The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may issue permits for the introduction of chemicals into the waters of the state for the control of aquatic vegetation, fish populations or other aquatic organisms. Application for said permit shall be on forms provided by the commissioner and shall be accompanied by a fee established by the commissioner by regulations adopted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, provided the fee shall be not less than forty dollars. No permit shall be issued without prior approval, if the proposed application of chemicals involves areas tributary to reservoirs, lakes, ponds or streams used for public water supply, by the Commissioner of Public Health. Each permittee shall be responsible for any and all damages resulting from the applications of any pesticide to control aquatic vegetation, fish populations or other organisms. The commissioner, acting with the Department of Public Health, may establish regulations governing the use of pesticides in the waters of the state, including the marine district. The provisions of this section shall not apply to normal, emergency or experimental operations of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Department of Public Health or public water supply utilities, except that chemicals may not be applied to waters used for water supply furnished to the public or tributary to such water supply without prior approval of the Department of Public Health. Enforcement officers of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Department of Public Health may enforce the provisions of this section.

(February, 1965, P.A. 271, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 430; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 88-246, S. 3, 12; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-12, S. 35, 55; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 116; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 402; P.A. 11-80, S. 1.)

History: 1971 act replaced references to state board of pesticide control, state board of fisheries and game, shellfish commission and water resources commission with references to commissioner and department of environmental protection; P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; Sec. 19-300u transferred to Sec. 22a-66z in 1983; P.A. 88-246 deleted provision re penalty; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-12 established a fee for a certificate to apply pesticides; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 increased permit application fee from not less than $10 to not less than $20, effective August 20, 2003; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 increased minimum fee from $20 to $40; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” and “Department of Environmental Protection” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection” and “Department of Energy and Environmental Protection”, respectively, effective July 1, 2011.