The bill, known as Substitute Bill No. 5522, amends the Sewage Right-to-Know Act to enhance public awareness and reporting requirements regarding sewage spills and permitted sewage bypasses. Key provisions include the requirement for the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to maintain an updated map of sewage spills and to post notices of such incidents on the department's website within two hours of receiving reports. Operators of sewage treatment plants must submit electronic reports detailing the nature and impact of spills, which must be updated daily until the incident is resolved. Additionally, the bill mandates that public officials notify the community of any sewage spills that may affect public health, using various communication methods, including social media and multilingual announcements.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a real-time public notification system for sewage spills, allowing individuals to receive alerts via text or email. It also requires the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to publish an annual report summarizing sewage spills and enforcement actions. In a separate provision, the Commissioner is tasked with submitting a report by January 1, 2027, detailing protocols for addressing private well contamination and the sharing of information among public health agencies. The bill repeals the previous version of Section 22a-424a and replaces it with the new provisions, while also extending the deadline for certain reporting requirements to 2026.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
ENV Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 397:
APP Joint Favorable: