(a) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, governing the conduct of forest practices including, but not limited to, the harvest of commercial forest products and other such matters as the commissioner deems necessary to carry out the provisions of sections 23-65f to 23-65o, inclusive. Notice of intent to adopt such regulations shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the chief elected official of each municipality concurrent with publication in the Connecticut Law Journal. Such regulations shall provide for a comprehensive state-wide system of laws and forest practices regulations which will achieve the following purposes and policies: (1) Afford protection to and improvement of air and water quality; (2) afford protection to forests from fire, insects, disease and other damaging agents; (3) afford protection to and promote the recovery of threatened and endangered species regulated pursuant to chapter 495; (4) encourage the harvesting of forest products in ways which result in no net loss of site productivity and which respect aesthetic values; (5) assure that forest practices are conducted in a safe manner; (6) provide a continuing supply of forest products from a healthy, vigorous forest resource; (7) promote the sound, professionally guided, long-term management of forested lands and forest resources, considering both the goals of ownership held by the forest owner and the public interest; (8) encourage the retention of healthy forest vegetation whenever possible as forested lands are converted to nonforest uses or developed for recreational, residential or industrial purposes; (9) provide the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection with essential data on pressures and influences on forest resources, state-wide and on the rate of loss of forested lands. Prior to adopting such regulations, the commissioner shall prepare a report assessing the costs to the regulated entities, the benefits to the state and the environmental impacts of adopting such regulations. Such regulations may include, but not be limited to: (A) Minimum standards for forest practices; (B) establishment of a process by which harvests of commercial forest products from lands other than state-owned lands managed by the department shall be authorized; and (C) necessary administrative provisions.

(b) The commissioner may by regulation prescribe fees for the authorization of harvests of commercial forest products from lands other than state-owned lands managed by the department. The fees collected in accordance with this section shall be deposited directly in the General Fund.

(P.A. 86-257, S. 5, 6; P.A. 91-335, S. 5; P.A. 99-225, S. 25, 33; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 438; P.A. 11-80, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 86-257, S. 5 effective July 1, 1987; P.A. 91-335 entirely replaced section with provisions concerning forest practices and related regulations; P.A. 99-225 amended Subsec. (a) to provide for a report re costs and benefits of adopting regulations under this section, effective June 29, 1999; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsec. (b) to substitute General Fund for Environmental Conservation Fund; 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.