There is established a Natural Area Preserves Advisory Committee which shall consist of seven members. Three members shall be employees of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and shall serve at the pleasure of the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, one of whom the commissioner shall designate as chairman of the committee, and four members shall be appointed by the Governor from persons with an interest in the preservation of lands in natural condition for scientific and educational purposes. Members appointed by the Governor shall serve for four years. The Governor shall fill any vacancy among his appointees for the remainder of the unexpired term. The committee shall meet semiannually and may meet more often upon the call of the chairman. The members of the committee shall receive no compensation for their services as such but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses in connection with the performance of their duties. Members shall be persons with experience or professional training in ecological, biological or natural sciences, or environmental education; or representatives of institutions with experience in natural area research, education or preservation. The committee shall meet semiannually and may meet more often upon the call of the chairman or the call of any four members, upon delivery of forty-eight hours written notice to each member. The commissioner shall provide technical staff and clerical support services to carry out the business of the committee. The Natural Area Preserves Advisory Committee shall advise the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection relative to the administration of sections 23-5a to 23-5i, inclusive, and shall cooperate with the commissioner (1) in the establishment of standards for the acquisition, designation, maintenance and operation of natural area preserves within the system; (2) in making periodic state-wide surveys to determine the availability of that land which should be designated as a natural area preserve; (3) in recommending the acquisition of specific lands or interests in lands which are suitable for natural area preserves; (4) in preparing and disseminating literature and other materials to inform the public with respect to the natural area preserve program; (5) in consulting and cooperating with conservation and naturalist groups and organizations in the acquisition and maintenance of natural area preserves; (6) in recommending the acquisition of specific lands or interests in lands which are suitable for natural area preserves with funds available under the recreation and natural heritage trust program or other programs under which funds are available to the commissioner; (7) in the preparation of management plans for specific natural area preserves; and (8) in recommending the alienation or revocation of a natural area preserve for just cause.

(P.A. 89-224, S. 19, 22; P.A. 91-65, S. 6; P.A. 11-80, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 91-65 added language detailing qualifications for members of the committee and expanded duties to include designation of preserves under Subdiv. (1) and to include duties enumerated in new Subdivs. (6) to (8), inclusive; 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.