CT HB 7008 An Act Concerning Enhancements to the State’s Environmental Justice Law
- Policy Category: Environmental Justice
- State: Connecticut
- Date Implemented: 11/1/2020
11/1/2020
Updated the Connecticut General Statues to expand the definition of “Community environmental benefit agreement” (including mitigating impacts to watercourses), and details how to engage with neighborhood and environmental groups. Facilities seeking new or expanded permits or siting approval from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection or the Connecticut Siting Council must enter into community environmental benefit agreement in locations that have 5 or more affecting facilities. An environmental justice public participation plan must be filed prior to applying for a new or expanded permit for “affecting facilities.”
(4) “Community environmental benefit agreement” means a written agreement entered into by the chief elected official or town manager of a municipality and an owner or developer of real property whereby the owner or developer agrees to develop real property that is to be used for any new or expanded affecting facility and to provide financial resources for the purpose of the mitigation, in whole or in part, of impacts reasonably related to the facility, including, but not limited to, impacts on the environment, including, but not limited to, air quality and watercourses, quality of life, asthma rates, traffic, parking and noise.”
- Action Agency(ies): Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Connecticut Siting Council
- Policy Champions: State Rep. Geraldo Reyes, D-WaterburyLori Brown, ED of the League of Conservation Voters, Audubon Connecticut,Connecticut League of Conservation Voters
- Read the full policy language
