Assembly OKs bill to improve environmental regulation process

(May 11, 2007) Last week, the state House and Senate both approved SB-1358, a bill introduced at the request of CBIA’s Environmental Policies Council (EPC) to encourage greater consistency between state regulations and federal standards.

SB-1358 actually amends a law enacted several years ago intended to require DEP, when considering the adoption of regulations directed at activities for which there is already a federal regulation, to start the drafting process with the federal regulations, making whatever changes it sees fit.

Under the law at the time the DEP publishes a notice for public comment on its proposed regulations, the department must identify how its proposal differs from the federal regulation and explain the need for such differences.

Since passage of the original law, the DEP has on occasion interpreted the statute to mean that it only applies under limited circumstances. SB-1358 closes this loophole and makes it clear that the department must always conduct the analysis required by the law if there is a federal regulation concerning the same activities.

CBIA appreciates the bipartisan support for this bill and the leadership of Rep. Richard Roy (D-Milford) and Sen. William Finch (D-Bridgeport), co-chairs of the Environment Committee, in successfully moving the bill from the January EPC meeting, where it was first presented to them, through the legislative process.

For more information, contact CBIA’s Eric Brown at 860-244-1926 or browne@cbia.com.

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