Sec. 22a-42a. Establishment of boundaries by regulation. Adoption of regulations. Permits. Filing fee.
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changed or repealed, by majority vote of the inland wetlands agency, after a public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 60 to 65 days after receipt of application and required that action
be taken within 65 rather than 45 days after completion of hearing in Subsec. (c), and required that applicant be notified
of decision within 15 rather than 5 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 45 days after commencement and to reduce
time for action on applications from 65 to 35 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 10 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 15 days nor less than
10 days before such hearing, reducing time frame by 10 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. Cited. 180 C. 421; Id., 692. The inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 186 C. 67. Cited. 192
C. 247. The inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 196 C. 218. Cited. 203 C. 525. Cited. 209 C. 544; Id., 652. Cited.
211 C. 416. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 212 C. 710; Id., 727; 213 C. 604. Cited. 216 C. 320. Inland wetlands
and watercourses act (IWWA) Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited. Id. Inland wetlands and watercourses act (IWWA) cited. 217 C.
164. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 218 C. 703; 219 C. 404. Cited. 220 C. 362; Id., 476. Inland wetlands and
watercourses act, Secs. 22a-36-22a-45a cited. 226 C. 579. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq.
cited. 228 C. 95. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 229 C. 247. Cited. Id., 627; Id., 654. 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. Cited. 5 CA 70. Cited. 6 CA 715. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 12 CA 47. Inland
wetlands and watercourses act cited. 15 CA 336, 337; 18 CA 440. Cited. 19 CA 713. Inland wetlands and watercourses
act cited. 20 CA 309; 26 CA 564; 27 CA 590; 28 CA 780. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Sec. 22a-36 et seq. cited.
29 CA 12; Id., 105. Inland wetlands act cited. 30 CA 85. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, Secs. 22a-36-22a-45 cited.
31 CA 105; Id., 599; judgment reversed, see 229 C. 627, see also 36 CA 270. Cited. Id., 643. Inland wetlands and watercourses act cited. 32 CA 799. Cited. 34 CA 385. Inland wetlands and watercourses act, 22a-36 et seq. cited. Id. Inland
Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. 36 CA 270. Cited. 37 CA 166. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act cited. Id.
Cited. 43 CA 227.
Cited. 41 CS 444. Cited. 42 CS 57.
Subsec. (a):
Subdiv. (4) cited. 21 CA 122, 131.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 231 C. 451, 460.
Subsec. (c):
Cited. 183 C. 532. Cited. 196 C. 218. Cited. 222 C. 98. Time limits directory not mandatory. Id., 269. Cited. Id., 541.
Cited. 231 C. 451.
Cited. 6 CA 715. Cited. 20 CA 309. Cited. 24 CA 708. Cited. 25 CA 61; Id., 164. Cited. 29 CA 12. Cited. 35 CA 317.
Cited. 37 CA 166. Cited. 41 CA 39; Id., 89; Id., 120. 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. Cited. 196 C. 218. Cited. 212 C. 710. Trial court on appeal must search record of hearings
before commission to determine if an adequate reason exists for its decision. 213 C. 604. Cited. 217 C. 164. Cited. 222 C.
98; Id., 541. Cited. 231 C. 451.
Cited. 18 CA 440. Cited. 19 CA 334. Cited. 20 CA 309. Cited. 21 CA 122. Cited. 24 CA 708. Cited. 27 CA 214. Cited.
29 CA 469. Cited. 32 CA 799. Cited. 41 CA 421; judgment reversed, see 242 C. 550.
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.