Sec. 22a-36. Inland wetlands and watercourses. Legislative finding. The inland
wetlands and watercourses of the state of Connecticut are an indispensable and irreplaceable but fragile natural resource with which the citizens of the state have been endowed.
The wetlands and watercourses are an interrelated web of nature essential to an adequate
supply of surface and underground water; to hydrological stability and control of flooding and erosion; to the recharging and purification of groundwater; and to the existence
of many forms of animal, aquatic and plant life. Many inland wetlands and watercourses
have been destroyed or are in danger of destruction because of unregulated use by reason
of the deposition, filling or removal of material, the diversion or obstruction of water
flow, the erection of structures and other uses, all of which have despoiled, polluted
and eliminated wetlands and watercourses. Such unregulated activity has had, and will
continue to have, a significant, adverse impact on the environment and ecology of the
state of Connecticut and has and will continue to imperil the quality of the environment
thus adversely affecting the ecological, scenic, historic and recreational values and benefits of the state for its citizens now and forever more. The preservation and protection of
the wetlands and watercourses from random, unnecessary, undesirable and unregulated
uses, disturbance or destruction is in the public interest and is essential to the health,
welfare and safety of the citizens of the state. It is, therefore, the purpose of sections
22a-36 to 22a-45, inclusive, to protect the citizens of the state by making provisions for
the protection, preservation, maintenance and use of the inland wetlands and watercourses by minimizing their disturbance and pollution; maintaining and improving water
quality in accordance with the highest standards set by federal, state or local authority;
preventing damage from erosion, turbidity or siltation; preventing loss of fish and other
beneficial aquatic organisms, wildlife and vegetation and the destruction of the natural
habitats thereof; deterring and inhibiting the danger of flood and pollution; protecting
the quality of wetlands and watercourses for their conservation, economic, aesthetic,
recreational and other public and private uses and values; and protecting the state's
potable fresh water supplies from the dangers of drought, overdraft, pollution, misuse
and mismanagement by providing an orderly process to balance the need for the economic growth of the state and the use of its land with the need to protect its environment
and ecology in order to forever guarantee to the people of the state, the safety of such
natural resources for their benefit and enjoyment and for the benefit and enjoyment of
generations yet unborn.
(1972, P.A. 155, S. 1.)
Cited. 179 C. 250, 252; 180 C. 421, 423; id., 692, 693, 696. "To interpret Sec. 22a-430 as precluding the municipal
regulation of sewerage systems would clearly work to undermine some of the basic purposes of the act" as expressed in
the statute. 183 C. 532, 538-540, 551. The inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 186 C. 67, 71. Cited. 193 C. 414,
426. Cited. 196 C. 218, 221. Cited. 203 C. 525, 526, 550, 551. Cited. 209 C. 544, 546, 559, 562. Cited. Id., 652, 654. Cited.
211 C. 416, 417. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 212 C. 710, 713, 718, 720, 722, 726; Id., 727, 730; 213 C.
604, 610, 611. Cited. 216 C. 320, 321, 324, 325, 327, 329-333, 335, 336. Inland wetlands and watercourses act (IWWA)
Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. Id. Inland wetlands and watercourses act (IWWA) cited. 217 C. 164, 167-169, 171-174, 176,
177. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 218 C. 703-705, 713; 219 C. 404, 409. Cited. 220 C. 362, 369; Id., 476,
482. Cited. 226 C. 579, 580, 587, 589, 591, 592, 594, 595, 598. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Secs. 22a-36-22a-45a cited. Id. Cited. 227 C. 71, 84; Id., 175, 199. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 228 C.
95, 97, 98. Cited. 229 C. 247, 249, 250, 252. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. Id. Cited. Id., 627, 628. Cited.
Id., 654, 660. Cited. 235 C. 448, 456. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. 242 C. 335. Although one of the broad
purposes of act is to prevent "loss of fish and other beneficial aquatic organisms, wildlife and vegetation", when viewed
in context of the act as a whole, the intent to protect wildlife is a secondary effect of protecting the wetlands and watercourses
themselves. 266 C. 150. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act does not provide inland wetlands agencies with jurisdiction
to regulate activities that solely affect the wildlife that uses the wetlands and watercourses without affecting the wetlands
or watercourses themselves. 269 C. 57.
Cited. 4 CA 271-273. Cited. 5 CA 70, 71. Cited. 6 CA 715, 717, 718. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 12
CA 47-52, 54, 55. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 15 CA 336, 337; 18 CA 440, 448. Cited. 19 CA 713-715.
Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 20 CA 309, 310, 317. Cited. 25 CA 446, 449. Inland wetlands and watercourses
act cited. 26 CA 564, 566; 27 CA 590, 591. Cited. 28 CA 262, 267. Cited. Id., 780, 782, 788, 791. Inland wetlands and
watercourses act cited. Id. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 29 CA 12, 15; Id., 105, 106.
Inland wetlands act cited. 30 CA 85, 90, 91, 94. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Secs. 22a-36-22a-45 cited. 31 CA
105, 109; Id., 599, 601, 607; judgment reversed, see 229 C. 627 et seq., see also 36 CA 270 et seq. Inland wetlands and
watercourses act cited. 32 CA 799, 806, 810. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 34 CA 385,
389. Cited. 36 CA 270-272, 274, 280. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. Id. Cited. 37 CA 166, 170. Inland
Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. Id.
Cited. 32 CS 104, 109. Under the Inland Wetlands and Water Courses Act, sections 22a-36 through 22a-45, commissioner of environmental protection is limited to promulgating regulations and appealing from decisions of municipal
commissions. 35 CS 145 et seq. Cited. Id. Nothing obligates commissioner to include "balancing computation" in his
opinion relative to economic factors described in this section at risk of nullification of his entire action. This section must
yield to section 22a-41 for factors to be considered. 36 CS 1, 3, 4, 6, 8. Cited. 41 CS 444, 450, 452, 454. Cited. 42 CS 57-
59, 68.
Sec. 22a-37. Short title: Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act. Sections 22a-36 to 22a-45, inclusive, shall be known and may be cited as the "Inland Wetlands and
Watercourses Act".
(1972, P.A. 155, S. 2.)
Cited. 179 C. 250, 252; 180 C. 421, 423; id., 692, 693. Cited. 183 C. 532, 537, 539, 540. The inland wetlands and
watercourses act cited. 186 C. 67, 71. Cited. 192 C. 247-249. The inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 193 C. 414-
416, 421; 196 C. 218, 221. Cited. 203 C. 525, 526, 550, 551. Cited. 209 C. 544, 546, 562. Cited. Id., 652, 654. Cited. 211
C. 416, 417. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 212 C. 710, 713, 720, 722, 726; Id., 727, 730; 213 C. 604, 610,
611. Cited. 216 C. 320, 321, 324, 325, 327, 329-333, 335, 336. Inland wetlands and watercourses act (IWWA) Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. Id. Inland wetlands and watercourses act (IWWA) cited. 217 C. 164, 167-169, 172-174 176, 177. Inland
wetlands and watercourses act cited. 218 C. 703-705, 713; 219 C. 404, 409. Cited. 220 C. 362, 369; Id., 476, 482. Inland
wetlands and watercourses act, Secs. 22a-36-22a-45a cited. 226 C. 579, 580, 587, 589, 591, 592, 594, 595, 598. Inland
wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 228 C. 95, 97, 98. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited.
229 C. 247, 249, 250, 252. Cited. Id., 627, 628. Cited. Id., 654, 660. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. 242 C. 335.
The inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 4 CA 271, 273. Cited. 5 CA 70, 71. Cited. 6 CA 715, 717, 718. Inland
wetlands and watercourses act cited. 12 CA 47-52, 54, 55. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 15 CA 336, 337;
18 CA 440, 448. Cited. 19 CA 713-715. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 20 CA 309, 310, 317; 26 CA 564,
566; 27 CA 590, 591. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 28 CA 780, 782, 788, 791. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 29 CA 12, 15; Id., 105, 106. Inland wetlands act cited. 30 CA 85, 90, 91, 94. Inland
wetlands and watercourses act, Secs. 22a-36-22a-45 cited. 31 CA 105, 109; Id., 599, 601; judgment reversed, see 229 C.
627 et seq., see also 36 CA 270 et seq. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 32 CA 799, 806, 810. Inland wetlands
and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 34 CA 385, 389. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. 36 CA 270-
272, 274, 280; 37 CA 166, 170.
Cited. 35 CS 145-147; 36 CS 1, 3, 4, 6. Cited. 41 CS 444, 450, 452, 454. Cited. 42 CS 57, 59, 68.
Sec. 22a-38. Definitions. As used in sections 22a-36 to 22a-45a, inclusive:
(1) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Environmental Protection;
(2) "Person" means any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, limited
liability company, company, organization or legal entity of any kind, including municipal corporations, governmental agencies or subdivisions thereof;
(3) "Municipality" means any town, consolidated town and city, consolidated town
and borough, city and borough;
(4) "Inland wetlands agency" means a municipal board or commission established
pursuant to and acting under section 22a-42;
(5) "Soil scientist" means an individual duly qualified in accordance with standards
set by the federal Office of Personnel Management;
(6) "Material" means any substance, solid or liquid, organic or inorganic, including,
but not limited to soil, sediment, aggregate, land, gravel, clay, bog, mud, debris, sand,
refuse or waste;
(7) "Waste" means sewage or any substance, liquid, gaseous, solid or radioactive,
which may pollute or tend to pollute any of the waters of the state;
(8) "Pollution" means harmful thermal effect or the contamination or rendering
unclean or impure of any waters of the state by reason of any waste or other materials
discharged or deposited therein by any public or private sewer or otherwise so as directly
or indirectly to come in contact with any waters;
(9) "Rendering unclean or impure" means any alteration of the physical, chemical
or biological properties of any of the waters of the state, including, but not limited to
change in odor, color, turbidity or taste;
(10) "Discharge" means the emission of any water, substance or material into waters
of the state whether or not such substance causes pollution;
(11) "Remove" includes, but shall not be limited to drain, excavate, mine, dig,
dredge, suck, bulldoze, dragline or blast;
(12) "Deposit" includes, but shall not be limited to, fill, grade, dump, place, discharge or emit;
(13) "Regulated activity" means any operation within or use of a wetland or watercourse involving removal or deposition of material, or any obstruction, construction,
alteration or pollution, of such wetlands or watercourses, but shall not include the specified activities in section 22a-40;
(14) "License" means the whole or any part of any permit, certificate of approval
or similar form of permission which may be required of any person by the provisions
of sections 22a-36 to 22a-45a, inclusive;
(15) "Wetlands" means land, including submerged land, not regulated pursuant to
sections 22a-28 to 22a-35, inclusive, which consists of any of the soil types designated as
poorly drained, very poorly drained, alluvial, and floodplain by the National Cooperative
Soils Survey, as may be amended from time to time, of the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture;
(16) "Watercourses" means rivers, streams, brooks, waterways, lakes, ponds,
marshes, swamps, bogs and all other bodies of water, natural or artificial, vernal or
intermittent, public or private, which are contained within, flow through or border upon
this state or any portion thereof, not regulated pursuant to sections 22a-28 to 22a-35,
inclusive. Intermittent watercourses shall be delineated by a defined permanent channel
and bank and the occurrence of two or more of the following characteristics: (A) Evidence of scour or deposits of recent alluvium or detritus, (B) the presence of standing
or flowing water for a duration longer than a particular storm incident, and (C) the
presence of hydrophytic vegetation;
(17) "Feasible" means able to be constructed or implemented consistent with sound
engineering principles;
(18) "Prudent" means economically and otherwise reasonable in light of the social
benefits to be derived from the proposed regulated activity provided cost may be considered in deciding what is prudent and further provided a mere showing of expense will
not necessarily mean an alternative is imprudent.
(1972, P.A. 155, S. 4; P.A. 73-571, S. 2, 9; P.A. 87-533, S. 1, 14; P.A. 95-79, S. 92, 189; 95-313, S. 1; P.A. 96-157, S.
1; 96-269, S. 3, 4.)
History: P.A. 73-571 replaced definition of "conservation commission" with definition of "inland wetlands agency"
in Subdiv. (4); P.A. 87-533 amended the definition of "municipality" to exclude metropolitan districts, village, fire and
sewer districts, sewer districts and municipal organizations having authority to levy and collect taxes or make charges for
its authorized functions; P.A. 95-79 redefined "person" to include a limited liability company, effective May 31, 1995;
P.A. 95-313 redefined "wetlands" to make spelling and nomenclature corrections and redefined "watercourses" to include
vernal or intermittent bodies of water; P.A. 96-157 amended the definition of "soil scientist" to update the reference to the
federal Office of Personnel Management, amended the definition of "watercourses" to require evidence of two of the
specified characteristics and added the definitions of "feasible" and "prudent"; P.A. 96-269 changed effective date of P.A.
96-157 from October 1, 1996, to January 1, 1997, effective June 12, 1996.
Cited. 179 C. 250, 252; 180 C. 421, 423; id., 692, 693. Cited. 183 C. 532, 537, 539, 540. The inland wetlands and
watercourses act cited. 186 C. 67, 71. The inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 196 C. 218, 221. Cited. 203 C. 525,
526, 550, 551. Cited. 209 C. 544, 546, 562. Cited. Id., 652, 654. Cited. 211 C. 416, 417, 427. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 212 C. 710, 713, 720, 722, 726; Id., 727, 730; 213 C. 604, 610, 611. Cited. 216 C. 320, 321, 324, 325,
327, 329-333, 335, 336. Inland wetlands and watercourses act (IWWA) Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. Id. Inland wetlands and
watercourses act (IWWA) cited. 217 C. 164, 167-170, 172-174, 176, 177. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited.
218 C. 703-705, 713; 219 C. 404, 409. Cited. 220 C. 362, 369; Id., 476, 482. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Secs.
22a-36-22a-45a cited. 226 C. 579, 580, 587, 589, 591, 592, 594, 595, 598. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec.
22a-36 et seq. cited. 228 C. 95, 97, 98. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 229 C. 247, 249, 250, 252. Cited. Id.,
627, 628. Cited. Id., 654, 660. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. 242 C. 335. Definitions of "watercourses"
and "wetlands" are limited to physical characteristics and do not include reference to wildlife protection or biodiversity.
266 C. 150.
Cited. 4 CA 271-273. Cited. 5 CA 70, 71. Cited. 6 CA 715, 717, 718. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 12
CA 47-52, 54, 55. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 15 CA 336, 337; 18 CA 440, 448. Cited. 19 CA 713-715.
Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 20 CA 309, 310, 317; 26 CA 564, 566; 27 CA 590, 591. Inland wetlands and
watercourses act cited. 28 CA 780, 782, 788, 791. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 29 CA
12, 15; Id., 105, 106. Inland wetlands act cited. 30 CA 85, 90, 91, 94. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Secs. 22a-36-22a-45 cited. 31 CA 105, 109; Id., 599, 601; judgment reversed, see 229 C. 627 et seq., see also 36 CA 270 et seq.
Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 32 CA 799, 806, 810. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et
seq. cited. 34 CA 385, 389. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. 36 CA 270-272, 274, 280; 37 CA 166, 170.
Cited. 35 CS 145-147; 36 CS 1, 3, 4, 6. Cited. 41 CS 444, 450, 452, 454. Cited. 42 CS 57, 59, 68.
Subdiv. (6):
Cited. 227 C. 175, 198.
Subdiv. (8):
Cited. 183 C. 532, 542. Cited. 203 C. 525, 543.
Subdiv. (13):
Cited. 180 C. 692, 700. Cited. 183 C. 532, 534, 542, 549, 552. Cited. 192 C. 591, 599. Cited. 193 C. 414, 422. Cited.
196 C. 218, 222. Cited. 203 C. 525, 551. Cited. 216 C. 320, 331. Cited. 227 C. 175, 198.
Cited. 20 CA 309, 311. Cited. 29 CA 12, 16. Cited. 31 CA 105, 107.
Subdiv. (15):
Cited. 183 C. 532, 534, 545. Cited. 186 C. 67, 71. Cited. 215 C. 616, 632.
Cited. 43 CA 239.
Subdiv. (16):
Cited. 183 C. 532, 534, 545, 546.
Subdiv. (18):
Access way that would more than double the impact to the wetlands is not a prudent alternative. 79 CA 49.
Sec. 22a-39. Duties of commissioner. The commissioner shall:
(a) Exercise general supervision of the administration and enforcement of sections
22a-36 to 22a-45, inclusive;
(b) Develop comprehensive programs in furtherance of the purposes of said sections;
(c) Advise, consult and cooperate with other agencies of the state, the federal government, other states and with persons and municipalities in furtherance of the purposes
of said sections;
(d) Encourage, participate in or conduct studies, investigations, research and demonstrations, and collect and disseminate information, relating to the purposes of said
sections;
(e) Retain and employ consultants and assistants on a contract or other basis for
rendering legal, financial, technical or other assistance and advice in furtherance of any
of its purposes, specifically including, but not limited to, soil scientists on a cost-sharing
basis with the United States Soil Conservation Service for the purpose of (1) completing
the state soils survey and (2) making on-site interpretations, evaluations and findings
as to soil types;
(f) Adopt such regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, as are
necessary to protect the wetlands or watercourses or any of them individually or collectively;
(g) Inventory or index the wetlands and watercourses in such form, including pictorial representations, as the commissioner deems best suited to effectuate the purposes
of sections 22a-36 to 22a-45, inclusive;
(h) Grant, deny, limit or modify in accordance with the provisions of section 22a-42a, an application for a license or permit for any proposed regulated activity conducted
by any department, agency or instrumentality of the state, except any local or regional
board of education, (1) after an advisory decision on such license or permit has been
rendered to the commissioner by the wetland agency of the municipality within which
such wetland is located or (2) thirty-five days after receipt by the commissioner of such
application, whichever occurs first;
(i) Grant, deny, limit or modify in accordance with the provisions of section 22a-42 and section 22a-42a, an application for a license or permit for any proposed regulated
activity within a municipality which does not regulate its wetlands and watercourses;
(j) Exercise all incidental powers including but not limited to the issuance of orders
necessary to enforce rules and regulations and to carry out the purposes of sections 22a-36 to 22a-45, inclusive;
(k) Conduct a public hearing no sooner than thirty days and not later than sixty days
following the receipt by said commissioner of any inland wetlands application, provided
whenever the commissioner determines that the regulated activity for which a permit
is sought is not likely to have a significant impact on the wetland or watercourse, he
may waive the requirement for public hearing after (1) publishing notice, in a newspaper
having general circulation in each town wherever the proposed work or any part thereof
is located, of his intent to waive said requirement, and (2) mailing notice of such intent
to the chief administrative officer in the town or towns where the proposed work, or
any part thereof, is located, and the chairman of the conservation commission and inland
wetlands agency of each such town or towns, except that the commissioner shall hold
a hearing on such application upon receipt, within thirty days after such notice has been
published or mailed, of a petition signed by at least twenty-five persons requesting such
a hearing. The commissioner shall (1) publish notice of such hearing at least once not
more than thirty days and not fewer than ten days before the date set for the hearing in
a newspaper having a general circulation in each town where the proposed work, or any
part thereof, is located, and (2) mail notice of such hearing to the chief administrative
officer in the town or towns where the proposed work, or any part thereof, is located,
and the chairman of the conservation commission and inland wetlands agency of each
such town or towns. All applications and maps and documents relating thereto shall be
open for public inspection at the office of the commissioner. The commissioner shall
state upon his records his findings and reasons for the action taken;
(l) Develop a comprehensive training program for inland wetlands agency
members;
(m) Adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 establishing
reporting requirements for inland wetlands agencies, which shall include provisions for
reports to the commissioner on permits, orders and other actions of such agencies and
development of a form for such reports; and
(n) The commissioner shall issue a certificate to any member of a municipal inland
wetlands agency or its staff who completes the training program offered annually by
the commissioner for such officials.
(1972, P.A. 155, S. 5; P.A. 77-397; 77-599, S. 1, 7; P.A. 80-16; P.A. 87-533, S. 3, 14; P.A. 95-313, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 77-397 specifically mentioned commissioner's power to issue orders in Subdiv. (h) and added Subdiv.
(i) re commissioner's duty to conduct public hearings on inland wetlands applications; P.A. 77-599 inserted new Subdivs.
(h) and (i) re commissioner's power to grant, deny, limit or modify applications for permits or licenses and relettered
former Subdivs. (h) and (i) as (j) and (k); P.A. 80-16 expanded Subdiv. (k) to include provisions re waiver of hearing
requirement and re hearings held upon receipt of petition requesting hearing; P.A. 87-533 amended Subsec. (f) by adding
reference to chapter 54 and added Subsec. (l) regarding a training program for inland wetlands agency members and
Subsec. (m) regarding adoption by the commissioner of regulations establishing reporting requirements for inland wetlands
agencies; P.A. 95-313 added Subsec. (n) re certificate for municipal officials who have completed the training program.
See Sec. 22a-6n re notice of commissioner's determination regarding application under this section.
Cited. 179 C. 250, 252; 180 C. 421, 423; id., 692, 693. Cited. 183 C. 532, 533, 537, 539, 540, 544. The inland wetland
and watercourses act cited. 186 C. 67, 71. The inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 196 C. 213, 221. Cited. 203 C.
525, 526, 550, 551. Cited. 209 C. 544, 546, 560, 562. Cited. Id., 652, 654. Cited. 211 C. 416, 417. Inland wetlands and
watercourses act cited. 212 C. 710, 713, 720, 722, 726; Id., 727, 730; 213 C. 604, 610, 611. Cited. 216 C. 320, 321, 324,
325, 327, 329-333, 335, 336. Inland wetlands and watercourses act (IWWA) Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. Id. Inland wetlands
and watercourses act (IWWA) cited. 217 C. 164, 167-169, 172-174, 176, 177. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited.
218 C. 703-705, 713; 219 C. 404, 409. Cited. 220 C. 362, 369; Id., 476, 482. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Secs.
22a-36-22a-45a cited. 226 C. 579, 580, 587, 589, 591, 592, 594, 595, 598. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec.
22a-36 et seq. cited. 228 C. 95, 97, 98. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 229 C. 247, 249, 250, 252. Cited. Id.,
627, 628. Cited. Id., 654, 660. Cited. 242 C. 335. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. Id.
Cited. 4 CA 271-273. Cited. 5 CA 70, 71. Cited. 6 CA 715, 717, 718. Inland wetlands and watercourses cited. 12 CA
47-52, 54, 55. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 15 CA 336, 337; 18 CA 440, 448. Cited. 19 CA 713-715, 718.
Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 20 CA 309, 310, 317; 26 CA 564, 566; 27 CA 590, 591. Inland wetlands and
watercourses act cited. 28 CA 780, 782, 788, 791. Inland wetland and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 29 CA
12, 15; Id., 105, 106. Cited. 30 CA 85, 90, 91, 93, 94. Inland wetlands act cited. Id. Inland wetlands and watercourses act,
Secs. 22a-36-22a-45 cited. 31 CA 105, 109; Id., 599, 601; judgment reversed, see 229 C. 627 et seq., see also 36 CA 270
et seq. Cited. Id., 643, 646. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 32 CA 799, 806, 810. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 34 CA 385, 389. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. 36 CA 270-272, 274,
280; 37 CA 166, 170.
Cited. 35 CS 145-148; 36 CS 1, 3, 4, 6. Cited. 41 CS 184, 189; Id., 444, 450, 452, 454. Cited. 42 CS 57, 59, 68.
Subdiv. (h):
Cited. 28 CA 262, 263.
Subdiv. (k):
Cited. 231 C. 451, 452, 456, 459-461.
Cited. 41 CS 184, 189-192.
Sec. 22a-40. Permitted operations and uses. (a) The following operations and
uses shall be permitted in wetlands and watercourses, as of right:
(1) Grazing, farming, nurseries, gardening and harvesting of crops and farm ponds
of three acres or less essential to the farming operation, and activities conducted by, or
under the authority of, the Department of Environmental Protection for the purposes of
wetland or watercourse restoration or enhancement or mosquito control. The provisions
of this subdivision shall not be construed to include road construction or the erection
of buildings not directly related to the farming operation, relocation of watercourses
with continual flow, filling or reclamation of wetlands or watercourses with continual
flow, clear cutting of timber except for the expansion of agricultural crop land, the
mining of top soil, peat, sand, gravel or similar material from wetlands or watercourses
for the purposes of sale;
(2) A residential home (i) for which a building permit has been issued or (ii) on a
subdivision lot, provided the permit has been issued or the subdivision has been approved
by a municipal planning, zoning or planning and zoning commission as of the effective
date of promulgation of the municipal regulations pursuant to subsection (b) of section
22a-42a or as of July 1, 1974, whichever is earlier, and further provided no residential
home shall be permitted as of right pursuant to this subdivision unless the permit was
obtained on or before July 1, 1987;
(3) Boat anchorage or mooring;
(4) Uses incidental to the enjoyment and maintenance of residential property, such
property defined as equal to or smaller than the largest minimum residential lot site
permitted anywhere in the municipality, provided in any town, where there are no zoning
regulations establishing minimum residential lot sites, the largest minimum lot site shall
be two acres. Such incidental uses shall include maintenance of existing structures and
landscaping but shall not include removal or deposition of significant amounts of material from or onto a wetland or watercourse or diversion or alteration of a watercourse;
(5) Construction and operation, by water companies as defined in section 16-1 or
by municipal water supply systems as provided for in chapter 102, of dams, reservoirs
and other facilities necessary to the impounding, storage and withdrawal of water in
connection with public water supplies except as provided in sections 22a-401 and 22a-403; and
(6) Maintenance relating to any drainage pipe which existed before the effective
date of any municipal regulations adopted pursuant to section 22a-42a or July 1, 1974,
whichever is earlier, provided such pipe is on property which is zoned as residential
but which does not contain hydrophytic vegetation. For purposes of this subdivision,
"maintenance" means the removal of accumulated leaves, soil, and other debris whether
by hand or machine, while the pipe remains in place.
(b) The following operations and uses shall be permitted, as nonregulated uses in
wetlands and watercourses, provided they do not disturb the natural and indigenous
character of the wetland or watercourse by removal or deposition of material, alteration
or obstruction of water flow or pollution of the wetland or watercourse:
(1) Conservation of soil, vegetation, water, fish, shellfish and wildlife; and
(2) Outdoor recreation including play and sporting areas, golf courses, field trials,
nature study, hiking, horseback riding, swimming, skin diving, camping, boating, water
skiing, trapping, hunting, fishing and shellfishing where otherwise legally permitted
and regulated.
(c) Any dredging or any erection, placement, retention or maintenance of any structure, fill, obstruction or encroachment, or any work incidental to such activities, conducted by a state agency, which activity is regulated under sections 22a-28 to 22a-35,
inclusive, or sections 22a-359b to 22a-363f, inclusive, shall not require any permit or
approval under sections 22a-36 to 22a-45, inclusive.
(1972, P.A. 155, S. 3; P.A. 73-571, S. 1, 9; P.A. 77-599, S. 2, 7; P.A. 87-533, S. 2, 14; P.A. 88-364, S. 33, 123; P.A.
94-89, S. 15; P.A. 97-289, S. 5, 9; P.A. 98-209, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 73-571 allowed usage of wetlands and watercourses for grazing, farming, etc. purposes, for residential
purposes, for boat anchorage or mooring and for water supply purposes "as of right" as was previously the case deleting
exception "as they involve regulated activities", but allowed usage "as a nonregulated use ... provided they do not disturb
the natural and indigenous character of the land" for conservation of soil, vegetation, etc. and outdoor regulation, where
previously these uses too had been "as of right"; P.A. 77-599 amended Subsec. (a)(2) for clarity adding references to
approval by municipal planning and zoning commissions and to July 1, 1974, as alternate approval date, amended (a)(4)
for clarity by adding words "equal to or smaller than" with reference to lot size, by specifying that incidental uses include
"maintenance of existing structures and landscaping" but exclude "removal or deposition of significant amounts of material
from or onto a wetland or watercourse or diversion or alteration of a watercourse", amended Subsec. (b) to specifically
prohibit removal or deposition of material, alteration or obstruction of water flow or pollution of wetlands or watercourses
and to refer to field "trials" rather than field "trails" in (b) (2); P.A. 87-533 amended Subdiv. (1) of Subsec. (a) to require
permits for farm ponds not essential to the farming operation, and certain road construction, relocation of wetlands and
watercourses with continual flow, clear cutting of timber, and mining for the purposes of sale and amended Subdiv. (2) of
Subsec. (a) to require permits for all residential homes after July 1, 1987; P.A. 88-364 made a technical change in Subsec.
(a); P.A. 94-89 amended Subsec. (a) to add a new Subdiv. (6) re maintenance of drainage pipes in certain wetlands
areas; P.A. 97-289 amended Subdiv. (1) of Subsec. (a) to include in the operations permitted as of right activities of the
Commissioner of Environmental Protection re wetland or watercourse restoration and mosquito control, effective July 1,
1997; P.A. 98-209 added new Subsec. (c) re permitted uses by state agencies.
Cited. 179 C. 250, 252; 180 C. 421, 423; id., 692, 693, 700. Cited. 183 C. 532, 533, 537, 539, 540, 542. The inland
wetlands and watercourses act cited. 186 C. 67, 71. Cited. 193 C. 414, 422. The inland wetlands and watercourses act
cited. 196 C. 218, 221, 222. Cited. 203 C. 525, 526, 550, 551. Cited. 209 C. 544, 546, 562. Cited. Id., 652, 654. Cited. 211
C. 416, 417. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 212 C. 710, 713, 720, 722, 726; Id., 727, 730; 213 C. 604, 610,
611. Cited. 216 C. 320, 321, 324, 325, 327, 329-333, 335, 336. Inland wetlands and watercourses act (IWWA) Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. Id. Inland wetlands and watercourses act (IWWA) cited. 217 C. 164, 167-169, 172-174, 176, 177. Inland
wetlands and watercourses act cited. 218 C. 703-705, 713; 219 C. 404, 409. Cited. 220 C. 362, 369; Id., 476, 482. Cited.
226 C. 358, 375. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Secs. 22a-36-22a-45a cited. Id., 579, 580, 587, 589, 591, 592,
594, 595, 598. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 228 C. 95, 97, 98. Cited. 229 C. 247, 249,
250-252. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. Id. Cited. Id., 627, 628. Cited. Id., 654, 660. Inland Wetlands and
Watercourses Act cited. 242 C. 335.
Cited. 4 CA 271-273. Cited. 5 CA 70, 71. Cited. 6 CA 715, 717, 718. Cited. 7 CA 283, 285. Inland wetlands and
watercourses act cited. 12 CA 47-52, 54, 55. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 15 CA 336, 337; 18 CA 440,
448. Cited. 19 CA 713-715. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 20 CA 309, 310, 317; 26 CA 564, 566; 27 CA
590, 591. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 28 CA 780, 782, 788, 791. Inland wetlands and watercourses act,
Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 29 CA 12, 15; Id., 105, 106. Inland wetlands act cited. 30 CA 85, 90, 91, 94. Inland wetlands
and watercourses act, Secs. 22a-36-22a-45 cited. 31 CA 105, 109; Id., 599, 601; judgment reversed, see 229 C. 627 et
seq., see also 36 CA 270 et seq. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 32 CA 799, 806, 810. Inland wetlands and
watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 34 CA 385, 389. Inland wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. 36 CA 270-272,
274, 280; 37 CA 166, 170.
Cited. 35 CS 145-147; 36 CS 1, 3, 4, 6. Cited. 41 CS 444, 450, 452, 454. Cited. 42 CS 57, 59, 68.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 183 C. 532, 547. Subdiv. (4): Statute intended to apply only to that which is already in existence on residential
property, including residence. Id., 532, 534, 547-549. Subdiv. (4) cited. 193 C. 414, 423-425, 427, 433. Subdiv. (1) cited.
215 C. 616, 632. Subdiv. (2): There is no as-of-right exemption from wetlands regulation under this section for construction
of houses on subdivision lots existing prior to July 1, 1974, unless a building permit had been issued for such lot prior to
July 1, 1987. 229 C. 247-256. P.A. 87-533 cited. Id. Subdiv. (2)(i) cited. Id., 247, 253, 254. Subdiv. (2)(ii) cited. Id., 247,
253, 254, 258. Subdiv. (1) cited. Id., 654, 657.
Subdiv. (2) cited. 7 CA 283, 284. Subdiv. (1): Regulation in effect at time of court decision is controlling. 18 CA 440,
444, 445, 447, 449, 450. Cited. Id., 440, 450. Subdiv. (1) cited. 20 CA 819. Subdiv. (1) cited. 24 CA 163, 165, 168. Subdiv.
(1) cited. 31 CA 105, 107.
Subsec. (b):
Subdiv. (1) cited. 193 C. 414, 423, 427, 428, 433. Cited. 217 C. 164, 166.
Subsec. (g):
Cited. 229 C. 247, 251.
Sec. 22a-41. Factors for consideration of commissioner. Finding of no feasible
and prudent alternative. Wetlands or watercourses. Habitats. Jurisdiction of municipal inland wetlands agencies. (a) In carrying out the purposes and policies of sections 22a-36 to 22a-45a, inclusive, including matters relating to regulating, licensing
and enforcing of the provisions thereof, the commissioner shall take into consideration
all relevant facts and circumstances, including but not limited to:
(1) The environmental impact of the proposed regulated activity on wetlands or
watercourses;
(2) The applicant's purpose for, and any feasible and prudent alternatives to, the
proposed regulated activity which alternatives would cause less or no environmental
impact to wetlands or watercourses;
(3) The relationship between the short-term and long-term impacts of the proposed
regulated activity on wetlands or watercourses and the maintenance and enhancement
of long-term productivity of such wetlands or watercourses;
(4) Irreversible and irretrievable loss of wetland or watercourse resources which
would be caused by the proposed regulated activity, including the extent to which such
activity would foreclose a future ability to protect, enhance or restore such resources,
and any mitigation measures which may be considered as a condition of issuing a permit
for such activity including, but not limited to, measures to (A) prevent or minimize
pollution or other environmental damage, (B) maintain or enhance existing environmental quality, or (C) in the following order of priority: Restore, enhance and create productive wetland or watercourse resources;
(5) The character and degree of injury to, or interference with, safety, health or the
reasonable use of property which is caused or threatened by the proposed regulated
activity; and
(6) Impacts of the proposed regulated activity on wetlands or watercourses outside
the area for which the activity is proposed and future activities associated with, or reasonably related to, the proposed regulated activity which are made inevitable by the proposed regulated activity and which may have an impact on wetlands or watercourses.
(b) (1) In the case of an application which received a public hearing pursuant to
(A) subsection (k) of section 22a-39, or (B) a finding by the inland wetlands agency
that the proposed activity may have a significant impact on wetlands or watercourses,
a permit shall not be issued unless the commissioner finds on the basis of the record
that a feasible and prudent alternative does not exist. In making his finding the commissioner shall consider the facts and circumstances set forth in subsection (a). The finding
and the reasons therefor shall be stated on the record in writing.
(2) In the case of an application which is denied on the basis of a finding that there
may be feasible and prudent alternatives to the proposed regulated activity which have
less adverse impact on wetlands or watercourses, the commissioner or the inland wetlands agency, as the case may be, shall propose on the record in writing the types of
alternatives which the applicant may investigate provided this subdivision shall not be
construed to shift the burden from the applicant to prove that he is entitled to the permit
or to present alternatives to the proposed regulated activity.
(c) For purposes of this section, (1) "wetlands or watercourses" includes aquatic,
plant or animal life and habitats in wetlands or watercourses, and (2) "habitats" means
areas or environments in which an organism or biological population normally lives or
occurs.
(d) A municipal inland wetlands agency shall not deny or condition an application
for a regulated activity in an area outside wetlands or watercourses on the basis of an
impact or effect on aquatic, plant, or animal life unless such activity will likely impact
or affect the physical characteristics of such wetlands or watercourses.
(1972, P.A. 155, S. 6; P.A. 87-533, S. 4, 14; P.A. 96-157, S. 2; 96-269, S. 3, 4; P.A. 04-209, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 87-533 added Subsec. (b) requiring the commissioner to find that a feasible and prudent alternative does
not exist prior to issuing a permit for an application which received a public hearing; P.A. 96-157 amended Subsec. (a) to
modify the enumerated factors for consideration and amended Subsec. (b) to provide conditions for hearings governed by
that subsection, to provide that findings re feasible and prudent alternatives be on the basis of the record and to add Subdiv.
(2) re proposal of alternatives by the agency; P.A. 96-269 changed effective date of P.A. 96-157 from October 1, 1996, to
January 1, 1997, effective June 12, 1996; P.A. 04-209 added new Subsec. (c) defining wetlands or watercourses and habitats
and new Subsec. (d) re jurisdiction of municipal inland wetlands agencies, effective June 3, 2004.
Cited. 179 C. 250, 252; 180 C. 421, 423; id., 692, 693, 701. Cited. 183 C. 532, 533, 537, 539, 540. The inland wetlands
and watercourses act cited. 186 C. 67, 71. Under this statute a local inland wetland agency must take into account the
environmental impact on the regulated area that is pertinent, not the environmental impact in general. 192 C. 247, 250.
The inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 196 C. 218, 221. Cited. 203 C. 525, 526, 538, 550, 551. Cited. 209 C. 544,
546, 562. Cited. Id., 652, 654. Cited. 211 C. 416, 417. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 212 C. 710, 712, 713,
720, 722, 726; Id., 727, 730; 213 C. 604, 606, 610, 611. Cited. 216 C. 320, 321, 324, 325, 327, 329-336. Inland wetlands
and watercourses act (IWWA) Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. Id. Inland wetlands and watercourses act (IWWA) cited. 217 C.
164, 167-169, 171-174, 176, 177. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 218 C. 703-705, 713; 219 C. 404, 409.
Cited. 220 C. 362, 369; Id., 476, 482. Cited. 222 C. 98, 110. Cited. 226 C. 227, 229. Cited. Id., 579, 580, 585, 587, 589,
591, 592, 594, 595, 598. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Secs. 22a-36-22a-45a cited. Id. Inland wetlands and
watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 228 C. 95, 97, 98. Inland wetland and watercourses act cited. 229 C. 247, 249,
250, 252. Cited. Id., 227, 228. Cited. Id., 654, 660. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. 242 C. 335.
Cited. 4 CA 271-273. Cited. 5 CA 70, 71. Cited. 6 CA 715, 717, 718. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 12
CA 47-52, 54, 55. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 15 CA 336, 337; 18 CA 440, 448. Cited. 19 CA 713-715.
Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 20 CA 309, 310, 317. Cited. 21 CA 122, 129, 130. Cited. 24 CA 708, 713.
Cited. 25 CA 572, 573. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 26 CA 564, 566. Cited. 27 CA 214, 216. Inland wetlands
and watercourses act cited. Id., 590, 591. Cited. 28 CA 262, 264, 267. Cited. Id., 780, 782, 786-788, 790, 791. Inland
wetlands and watercourses act cited. Id. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 29 CA 12, 15;
Id., 105, 106. Cited. 30 CA 85, 87, 89-95. Inland wetlands act cited. Id. Inland wetland and watercourses act, Secs. 22a-36-22a-45 cited. 31 CA 105, 109; Id., 599, 601; judgment reversed, see 229 C. 627 et seq., see also 36 CA 270 et seq.
Cited. 32 CA 799, 803, 806, 810. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. Id. Inland wetlands and watercourses act,
Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 34 CA 385, 389. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. 36 CA 270-272, 274, 280; 37 CA
166, 170. Cited. 43 CA 227.
Cited. 35 CS 145-147. Section does not mandate specific reference in the finding and conclusion to any one of the six
factors or a "balancing test".36 CS 1, 3, 4, 6, 8. Cited. 41 CS 444, 450, 452, 454. Cited. 42 CS 57, 59, 61, 64, 68.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 212 C. 710, 720-722. Subdivs. (1)-(6) cited. Id. Cited. 213 C. 604, 610, 611. Cited. 216 C. 320, 333. Cited. 217
C. 164, 173. Cited. 226 C. 579, 586, 597, 598. Subdiv. (1) cited. Id., 579, 599. Subdiv. (4): Mitigation measures are an
integral component in the process of approving a permit that seeks to destroy wetland or watercourse resources. Trial court
improperly concluded that inland wetlands commission could accept payment of money and in-kind services as mitigation
for destruction of wetlands and since the condition of the payment of money and provision of in-kind services was integral
to commission's decision to grant the permit, judgment of trial court was reversed and the case remanded with direction
to sustain the appeal. 251 C. 269. Local wetlands and watercourses commission, in considering application for permit to
conduct a regulated activity, must consider, among other things, any feasible and prudent alternatives to the proposed
activity that would cause less or no environmental impact to wetlands or watercourses. 263 C. 572. It is the impact on the
regulated area that is pertinent, not the environmental impact in general. Inland wetlands agencies do not have jurisdiction
to regulate activities that solely affect the wildlife that use the wetlands and watercourses without affecting the wetlands
or watercourses themselves. 269 C. 57.
Cited. 21 CA 122, 127, 129. Cited. 25 CA 446, 450. Cited. 27 CA 214, 216. Cited. 28 CA 262, 267. "All relevant
facts" does not include adjacent land when proposed development does not have a significant impact on the wetlands and
watercourses. 49 CA 95.
Cited. 42 CS 57, 68.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 212 C. 710, 726. Cited. 226 C. 227, 229. Cited. Id., 579, 580, 586, 587, 589-591, 593, 596, 598.
Cited. 19 CA 334, 337. Cited. 21 CA 122, 124, 127-130. Cited. 25 CA 446-448, 450. Cited. 27 CA 214, 224, 225.
Cited. 28 CA 262, 264. Cited. Id., 435, 438. Cited. 30 CA 85, 89, 92. Cited. 37 CA 166, 168, 173.
Cited. 42 CS 57, 61, 69.
Sec. 22a-42. Municipal regulation of wetlands and watercourses. Action by
commissioner. (a) To carry out and effectuate the purposes and policies of sections
22a-36 to 22a-45a, inclusive, it is hereby declared to be the public policy of the state to
require municipal regulation of activities affecting the wetlands and watercourses within
the territorial limits of the various municipalities or districts.
(b) Any municipality may acquire wetlands and watercourses within its territorial
limits by gift or purchase, in fee or lesser interest including, but not limited to, lease,
easement or covenant, subject to such reservations and exceptions as it deems advisable.
(c) On or before July 1, 1988, each municipality shall establish an inland wetlands
agency or authorize an existing board or commission to carry out the provisions of
sections 22a-36 to 22a-45, inclusive. Each municipality, acting through its legislative
body, may authorize any board or commission, as may be by law authorized to act, or
may establish a new board or commission to promulgate such regulations, in conformity
with the regulations adopted by the commissioner pursuant to section 22a-39, as are
necessary to protect the wetlands and watercourses within its territorial limits. The ordinance establishing the new board or commission shall determine the number of members
and alternate members, the length of their terms, the method of selection and removal
and the manner for filling vacancies in the new board or commission. No member or
alternate member of such board or commission shall participate in the hearing or decision
of such board or commission of which he is a member upon any matter in which he is
directly or indirectly interested in a personal or financial sense. In the event of such
disqualification, such fact shall be entered on the records of such board or commission
and replacement shall be made from alternate members of an alternate to act as a member
of such commission in the hearing and determination of the particular matter or matters
in which the disqualification arose. For the purposes of this section, the board or commission authorized by the municipality or district, as the case may be, shall serve as the
sole agent for the licensing of regulated activities.
(d) At least one member of the inland wetlands agency or staff of the agency shall
be a person who has completed the comprehensive training program developed by the
commissioner pursuant to section 22a-39. Failure to have a member of the agency or
staff with training shall not affect the validity of any action of the agency. The commissioner shall annually make such program available to one person from each town without
cost to that person or the town. Each inland wetlands agency shall hold a meeting at
least once annually at which information is presented to the members of the agency
which summarizes the provisions of the training program. The commissioner shall develop such information in consultation with interested persons affected by the regulation
of inland wetlands and shall provide for distribution of video presentations and related
written materials which convey such information to inland wetlands agencies. In addition to such materials, the commissioner, in consultation with such persons, shall prepare
materials which provide guidance to municipalities in carrying out the provisions of
subsection (f) of section 22a-42a.
(e) Any municipality, pursuant to ordinance, may act through the board or commission authorized in subsection (c) of this section to join with any other municipalities in
the formation of a district for the regulation of activities affecting the wetlands and
watercourses within such district. Any city or borough may delegate its authority to
regulate inland wetlands under this section to the town in which it is located.
(f) Municipal or district ordinances or regulations may embody any regulations
promulgated hereunder, in whole or in part, or may consist of other ordinances or regulations in conformity with regulations promulgated hereunder. Any ordinances or regulations shall be for the purpose of effectuating the purposes of sections 22a-36 to 22a-45,
inclusive, and, a municipality or district, in acting upon ordinances and regulations shall
incorporate the factors set forth in section 22a-41.
(g) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to limit the existing authority
of a municipality or any boards or commissions of the municipality, provided the commissioner shall retain authority to act on any application filed with said commissioner
prior to the establishment or designation of an inland wetlands agency by a municipality.
(1972, P.A. 155, S. 7; P.A. 73-571, S. 3, 9; P.A. 74-133; P.A. 87-533, S. 5, 14; P.A. 96-157, S. 3; 96-269, S. 3, 4.)
History: P.A. 73-571 clarified provisions, included districts as well as municipalities under provisions, specified that
ordinance establishing board or commission should determine number of members, length of terms, etc. in Subsec. (c)
and added Subdiv. (2) in Subsec. (f) re commissioner's power to protect wetlands and watercourses if municipality does
not exercise its regulatory authority; P.A. 74-133 added provisions re disqualification of members from participation in
hearing or decision in which they are directly or indirectly personally or financially involved and selection of alternate in
such cases under Subsec. (c); P.A. 87-533 amended Subsec. (a) to require rather than encourage municipal regulation of
inland wetlands, amended Subsec. (c) to require all municipalities to establish inland wetlands agencies on or before July
1, 1988, amended Subsec. (d) to authorize towns or boroughs to delegate authority to regulate inland wetlands to the towns
in which they are located, deleted former Subsec. (f) re state regulation of inland wetlands, relettering former Subsec. (g)
as (f) and adding proviso re commissioner's authority to act on applications filed prior to designation of municipal agency;
P.A. 96-157 inserted new Subsec. (d) re training of agency or staff and relettered former subsequent Subsecs. and amended
Subsec. (f) to require incorporation of the factors for consideration set forth in Sec. 22a-41 in the agency's regulations or
ordinances; P.A. 96-269 changed effective date of P.A. 96-157 from October 1, 1996, to January 1, 1997, effective June
12, 1996.
Cited. 179 C. 250, 252; 180 C. 421, 423; id., 692, 693. Cited. 183 C. 532, 533, 537, 539, 540, 551, 552. The inland
wetlands and watercourses act cited. 186 C. 67, 71. Cited. 192 C. 247, 249. Cited. 193 C. 414, 421. The inland wetlands
and watercourses act cited. 196 C. 218, 221. Cited. 203 C. 525, 526, 550, 551. Cited. 209 C. 544, 546, 562. Cited. Id., 652,
654. Cited. 211 C. 416, 417. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 212 C. 710, 713, 720, 722, 726; Id., 727, 730;
213 C. 604, 606, 610, 611. Cited. 216 C. 320, 321, 324, 325, 327-333, 335, 336. Inland wetlands and watercourses act
(IWWA) Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. Id. Inland wetlands and watercourses act (IWWA) cited. 217 C. 164, 167-169, 172-
174, 176, 177. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 218 C. 703-705, 713. Cited. 219 C. 404, 409, 414. Inland
wetlands and watercourses act cited. Id. Cited. 220 C. 362, 369; Id., 476, 482. Cited. 226 C. 579, 580, 587, 589, 591, 592,
594, 595, 598. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Secs. 22a-36-22a-45a cited. Id. Inland wetlands and watercourses
act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 228 C. 95, 97, 98. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 229 C. 247, 249, 250, 252.
Cited. Id., 627, 628. Cited. Id., 654, 657, 660. Cited. 242 C. 335. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. Id.
Cited. 4 CA 271-273. Cited. 5 CA 70, 71. Cited. 6 CA 715, 717, 718. Inland wetland and watercourses act cited. 12
CA 47-52, 54, 55. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 15 CA 336, 337; 18 CA 440, 448. Cited. 19 CA 713-715.
Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 20 CA 309, 310, 317; 26 CA 564, 566; 27 CA 590, 591. Cited. 28 CA 780,
782, 788, 789. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. Id. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq.
cited. 29 CA 12, 15; Id., 105, 106. Inland wetlands act cited. 30 CA 85, 90, 91, 94. Inland wetlands and watercourses act,
Secs. 22a-36-22a-45 cited. 31 CA 105, 109; Id., 599, 601; judgment reversed, see 229 C. 627 et seq., see also 36 CA 270
et seq. Cited. 31 CA 643, 645, 648. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 32 CA 799, 806, 810. Cited. 34 CA 385,
389, 390. Inland wetlands and watercourses, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. Id. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited.
36 CA 270-272, 274, 280; 37 CA 166, 170.
Cited. 35 CS 145-147; 36 CS 1, 3, 4, 6. Cited. 41 CS 444, 450, 452, 454. Cited. 42 CS 57, 59, 68.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 193 C. 414, 421. Cited. 212 C. 710, 720. Subdiv. (5) cited. 217 C. 164, 174. Cited. 229 C. 654, 660. Cited. 231
C. 451, 461.
Cited. 18 CA 440, 446. Cited. 19 CA 713, 718. Cited. 37 CA 166, 170.
Cited. 35 CS 145, 148, 150.
Subsec. (c):
Cited. 183 C. 532, 540, 552. Cited. 186 C. 67, 71. Cited. 193 C. 414, 422. Cited. 203 C. 525, 551. Cited. 209 C. 544,
545, 556, 557, 560, 561. Cited. 216 C. 320, 329, 330, 336. Cited. 226 C. 579, 591, 595. Cited. 229 C. 654, 660.
Cited. 12 CA 47, 48. Cited. 19 CA 713, 718, 719. Cited. 24 CA 708, 712. Disqualification applies to ex officio members.
50 CA 548.
Cited. 35 CS 145, 148. Cited. 43 CS 373, 381.
Subsec. (d):
Cited. 222 C. 98, 100.
Subsec. (e):
Cited. 183 C. 532, 540, 541. Cited. 212 C. 710, 720. Cited. 216 C. 320, 332, 335. Cited. 217 C. 164, 173, 174. Cited.
222 C. 98, 110.
Subsec. (f):
Cited. 229 C. 654, 661-663.
Cited. 19 CA 713, 718.
Cited. 35 CS 145, 148.
Sec. 22a-42a. Establishment of boundaries by regulation. Adoption of regulations. Permits. Filing fee. (a) The inland wetlands agencies authorized in section 22a-42 shall through regulation provide for (1) the manner in which the boundaries of inland
wetland and watercourse areas in their respective municipalities shall be established
and amended or changed, (2) the form for an application to conduct regulated activities,
(3) notice and publication requirements, (4) criteria and procedures for the review of
applications and (5) administration and enforcement.
(b) No regulations of an inland wetlands agency including boundaries of inland
wetland and watercourse areas shall become effective or be established until after a
public hearing in relation thereto is held by the inland wetlands agency. Any such hearing
shall be held in accordance with the provisions of section 8-7d. A copy of such proposed
regulation or boundary shall be filed in the office of the town, city or borough clerk as
the case may be, in such municipality, for public inspection at least ten days before such
hearing, and may be published in full in such paper. A copy of the notice and the proposed
regulations or amendments thereto, except determinations of boundaries, shall be provided to the commissioner at least thirty-five days before such hearing. Such regulations
and inland wetland and watercourse boundaries may be from time to time amended,
changed or repealed, by majority vote of the inland wetlands agency, after a public
hearing in relation thereto is held by the inland wetlands agency, in accordance with the
provisions of section 8-7d. Regulations or boundaries or changes therein shall become
effective at such time as is fixed by the inland wetlands agency, provided a copy of such
regulation, boundary or change shall be filed in the office of the town, city or borough
clerk, as the case may be. Whenever an inland wetlands agency makes a change in
regulations or boundaries it shall state upon its records the reason why the change was
made and shall provide a copy of such regulation, boundary or change to the Commissioner of Environmental Protection no later than ten days after its adoption provided
failure to submit such regulation, boundary or change shall not impair the validity of
such regulation, boundary or change. All petitions submitted in writing and in a form
prescribed by the inland wetlands agency, requesting a change in the regulations or the
boundaries of an inland wetland and watercourse area shall be considered at a public
hearing held in accordance with the provisions of section 8-7d. The failure of the inland
wetlands agency to act within any time period specified in this subsection, or any extension thereof, shall not be deemed to constitute approval of the petition.
(c) (1) On and after the effective date of the municipal regulations promulgated
pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, no regulated activity shall be conducted upon
any inland wetland or watercourse without a permit. Any person proposing to conduct
or cause to be conducted a regulated activity upon an inland wetland or watercourse
shall file an application with the inland wetlands agency of the town or towns wherein
the wetland or watercourse in question is located. The application shall be in such form
and contain such information as the inland wetlands agency may prescribe. The date
of receipt of an application shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of
subsection (c) of section 8-7d. The inland wetlands agency shall not hold a public hearing
on such application unless the inland wetlands agency determines that the proposed
activity may have a significant impact on wetlands or watercourses, a petition signed
by at least twenty-five persons who are eighteen years of age or older and who reside
in the municipality in which the regulated activity is proposed, requesting a hearing is
filed with the agency not later than fourteen days after the date of receipt of such application, or the agency finds that a public hearing regarding such application would be in
the public interest. An inland wetlands agency may issue a permit without a public
hearing provided no petition provided for in this subsection is filed with the agency on
or before the fourteenth day after the date of receipt of the application. Such hearing
shall be held in accordance with the provisions of section 8-7d. If the inland wetlands
agency, or its agent, fails to act on any application within thirty-five days after the
completion of a public hearing or in the absence of a public hearing within sixty-five
days from the date of receipt of the application, or within any extension of any such
period as provided in section 8-7d, the applicant may file such application with the
Commissioner of Environmental Protection who shall review and act on such application in accordance with this section. Any costs incurred by the commissioner in reviewing such application for such inland wetlands agency shall be paid by the municipality that established or authorized the agency. Any fees that would have been paid to
such municipality if such application had not been filed with the commissioner shall be
paid to the state. The failure of the inland wetlands agency or the commissioner to act
within any time period specified in this subsection, or any extension thereof, shall not
be deemed to constitute approval of the application.
(2) An inland wetlands agency may delegate to its duly authorized agent the authority to approve or extend an activity that is not located in a wetland or watercourse when
such agent finds that the conduct of such activity would result in no greater than a
minimal impact on any wetland or watercourse provided such agent has completed the
comprehensive training program developed by the commissioner pursuant to section
22a-39. Notwithstanding the provisions for receipt and processing applications prescribed in subdivision (1) of this subsection, such agent may approve or extend such an
activity at any time. Any person receiving such approval from such agent shall, within
ten days of the date of such approval, publish, at the applicant's expense, notice of the
approval in a newspaper having a general circulation in the town wherein the activity
is located or will have an effect. Any person may appeal such decision of such agent to
the inland wetlands agency within fifteen days after the publication date of the notice
and the inland wetlands agency shall consider such appeal at its next regularly scheduled
meeting provided such meeting is no earlier than three business days after receipt by
such agency or its agent of such appeal. The inland wetlands agency shall, at its discretion, sustain, alter or reject the decision of its agent or require an application for a permit
in accordance with subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section.
(d) (1) In granting, denying or limiting any permit for a regulated activity the inland
wetlands agency, or its agent, shall consider the factors set forth in section 22a-41, and
such agency, or its agent, shall state upon the record the reason for its decision. In
granting a permit the inland wetlands agency, or its agent, may grant the application as
filed or grant it upon other terms, conditions, limitations or modifications of the regulated
activity which are designed to carry out the policy of sections 22a-36 to 22a-45, inclusive.
Such terms may include any reasonable measures which would mitigate the impacts
of the regulated activity and which would (A) prevent or minimize pollution or other
environmental damage, (B) maintain or enhance existing environmental quality, or (C)
in the following order of priority: Restore, enhance and create productive wetland or
watercourse resources. No person shall conduct any regulated activity within an inland
wetland or watercourse which requires zoning or subdivision approval without first
having obtained a valid certificate of zoning or subdivision approval, special permit,
special exception or variance or other documentation establishing that the proposal complies with the zoning or subdivision requirements adopted by the municipality pursuant
to chapters 124 to 126, inclusive, or any special act. The agency may suspend or revoke
a permit if it finds after giving notice to the permittee of the facts or conduct which
warrant the intended action and after a hearing at which the permittee is given an opportunity to show compliance with the requirements for retention of the permit, that the
applicant has not complied with the conditions or limitations set forth in the permit or
has exceeded the scope of the work as set forth in the application. The applicant shall
be notified of the agency's decision by certified mail within fifteen days of the date of the
decision and the agency shall cause notice of their order in issuance, denial, revocation or
suspension of a permit to be published in a newspaper having a general circulation in
the town wherein the wetland or watercourse lies. In any case in which such notice is
not published within such fifteen-day period, the applicant may provide for the publication of such notice within ten days thereafter.
(2) Any permit issued under this section for the development of property for which
an approval is required under section 8-3, 8-25 or 8-26 shall be valid for five years
provided the agency may establish a specific time period within which any regulated
activity shall be conducted. Any permit issued under this section for any other activity
shall be valid for not less than two years and not more than five years. Any such permit
shall be renewed upon request of the permit holder unless the agency finds that there
has been a substantial change in circumstances which requires a new permit application
or an enforcement action has been undertaken with regard to the regulated activity for
which the permit was issued provided no permit may be valid for more than ten years.
(e) The inland wetlands agency may require a filing fee to be deposited with the
agency. The amount of such fee shall be sufficient to cover the reasonable cost of reviewing and acting on applications and petitions, including, but not limited to, the costs
of certified mailings, publications of notices and decisions and monitoring compliance
with permit conditions or agency orders.
(f) If a municipal inland wetlands agency regulates activities within areas around
wetlands or watercourses, such regulation shall (1) be in accordance with the provisions
of the inland wetlands regulations adopted by such agency related to application for,
and approval of, activities to be conducted in wetlands or watercourses and (2) apply
only to those activities which are likely to impact or affect wetlands or watercourses.
(P.A. 73-571, S. 4, 9; P.A. 75-387, S. 1; P.A. 77-599, S. 3, 7; P.A. 79-285, S. 1, 2; P.A. 81-125, S. 2; P.A. 83-109; P.A.
87-533, S. 6, 14; P.A. 89-356, S. 16; P.A. 92-148, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-305; P.A. 95-313, S. 3; P.A. 96-157, S. 4; 96-269, S. 3,
4; P.A. 97-124, S. 10, 16; P.A. 98-209, S. 16; P.A. 99-225, S. 16, 33; P.A. 03-177, S. 11, 12; 03-276, S. 6.)
History: P.A. 75-387 specified in Subsec. (b) that amendment or repeal of regulations takes place only after public
hearing is held, moved upper limit for hearing date from sixty to sixty-five days after receipt of application and required
that action be taken within sixty-five rather than forty-five days after completion of hearing in Subsec. (c), and required
that applicant be notified of decision within fifteen rather than five days after decision reached in Subsec. (d); P.A. 77-599 required that commissioner be sent a copy of changed regulations, boundaries, etc. in Subsec. (b) and a copy of permits
or orders issued in Subsec. (d) and required that reasons for a decision be included in the record; P.A. 79-285 required
publication of notice twice rather than once and set standards for times of posting and added Subsec. (e) re filing fee; P.A.
81-125 added the word "watercourse" after each use of the words "inland wetland" for consistency with other sections of
the chapter; P.A. 83-109 amended Subsec. (c) by establishing the day of receipt of applications for permits to conduct a
regulated activity upon an inland wetlands or watercourse; P.A. 87-533 amended Subsec. (a) to require regulations on
forms for an application notice and publication requirements, criteria and procedures for review and administrative and
enforcement, amended Subsec. (b) to require notice to the commissioner before a public hearing and to delete provision
which had authorized imposition of filing fee, amended Subsec. (c) to require that public hearing be completed forty-five
days after commencement and to reduce time for action on applications from sixty-five to thirty-five days, amended Subsec.
(d) to require zoning compliance before regulated activity is conducted in an inland wetland and to delete provision requiring
sending of copy of permit and order to commissioner within ten days of issuance and amended Subsec. (e) to authorize
municipalities to charge filing fees sufficient to cover the reasonable cost of reviewing and acting on applications; P.A.
89-356 amended Subsec. (b) to authorize the petitioner to consent to more than one extension of the periods specified for
the holding of the hearing and for action on the petition provided the total extension is not for longer than the original
period and to add provision that the failure of the agency to act in a timely manner shall not be deemed to constitute approval
of the petition, amended Subsec. (c) to add provisions authorizing the applicant to consent to one or more extensions of
the time periods for agency action, provided the total extension is not for longer than the original period, or to withdraw
the application, authorizing the applicant to file the application with the commissioner of environmental protection for
review and action if the agency fails to act within specified time periods or any extension thereof, specifying that the costs
of the review by the commissioner shall be paid by the municipality and that fees otherwise payable to the municipality
shall be paid to the state, and specifying that the failure of the agency or commissioner to act in a timely manner shall not
be deemed to constitute approval of the application, and amended Subsec. (d) to authorize the applicant to provide for the
publication of the notice of the decision of the agency when such notice is not published in a timely manner; P.A. 92-148
amended Subsec. (b) to change the required time of the first newspaper advertisement for a hearing under that Subsec. to
not more than fifteen days nor less than ten days before such hearing, reducing time frame by ten days, and amended
Subsec. (d) to provided for specific time limits for permits issued under that Subsec; P.A. 93-305 amended Subsec. (d) to
modify the authority of wetlands agencies re expiration dates of permits and time required for completion of regulated
activities; P.A. 95-313 added Subsec. (f) re buffer areas; P.A. 96-157 amended Subsec. (c) to create Subdivs. (1) and (2),
amended Subdiv. (1) to condition the holding of public hearings on applications and added Subdiv. (2) to provide for
delegation by the agency of certain authority to an agent, amended Subsec. (d) to create Subdivs. (1) and (2) and amended
Subdiv. (1) to include references to action by the agent, to provide for terms for permits, deleted provisions re time periods
for permits and added Subdiv. (2) re time periods for permits, and amended Subsec. (f) to delete a reference to "buffer"
areas and to include references to watercourses; P.A. 96-269 changed effective date of P.A. 96-157 from October 1, 1996,
to January 1, 1997, effective June 12, 1996 (Revisor's note: Due to a clerical error in Subsec. (c)(1) the words "... impact
on wetlands or watercourses, a petition signed ..." were incorrectly printed in the original engrossed bill version of P.A.
96-157 as "... impact on wetlands, watercourses or a petition signed ..."); P.A. 97-124 amended Subsec. (c) to modify the
time period for making a request for a public hearing, to exempt the actions of an agent of the municipal agency from
certain time period requirements and to make technical changes, effective June 6, 1997; P.A. 98-209 amended Subsec. (c)
to add additional provision for issuance of a permit without a public hearing; P.A. 99-225 amended Subsec. (c)(1) to modify
the deadline for receipt of a petition for a public hearing on applications under this section, effective June 29, 1999; P.A.
03-177 amended Subsec. (b) by eliminating provisions re public hearing notice and procedure and the time for an inland
wetlands agency to render a decision on a petition and adding provisions requiring public hearing to be conducted in
accordance with Sec. 8-7d, and amended Subsec. (c)(1) by replacing provisions re determination of date of receipt of
application, public hearing notice and procedure and the time for rendering a decision with provisions requiring public
hearing to be conducted in accordance with Sec. 8-7d, effective October 1, 2003, and applicable to applications filed on
or after that date; P.A. 03-276 amended Subsec. (c)(1) to add age and residency requirements for persons who sign a
petition, effective July 1, 2003.
See Sec. 7-159b re preapplication review of use of property.
Cited. 179 C. 250, 252; 180 C. 421, 423; id., 692, 693. The inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 186 C. 67, 71.
Cited. 192 C. 247, 249, 250. The inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 196 C. 218, 221. Cited. 203 C. 525, 526, 550,
551. Cited. 209 C. 544, 546, 562. Cited. Id., 652, 654. Cited. 211 C. 416, 417. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited.
212 C. 710, 713, 720, 722, 726; Id., 727, 730; 213 C. 604, 606, 610, 611. Cited. 216 C. 320, 321, 324, 325, 327, 329-333,
335, 336. Inland wetlands and watercourses act (IWWA) Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. Id. Inland wetlands and watercourses
act (IWWA) cited. 217 C. 164, 167-169, 172-174, 176, 177. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 218 C. 703-705,
713; 219 C. 404, 409. Cited. 220 C. 362, 369; Id., 476, 482. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Secs. 22a-36-22a-45a
cited. 226 C. 579, 580, 587, 589, 591, 592, 594, 595, 598. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited.
228 C. 95, 97, 98. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 229 C. 247, 249, 250, 252. Cited. Id., 627, 628. Cited. Id.,
654, 660. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. 242 C. 335. Site inspection was not a "hearing" requiring stringent
notice requirement of statute. 243 C. 266.
Cited. 4 CA 271-273. Cited. 5 CA 70, 71. Cited. 6 CA 715, 717, 718. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 12
CA 47-52, 54, 55. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 15 CA 336, 337; 18 CA 440, 448. Cited. 19 CA 713-715.
Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 20 CA 309, 310, 317; 26 CA 564, 566; 27 CA 590, 591. Inland wetlands and
watercourses act cited. 28 CA 780, 782, 788, 791. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 29 CA
12, 15; Id., 105, 106. Inland wetlands act cited. 30 CA 85, 90, 91, 94. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Secs. 22a-36-22a-45 cited. 31 CA 105, 109; Id., 599, 601; judgment reversed, see 229 C. 627 et seq., see also 36 CA 270 et seq.
Cited. Id., 643, 645, 648. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 32 CA 799, 806, 810. Cited. 34 CA 385, 388-392,
394. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, 22a-36 et seq. cited. Id. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. 36 CA
270-272, 274, 280. Cited. 37 CA 166, 170. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. Id. Cited. 43 CA 227.
Cited. 41 CS 444, 450, 452, 454. Cited. 42 CS 57, 59, 68.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 186 C. 67, 71.
Subdiv. (4) cited. 21 CA 122, 131.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 229 C. 247, 253. Cited. 231 C. 451, 460.
Cited. 34 CA 385, 386, 390.
Subsec. (c):
Cited. 183 C. 532, 542. Cited. 196 C. 218, 221. Cited. 203 C. 525, 527, 532. Cited. 209 C. 544, 557. Cited. 216 C. 320,
331, 332. Cited. 220 C. 476, 484, 486. Cited. 222 C. 98, 101. Time limits directory not mandatory. Id., 269, 270, 272-280.
Cited. Id., 541, 543. Cited. 231 C. 451, 461.
Cited. 6 CA 715, 717. Cited. 20 CA 309, 311. Cited. 24 CA 708, 712. Cited. 25 CA 61-63, 65-67; Id., 164, 167, 168.
Cited. 29 CA 12, 15. Cited. 35 CA 317, 325. Cited. 37 CA 166, 167, 177. Cited. 41 CA 39, 43, 44. Cited. Id., 89, 96. Cited.
Id., 120, 121. Cited. 43 CA 227. Purpose of hearing under Subdiv. (1). Site inspections are not hearings. 49 CA 95.
Subsec. (d):
Requirement of stating upon the record the reason for its decision is met by the commission's statement of the factors
upon which it relied. 180 C. 692, 698. Cited. 196 C. 218, 221. Cited. 203 C. 525, 528, 535, 538. Cited. 212 C. 710, 725.
Trial court on appeal must search record of hearings before commission to determine if an adequate reason exists for its
decision. 213 C. 604, 606, 610. Cited. 216 C. 320, 332, 333. Cited. 217 C. 164, 173. Cited. 220 C. 476, 485, 486. Cited.
222 C. 98, 105. Cited. Id., 541, 543. Cited. 231 C. 451, 461.
Cited. 6 CA 715, 717. Cited. 18 CA 440, 447, 449. Cited. 19 CA 334, 337. Cited. 20 CA 309, 311. Cited. 21 CA 122,
127-129. Cited. 24 CA 708, 712. Cited. 27 CA 214, 217. Cited. 29 CA 469, 474, 481. Cited. 32 CA 799, 803, 807. Cited.
41 CA 421, 424; judgment reversed, see 242 C. 550 et seq.
Cited. 42 CS 57, 59, 64.
Subsec. (e):
Cited. 42 CS 57, 74.
Subsec. (f):
Commission may regulate activities impacting the physical characteristics of wetlands and watercourses, but no other
aspects, such as wildlife or biodiversity. 266 C. 150.
Inland wetlands commission, under this section, must first enact a formal regulation to exercise its authority over upland
review areas. 79 CA 710.
Secs. 22a-42b and 22a-42c. Notice to adjoining municipalities when traffic,
sewer or water drainage and water runoff will affect such municipalities. Notice
of application to adjacent municipality re conduct of regulated activities within five
hundred feet of its boundaries. Sections 22a-42b and 22a-42c are repealed, effective
October 1, 2003.
(P.A. 87-307, S. 4; 87-533, S. 12, 14; P.A. 88-364, S. 34, 123; P.A. 89-175, S. 6, 7; P.A. 96-118, S. 4; P.A. 03-177, S. 14.)
Sec. 22a-42d. Revocation of authority to regulate inland wetlands. (a) The
commissioner may revoke the authority of a municipality to regulate inland wetlands
pursuant to section 22a-42 upon determination after a hearing that such municipality
has, over a period of time, consistently failed to perform its duties under said section.
Prior to the hearing on revocation, the commissioner shall send a notice to the inland
wetlands agency, by certified mail, return receipt requested, asking such agency to show
cause, within thirty days, why such authority should not be revoked. A copy of the show
cause notice shall be sent to the chief executive officer of the municipality that authorized
the agency. The commissioner shall send a notice to the inland wetlands agency, by
certified mail, return receipt requested, stating the reasons for the revocation and the
circumstances for reinstatement. Any municipality aggrieved by a decision of the commissioner under this section to revoke its authority under said section 22a-42 may appeal
therefrom in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183. The commissioner shall
have jurisdiction over the inland wetlands in any municipality whose authority to regulate such inland wetlands has been revoked. Any costs incurred by the state in reviewing
applications for inland wetlands activity for such municipality shall be paid by the municipality. Any fees that would have been paid to such municipality if such authority
had been retained shall be paid to the state.
(b) The commissioner shall cause to be published notice of the revocation or reinstatement of the authority of a municipality to regulate inland wetlands in a newspaper
of general circulation in the area of such municipality.
(c) The commissioner shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of
chapter 54 establishing standards for the revocation and reinstatement of municipal
authority to regulate wetlands pursuant to section 22a-42.
(P.A. 87-533, S. 13, 14; P.A. 88-364, S. 35, 123.)
History: P.A. 88-364 made a technical change to Subsec. (a).
Cited. 209 C. 544, 546, 562. Cited. Id., 652, 654. Cited. 211 C. 416, 417. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited.
212 C. 710, 713, 720, 722, 726; Id., 727, 730; 213 C. 604, 606, 610, 611. Cited. 216 C. 320, 321, 324, 325, 327, 329-333,
335, 336. Inland wetlands and watercourses act (IWWA) Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. Id. Inland wetlands and watercourses
act (IWWA) cited. 217 C. 164, 167-169, 172-174, 176, 177. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 218 C. 703-705,
713; 219 C. 404, 409. Cited. 220 C. 362, 369; Id., 476, 482. Inland wetlands and watercourses act. Secs. 22a-36-22a-45a
cited. 226 C. 579, 580, 587, 589, 591, 592, 594, 595, 598. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited.
228 C. 95, 97, 98. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 229 C. 247, 249, 250, 252. Cited. Id., 627, 628. Cited. Id.,
654, 660. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. 242 C. 335.
Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 18 CA 440, 448. Cited. 19 CA 713-715. Inland wetlands and watercourses
act cited. 20 CA 309, 310, 317; 26 CA 564, 566; 27 CA 590, 591. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 28 CA 780,
782, 788, 791. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 29 CA 12, 15. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 29 CA 105, 106. Inland wetlands act cited. 30 CA 85, 90, 91, 94. Inland wetlands
and watercourses act, Secs. 22a-36-22a-45 cited. 31 CA 105, 109; Id., 599, 601; judgment reversed, see 229 C. 627 et
seq., see also 36 CA 270 et seq. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 32 CA 799, 806, 810. Inland wetlands and
watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 34 CA 385, 389. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. 36 CA 270-
272, 274, 280; 37 CA 166, 170.
Cited. 41 CS 444, 450, 452, 454. Cited. 42 CS 57, 59, 68.
Sec. 22a-42e. Application filed prior to change in inland wetlands regulations
not required to comply with change. Exceptions. An application filed with an inland
wetlands agency which is in conformance with the applicable inland wetlands regulations as of the date of the receipt of such application shall not be required thereafter to
comply with any change in inland wetlands regulations, including changes to setbacks
and buffers, taking effect on or after the date of such receipt and any appeal from the
decision of such agency with respect to such application shall not be dismissed by the
Superior Court on the grounds that such a change has taken effect on or after the date
of such receipt. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to apply (1) to the
establishment, amendment or change of boundaries of inland wetlands or watercourses
or (2) to any change in regulations necessary to make such regulations consistent with
the provisions of this chapter as of the date of such receipt.
(P.A. 89-311, S. 3; 89-356, S. 17; P.A. 96-157, S. 5; 96-269, S. 3, 4.)
History: P.A. 89-356 provided that such application shall not be required to comply with subsequent "changes to
setbacks and buffers", deleted provision that such application shall not be required to comply with any subsequent change
in inland wetlands "boundaries", and added provision that the section shall not be construed to apply to the establishment,
amendment or change of boundaries of inland wetlands or watercourses or any change in regulations necessary to make
such regulations consistent with the provisions of chapter 440 as of the date of such decision; P.A. 96-157 changed the
date for determining an application's compliance with the law from the date of the decision of the agency to the date the
agency receives the application; P.A. 96-269 changed effective date of P.A. 96-157 from October 1, 1996, to January 1,
1997, effective June 12, 1996.
Inland wetlands and watercourses act (IWWA) cited. 217 C. 164, 167-169, 171-174, 176, 177. Inland wetlands and
watercourses act cited. 218 C. 703-705, 713; 219 C. 404, 409. Cited. 220 C. 362, 369; Id., 476, 482; Id., 527, 541. Inland
wetlands and watercourses act, Secs. 22a-36-22a-45a cited. 226 C. 579, 580, 587, 589, 591, 592, 594, 595, 598. Inland
wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 228 C. 95, 97, 98. Cited. 229 C. 247, 249, 250, 252. Inland
wetlands and watercourses act cited. Id. Cited. 229 C. 627, 628. Cited. Id., 654, 660. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses
Act cited. 242 C. 355.
Cited. 25 CA 51, 64; Id., 199, 209. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 26 CA 564, 566; 27 CA 590, 591. Inland
wetlands and watercourses act cited. 28 CA 780, 782, 788, 791. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq.
cited. 29 CA 12, 15; Id., 105, 106. Inland wetlands act cited. 30 CA 85, 90, 91, 94. Inland wetlands and watercourses act,
Secs. 22a-36-22a-45 cited. 31 CA 105, 109; Id., 599, 601; judgment reversed, see 229 C. 622 et seq., see also 36 CA 270
et seq. Cited. 32 CA 799, 803, 804, 806, 807, 810. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. Id. Inland wetlands and
watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 34 CA 385, 389. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. 36 CA 270-
272, 274, 280; 37 CA 166, 170.
Cited. 42 CS 57, 59, 68.
Subdiv. (2):
Cited. 229 C. 247, 250.
Sec. 22a-42f. Notice of application to water company re conduct of regulated
activities within watershed of water company. When an application is filed to conduct
or cause to be conducted a regulated activity upon an inland wetland or watercourse,
any portion of which is within the watershed of a water company as defined in section
25-32a, the applicant shall provide written notice of the application to the water company
provided such water company has filed a map showing the boundaries of the watershed
on the land records of the municipality in which the application is made and with the
inland wetlands agency of such municipality. Such notice shall be made by certified
mail, return receipt requested, and shall be mailed within seven days of the date of the
application. The water company, through a representative, may appear and be heard at
any hearing on the application.
(P.A. 89-301, S. 1; P.A. 90-230, S. 72, 101; P.A. 91-300, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 90-230 corrected an omission; P.A. 91-300 changed the statutory definition of water company by changing
the statutory definition reference from Sec. 16-1 to Sec. 25-32a.
Inland wetlands and watercourses act (IWWA) cited. 217 C. 164, 167-169, 172-174, 176, 177. Inland wetlands and
watercourses act cited. 218 C. 703-705, 713; 219 C. 404, 409. Cited. 220 C. 362, 369; Id., 476, 482. Inland wetlands and
watercourses act, Secs. 22a-36-22a-45a cited. 226 C. 579, 580, 587, 589, 591, 592, 594, 595, 598. Inland wetlands and
watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 228 C. 95, 97, 98. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 229 C. 247, 249,
250, 252. Cited. Id., 627, 688. Cited. Id., 654, 660. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. 242 C. 355.
Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 26 CA 564, 566; 27 CA 590, 591. Inland wetlands and watercourses act
cited. 28 CA 780, 782, 788, 791. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 29 CA 12, 15; Id., 105,
106. Inland wetlands act cited. 30 CA 85, 90, 91, 94. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Secs. 22a-36-22a-45 cited.
31 CA 105, 109; Id., 599, 601; judgment reversed, see 229 C. 627 et seq., see also 36 CA 270 et seq. Inland wetlands and
watercourses act cited. 32 CA 799, 806, 810. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 34 CA 385,
389. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. 36 CA 270-272, 274, 280; 37 CA 166, 170.
Cited. 42 CS 57, 59, 68.
Sec. 22a-42g. Municipal fine for violation of wetlands regulations. (a) Any municipality may establish, by ordinance, a fine for violations of regulations adopted pursuant to section 22a-42 provided the amount of any such fine shall be not more than one
thousand dollars and further provided no such fine may be levied against the state or
any employee of the state acting within the scope of his employment.
(b) Any police officer or other person authorized by the chief executive officer of
the municipality may issue a citation to any person who commits such a violation. Any
municipality which adopts an ordinance pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall
also adopt a citation hearing procedure pursuant to section 7-152c by which procedure
such fine shall be imposed.
(c) Any fine collected by a municipality pursuant to this section shall be deposited
into the General Fund of the municipality or in any special fund designated by the
municipality.
(P.A. 96-269, S. 1.)
Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. 242 C. 335.
Sec. 22a-43. Appeals. (a) The commissioner or any person aggrieved by any regulation, order, decision or action made pursuant to sections 22a-36 to 22a-45, inclusive,
by the commissioner, a district or municipality or any person owning or occupying land
which abuts any portion of land within, or is within a radius of ninety feet of, the wetland
or watercourse involved in any regulation, order, decision or action made pursuant to
said sections may, within the time specified in subsection (b) of section 8-8, from the
publication of such regulation, order, decision or action, appeal to the superior court for
the judicial district where the land affected is located, and if located in more than one
judicial district to the court in any such judicial district. Such appeal shall be made
returnable to the court in the same manner as that prescribed for civil actions brought
to the court, except that the record shall be transmitted to the court within the time
specified in subsection (i) of section 8-8. If the inland wetlands agency or its agent does
not provide a transcript of the stenographic or the sound recording of a meeting where
the inland wetlands agency or its agent deliberates or makes a decision on a permit for
which a public hearing was held, a certified, true and accurate transcript of a stenographic
or sound recording of the meeting prepared by or on behalf of the applicant or any other
party shall be admissible as part of the record. Notice of such appeal shall be served
upon the inland wetlands agency and the commissioner, provided, for any such appeal
taken on or after October 1, 2004, service of process for purposes of such notice to the
inland wetlands agency shall be made in accordance with subdivision (5) of subsection
(b) of section 52-57. The commissioner may appear as a party to any action brought by
any other person within thirty days from the date such appeal is returned to the court.
The appeal shall state the reasons upon which it is predicated and shall not stay proceedings on the regulation, order, decision or action, but the court may on application and
after notice grant a restraining order. Such appeal shall have precedence in the order
of trial.
(b) The court, upon the motion of the person who applied for such order, decision
or action, shall make such person a party defendant in the appeal. Such defendant may,
at any time after the return date of such appeal, make a motion to dismiss the appeal.
At the hearing on such motion to dismiss, each appellant shall have the burden of proving
such appellant's standing to bring the appeal. The court may, upon the record, grant or
deny the motion. The court's order on such motion may be appealed in the manner
provided in subsection (p) of section 8-8.
(c) The proceedings of the court in the appeal may be stayed by agreement of the
parties when a mediation conducted pursuant to section 8-8a commences. Any such
stay shall terminate upon conclusion of the mediation.
(d) No appeal taken under subsection (a) of this section shall be withdrawn and no
settlement between the parties to any such appeal shall be effective unless and until a
hearing has been held before the Superior Court and the court has approved such proposed withdrawal or settlement.
(e) There shall be no right to further review except to the Appellate Court by certification for review in accordance with the provisions of subsection (p) of section 8-8.
(1972, P.A. 155, S. 8; P.A. 73-571, S. 5, 9; P.A. 76-436, S. 461, 681; P.A. 77-603, S. 13, 125; P.A. 78-280, S. 1, 127;
P.A. 84-227, S. 3; P.A. 87-338, S. 8, 11; P.A. 89-356, S. 9; P.A. 91-136; P.A. 95-151, S. 1; P.A. 96-180, S. 76, 166; P.A.
00-108, S. 1; P.A. 01-47, S. 3; 01-195, S. 173, 181; P.A. 02-132, S. 66; P.A. 04-78, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 73-571 provided that appeals be made within fifteen days after publication of regulation, order, etc. rather
than in accordance with Secs. 4-166 to 4-184 of the 1971 supplement to statutes, added provisions clarifying nature and
effect of appeal and deleted Subsecs. (b) and (c) re assessment of damages and allotment of court costs and re power of
commissioner, district or municipality to purchase land and contract with landowners; P.A. 76-436 replaced court of
common pleas with superior court and added reference to judicial districts, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-603 amended
appeal provisions to specify that in contested cases appeals shall conform to Sec. 4-183 and to clarify venue; P.A. 78-280
deleted references to counties; P.A. 84-227 added Subsec. (b) re a hearing on a motion to dismiss the appeal made by the
person who applied for the order, decision or action where each appellant has the burden of proving his standing to bring
the appeal, and added Subsec. (c) re a prohibition on withdrawal or settlement without court approval; P.A. 87-338 amended
Subsec. (a) to authorize appeals by the commissioner or persons owning or occupying abutting land and to authorize the
commissioner to appear as a party to actions brought by other persons; P.A. 89-356 amended Subsec. (a) to replace provision
that aggrieved person or abutter "may, within fifteen days after publication of such regulation, order, decision or action
appeal to the superior court for the judicial district where the land affected is located, and if located in more than one
judicial district, to said court in any such judicial district, except if such appeal is from a contested case, as defined in
section 4-166, such appeal shall be in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183" with "may appeal to the superior
court in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183"; P.A. 91-136 deleted language that appeal to superior court be
in accordance with Sec. 4-183 and substituted language that appeal be taken within the time specified in Subdiv. (b) of
such regulation, order, decision or action; P.A. 95-151 amended Subsec. (b) and added Subsec. (d) to provide for appeal
of Superior Court's decision in manner provided for appeal of court decisions re zoning appeals; P.A. 96-180 amended
Subsec. (d) to change "right of further review" to "right to further review", effective June 3, 1996; P.A. 00-108 amended
Subsec. (a) to make a technical change and add provision re transcripts of meetings; P.A. 01-47 amended Subsecs. (a), (b)
and (d) by making technical changes, including changes for purposes of gender neutrality; P.A. 01-195 amended Subsec.
(a) to substitute "portion of land within" for "portion of land" and make technical changes, effective July 11, 2001; P.A.
02-132 added new Subsec. (c) re stay of appeal upon commencement of mediation pursuant to Sec. 8-8a, redesignated
existing Subsecs. (c) and (d) as Subsecs. (d) and (e) and made technical changes in Subsec. (a) and redesignated Subsec.
(d); P.A. 04-78 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision re requirements for service for purposes of notice to inland
wetlands agency applicable to appeals taken on or after October 1, 2004.
Rule that party who seeks advantage under a statute or ordinance is precluded from subsequently attacking validity
raises question that claim could properly be litigated by appeal; jurisdictional claims are appropriate for resolution by
declaratory judgment. 178 C. 173, 177. Cited. 179 C. 250, 252; 180 C. 421, 423; id., 692, 693. Cited. 183 C. 532, 533,
537, 539, 540. The inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 186 C. 67, 71. The inland wetlands and watercourses act
cited. 196 C. 218, 221. Cited. 203 C. 525, 526, 550, 551. Cited. 209 C. 544, 546, 562. Cited. Id., 652, 654. Cited. 211 C.
416, 417, 419, 420, 423, 425, 426. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 212 C. 710, 713, 720, 722, 726; Id., 727,
730; 213 C. 604, 606, 610, 611. Cited. 215 C. 616, 621. Cited. 216 C. 320, 321, 323-325, 327, 329-333, 335, 336. Inland
wetlands and watercourses act (IWWA) Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. Id. Cited. 217 C. 164, 166-169, 172-174, 176, 177.
Inland wetlands and watercourses act (IWWA) cited. Id. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 218 C. 703-705, 713.
Cited. 219 C. 404, 409. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. Id. Cited. 220 C. 362, 369; Id., 476, 477, 482. Cited.
221 C. 46, 49, 50. Cited. 222 C. 98, 100. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Secs. 22a-36-22a-45a cited. 226 C. 579,
580, 587, 589, 591, 592, 594, 595, 598. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 228 C. 95, 97, 98.
Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 229 C. 247, 249, 250, 252. Cited. Id., 627, 628. Cited. Id., 654, 660. Inland
Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. 242 C. 355.
Cited. 4 CA 271-273. Cited. 5 CA 70, 71. Cited. 6 CA 715, 717, 718. Cited. 7 CA 283, 284. Inland wetlands and
watercourses act cited. 12 CA 47-52, 54, 55. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 15 CA 336, 337; 18 CA 440,
448. Exception clause applied to state agencies only. 19 CA 713-717. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 20 CA
309, 310, 317. Cited. 24 CA 163, 166; Id., 708, 711. Cited. 25 CA 164, 166; Id., 543, 548; judgment reversed, see 222 C.
541 et seq. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 26 CA 564, 566. Cited. 27 CA 214, 216. Cited. Id., 590-595. Inland
wetlands and watercourses act cited. Id. Cited. 28 CA 262, 264. Cited. Id., 435, 437, 443. Inland wetlands and watercourses
act cited. Id., 780, 782, 788, 791. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 29 CA 12, 15; Id., 105,
106. Cited. 30 CA 85, 88-92, 94. Inland wetlands act cited. Id. Cited. 31 CA 105, 108, 109. Inland wetlands and watercourses
act, Secs. 22a-36-22a-45 cited. Id.; Id., 599, 601; judgment reversed, see 229 C. 627 et seq., see also 36 CA 270 et seq.
Cited. 32 CA 799, 806, 810. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. Id. Inland wetlands and watercourses act Sec.
22a-36 et seq. cited. 34 CA 385, 389. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. 36 CA 270-272, 274, 280; 37 CA 166,
170. Cited. 43 CA 239.
Cited. 35 CS 145-148; 36 CS 1, 3, 4, 6. Cited. 41 CS 184, 194; Id., 444, 450, 452, 454. Cited. 42 CS 57, 59, 68.
Subsec. (a):
Related service of notice on commissioner is not defect that flaws subject matter jurisdiction. 211 C. 416-419, 421,
423, 425-430. Cited. 212 C. 710, 717. Cited. 217 C. 164, 166. Cited. 220 C. 476, 478, 482, 486. Cited. 222 C. 98, 100.
Cited. Id., 541, 546, 547. Cited. 229 C. 654, 659. Cited. 242 C. 335.
Cited. 12 CA 47, 54. Cited. 19 CA 713, 715. Cited. 24 CA 708, 711. Cited. 28 CA 435, 437. Provisions govern appeals
from commission to superior court not proceedings before the commission. 30 CA 85, 88, 90, 91. Cited. 31 CA 155, 161, 162.
Cited. 41 CS 184, 193, 195. Cited. 42 CS 57, 64.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 19 CA 713, 715.
Subsec. (c):
Cited. 220 C. 54, 55, 57-61. Cited. 242 C. 355.
Sec. 22a-43a. Findings on appeal. Setting aside or modifying action. Authority
to purchase land. (a) If upon appeal pursuant to section 22a-43, the court finds that the
action appealed from constitutes the equivalent of a taking without compensation, it
shall set aside the action or it may modify the action so that it does not constitute a
taking. In both instances the court shall remand the order to the inland wetland agency
for action not inconsistent with its decision.
(b) To carry out the purposes of sections 22a-38, 22a-40, 22a-42 to 22a-43a, inclusive, 22a-401 and 22a-403, the commissioner, district or municipality may at any time
purchase land or an interest in land in fee simple or other acceptable title, or subject to
acceptable restrictions or exceptions, and enter into covenants and agreements with
landowners.
(P.A. 73-571, S. 6, 9.)
Cited. 180 C. 421, 423; id., 692, 693. The inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 186 C. 67, 71. The inland wetlands
and watercourses act cited. 196 C. 218, 221. Cited. 203 C. 525, 526, 529, 550, 551. Cited. 209 C. 544, 546, 549, 562. Cited.
Id., 652, 654. Cited. 211 C. 416, 417. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 212 C. 710, 713, 720, 722, 726; Id., 727,
730; 213 C. 604, 606, 610, 611. Cited. 216 C. 320, 321, 324, 325, 327, 329-333, 335, 336. Inland wetlands and watercourses
act (IWWA) Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. Id. Inland wetlands and watercourses act (IWWA) cited. 217 C. 164, 167-169, 172-
174, 176, 177. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 218 C. 703-705, 713. Cited. 219 C. 404, 409, 414. Inland
wetlands and watercourses act cited. Id. Cited. 220 C. 362, 369; Id., 476, 482. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Secs.
22a-36-22a-45a cited. 226 C. 579, 580, 587, 589, 591, 592, 594, 595, 598. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec.
22a-36 et seq. cited. 228 C. 95, 97, 98. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 229 C. 247, 249, 250, 252. Cited. Id.,
627, 628. Cited. Id., 654, 660. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. 242 C. 355.
Cited. 5 CA 70, 71. Cited. 6 CA 715, 717, 718. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 12 CA 47-52, 54, 55. Inland
wetlands and watercourses act cited. 15 CA 336, 337; 18 CA 440, 448. Cited. 19 CA 713-715. Inland wetlands and
watercourses act cited. 20 CA 309, 310, 317; 26 CA 564, 566; 27 CA 590, 591. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited.
28 CA 780, 782, 788, 791. Inland wetland and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 29 CA 12, 15; Id., 105, 106.
Inland wetlands act cited. 30 CA 85, 90, 91, 94. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Secs. 22a-36-22a-45 cited. 31 CA
105, 109; 31 CA 599, 601; judgment reversed, see 229 C. 627 et seq., see also 36 CA 270 et seq. Inland wetlands and
watercourses act cited. 32 CA 799, 806, 810. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 34 CA 385,
389. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. 36 CA 270-272, 274, 280; 37 CA 166, 170.
Cited. 41 CS 444, 450, 452, 454. Cited. 42 CS 57, 59, 68.
Subsec. (a):
Court held trial court should decide a "taking without compensation" issue de novo since administrative agency has
been held incompetent to decide constitutional issues. 209 C. 544, 545, 550, 551. Cited. 220 C. 362, 364.
Sec. 22a-44. Penalty. Court orders. (a) If the inland wetlands agency or its duly
authorized agent finds that any person is conducting or maintaining any activity, facility
or condition which is in violation of sections 22a-36 to 22a-45, inclusive, or of the
regulations of the inland wetlands agency, the agency or its duly authorized agent may
issue a written order, by certified mail, to such person conducting such activity or maintaining such facility or condition to cease immediately such activity or to correct such
facility or condition. Within ten days of the issuance of such order the agency shall hold
a hearing to provide the person an opportunity to be heard and show cause why the order
should not remain in effect. The agency shall consider the facts presented at the hearing
and within ten days of the completion of the hearing notify the person by certified mail
that the original order remains in effect, that a revised order is in effect, or that the order
has been withdrawn. The original order shall be effective upon issuance and shall remain
in effect until the agency affirms, revises or withdraws the order. The issuance of an
order pursuant to this section shall not delay or bar an action pursuant to subsection (b)
of this section. The agency may file a certificate of such order in the office of the town
clerk of the town in which the land is located and the town clerk shall record such
certificate on the land records of such town. Such certificate shall be released upon
compliance with such order. The commissioner may issue orders pursuant to sections
22a-6 to 22a-7, inclusive, concerning an activity, facility or condition (1) which is in
violation of said sections 22a-36 to 22a-45, inclusive, if the municipality in which such
activity, facility or condition is located has failed to enforce its inland wetlands regulations or (2) for which an approval is required under sections 22a-36 to 22a-45, inclusive,
and for which such approval has not been obtained.
(b) Any person who commits, takes part in, or assists in any violation of any provision of sections 22a-36 to 22a-45, inclusive, including regulations adopted by the commissioner and ordinances and regulations promulgated by municipalities or districts
pursuant to the grant of authority herein contained, shall be assessed a civil penalty of
not more than one thousand dollars for each offense. Each violation of said sections
shall be a separate and distinct offense, and, in the case of a continuing violation, each
day's continuance thereof shall be deemed to be a separate and distinct offense. The
Superior Court, in an action brought by the commissioner, municipality, district or any
person, shall have jurisdiction to restrain a continuing violation of said sections, to issue
orders directing that the violation be corrected or removed and to assess civil penalties
pursuant to this section. All costs, fees and expenses in connection with such action
shall be assessed as damages against the violator together with reasonable attorney's fees
which may be allowed, all of which shall be awarded to the commissioner, municipality,
district or person which brought such action. All penalties collected pursuant to this
section shall be used solely by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection (1) to
restore the affected wetlands or watercourses to their condition prior to the violation,
wherever possible, (2) to restore other degraded wetlands or watercourses, (3) to inventory or index wetlands and watercourses of the state, or (4) to implement a comprehensive training program for inland wetlands agency members.
(c) Any person who wilfully or knowingly violates any provision of sections 22a-36 to 22a-45, inclusive, shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars for each day
during which such violation continues or be imprisoned not more than six months or
both. For a subsequent violation, such person shall be fined not more than two thousand
dollars for each day during which such violation continues or be imprisoned not more
than one year or both. For the purposes of this subsection, "person" shall be construed
to include any responsible corporate officer.
(1972, P.A. 155, S. 9; P.A. 75-387, S. 2; P.A. 76-330; P.A. 77-599, S. 4, 7; P.A. 81-125, S. 1; P.A. 87-338, S. 9, 11;
P.A. 95-151, S. 2; 95-218, S. 13, 24; P.A. 96-269, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 75-387 made previous provisions Subsec. (b) and inserted new Subsec. (a) re orders issued upon discovery
of violation of Secs. 22a-36 to 22a-45 or regulations of inland wetlands agency; P.A. 76-330 allowed assessment of attorneys
fees against violator and required that all costs, etc. be awarded to the initiator of the action; P.A. 77-599 amended Subsec.
(a) to allow issuance of orders to cease an activity as well as orders to correct facilities or conditions; P.A. 81-125 amended
Subsec. (a) to authorize agents of inland wetlands agencies to issue orders and amended Subsec. (b) to clarify the superior
court's jurisdiction to impose fines; P.A. 87-338 amended Subsec. (a) to authorize the commissioner to issue orders
concerning violations if the municipality in which the violation occurred has failed to enforce its regulations and added
Subsec. (c) re wilful or knowing violations; P.A. 95-151 amended Subsec. (a) to provide for recording of certificate of
order by inland wetlands agency on land records; P.A. 95-218 amended Subsec. (b) to allow use of penalties collected
under this section for restoring other degraded wetlands, an inventory of wetlands in the state and training for wetlands
officials (Revisor's note: The word "to" was inserted editorially by the Revisors following Subdiv. indicators (2), (3) and
(4) for grammatical accuracy); P.A. 96-269 amended Subsec. (a) to add Subdiv. (2) re enforcement by the commissioner
concerning unauthorized activities.
Cited. 179 C. 250, 252; 180 C. 421, 423; 692, 693. Cited. 183 C. 85, 91; Id., 532, 533, 537, 539, 540. The inland
wetlands and watercourses act cited. 186 C. 67, 71. Cited. 193 C. 414, 416. The inland wetlands and watercourses act
cited. 196 C. 218, 221. Cited. 203 C. 525, 526, 550, 551. Cited. 209 C. 544, 546, 562. Cited. Id., 652, 654. Cited. 211 C.
416, 417. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 212 C. 710, 713, 720, 722, 726; Id., 727, 730; 213 C. 604, 606, 610,
611. Cited. 216 C. 320, 321, 324, 325, 327, 329-333, 335, 336. Inland wetlands and watercourses act (IWWA) Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. Id. Inland wetlands and watercourses act (IWWA) cited. 217 C. 164, 167-169, 172-174, 176, 177. Inland
wetlands and watercourses act cited. 218 C. 703-705, 713; 219 C. 404, 409. Cited. 220 C. 362, 369; Id., 476, 482. Cited.
221 C. 46, 56. Cited. 225 C. 185, 210. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Secs. 22a-36-22a-45a, cited. 226 C. 579,
580, 587, 589, 591, 592, 594, 595, 598. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 228 C. 95, 97, 98.
Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 229 C. 247, 249, 250, 252. Cited. Id., 627, 628. Cited. Id., 659, 660. Inland
Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. 242 C. 355.
Cited. 4 CA 271-273. Cited. 5 CA 70-72. Cited. 6 CA 715, 717, 718. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 12
CA 47-52, 54, 55. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 15 CA 336, 337; 18 CA 440, 448. Cited. 19 CA 713-715.
Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 20 CA 309, 310, 317; 26 CA 564, 566; 27 CA 590, 591. Inland wetlands and
watercourses act cited. 28 CA 780, 782, 788, 791. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 29 CA
12, 15; Id., 105, 106. Inland wetlands act cited. 30 CA 85, 90, 91, 94. As a matter of law DEP could not properly issue an
administrative order under Subsec. (a) having three years earlier elected to bring action against plaintiff under Subsec. (b).
31 CA 105, 109. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Secs. 22a-36-22a-45 cited. Id.; Id., 599, 601; judgment reversed,
see 229 C. 627 et seq., see also 36 CA 270 et seq. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 32 CA 799, 806, 810. Inland
wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 34 CA 385, 389. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited.
36 CA 270-272, 274, 280, 281; 37 CA 166, 170.
Cited. 35 CS 145-147; 36 CS 1, 3, 4, 6. Cited. 41 CS 444, 450, 452, 454. Cited. 42 CS 57, 59, 68.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 193 C. 414, 415, 419-421. Cited. 227 C. 904. Cited. 229 C. 654, 655, 659-662.
Cited. 18 CA 440, 442, 443, 446-448. Cited. 31 CA 105-113.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 193 C. 414, 415, 420, 421, 428-430. Cited. 229 C. 654, 655, 657, 660-663.
Cited. 5 CA 70, 72-75. Cited. 8 CA 254, 272. Cited. 31 CA 105-113. Cited. 32 CA 799, 806. Supreme court in Stamford
v. Kovac, 229 C. 622, reversed judgment of appellate court in 31 CA 599 and remanded case for consideration of remaining
issues raised by defendant. 36 CA 270, 278-281. Cited. 41 CA 120, 121.
Sec. 22a-45. Property revaluation. Any owner of wetlands and watercourses who
may be denied a license in connection with a regulated activity affecting such wetlands
and watercourses, shall upon written application to the assessor, or board of assessors,
of the municipality, be entitled to a revaluation of such property to reflect the fair market
value thereof in light of the restriction placed upon it by the denial of such license or
permit, effective with respect to the next succeeding assessment list of such municipality,
provided no such revaluation shall be effective retroactively and the municipality may
require as a condition therefor the conveyance of a less than fee interest to it of such
land pursuant to the provisions of sections 7-131b to 7-131k, inclusive.
(1972, P.A. 155, S. 10.)
Cited. 179 C. 250, 252; 180 C. 421, 423; id., 692, 693. Cited. 183 C. 532, 533, 537, 539, 540. The inland wetlands and
watercourses act cited. 186 C. 67, 71. The inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 196 C. 218, 221. Cited. 203 C. 525,
526, 550, 551. Cited. 209 C. 544, 546, 562. Cited. Id., 652, 654. Cited. 211 C. 416, 417. Inland wetlands and watercourses
act cited. 212 C. 710, 713, 720, 722, 726; Id., 727, 730; 213 C. 604, 606, 610, 611. Cited. 216 C. 320, 321, 324, 325, 327,
329-333, 336. Inland wetlands and watercourses act (IWWA) Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. Id. Inland wetlands and watercourses
act (IWWA) cited. 217 C. 164, 167-169, 172-174, 176, 177. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 218 C. 703-705,
713; 219 C. 404, 409. Cited. 220 C. 362, 369; Id., 476, 482. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Secs. 22a-36-22a-45a
cited. 226 C. 579, 580, 587, 589, 591, 592, 594, 595, 598. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited.
228 C. 95, 97, 98. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 229 C. 247, 249, 250, 252. Cited. Id., 627, 628. Cited. Id.,
654, 660. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. 242 C. 355.
Cited. 4 CA 271-273. Cited. 5 CA 70, 71. Cited. 6 CA 715, 717, 718. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 12
CA 47-52, 54, 55. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 15 CA 336, 337; 18 CA 440, 448. Cited. 19 CA 713-715.
Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 20 CA 309, 310, 317; 26 CA 564, 566; 27 CA 590, 591. Inland wetlands and
watercourses act cited. 28 CA 780, 782, 788, 791. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 29 CA
12, 15; Id., 105, 106. Inland wetlands act cited. 30 CA 85, 90, 91, 94. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Secs. 22a-36-22a-45 cited. 31 CA 105, 109; Id., 599, 601; judgment reversed, see 229 C. 627 et seq., see also 36 CA 270 et seq.
Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 32 CA 799, 806, 810. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et
seq. cited. 34 CA 385, 389. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. 36 CA 270-272, 274, 280; 37 CA 166, 170.
Section does not limit a property owner's remedy under Sec. 12-117a. 80 CA 630.
Cited. 35 CS 145-147; 36 CS 1, 3, 4, 6. Cited. 41 CS 444, 450, 452, 454. Cited. 42 CS 57, 59, 68.
Sec. 22a-45a. General permits for minor activities. Regulations. (a) The Commissioner of Environmental Protection may issue a general permit for any minor activity
regulated under sections 22a-36 to 22a-45, inclusive, except for any activity covered
by an individual permit, when such activity is conducted by any department, agency or
instrumentality of the state, other than a regional or local board of education, if the
commissioner determines that such activity would cause minimal environmental effects
when conducted separately and would cause only minimal cumulative environmental
effects. Such activities may include routine minor maintenance and routine minor repair
of existing structures; replacement of existing culverts; installation of water monitoring
equipment, including but not limited to staff gauges, water recording and water quality
testing devices; survey activities, including excavation of test pits and core sampling;
maintenance of existing roadway sight lines; removal of sedimentation and unauthorized
solid waste by hand or suction equipment; placement of erosion and sedimentation
controls; extension of existing culverts and stormwater outfall pipes; and safety improvements with minimal environmental impacts within existing rights-of-way of existing roadways. Any state department, agency or instrumentality of the state, other than
a regional or local board of education conducting an activity for which a general permit
has been issued shall not be required to obtain an individual permit under any other
provision of said sections 22a-36 to 22a-45, inclusive, except as provided in subsection
(c) of this section. A general permit shall clearly define the activity covered thereby and
may include such conditions and requirements as the commissioner deems appropriate,
including but not limited to, management practices and verification and reporting requirements. The general permit may require any state department, agency or instrumentality of the state, other than a regional or local board of education, conducting any
activity under the general permit to report, on a form prescribed by the commissioner,
such activity to the commissioner before it shall be covered by the general permit. The
commissioner shall prepare, and shall annually amend, a list of holders of general permits
under this section, which list shall be made available to the public.
(b) Notwithstanding any other procedures in said sections 22a-36 to 22a-45, inclusive, any regulations adopted thereunder, and chapter 54, the commissioner may issue,
revoke, suspend or modify a general permit in accordance with the following procedures:
(1) The commissioner shall publish in a newspaper having a substantial circulation in
the affected area or areas notice of intent to issue a general permit; (2) the commissioner
shall allow a comment period of thirty days following publication of such notice during
which interested persons may submit written comments concerning the permit to the
commissioner and the commissioner shall hold a public hearing if, within said comment
period, he receives a petition signed by at least twenty-five persons; (3) the commissioner
may not issue the general permit until after the comment period; and (4) the commissioner shall publish notice of any permit issued in a newspaper having substantial circulation in the affected area or areas. Any person may request that the commissioner issue,
modify or revoke a general permit in accordance with this subsection.
(c) Subsequent to the issuance of a general permit, the commissioner may require
any state department, agency or instrumentality, other than a regional or local board of
education, to apply for an individual permit under the provisions of said sections 22a-36 to 22a-45, inclusive, for all or any portion of the activities covered by the general
permit, if in the commissioner's judgment the purposes and policies of such sections
would be best served by requiring an application for an individual permit. The commissioner may require an individual permit under this subsection only if the affected state
department, agency or instrumentality has been notified in writing that an individual
permit is required. The notice shall include a brief statement of the reasons for the
decision and a statement that upon the date of issuance of such notice the general permit
as it applies to the individual activity will terminate.
(d) Any general permit issued under this section shall require that any state agency,
department or instrumentality other than a regional or local board of education, intending
to conduct an activity covered by such general permit shall, at least sixty days before
initiating such activity, give written notice of such intention to the inland wetlands
agency, zoning commission, planning commission or combined planning and zoning
commission and conservation commission of any municipality which will or may be
affected by such activity and to the department which shall make such notices available
to the public. The general permit shall specify the information which must be contained
in the notice. An inland wetlands agency, planning and zoning commission, conservation
commission or any person may submit written comments to the commissioner concerning such activity not later than twenty-five days prior to the date that the activity is
proposed to begin.
(e) The commissioner may adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of
chapter 54 to carry out the purposes of this section.
(P.A. 91-263, S. 3, 8; P.A. 92-162, S. 15, 25.)
History: P.A. 92-162 amended Subsec. (d) to provide that any person may submit comments to the commissioner
concerning regulated activities permitted under this section prior to commencement of such activities and changed the
deadline for such comments from thirty days prior to such commencement to twenty-five days.
Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Secs. 22a-36-22a-45a cited. 226 C. 579, 580, 587, 589, 591, 592, 594, 595, 598.
Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 228 C. 95, 97, 98. Inlands wetlands and watercourses act
cited. 229 C. 247, 249, 250, 252. Cited. Id., 627, 628. Cited. Id., 654, 660. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited.
242 C. 355.
Inland wetlands act cited. 30 CA 85, 90, 91, 94. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Secs. 22a-36-22a-45 cited. 31
CA 105, 109; Id., 599, 601; judgment reversed, see 229 C. 627 et seq., see also 36 CA 270 et seq. Inland wetlands and
watercourses act cited. 32 CA 799, 806, 810. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. 34 CA 385,
389. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. 36 CA 270-272, 274, 280; 37 CA 166, 170.
Sec. 22a-45b. (Formerly Sec. 19a-93). Elimination of mosquito-breeding
places by Commissioner of Environmental Protection. The Commissioner of Environmental Protection may make regulations and orders concerning the elimination of
mosquitoes and mosquito-breeding places, and said commissioner or his agent may
enter upon any land, tidal wetland, inland wetland or watercourse to ascertain if mosquitoes breed thereon or to survey, drain, fill or otherwise treat, or make any excavation
or structure necessary to eliminate mosquito breeding on such land. When funds have
been provided by appropriation by the state for the elimination of mosquitoes or mosquito-breeding places, said commissioner may conduct or cause the conducting of such
work provided no filling, draining, excavation, installation or erection of any structure,
or any other permanent alteration of private property shall be conducted without the
consent of the landowner on whose property such work is to be conducted. The commissioner may take and hold, by purchase, condemnation or otherwise, any real property
or interest in real property as he determines is necessary to abate a threat of disease to
humans or animals from insect vectors. Whenever the commissioner is unable to agree
with the owner of any such property as to the compensation to be paid for the taking
thereof, the commissioner may bring condemnation proceedings in accordance with
the procedure provided by chapter 835 for condemnation by municipal corporations
generally. In such case, the court may permit immediate possession of such property
by the commissioner in accordance with the procedure provided by said chapter 835.
(1949 Rev., S. 3859; 1971, P.A. 870, S. 51; P.A. 76-436, S. 277, 681; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 78-280, S. 1, 127;
P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 97-289, S. 1, 9.)
History: 1971 act replaced superior court with court of common pleas, effective September 1, 1971, except that courts
with cases pending retain jurisdiction unless pending matters deemed transferable; P.A. 76-436 replaced court of common
pleas with superior court and added reference to judicial districts, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner
of health with commissioner of health services, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-280 removed references to counties;
Sec. 19-50 transferred to Sec. 19a-93 in 1983; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner
of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of
Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A.
97-289 transferred responsibility for mosquito control under this section from the Commissioner of Public Health to
the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, deleted former provisions re notice of mosquito control activities and
assessment of damages and provided requirement for consent of landowner, and authorization to acquire property for
mosquito control, effective July 1, 1997; Sec. 19a-93 transferred to Sec. 22a-45b in 1999.
See Sec. 19a-213 re duties of local health authorities re mosquito-breeding places.
Sec. 22a-45c. (Formerly Sec. 19a-94). Maintenance of drained land by Commissioner of Environmental Protection. When any work has been conducted in accordance with section 22a-45b that is subject to the approval of the Commissioner of
Environmental Protection, said commissioner shall keep the same in repair and free
from obstruction or otherwise treat such areas so as to make such work effective. Said
commissioner may appoint one or more agents to supervise the work done under the
provisions of this section and section 22a-45b, who may exercise the authority granted
to said commissioner. The expenses of said commissioner and said agents in carrying
out the provisions of this section and section 22a-45b shall be paid from funds provided
by appropriations by the state for such purpose. The Comptroller may advance to said
commissioner such amounts, within the appropriations therefor, as are necessary to meet
the current expenses for work authorized under the provisions of this section and section
22a-45b. Any person obstructing the work of examining, surveying or ditching or otherwise treating such mosquito-breeding areas, or obstructing any ditch, canal or drain, or
the natural outlet of any marsh-forming and mosquito-breeding areas, shall be fined not
more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than ninety days or both.
(1949 Rev., S. 3860; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 97-289, S. 2, 9.)
History: P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of health with commissioner of health services, effective January 1, 1979;
Sec. 19-51 transferred to Sec. 19a-94 in 1983; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner
of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of
Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A.
97-289 transferred responsibility for mosquito control under this section from the Commissioner of Public Health to the
Commissioner of Environmental Protection, deleted provisions re construction or repair of tide gates and funds provided
by voluntary contributions, and made technical changes, effective July 1, 1997; Sec. 19a-94 transferred to Sec. 22a-45c
in 1999.