Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at a 'very high' or 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Forest Practices Act Enforcement

Enforcement of the Forest Practices Act typically involves individuals working without a Commercial Forest Practitioner License. In addition to working without a license, enforcement actions may be taken against licensed individuals who are violating the Conduct of Forest Practitioners listed under the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies Section 23-65j-1.

In most cases, environmental damage by licensed individuals is handled through municipal Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commissions through the use of Notices of Violation, Cease and Desist Orders, and Cease and Correct Orders. Continued violations spreading across multiple municipalities, as well as other violations, may arise to the level of Enforcement within the Division of Forestry's Forest Practices Act Enforcement Program.

The Enforcement Program welcomes calls, complaints, and anonymous tips regarding questionable business practices, timber theft, wetlands violations, operating without holding a Commercial Forest Practitioner Certification, and more. Violations of the Forest Practices Act are assessed through civil penalties as defined in the Connecticut General Statutes:

Any person who violates any provision of sections 23-65f to 23-65o, inclusive, shall be assessed a civil penalty not to exceed five thousand dollars, to be fixed by the court, for each offense. Each violation shall be a separate and distinct offense and, in the case of a continuing violation, each day's continuance thereof shall be deemed to be a separate and distinct offense. The Attorney General, upon complaint of the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, or an inland wetlands agency authorized to regulate forest practices, shall institute a civil action to recover such penalty.

Information can be provided to the program by contacting:

Nick Zito
Forest Practices Act Forester
nicholas.zito@ct.gov
860-424-3837

Content last updated in February 2022.