recording¹ of the meeting is available online using passcode ZkU#5?Uy 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.)