Governor’s Bill No. 6868 seeks to improve the predictability and efficiency of environmental permitting in Connecticut by amending existing laws related to general permits and introducing new provisions for watershed-level compensatory mitigation. The bill repeals the current provision that allows the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to extend general permits for an additional twelve months after their expiration. Instead, it allows the commissioner to continue a general permit until a new one is issued or a decision is made not to issue a new permit, provided that notice is published at least 180 days prior to expiration. Additionally, the bill mandates watershed-level compensatory mitigation for certain regulated activities, enabling the commissioner to impose conditions on permits to offset impacts to water resources.

The bill also establishes a framework for implementing watershed-level mitigation projects, including the potential purchase of resource credits and long-term management of these projects. It requires that any land acquired for mitigation be preserved indefinitely and that compensation be proportional to the impacts of the regulated activity. Furthermore, the commissioner is tasked with preparing a report to evaluate improvements to environmental reviews under the state Endangered Species Act, focusing on efficiency and transparency. The bill introduces new provisions for public informational hearings, specifying that they will not be subject to chapter 54 requirements unless aggrievement or unreasonable pollution is alleged. The commissioner must respond to comments from these hearings and provide a written response on the Department's website. The act will take effect on various dates, with some sections effective immediately upon passage.

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Governor's Bill: