September 23 2026 Meeting Minutes

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 September 23, 2026, meeting of the Council on Environmental Quality (Council) held in-person at 79 Elm Street, Hartford and via Zoom.

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

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Paul Aresta (Council - Executive Director), Ryan Carboni (Council – Environmental Analyst), Justine Phillips-Gallucci (Office of Policy and Management (OPM)), Rebecca Dahl (OPM), Emma Cimino (Acting Commissioner, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)), Eric Hammerling (DEEP), Jordan DiDomenico (DEEP), Laschone Garrison (DEEP), and Emily Socha (DEEP). 

1. Call to Order: Establishment of a Quorum

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

2. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Acting Commissioner Emma Cimino

   Bishop introduced Acting Commissioner Emma Cimino. Cimino provided a summary of her experience and current initiatives at DEEP. Cimino also responded to a few questions from Council members and staff, regarding DEEP’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants, the Comprehensive Energy Strategy, process improvements and responsiveness, legislative priorities, conservation, water permitting, and control of noise.

3. Approval of minutes of August 26, 2026

   Petras made a motion to approve the draft minutes from the Council’s meeting on August 26, 2026; seconded by Bowers. The motion was approved unanimously with Rodosevich and Warzecha abstaining because they were not present at the previous meeting

4. Citizen Comment Period

   There was no citizen comment.

5.  Citizen Complaints and Inquiries Received

   • Carboni reported that the proposed practice golf facility for the University of Connecticut off of Storrs Road in Mansfield was recently cancelled and has now been proposed for the Depot Campus off of Weaver Road in Mansfield.
     Carboni reported that the Council received a complaint of an ongoing chemical odor from a resident of Lebanon. He added that Council Staff responded to the complainant with contact information for the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), the local health department, and DEEP’s Air Complaint Hotline. 
   • Carboni reported that the Council received a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request seeking all documents/comments received recently by the Council pertaining to the control of noise. He added that the Council provided the correspondence and documents that were responsive to the FOIA request to DEEP on September 9, and DEEP will provide the information to the requester through their GOVQA system. 
   • Carboni reported that the Council received a request for information regarding the potential environmental impacts of solar arrays when sited on prime agricultural soils. He added that Council staff provided information from the Department of Agriculture (DoAG) and DEEP regarding agrivoltaics and siting solar on agricultural land.
   • Carboni noted that the Council received an inquiry regarding the status of the Bridgeport Ox Brook Flood Control project. Carboni noted that the inquiry was forwarded to an individual at DEEP since DEEP was the sponsoring agency for that CEPA action, and DEEP provided an update on the status of the action.

6. Executive Director’s Report

   • Draft regular meeting schedule for 2027
     Aresta presented the draft schedule for regular meetings for 2027 and noted that the meetings are scheduled for the fourth Wednesday of each month, except for November and December, which would be on the third Wednesday of those months due to the holidays. He added that the third month in each quarter will be a hybrid (in-person or remote) meeting.
     
     Rodosevich made a motion to approve the schedule for Council meetings for 2027; seconded by Petras. The motion was approved unanimously.
   • 2026 Annual Report – draft schedule
     Aresta presented the draft schedule for the development of the 2026 annual report and noted that the approved report would be provided to the Governor, members of the public, and the press in early May 2027. It was the consensus of the Council members that the proposed schedule for the development of the 2026 annual report was acceptable.
   • Assessment of forest management plans’ comments
     Carboni reported that Council staff continued its review of comments submitted to DEEP for forest management plans. Carboni summarized the comment categories, how the assessment was completed, and the average scores certain comment categories. Aresta noted that Council staff would revise the format and language of future comments to make the recommendations/suggestions more actionable.  

7. State Agency Actions

   a. DEEP:

   • Advisory Council for Sec. 16 of Public Act. 26-127 (Solar Siting) 
     Aresta noted that the solar siting workgroup of the Advisory Council met on September 15 and September 22. Donnelly provided a summary of the solar siting working group efforts and how the work of the solar siting working group will help the Advisory Council address the questions identified in the public act, including the effectiveness of Public Act 17-218. He added that the solar siting working group also considered 1) how to direct or incentivize development on certain parcels, and 2) how to address private property issues.
   • Notice of Intent to Revise the State Implementation Plan (SIP) – Algonquin Transmission LCC 
     Carboni reported that DEEP is proposing to revise the SIP. He summarized the proposed changes and noted that the action is necessary as a result of the reclassification of the ozone nonattainment status in Connecticut. Rodosevich noted concerns regarding provisions for performance and enforcement of the consent order. 
   • Notice of Request for Written Comments - Comprehensive Energy Strategy (CES)
     Aresta reported that DEEP will be preparing a CES and DEEP has issued a request for written comments to address 12 strategic questions. He identified two questions that the Council might want to provide comments for that address 1) the development of new energy resources, and 2) making progress towards Connecticut’s climate goals. Rodosevich noted that making progress towards climate goals could include actions related to carbon sequestration and storage, such as open space preservation and conservation, and that DEEP should consider related programs and actions. Petras agreed and also noted that it’s important that DEEP look very broadly at issues related to energy and environmental resources. Aresta noted that he would draft a response that addresses how Connecticut could continue making progress towards addressing climate goals, as suggested by Council members.

   b. Connecticut Siting Council (CSC):

   • Petition 1719 (solid waste/energy, Plainfield)
     Aresta reported that state agency comments in this proceeding are due on October 15. He suggested changes to the draft comments that include recommendations and suggestions for specific actions rather than requesting additional information. Rodosevich stated that that the Council’s suggestions for assessing impacts should also include specific actions, and Bowers noted the importance of assessing and mitigating potential odors for nearby properties. Rodosevich suggested adding a summary of the Council’s recommendations at the beginning of the document.
     
     Rodosevich made a motion to approve the comments regarding Petition 1719 with the suggested changes; seconded by Donnelly. The motion passed unanimously.
   • Petition 1720 (energy, Southington-Berlin)
     Aresta reported that Eversource proposes the replacement of electric transmission line structures and reconductoring along approximately 10.7 miles of its existing electric transmission line right-of-way from Southington to Berlin. He added that draft comments have been developed that address wildlife, inspections, vegetation, watercourses, wetlands and vernal pools, agriculture, drinking water, and spill prevention.
     
     Bowers made a motion to approve the comments regarding Petition 1720; seconded by Petras. The motion passed unanimously.

8. Other Business 

   Bowers suggested meeting with DEEP’s Acting Commissioner to discuss DEEP’s consideration of the Council’s comments. Aresta suggested that it might be helpful for Council staff and any Council members to meet with the state forester to discuss how to better incorporate the Council’s comments in the forest management plans.
   
   Petras made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 11:35 AM; seconded by Warzecha. The motion was approved unanimously. The meeting was concluded.

A recording of the meeting ¹ is available online (using passcode 1VX.7sJ?) 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.)