Sec. 26-314. Natural Area Preserves Advisory Committee.
Sec. 26-314. Natural Area Preserves Advisory Committee. There is established
a Natural Area Preserves Advisory Committee which shall consist of seven members.
Three members shall be employees of the Department of Environmental Protection and
shall serve at the pleasure of the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, one of
whom the commissioner shall designate as chairman of the committee, and four members shall be appointed by the Governor from persons with an interest in the preservation
of lands in natural condition for scientific and educational purposes. Members appointed
by the Governor shall serve for four years. The Governor shall fill any vacancy among
his appointees for the remainder of the unexpired term. The committee shall meet semiannually and may meet more often upon the call of the chairman. The members of the
committee shall receive no compensation for their services as such but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses in connection with the performance of their duties. Members shall be persons with experience or professional training in ecological, biological
or natural sciences, or environmental education; or representatives of institutions with
experience in natural area research, education or preservation. The committee shall meet
semiannually and may meet more often upon the call of the chairman or the call of any
four members, upon delivery of forty-eight hours written notice to each member. The
commissioner shall provide technical staff and clerical support services to carry out the
business of the committee. The Natural Area Preserves Advisory Committee shall advise
the Commissioner of Environmental Protection relative to the administration of sections
23-5a to 23-5i, inclusive, and shall cooperate with the commissioner (1) in the establishment of standards for the acquisition, designation, maintenance and operation of natural
area preserves within the system; (2) in making periodic state-wide surveys to determine
the availability of that land which should be designated as a natural area preserve; (3)
in recommending the acquisition of specific lands or interests in lands which are suitable
for natural area preserves; (4) in preparing and disseminating literature and other materials to inform the public with respect to the natural area preserve program; (5) in consulting and cooperating with conservation and naturalist groups and organizations in
the acquisition and maintenance of natural area preserves; (6) in recommending the
acquisition of specific lands or interests in lands which are suitable for natural area
preserves with funds available under the recreation and natural heritage trust program
or other programs under which funds are available to the commissioner; (7) in the preparation of management plans for specific natural area preserves; and (8) in recommending
the alienation or revocation of a natural area preserve for just cause.
(P.A. 89-224, S. 19, 22; P.A. 91-65, S. 6.)
History: P.A. 91-65 added language detailing qualifications for members of the committee and expanded duties to
include designation of preserves under Subdiv. (1) and to include duties enumerated in new Subdivs. (6) to (8), inclusive.