(a) All expenses of administering this chapter incurred by the Connecticut Siting Council and its staff and such studies as the council deems necessary to carry out its duties under this chapter, exclusive of expenses covered by fees established pursuant to section 22a-116, shall be financed as provided in this section.

(b) Before December thirty-first of each year, the council shall review the anticipated amount of such expenses for the next fiscal year, excluding expenses under subsection (c) of this section, at a public meeting at which interested persons shall be heard. After an opportunity for public comment at such public meeting, the council shall determine the anticipated amount of such expenses and submit its determination to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of appropriations and the budgets of state agencies for its review. The amount of such expenses shall not exceed sixty thousand dollars. The council shall apportion and assess the anticipated amount of expenses among generators of hazardous waste in such manner as the council shall deem appropriate. The council shall deposit all payments received under this subsection with the State Treasurer who shall credit such payments to the Siting Council Fund established under section 16-50v. Such payments shall be accounted for as expenses recovered from generators of hazardous waste.

(c) The fee for each application for a certificate issued under this chapter shall be used for the administrative expenses of the council and its staff incurred in processing such application. If a hearing is held for any such application, the council shall assess the applicant during the proceeding and thereafter for all expenses of the council in excess of the fee, including the expenses of any consultant employed by the council pursuant to the procedures established under provisions of section 22a-116. Expenses incurred in reviewing the development and management plan of a hazardous waste facility shall be billed quarterly to the applicant.

(d) The council shall obtain such full-time and part-time staff and consultants as may be appropriate to carry out its duties under the provisions of this chapter.

(P.A. 85-466, S. 1, 3; P.A. 89-146, S. 2, 3; P.A. 92-232, S. 1, 3; P.A. 96-50; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-6, S. 38, 85.)

History: P.A. 89-146 amended Subsec. (b) to require an opportunity for public comment at the meeting conducted on expenses of the siting council and to eliminate the assessment on hazardous waste facilities; P.A. 92-232 amended Subsec. (b) re schedule for paying assessments by generators of hazardous waste and re deposit in public utility control fund; P.A. 96-50 replaced reference to “the Consumer Counsel and Public Utility Control Fund established under section 16-48a” with “the Siting Council Fund established under section 16-50v” in Subsec. (b); June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-6 amended Subsec. (b) to transfer responsibility from the Commissioner of Revenue Services to the siting council for assessing hazardous waste generators for expenses of the council, effective July 1, 2001.