The bill, General Assembly Committee Bill No. 6455, seeks to amend Section 22a-6dd of the general statutes regarding the authority of the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) in relation to consent orders. The new legal language stipulates that the commissioner cannot modify or revoke a consent order without the consent of the involved party. Additionally, if the consent order pertains to land remediation, any modifications to the remediation requirements and standards must also be agreed upon by both the commissioner and the party. The bill allows either the commissioner or the party to seek declaratory and injunctive relief from the Superior Court to resolve disputes concerning the consent order's terms and compliance.

The bill repeals the previous language that referred to the "Department" and replaces it with "Commissioner," emphasizing the individual authority of the commissioner in these matters. It also clarifies that the new provisions will apply to any consent orders entered into on or after the effective date of the bill. The overall purpose of the legislation is to ensure that the DEEP adheres to the terms of its consent orders, thereby providing greater protection and clarity for parties involved in such agreements.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: