Pro-Environment
Legislation That Passed
|
|
Topic
|
Bill
|
What
it Does
|
|
|
Global Warming |
5600 |
Sets limits for carbon emissions in CT.
Establishes subcommittee to evaluate potential impacts and develop
mitigation strategies. This is based on the goals adopted in the
2004 Climate Change Legislation that require certain strategies to
be put in place. |
Public Act No. 08-98
[pdf] |
|
Environmental Justice |
5145 |
Addresses equity in siting polluting
facilities, particularly within environmentally stressed
communities. |
Public Act No. 08-94
[pdf] |
|
Face of Connecticut |
5873 |
Funds the integrated protection of open
space, farmland, historic villages and city centers |
|
|
Protecting Land Trust Tax Exemptions
|
655 |
Contains specific provision to address
recent court decision allowing municipalities to tax land trusts,
and protects tax exempt status of conserved land. [NOTE- full bill
amended to FACE HB 5873] |
|
|
Toxins in Toys and Other Products
|
5601,
5650 |
Bans the sale of certain toxins, and
supports related research. |
|
|
Sustainable Forestry |
5853 |
Increases the current allocation of
state timber sales and requires third-party certification of state
forests and to study, develop and fund a plan regarding sustainable
harvesting of state forests. |
|
Anti-Environment
Legislation that was Defeated
|
|
Topic
|
Bill
|
What
it Does
|
|
|
Conservation Development |
5641 |
This bill was opposed by environmental advocates for many reasons,
including the lowering of standards for density, presumption that
the locational map of state Plan of Conservation and Development can
be changed based on a particular project, reference to on-site
sewage, definition of buildable land up to 40% slope, forces hand of
planning commission in favor of developers. |
|
|
Billboards |
5750 |
This bill was raised by the
Transportation Committee in opposition to the Governor’s Executive
Order forbidding the renewal of the leases for approximately 200
billboards on State property. This Committee bill virtually requires
the renewal of leases for billboards on state land. It does set up a
study group for outdoor advertising. CTLCV supports the Governor’s
Executive Order and my score clear votes in opposition to it. |
|
|
ATVs |
5602 |
The environmental community generally
opposes this bill unless the final bill includes
universal registration beyond state lands and includes penalties. |
|
|
Mining in Class I and II drinking-water
watersheds
|
multiple |
Related bills were under
discussion. |
|
Pro-Environment Disappointments
|
Topic
|
Bill
|
What
it Does
|
|
|
DEP Funding |
5831 |
Would have helped
generate needed revenues for the Department of Environmental
Protection. [Note: The Appropriations Committee had increased the
agency’s overall budget by $4.5 million from the General Fund, with
$3 million for the vastly underfunded staffing and operations, $1
million for single-stream recycling, and $450,000 for beach-erosion
projects. The $3 million increase for operations is the bedrock
minimum to get the agency on track to meet the state's environmental
goals. Environmental advocates had requested $5 million for
operations.] |
|
|
Inland Wetlands |
5716 |
Would have affirmed state commitment to wetlands
preservation; would have clarified that the burden of proof is on the applicant
to demonstrate that a project will not harm wetlands or
watercourses. |
|
|
Fuel Cells and Other Renewables
|
5681 |
Would have provided bond funding through CT
Innovations to municipalities and Bradley International Airport to
purchase renewable-energy sources or energy-efficient generation
sources. |
|
|
Riverfront Protection |
362 |
Would have set a standard (100 feet) for natural
buffers along perennial rivers and streams, and makes the buffer
itself a protected resource. Oppose hostile amendments. |
|
|
Tax Credit for Conservation |
5137 |
Would have created a state conservation tax credit
for the donation of land or easements permanently protecting open
space or farmland. |
|
|
Bottle Bill |
357 |
Would have expanded state bottle deposit law to
include non-carbonated beverage containers, or water containers
alone. |
|
|
Idling of vehicles |
123 |
Would have prohibited idling for more than three
minutes, with some exemptions. |
|
|
Packaged Sewage Treatment Systems |
136 |
Would have set a one year moratorium for advanced
on-site sewage treatment systems greater than 5,000 gallons per day
for the purpose of developing regulations. |
|
|
Freedom to Dry |
5596 |
Would have
prohibited restrictions on the use of
clotheslines, as most condo and homeowner associations do. With
allowances for aesthetic considerations, it would enable people to
use clothelines if they so choose to save energy, reduce greenhouse
gas emissions, save up to 10% on their electric bill. |
|
