Since the adoption of 1987 Environment/2000 Plan, many of the Plan's strategic recommendations have been implemented. The Commissioner's Environment/2000 Advisory Board has assisted the Department in assigning priority to these issues. Over the past five years, the Department's planning efforts, policy and program development, legislative and regulatory proposals and budgetary submissions have focused on many of the issues and strategies contained in the original document. Some of these issues and actions to date include management of Air, Boating, Fish and Wildlife, Land, Long Island Sound, Noise, Parks and Forests, Waste, Water, and Environmental Outreach/Technical Support.
AIR MANAGEMENT
In 1990, revisions to the federal Clean Air Act were enacted. Connecticut will be required to submit among other things, new State Implementation Plans for three nonattainment pollutants (ozone, carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter) and an approv
able operation permits program.
Connecticut passed into law an act prohibiting the sale of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to the general public and the sale of polystyrene foam made with CFCs.
A comprehensive program to control toxic air pollutants has been implemented with standards for chemical compounds that are known or suspected human carcinogens.
Ambient air concentrations for 650 of the 850 toxic air pollutants have been established. A system for prioritizing the pollutants has been completed. The Hazardous Air Pollutant Advisory Panel (HAPAP) was established by statute to review the technical results of this prioritization.
An integrated Environmental Information System (EIS) to track and manage emission of air pollutants by facilities in the State has been developed and implemented.
A control program for fugitive emissions and maintenance of the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) developed under the federal SARA Title III program was established.
An expanded capacity to monitor hazardous air pollutants including verification and assembling toxic release data into air, water and land has been accomplished.
BOATING MANAGEMENT
Public Act 91-408 redefined the parameters of the certification requirements for Connecticut boaters. It requires operators of vessels in Connecticut's waters which are registered or numbered to obtain a Safe Boating Certificate. To qualify one must me
et at least one of the following parameters: complete a DEP approved boating course or the Connecticut Safe Boating Equivalency Examination successfully; own a Connecticut registered or numbered vessel; possess a U.S. Coast Guard Vessel Operation License;
or been a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadron in the period between October 1, 1987 to October 1,1992.
A comprehensive boating access plan has been initiated to provide stabilized funding sources for the maintenance, and renovation of 108 existing launch sites, and construction of new facilities.
ENVIRONMENTAL OUTREACH/
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
DEP efforts in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have centered on computer hardware/software development basic digital cartographic data collection. The program is at the stage where a distributed GIS for the development of digital data bases and app
lications can allow for widespread use of GIS by the Department Bureaus as well as outside agencies.
The Department administers the CT Aquatic Resources Education Program (CARE) which continues to grow in attendance. Training centers on conservation, safety, ecology and angling with over 200 volunteer instructors and 4,000 student participating in the 1991 program.
An average of 95 workshops are held annually throughout the state to involve educators in national environmental education curriculum including, Project WILD, Project Learning Tree and WILD Aquatic.
Since 1987, the Department has coproduced with Connecticut Public Television Environment/ 2000 videos which covered such topics as Long Island Sound, Land Use, Rivers, and Solid Waste Management.
Six Environment/2000 Annual Conferences have been held. Topics have included land conservation, water quality, and the state's environmental agenda.
Earth Day has become an increasingly celebrated annual event throughout Connecticut.
FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
In 1989, An Act Establishing a Program for the Protection of Endangered and Threatened Species, was established providing for a state level program for the preservation of endangered and threatened species. Under this law, DEP will conduct investigation
s of animal and plants to develop information relating to population, distribution and habitat needs. The Department established criteria for listing and the actual lists of species to be classified as endangered, threatened of special concern in Connect
icut.
There is ongoing Long Island Sound marine fisheries research which includes the monitoring of the association of hypoxia and living marine resources.
In 1989, the Department reintroduced the fisher to Connecticut. As part of the fisher restoration program, three fishers gave birth and attended dens in 1991.
In cooperation with Northeast Utilities, the Shepaug Bald Eagle Viewing Facility was established in 1985.
For the first time in 40 years two Bald Eagle eaglets hatched in Connecticut in 1992.
Due to water quality improvements, the state's shell fish industry has greatly improved over the past 20 years. This industry was estimated in 1989 to have a value of $20 million dockside with the total value of this industry to Connecticut's economy at $100 million.
LAND MANAGEMENT
Acquisition of unique lands continues through the Recreation and National Heritage Trust Program. Since 1986 over 4,000 acres have been acquired through this program.
A framework was established for a State Heritage Park System based on historic, cultural and economic revitalization elements. Six sites were recommended as locations for the establishment of heritage parks. They are Norwalk, Collinsville, Windsor Lock s Canal, Willimantic, Norwich and Thames Estuary as well as another prospect site in Waterbury. Four of these sites are currently in various stages of planning and implementation.
The National Park Service has completed a feasibility study for the designation of a National Heritage Corridor within the Shepaug and Quinebaug River valleys. This project could result in federal designation to protect its unique natural and cultural c haracter, promote tourism, and encourage compatible development.
By 1991 the Farmland Preservation funding, started in 1978, totaled $62.75 million in bond authorizations for the purpose of acquiring development rights to farmland. As of June 30, 1992, $51.66 million of this amount had been allocated in order to acqu ire 18,818 acres of land on 126 farms throughout the state.
Two maps have been produced by DEP, one which shows all Connecticut land dedicated to recreation and open space protection and the other map adding water company and non-dedicated private open space holdings.
The 1989 General Assembly removed the upper statutory limitation on the amount of land that could be designated within the Connecticut Natural Area Preserves.
Specific site plans for the management of 31,860 acres of state-owned land have been completed.
In 1989 the Urban and Community Forestry Program was established to provide technical assistance to local governments, organizations, and resource managers.
LONG ISLAND SOUND MANAGEMENT
In 1991 the Office of Long Island Sound Programs was established within DEP to coordinate all department activities related to LIS.
In 1992 the legislature established a Long Island Sound License Plate to generate funds dedicated to a Long Island Sound Fund to be used for resource restoration, public access, and public outreach.
Through implementation of the state's coastal management program approximately 10 miles of public access to Long Island Sound have been gained over the last twelve years.
Over 1,500 acres of tidal wetlands have been restored.
Fourteen coves and embayments restoration projects have been funded and undertaken and in 1991 bond fund allocations to Connecticut's Coves & Embayments program increased to $5 million.
In 1990-91 the Department co-sponsored two series of workshops on the public trust doctrine.
In 1990 the legislature established "no discharge zones" for sewage from vessels as part of legislation addressing marine sanitation.
Through implementation of the state's Harbor Management Act 5 municipal harbor management plans have been approved and 15 are in development.
Bond money totaling $15 million has been dedicated to implement the no-net-increase in nitrogen policy at fifteen sewage treatment plants in 13 coastal communities and DEP established a nitrogen banking program to assure that the no-net increase in nitro gen policy does not eliminate the possibility of future development without an increase in nitrogen.
Over $445 million has been authorized in a revolving loan fund program (Clean Water Fund) to finance the upgrade of sewage treatment plants and separation of combined sewer overflows.
Up to $3 million in Clean Water Fund money has been allocated for efficiency improvements to wastewater treatment facility secondary clarifiers. These improvements will complement the nitrogen removal retrofits.
During 1991 DEP fully implemented a nutrient monitoring policy for shoreline and river STP facilities in Connecticut.
DEP established peer review research on Long Island Sound through the Long Island Sound Research Fund which to date has awarded $2 million for university and high school level research grants and public education projects over the past two years (and pla n to do $1 million again this year).
DEP completed the first phase of two programs authorized by the Coastal Zone Management Act to address nonpoint source pollution.
The Long Island Sound Natural Resource Center at Avery Point was established in conjunction with the University of Connecticut which provides state of the art information on the geology of the Sound, distribution of marine sediments and mapping of benthi c habitat.
NOISE MANAGEMENT
The Connecticut legislature appropriated $10 million in the 1987 and 1988 fiscal years for the Retrofit Noise Barrier Program. The first 15 locations on the program priority list have been addressed, with additional funding provided through Special Acts
87-76, 88-73, 89-50 and 90-1 for specified locations. Approximately, $25 million has been applied to date for 38 locations.
Currently 35 municipalities have adopted noise ordinances.
In 1989 a law was enacted which increased the minimum and maximum fines for violating boat noise levels and allowed an arresting officer to require the boat's operator to take immediate measures to correct the violation, including returning the boat to a mooring until the violation is corrected or ends.
PARK AND FOREST MANAGEMENT
Federal, state and local efforts allowed for the passage of the "Weir Farm National Historic Site Establishment Act" in 1990; this established the first national park component in Connecticut.
The Department administers 92 state parks and park reserve areas and provided recreational opportunities to over 5 million people in 1991.
In 1991, a law was enacted which will require certification of forest practitioners, requires the Commissioner to develop and enforce regulations regarding the conduct of forest practices in the state, and specifically empowers local municipalities to re gulate forest practices, provides that local regulations and ordinances have been approved by the DEP in conformance with the Act.
The 1991 Connecticut Forest Practices Act won national recognition from the National Woodland Owners Association in the category of outstanding new state law affecting private forestry in the United States.
The National Park Service completed a feasibility study in 1991 for the designation of a National Heritage Corridor within the Shepaug and Quinebaug River Valleys.
The 1989 General Assembly authorized $5.2 million in bonding for the State Heritage Park Program.
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Connecticut's hazardous waste program was reauthorized by the EPA in 1990, after demonstrating that it was equivalent to and consistent with the federal program and provided for adequate enforcement.
DEP has promoted and supported pollution prevention and waste minimization efforts through a series of educational seminars directed at small quantity hazardous waste handlers. Over the past three years, approximately 650 people annually attended these seminars.
With the passage of PA 91-376, the Connecticut General Assembly established a state policy to encourage pollution prevention practices to reduce risks to workers and the environment that toxic and hazardous substances. This Act provides for a $10 milli on revolving loan fund to assist businesses and industry change production processes, practices, and raw materials to reduce or eliminate hazardous byproducts and toxic substance use.
Federal law required states to develop the capability of properly disposing of low-level radioactive waste. Connecticut participated on the Northeast Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Commission which designated both New Jersey and Connecticut as d ual host states for waste disposal sites while alternative measures for waste disposal continue to be explored.
The number of spill incidents reported to the Department averages 5,300 a year. The types of incidents requiring response have expanded to include: petroleum products, chemicals, dieliectic fluids such as PCBS, gaseous emissions, hazardous waste, sewage released, biomedical substances, and algae.
The regulations of marine and inland terminals loading and/or discharging petroleum or chemical products from vessels is considered a pollution prevention function of the Department and it is in the process of adopting regulations for facilities receivin g, storing, transferring or selling of oil and petroleum liquids.
The Department has completed closure of over 90% of commercial underground storage tanks exceeding 20 years of age.
Integrated pest management (IPM) has been incorporated into certification examinations for pesticide applicators.
The federal EPA has embarked upon a strategy for regulating inert ingredients in pesticides and is reducing the more toxic of these ingredients. In Connecticut, the toxicity of the inert ingredients in pesticide formulations has resulted in the classifi cation of several products as restricted use that are not so classified by the EPA.
In 1988 DEP established a pesticide notification registry.
In 1991 a study found 24 pesticides in the state's groundwater indicating that without adequate strategies to manage pesticides, contamination of this resource may result.
In 1991, Connecticut's State Solid Waste Plan was adopted. The Plan calls for a 37% waste reduction goal for solid waste, limiting the need for waste incineration and land disposal facility development, development of ash and bulky waste disposal sites, and the treatment and reuse of ash residue.
Enforcement efforts continue to target landfills which are causing environmental degradation, improperly operated, or filled to capacity.
Recycling was mandated in Connecticut with the passage of PA 87-544 for corrugated paper, office paper, newspapers, waste oil, storage of batteries, scrap metals, metal food containers, glass food containers and leaves.
WATER MANAGEMENT
In 1986 the Clean Water Fund a state revolving fund for water pollution control projects, identified municipal sewerage needs of $1.1 billion. However, today with inflation and additional needs identified, total needs amount to $3.1 billion. This incl
udes funds for advanced treatment for nitrogen removal to improve Long Island Sound.
Passage of the Aquifer Protection Areas Act occurred in 1989.
Discharge permits are being modified to limit toxic pollutants to prevent adverse impacts to human health and aquatic life. By June 1991, more than half of all major industrial NPDES permits were modified to require compliance with limits on whole efflu ent toxicity. This represents more than 90% of the industries identified by DEP in 1989 as having the greatest potential to cause, or contribute to Connecticut's in-stream aquatic life toxicity problems.
During 1991 a Nonpoint Source (NPS) nitrate testing demonstration project in the Housatonic River Basin was established. The program, designed to become a self supporting farmer cooperative program, emphasizes the validity of the test and its value to f armers as a fertilizer management tool. One season of reduced fertilizer usage resulted in an estimated nitrogen user reduction of approximately 187 tons and cost savings to farmers in excess of $100,000.
The operating efficiency of the statewide flood monitoring and warning program has increased to over 95%.
The Department has committed to a newly initiated Community Rating System. Under the National Flood Insurance Program (NIP) this system credits municipalities for proactive floodplain management efforts which exceed the minimum development standards of the NIP.
In 1987 DEP began annual training programs for local commission members. In 1991, over 600 municipal wetland agency officials attended these classes. Legislation enacted in 1989 required all municipalities to report Inland Wetlands regulatory actions t o the Department. With assistance of a $55,000 EPA grant, a computerized geographic based information system (GIS) is being developed to manage this data and to enable assessment of statewide and town level success in preventing wetlands loss.
Interim recommendations were issued to begin management of hypoxia with a concept of "no net increase" in the load of nitrogen, the key nutrient stimulating algae growth that leads to hypoxia. In 1991 the DEP provided financial assistance to retrofit ex isting facilities to remove nitrogen.
The research vessel, R/V John Dempsey was outfitted and a program of ambient monitoring and analyses for model development and trend monitoring was begun. IN addition, the Department implemented, through USGS, a monitoring program for source load assess ments from nonpoint and atmospheric sources and nutrient self- monitoring of coastal sewage treatment plant influent and effluent.
A Land Use/Land Cover Mapping project was initiated in 1991 and is scheduled for completion during 1992. Land cover maps will be developed based on satellite imagery. The data will be used to develop, on a watershed basis, NPS loading estimates, assign priority to watersheds for NPS management and to develop NPS control strategies.
A Rivers Advisory Committee was formed in 1989 to assist the Department in developing a statewide river management program. Public Act 91-394 formally established the Rivers Advisory Committee and provided enabling authority for program activities.
Technical assistance from the National Park Service is being used to complete a statewide rivers assessment; and efforts are underway to inventory laws affecting rivers; identify issues to be addressed in a management program and evaluate management tool s to improve river management and protection in Connecticut.
Since 1987, over 760 acres of river corridor land have been acquired affording increased access on six rivers.
A study is currently underway to identify the suitability of the Farmington River for National Wild and Scenic Designation.
The Connecticut River was designated as a National Fish and Wildlife Refuge named in honor of the late Rep. Silvio Conte (D. Mass). Return to top of page