PA 08-124—sSB 127

Environment Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING THE LEGISLATIVE COMMISSIONERS' RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TECHNICAL REVISIONS TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL STATUTES AND THE OPEN SPACE AND WATERSHED GRANT PROGRAM

SUMMARY: The act allows applicants for the open space and watershed grant program to use other state funds as matching grants. It specifies that they may use other state and federal funds to fund up to 70% of their projects. Prior law required these recipients to match the grant with their own funds.

The act also makes technical changes to the environment statutes.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage

BACKGROUND

Open Space and Watershed Grant Program

This program provides grants to (1) municipalities and nonprofit land organizations to acquire land or permanent interests (e. g. , easements) in it, (2) water companies (including municipal utilities) to acquire land that protects drinking water supplies, and (3) distressed municipalities and targeted investment communities to restore or protect open space land they already own.

If the state acquires a partial interest in a property, an easement must provide (1) permanent preservation, (2) public access, and (3) any Department of Public Health restrictions necessary to protect a public drinking water source.

OLR Tracking: JTP: JF: JL: ts