In the year of the Earth Summit and its policy papers, its also notable that the State of Connecticut is issuing its revised environmental plan: Environment/2000. A plan embracing all aspects of the environment and natural resources is especially crucia l in this small portion of the world covering only five thousand square miles but containing over three million people.

It's gratifying that this document is not a one shot effort but rather part of a continuing process established by state law requiring a revision of the plan every five years and monitored on an ongoing basis by the Connecticut Council on Environmental Q uality.

Furthermore the law requires the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to establish an Advisory Board to assist in preparing the plan and any revisions thereto. We, the members of the Advisory Board, are pleased to have been given this responsibility and have endeavored to participate in producing a revised plan that will indeed meet the environmental need of the people of Connecticut. This task however could not have been accomplished without the dedicated and talented staff of the Department of En vironmental Protection, for which the Board is grateful.

The plan was developed from the original document of five years ago, retaining issues as appropriate, though revising and updating them where necessary. New issues were also added. In all cases, the section called "Status and Trends" reflects the curre nt situation. This effort entailed numerous meetings of the Board, convening as a whole and as subcommittees. Members of the Steering Committee of the Board also chaired regional hearings on the plan as well as a session regarding the plan held during t he annual Environment/2000 conference. In reaching final decisions on the plan's content, the board considered all comments made at the hearings and the statewide conference as well as the comments contained in the many questionnaires which were returned to the Department of Environmental Protection regarding the plan.

The Board thanks all who commented on the plan both in person and in writing. Such interest by individuals and by public and private agencies is indicative of the concern for the environment and the natural resources of Connecticut. The Board hopes tha t this interest will continue regarding the final plan and its implementation. Be assured the interest of the Advisory Board will also continue.

Obviously the greatest responsibility to implement this plan lies with the Department of Environmental Protection and its various Bureaus. However, this is a state wide environmental plan and thus contains goals, objectives, and strategies that are the responsibility of the General Assembly, other state agencies, regional organizations, municipal agencies, private business and industry and individuals. Without efforts by all, our small living space will not be what we all want it to be and we will not have done our part to make this world a better place.

In these tough economic times, difficult choices have to be made regarding expenditures. Without a comprehensive plan such as Environment/2000 which in one place, in a balanced way, presents all the issues and needs, choices cannot be as wisely made. F urthermore, as economic conditions improve and opportunities grow to do more, this plan will present the array of need that should be addressed.