(a) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may issue an emergency authorization for any activity regulated by the commissioner under section 22a-32, subsection (h) of section 22a-39, 22a-54, 22a-66, 22a-174, 22a-208a, 22a-342, 22a-368, 22a-403, 22a-430, 22a-449 or 22a-454 provided he finds that (1) such authorization is necessary to prevent, abate or mitigate an imminent threat to human health or the environment; and (2) such authorization is not inconsistent with the federal Water Pollution Control Act, the federal Rivers and Harbors Act, the federal Clean Air Act or the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Such emergency authorization shall be limited by any conditions the commissioner deems necessary to adequately protect human health and the environment. Summary suspension of an emergency authorization may be ordered in accordance with subsection (c) of section 4-182. The commissioner may assess a fee for an emergency authorization issued pursuant to this subsection. Such fee shall be of an amount equal to the equivalent existing permit fee for the activity authorized. The commissioner may reduce or waive the fee required pursuant to this subsection if good cause is shown. The fee required pursuant to this subsection shall be paid no later than ten days after the issuance of the emergency authorization.

(b) The commissioner may issue a temporary authorization for any activity for which the commissioner has authority to issue a general permit under section 22a-45a, 22a-174, 22a-208a, 22a-349a, 22a-361, 22a-378a, 22a-411, 22a-430b or 22a-454 provided the commissioner finds that (1) such activity will not continue for more than ninety days, whether consecutive or not; (2) such activity does not pose a significant threat to human health or the environment; (3) such authorization is necessary to protect human health or the environment or is otherwise necessary to protect the public interest; and (4) such authorization is not inconsistent with the federal Water Pollution Control Act, the federal Rivers and Harbors Act, the federal Clean Air Act or the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. No temporary authorization shall be renewed or issued for an activity which has been authorized by a temporary authorization during the previous twelve calendar months. Any person seeking a temporary authorization shall submit to the commissioner sufficient information to allow the commissioner to make the determination set forth herein. A temporary authorization shall be limited by any conditions the commissioner deems necessary to adequately protect human health and the environment. Summary suspension of a temporary authorization may be ordered in accordance with subsection (c) of section 4-182. The commissioner may assess a fee for a temporary authorization issued pursuant to this subsection. Such fee shall be of an amount equal to the equivalent existing permit fee for the activity authorized. The commissioner may reduce the fee required pursuant to this subsection if good cause is shown. The fee required pursuant to this subsection shall be paid before the issuance of the temporary authorization. The commissioner may, if good cause is shown, allow late payment of the fee required by this subsection provided such fee shall be paid no later than ten days after the issuance of the temporary authorization.

(P.A. 93-428, S. 1, 39; P.A. 97-289, S. 3, 9; P.A. 98-209, S. 8; P.A. 01-204, S. 26; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S. 73, 131; P.A. 11-80, S. 1; P.A. 12-148, S. 12.)

History: P.A. 93-428 effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 97-289 amended Subsec. (a) to add reference to Sec. 22a-54 to include activities regulated under that section within the scope of potential emergency authorizations under this section, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 98-209 amended Subsec. (a) to allow emergency authorization of state agency activities in inland wetlands; P.A. 01-204 amended Subsec. (b) to delete reference to Sec. 22a-368, add reference to Secs. 22a-378a and 22a-411 and make a technical change for purposes of gender neutrality; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9 revised effective date of P.A. 01-204 but without affecting this section; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection” in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 12-148 amended Subsec. (b) to add references to Secs. 22a-45a and 22a-349a, to increase maximum length of a temporary authorization from 30 days to 90 days, whether consecutive or not, and to prohibit renewal of a temporary authorization for an activity authorized by a temporary authorization during the preceding 12 calendar months, effective June 15, 2012.