Sec. 22a-449e. Regulations. Schedule for maximum or range of amounts to be paid from the account. Use of seal.
Sec. 22a-449e. Regulations. Schedule for maximum or range of amounts to be
paid from the account. Use of seal. (a) The Commissioner of Environmental Protection,
after consultation with the members of the board established by section 22a-449d, shall
adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 setting forth procedures for reimbursement and payment from the account established under section 22a-449c. Such regulations shall include such provisions as the commissioner deems necessary to carry out the purposes of sections 22a-449a to 22a-449h, inclusive, including,
but not limited to, provisions for (1) notification of eligible parties of the existence
of the account; (2) records required for submission of claims and reimbursement and
payment; (3) periodic and partial reimbursement and payment to enable responsible
parties to meet interim costs, expenses and obligations; and (4) reimbursement and
payment for costs, expenses and obligations incurred in connection with releases or
suspected releases discovered before or after July 5, 1989, provided reimbursement and
payment shall not be made for costs, expenses and obligations incurred by a responsible
party on or before said date.
(b) (1) The commissioner, in accordance with the procedures set forth in subdivision (2) of this subsection, may prescribe a schedule for the maximum or range of
amounts to be paid from the account for labor, equipment, materials, services or other
costs, expenses or obligations paid or incurred as a result of a release or suspected release.
Such schedule shall not be a regulation, as defined in section 4-166 and the adoption,
modification, repeal or use of such schedule shall not be subject to the provisions of
chapter 54 concerning a regulation. The amounts in any such schedule may be less than
and shall be not more than the usual, customary and reasonable amounts charged, as
determined by the commissioner. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 22a-449a
to 22a-449j, inclusive, or any regulation adopted by the commissioner pursuant to this
section, upon adoption of any such schedule, the amount to be paid from the account
for any labor, equipment, materials, services or other costs, expenses or other obligations, shall not exceed the amount established in any such schedule and such schedule
may serve as guidance with respect to any costs, expenses or other obligations paid or
incurred before the adoption of such schedule.
(2) The commissioner shall adopt, revise or revoke the schedule in accordance with
the provisions of this subsection. After consultation with the board, the commissioner
shall publish notice of intent to adopt, revise or revoke the schedule, or any portion
thereof, in a newspaper having substantial circulation in the affected area. There shall
be a comment period of thirty days following publication of such notice during which
interested persons may submit written comments to the commissioner. The commissioner shall publish notice of the adoption, revision or revocation of the schedule, or
part thereof, in a newspaper having substantial circulation in the affected area. The
commissioner shall, upon request, review the schedule and shall make any revisions the
commissioner deems necessary to such schedule once every two years or may do so more
frequently as the commissioner deems necessary. The commissioner, after consultation
with the board, may revise or revoke the schedule, in whole or in part, using the procedures specified in this subsection. Any person may request that the commissioner adopt,
revise or revoke the schedule in accordance with this subsection.
(c) Upon adoption of a schedule by the commissioner pursuant to subsection (b) of
this section, the requirements concerning obtaining three bids for services rendered
contained in regulations adopted pursuant to this section shall not apply, provided that
the schedule includes the subject services.
(d) An environmental professional, who has a currently valid and effective license
issued pursuant to section 22a-133v, shall use a seal, as provided for in regulations
adopted pursuant to section 22a-133v, to provide written approval required under sections 22a-449c, 22a-449f and 22a-449p, and any approval without a seal shall not constitute an approval of a licensed environmental professional. The regulations adopted pursuant to section 22a-133v regarding the use of a seal and the rules of professional conduct
shall apply to the duties of a licensed environmental professional contained in sections
22a-449a to 22a-449i, inclusive, and 22a-449p.
(P.A. 89-373, S. 6, 10; P.A. 90-181, S. 2; P.A. 91-254, S. 3, 7; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-3, S. 93; P.A. 08-124, S. 28.)
History: P.A. 90-181 amended Subdivs. (2), (3) and (4) to include provisions relating to payment in addition to reimbursement; P.A. 91-254 added language giving the commissioner broader authority to adopt regulations under Secs. 22a-449a
to 22a-449h, inclusive; (Revisor's note: In 1995 references to clean-up "fund" were replaced editorially by the Revisors
with references to clean-up "account" to conform section with Sec. 22a-449c as amended by P.A. 94-130); June Sp. Sess.
P.A. 05-3 designated existing language as Subsec. (a) and made a technical change therein, added Subsec. (b) re schedule
for the maximum or range of amounts to be paid from the account, added Subsec. (c) re inapplicability of requirement for
three bids for services, and added Subsec. (d) re use of a seal by an environmental professional, effective June 30, 2005;
P.A. 08-124 made technical changes in Subsecs. (a) and (b)(2), effective June 2, 2008.