(a) Notwithstanding sections 22a-1 to 22a-1i, inclusive, upon approval by the Governor of a project, in accordance with section 32-9v, such project shall comply with the procedure set forth in this section.

(b) The Department of Economic and Community Development shall prepare a written evaluation of the impact of the overall project on the environment. Such evaluation shall include a list of all permits, licenses or other approvals required by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and a detailed evaluation of environmental impacts that addresses all of the matters in subsection (c) of section 22a-1b. The commissioner shall consider all public comments in preparing such environmental impact evaluation. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall submit such evaluation and a summary thereof, including any negative findings to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and shall make the evaluation and summary available to the public for inspection and comment at the same time. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall hold a public hearing on the evaluation and shall publish notice of the availability of such evaluation and summary in the Environmental Monitor and a newspaper of general circulation in the affected municipalities not less than fourteen calendar days before the date of such hearing. Any person may comment at the public hearing or in writing not later than the second day following the close of the public hearing. All public comments received by the Department of Economic and Community Development shall be promptly forwarded to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and shall be made available for public inspection.

(c) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall review the evaluation, together with the comments thereon, and shall make a written determination as to whether (1) the process prescribed in this section has been followed, (2) such evaluation is adequate, and (3) all comments received have been addressed. Such determination shall be made public and forwarded to the Department of Economic and Community Development not later than ten days after the close of the hearing. The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management may revise or require the revision of the evaluation if the secretary finds that the evaluation is inadequate. In making a determination, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall take into account all public and agency comments.

(P.A. 12-183, S. 8; P.A. 13-123, S. 8.)

History: P.A. 12-183 effective June 15, 2012; P.A. 13-123 made a technical change in Subsec. (b), effective June 18, 2013.