Substitute House Bill No. 7085 seeks to revise the regulations governing the release-based cleanup program in Connecticut by mandating the commissioner to adopt, amend, or repeal necessary regulations for effective implementation. A key feature of the bill is the establishment of a working group co-chaired by the commissioner and the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development. This group will consist of various stakeholders, including environmental attorneys and real estate brokers, and will meet monthly until the regulations are adopted, continuing to meet quarterly until February 1, 2030, to evaluate the program's implementation and efficacy. The bill also stipulates that the existing working group advising the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) will continue to meet quarterly until February 1, 2030, after the regulations are adopted, and will provide feedback to the DEEP commissioner.

The bill introduces several regulatory changes, including a longer timeframe for reporting releases that do not pose an imminent threat, a process for amending or retracting erroneous reports, and the establishment of remediation standards that consider factors such as site use and groundwater classification. It allows certain releases to be remediated under the supervision of a licensed environmental professional without direct oversight from the commissioner, depending on the assigned risk tier. Additionally, the DEEP commissioner is required to report the findings and recommendations of the working group to the Commerce and Environment committees by February 1, 2028, and again by February 1, 2030. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the release-based cleanup program while ensuring public health and environmental safety.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
CE Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 559: