CHAPTER 446i
WATER RESOURCES

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

      Sec. 22a-348. (Formerly Sec. 25-4g). Municipal powers. (a) The provisions of sections 22a-342 to 22a-348, inclusive, shall not affect the provision of section 7-147 authorizing any town, city or borough to establish such lines within its jurisdiction prior to the establishment of lines by the commissioner, provided the commissioner may alter any lines, however established, upon finding such alterations are necessary to effectuate the purpose of said sections 22a-342 to 22a-348, inclusive, and section 25-69. If the commissioner has established lines within a municipality, the commissioner shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any encroachments within such lines.

      (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, any town, city or borough may establish such lines at any time to comply with the eligibility provisions of the National Flood Insurance Program (44 CFR Part 59 et seq.).

      (1963, P.A. 435, S. 7; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 51; P.A. 84-16; P.A. 88-327, S. 2, 3; P.A. 07-217, S. 115.)

      History: 1971 act replaced references to water resources commission with references to environmental protection commissioner; Sec. 25-4g transferred to Sec. 22a-348 in 1983; P.A. 84-16 added Subsec. (b) authorizing towns to establish lines to comply with the National Flood Insurance Program; P.A. 88-327 added provisions to Subsec. (a) re exclusive jurisdiction of commissioner of environmental protection; P.A. 07-217 made a technical change in Subsec. (b), effective July 12, 2007.

      Sec. 22a-354a. "Existing well fields" and "potential well fields", defined. As used in sections 22a-354b to 22a-354f, inclusive, "existing well fields" means well fields in use by a public water supply system when mapping is required pursuant to section 22a-354c or 22a-354z and "potential well fields" means those well fields identified as future sources of supply in the water supply plan of the public water supply system approved pursuant to section 25-32d.

      (P.A. 88-324, S. 1; P.A. 07-85, S. 2.)

      History: P.A. 07-85 redefined "existing well fields" to include reference to Sec. 22a-354z.

      Sec. 22a-354c. Mapping of well fields by water companies. (a) On or before July 1, 1990, each public or private water company serving one thousand or more persons shall map at level B all areas of contribution and recharge areas for its existing wells located in stratified drift aquifers. Not later than three years after the adoption by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection of a model municipal aquifer protection ordinance under section 22a-354l, each public and private water company serving ten thousand or more persons shall map at level A all areas of contribution and recharge areas for its existing wells located in stratified drift aquifers. Any public or private water company that creates a new well field serving one thousand or more persons that has not been mapped previously as an existing well shall map areas of contribution and recharge areas for the new well field. Any map of such a new well field shall be submitted not later than one year after the issuance of a diversion permit in accordance with section 22a-368 at level B, and not later than three years after the issuance of a diversion permit in accordance with section 22a-368 at level A. The Commissioner of Environmental Protection may map at level A and at level B all areas of contribution and recharge areas for existing wells located in stratified drift aquifers that are used by any public or private water company serving less than one thousand persons.

      (b) Each public or private water company serving ten thousand or more persons shall map all areas of contribution and recharge areas for potential wells that are located within stratified drift aquifers identified as future sources of water supply to meet their needs in accordance with the plan submitted pursuant to section 25-33h at level B not more than two years after the Commissioner of Environmental Protection requests such mapping. The Commissioner of Environmental Protection shall identify and make recommendations for mapping, or shall map, all remaining significant areas of contribution and recharge areas for potential wells located in stratified drift aquifers not identified by a public or private water company as a potential source of water supply within the region of an approved plan. Mapping of any other area of contribution and recharge areas for potential wells located in stratified drift aquifers by the commissioner shall be completed at a time determined by the commissioner.

      (P.A. 88-324, S. 3; P.A. 89-305, S. 22, 32; P.A. 90-275, S. 5, 9; P.A. 91-386, S. 1; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-11, S. 63, 70; P.A. 93-337, S. 3; P.A. 07-85, S. 3.)

      History: P.A. 89-305 specified that mapping is required of areas of contribution and recharge areas for wells located in stratified drift aquifers and made technical changes; P.A. 90-275 deleted the requirement that the areas to be mapped at level B by water companies be within their water supply service area, authorized the commissioner to map at level A and at level B areas of contribution and recharge areas for wells located in stratified drift aquifers which are used by water companies serving less than 1,000 persons and required the commissioner to either map or make recommendations for mapping all remaining significant areas of contribution and recharge areas for potential wells located in stratified drift aquifers not identified by water companies as a potential source of water supply; P.A. 91-386 amended Subsec. (a) to extend the time for mapping at level A from July 1, 1992, to July 1, 1994; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-11 amended Subsec. (a) to change date from July 1, 1994, to January 1, 1996, for aquifer mapping; P.A. 93-337 amended Subsec. (a) to change deadline for mapping from January 1, 1996, to three years after adoption by commissioner of model ordinance under Sec. 22a-354l; P.A. 07-85 amended Subsec. (a) to require water companies to map any new well field created and submit such map to department after issuance of a diversion permit, and amended Subsec. (b) to remove Subdiv. designators, to delete provision re mapping at level A and to change timeframe to not more than two years after request for mapping by commissioner, rather than two years after approval of plan.

      Sec. 22a-354d. Completion of mapping of well fields. The mapping of aquifers by a public or private water company at level B and level A required pursuant to sections 22a-354c and 22a-354z shall not be deemed to be complete unless approved by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection.

      (P.A. 88-324, S. 4; P.A. 07-85, S. 4.)

      History: P.A. 07-85 added reference to Sec. 22a-354z.

      Sec. 22a-354o. Municipal aquifer protection agency: Creation; members; regulation; training. Fines. (a) Each municipality in which an aquifer protection area is located shall authorize by ordinance an existing board or commission to act as such agency not later than three months after adoption by the commissioner of regulations for aquifer protection areas pursuant to section 22a-354i and approval by the commissioner of mapping of areas of contribution and recharge areas for wells located in stratified drift aquifers in the municipality at level B pursuant to section 22a-354d. The ordinance authorizing the agency 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. No member or alternate member of such agency shall participate in any hearing or decision of such agency 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 disqualification, such fact shall be entered on the records of the agency 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.

      (b) Not more than six months after approval by the commissioner of mapping at level A, pursuant to section 22a-354d, the aquifer protection agency of the municipality in which such aquifer protection area is located shall adopt regulations for aquifer protection.

      (c) At least one member of the agency or staff of the agency shall be a person who has completed the course in technical training formulated by the commissioner pursuant to section 22a-354v. Failure to have a member of the agency or staff with training shall not affect the validity of any action of the agency and shall be grounds for revocation of the authority of the agency under section 22a-354t.

      (d) Any municipality may establish, by ordinance, a fine for violations of regulations adopted pursuant to section 22a-354p, provided the amount of any such fine shall not be 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. 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 that adopts an ordinance pursuant to this subsection shall also adopt a citation hearing procedure pursuant to section 7-152c. 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. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to agricultural uses, provided such uses are following best management practices.

      (P.A. 89-305, S. 8, 32; P.A. 95-218, S. 6; P.A. 07-85, S. 5.)

      History: P.A. 95-218 amended Subsec. (b) to change "well" to "aquifer protection area" for consistency in the text; P.A. 07-85 added Subsec. (d) re fines.

      Sec. 22a-354p. Adoption of regulations. Permits. Fees. Approval of regulations. Authority of commissioner. Submission of documents. (a) The aquifer protection agency authorized by section 22a-354o shall, by regulation, provide for (1) the manner in which the boundaries of aquifer protection areas shall be established and amended or changed, (2) the form for an application to conduct regulated activities within the area, (3) notice and publication requirements, (4) criteria and procedures for the review of applications, and (5) administration and enforcement.

      (b) No regulations of an aquifer protection agency shall become effective or be established until after a public hearing in relation thereto is held by the agency at which parties in interest and citizens shall have an opportunity to be heard. Notice of the time and place of such hearing shall be published in the form of a legal advertisement, appearing at least twice in a newspaper having a substantial circulation in the municipality at intervals of not less than two days, the first not more than twenty-five days nor less than fifteen days, and the last not less than two days, before such hearing, and a copy of such proposed regulation 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 shall be provided to the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, the town clerk and any affected water company at least thirty-five days before such hearing. Such regulations may be from time to time amended, changed or repealed after a public hearing in relation thereto is held by the agency at which parties in interest and citizens shall have an opportunity to be heard and for which notice shall be published in the manner specified in this subsection. Regulations or changes therein shall become effective at such time as is fixed by the agency, provided a copy of such regulation or change shall be filed in the office of the town, city or borough clerk, as the case may be. Whenever an agency makes a change in regulations, it shall state upon its records the reason why the change was made. All petitions submitted in writing and in a form prescribed by the agency requesting a change in the regulations shall be considered at a public hearing in the manner provided for establishment of such regulations within ninety days after receipt of such petition. The agency shall act upon the changes requested in the petition within sixty days after the hearing. The petitioner may consent to extension of the periods provided for a hearing and for adoption or denial or may withdraw such petition.

      (c) Pursuant to municipal regulations adopted under subsection (b) of this section, no regulated activity shall be conducted within any aquifer protection area without a permit. Any person proposing to conduct or cause to be conducted a regulated activity within an aquifer protection area shall file an application with the aquifer protection agency of each municipality wherein the aquifer in question is located. The application shall be in such form and contain such information as the 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 agency may hold a public hearing on such application. Such hearing shall be held in accordance with the provisions of section 8-7d. In addition to the requirements of section 8-7d, the agency shall send to any affected water company, at least ten days before the hearing, a copy of the notice by certified mail, return receipt requested.

      (d) In granting, denying or limiting any permit for a regulated activity the aquifer protection agency shall state upon the record the reason for its decision. In granting a permit the agency may grant the application as filed or grant it upon such terms, conditions, limitations or modifications of the activity intended to carry out the policies of section 22a-354g. No person shall conduct any regulated activity within an aquifer protection area 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 warrants 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 agency shall send to any affected water company a copy of the notice at least ten days before the hearing by certified mail, return receipt requested. Any affected water company may, through a representative, appear and be heard at any such hearing. The applicant or permittee shall be notified of the agency's decision by certified mail, return receipt requested, within fifteen days of the date of the decision and the agency shall cause notice of its order in issuance, denial, revocation or suspension of a permit to be published in a newspaper having a general circulation in the municipality in which the aquifer protection area is located.

      (e) The aquifer protection 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, regulations adopted pursuant to sections 19a-37, 22-6c, 22a-354c, 22a-354e, 22a-354g to 22a-354bb, inclusive, 25-32d, 25-33h, 25-33n and subsection (a) of section 25-84, or agency orders.

      (f) Any regulations adopted by an agency under this section shall not be effective unless the Commissioner of Environmental Protection determines that such regulations are reasonably related to the purpose of groundwater protection and not inconsistent with the regulations adopted pursuant to section 22a-354i. A regulation adopted by a municipality shall not be deemed inconsistent if such regulation establishes a greater level of protection. The commissioner shall provide written notification to the agency of approval or the reasons such regulations cannot be approved within sixty days of receipt by the commissioner of the regulations adopted by the agency.

      (g) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of the general statutes, the commissioner shall have sole authority to grant, deny, limit or modify, in accordance with regulations adopted by him, a permit for any regulated activity in an aquifer protection area proposed by (A) any person to whom the commissioner has issued an individual permit for the subject site under the national pollutant discharge elimination system of the federal Clean Water Act (33 USC 1251 et seq.) or under the state pollutant discharge elimination system pursuant to section 22a-430 or any person to whom the commissioner has issued a permit for the subject site under the provisions of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 USC 6901 et seq.) for a treatment, storage or disposal facility, (B) any public service company, as defined in section 16-1, providing gas, electric, pipeline, water or telephone service, (C) any large quantity generator, as defined in regulations adopted by the commissioner under section 22a-449, or (D) any state department, agency or instrumentality, except any local or regional board of education. Such authority may be exercised only after an advisory decision on such permit has been rendered to the commissioner by the aquifer protection agency of the municipality within which such aquifer protection area is located or thirty-five days after receipt by the commissioner of the application for such permit, whichever occurs first. The commissioner shall provide prompt notice of receipt of an application to the municipal aquifer protection agency.

      (2) If the commissioner requires the submission of a registration or other document under regulations adopted pursuant to section 22a-354i, such submission shall be made to the commissioner by any person to whom the commissioner has issued an individual permit under the national pollutant discharge elimination system of the federal Clean Water Act, or an individual permit under the state pollutant discharge elimination system pursuant to section 22a-430, or by any person to whom the commissioner has issued a permit under the provisions of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act for a treatment, storage or disposal facility, or any public service company, as defined in section 16-1, providing gas, electric, pipeline, water or telephone service, or a large quantity generator, as defined in regulations adopted by the commissioner under section 22a-449, or any state department, agency or instrumentality, except any local or regional board of education.

      (P.A. 89-305, S. 9, 32; P.A. 90-275, S. 8, 9; P.A. 92-162, S. 8, 25; P.A. 97-124, S. 6, 16; P.A. 07-85, S. 6.)

      History: P.A. 90-275 in Subsec. (e) required the amount of the filing fee to be sufficient to cover costs of monitoring compliance with regulations; P.A. 92-162 added Subsec. (g) re authority of commissioner re permits for state agencies for regulated activities in an aquifer protection area; P.A. 97-124 amended Subsec. (g) by designating existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and adding new Subparas. (A) to (C), inclusive, providing that the commissioner shall have the authority to issue permits under this section to utilities and certain other companies, and by adding new Subdiv. (2) re submission of registration or other document, effective June 6, 1997; P.A. 07-85 made a technical change in Subsec. (a), amended Subsec. (c) to make timeframes the same as Sec. 8-7d and amended Subsec. (g)(1) to add "for the subject site" re permit issued.

      Sec. 22a-354x. Duties of the commissioner. Technical, coordinating and research services. Supervision. Powers of the commissioner. Annual report. (a) The Commissioner of Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Commissioner of Public Health and water companies, shall provide, within available appropriations, technical, coordinating and research services to promote the effective administration of sections 19a-37, 22-6c, 22a-354c, 22a-354e, 22a-354g to 22a-354bb, inclusive, 25-32d, 25-33h and 25-33n and subsection (a) of section 25-84 at the federal, state and local levels.

      (b) The commissioner shall have the overall responsibility for general supervision of the implementation of sections 19a-37, 22-6c, 22a-354c, 22a-354e, 22a-354g to 22a-354bb, inclusive, 25-32d, 25-33h and 25-33n, and subsection (a) of section 25-84 and shall monitor and evaluate the activities of federal and state agencies and the activities of municipalities to assure continuing, effective, coordinated and consistent administration of the requirements and purposes of said sections.

      (c) The commissioner shall exercise all incidental powers, including, but not limited to, the issuance of orders necessary to enforce rules and regulations adopted in accordance with sections 22a-354i to 22a-354m, inclusive, to carry out the purposes of sections 22a-354a to 22a-354bb, inclusive.

      (d) The commissioner shall prepare and submit to the General Assembly and the Governor, on or before December first of each year, a written report summarizing the activities of the department concerning the development and implementation of sections 19a-37, 22-6c, 22a-354c, 22a-354e, 22a-354g to 22a-354bb, inclusive, 25-32d, 25-33h and 25-33n and subsection (a) of section 25-84 during the previous year. Such report shall include, but not be limited to: (1) The department's accomplishments and actions in achieving the goals and policies of said sections including, but not limited to, coordination with other state, regional, federal and municipal programs established to achieve the purposes of said sections; (2) recommendations for any statutory or regulatory amendments necessary to achieve such purposes; (3) a summary of municipal and federal programs and actions which affect aquifer protection areas; (4) recommendations for any programs or plans to achieve such purposes; (5) any aspects of the program or said sections which are proving difficult to accomplish, suggested reasons for such difficulties and proposed solutions to such difficulties; (6) a summary of the expenditure of federal and state funds under said sections; and (7) a request for an appropriation of funds necessary to match federal funds and provide continuing financial support for the program. Such report shall comply with the provisions of section 46a-78. On and after October 1, 1996, the report shall be submitted to the Governor, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and budgets of state agencies and relating to the environment and, upon request, to any member of the General Assembly. A summary of the report shall be submitted to each member of the General Assembly if the summary is two pages or less and a notification of the report shall be submitted to each member if the summary is more than two pages. Submission shall be by mailing the report, summary or notification to the legislative address of each member of the committee or the General Assembly, as applicable.

      (P.A. 89-305, S. 18, 32; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 96-251, S. 11; P.A. 07-85, S. 7.)

      History: 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. 96-251 amended Subsec. (c) by requiring that on and after October 1, 1996, the report also be submitted to Governor and appropriations and environment committees and to legislators upon request and by adding provisions re submission of report summaries to legislators; P.A. 07-85 inserted new Subsec. (c) re powers of commissioner and redesignated existing Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (d).

      Sec. 22a-354z. Mapping by water companies of areas of contribution and recharge areas for existing and potential stratified drift wells. (a) Not later than three years after the adoption by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection of a model municipal aquifer protection ordinance under section 22a-354l, each public or private water company serving at least one thousand persons but not more than ten thousand persons shall map areas of contribution and recharge areas at level A for each existing stratified drift well located within its water supply area.

      (b) Each public or private water supply company serving at least one thousand but not more than ten thousand persons shall map areas of contribution and recharge areas for all of the potential wells located in stratified drift aquifers identified as future sources of water supply in accordance with the plan submitted pursuant to section 25-33h at level B not more than two years after the Commissioner of Environmental Protection requests such mapping.

      (c) For the purpose of this section, any community water system which is part of an existing water company but which is not physically connected to such existing water company shall be considered a separate water company for purposes of determining the number of persons served by the existing water company's system and any of its separate systems.

      (P.A. 89-305, S. 23, 32; P.A. 91-386, S. 2; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-11, S. 64, 70; P.A. 93-337, S. 2; P.A. 07-85, S. 8.)

      History: P.A. 91-386 added a new Subsec. (c) to specify how water companies shall be classified for purposes of determining their responsibilities under this section; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-11 amended Subsec. (a) by changing date for aquifer mapping from July 1, 1995, to January 1, 1996; P.A. 93-337 amended Subsec. (a) to change deadline for mapping from January 1, 1996, to three years after adoption by commissioner of model ordinance under Sec. 22a-354l; P.A. 07-85 amended Subsec. (b) to delete reference to level A and require submission of plan two years after the request for, rather than the approval of, mapping by commissioner.