In May of 1986, the DEP released the draft, Environment/2000: Connecticut's Environmental Goals and Management Strategies. This Report was the result of two years of study and research from within the DEP. The Plan was separated into four categories o f preservation, pollution control, resource management and services, and contained 38 goals and objectives and over 200 management strategies. It was published in the Department's monthly magazine Citizen's Bulletin. The Bulletin contained a readers' su rvey on the State's goals. The survey asked whether responding citizens were associated with an agency or if they were affiliated with any environmental group. Citizens were asked to rate the extent to which they agreed with the State's plans for each g oal and to indicate the priority they would assign to the 38 objectives and management strategies. In addition, citizens were asked to point out any errors or omissions in the plan, or any other goals, objectives or strategies they thought the State shou ld consider. Citizens also were asked to rate the quality of Environment/2000 using a scale from excellent to poor, and were given the opportunity to comment further on the plan.

The process of encouraging public participation in the plan continued through the process. In October 1986 the Governor sponsored a conference on the proposed Environment/2000 Plan, which was attended by 340 government officials, citizens, business and industrial leaders and members of environmental groups. Public feedback on the Plan continued to be sought, and a 48-member Citizens' Advisory Committee formed in November 1986 assisted the Department in reviewing, amending and revising the plan.

The advisory committee first met in November of 1986. Numerous subcommittee meetings were held during the following three months; at these meetings, Environment/2000 was reconsidered, discussed, analyzed and scrutinized. The process transformed Environ ment/2000 from a Department document to one which more closely expressed the views of citizens.

Environment/2000 gained State and national recognition in 1987. In February, the Commission on Connecticut's Future bestowed its first "foresight Merit Award" to the DEP for the Environment/2000 as well as receiving the Council of State Governments Awar d.

In June 1987, the Connecticut General Assembly amended Connecticut General Statute 22a-8 through Public Act 87-142, allowing Environment/ 2000 to become the State's environmental plan. The legislation required the creation of a permanent advisory board, annual program progress reports and consideration of revisions every five years. The act developed mechanisms to assure that management strategies are implemented, that changes are accommodated, that the public is involved and environmental progress is made. On September 1, 1987 Governor O'Neill formally adopted Environment/2000: Connecticut's Environmental Plan.