Showdown on citizen environmental action statute

The CT Mirror ^

[matt04]

Environmental and business groups are marshalling forces for an anticipated showdown Friday that pits part of the cornerstone of state environmental law against development and job creation. At issue is legislation that would restrict using environmental grounds to block development projects.

Supporters say it's needed because the existing language in the landmark Connecticut Environmental Protection Act of 1971 is dated, too broad and easily and often abused, resulting in a hostile business climate that drives project developers to other states.

Opponents are branding it an assault on one of the state's most important environmental laws, specifically a provision that gives citizens the right to intervene in administrative agencies when environmental issues are involved.

"This citizens' provision has been a central part of great environmental progress in the last 40 years," said Roger Reynolds of the advocacy group Connecticut Fund for the Environment, who plans to testify at a Planning and Development Committee hearing Friday. "I think this is a pretty serious assault."

The issue has had developers and others grumbling for years. As it exists now, an environmental "intervenor" can object to proposed development at any stage of the process, even after it has cleared local, state or federal environmental hurdles.

Business groups contend the statute has been abused, because intervenors don't have to provide evidence or fully identify themselves. Competitors, they claim, have been known to hide behind a guise of an environmental concern, when their real purpose is to keep a business challenge out. Business groups also claim that anti-development groups and others will simply use the statute as a delaying tactic.

[dog breath]

It sounds like a law in need of revising. I actually like citizen involvement in their local community development, but this is so vague it just seems open to abuse. From reading it doesn't seem like they want to eliminate it completely just change it a little.

[cripplecreek]

We have like 6 different groups both “local” and national that have descended on my little township to stop oil and gas drilling in the area. However it seems like the same dozen or so people are part of each group.