Connecticut HB 5331: AN ACT CONCERNING THE AIR PERMITS OF CERTAIN CREMATORIES.

Bill Text

House Bill No. 5331 
 
Special Act No. 26-33 
 
 
AN    ACT    CONCERNING    THE    AIR    PERMITS    OF    CERTAIN 
CREMATORIES. 
Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General 
Assembly convened: 
 
Section 1. (Effective from passage) (a) The Commissioner of Energy and 
Environmental  Protection  shall  establish  a  working  group  to  evaluate 
mercury vapor emissions and fine particulate matter emissions factors 
associated  with  crematories  used  for  human  remains  and  to  develop 
recommendations for the use of such emissions factors in the review of 
permit applications, registrations and other approvals issued pursuant 
to section 22a-174 of the general statutes. 
(b)  The  Commissioner  of  Energy  and  Environmental  Protection,  or 
the commissioner's designee, shall convene the working group not later 
than  June  15,  2026,  which  may  include  the  following  members,  as 
appointed by the commissioner: (1) The Commissioner of Public Health, 
or the commissioner's designee; (2) a representative of the Connecticut 
Funeral Directors Association, as designated by such association; (3) a 
representative of crematory operators in the state, as designated by the 
commissioner  in  conjunction  with  the  Connecticut  Funeral  Directors 
Association;  (4)  a  representative  from  the  Cremation  Association  of 
North America, as designated by the commissioner in conjunction with 
the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association; (5) a representative from 

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a crematory equipment supplier or manufacturer, as designated by the 
commissioner  in  conjunction  with  the  Connecticut  Funeral  Directors 
Association;  (6)  a  representative  of  a  municipality  with  a  crematory 
located in the jurisdiction subject to permitting under section 22a-174 of 
the   general   statutes;   (7)   a   representative   of   an   environmental 
organization  with  expertise  in  air  quality;  (8)  an  individual  with 
expertise  in  mercury  emissions,  emissions  modeling  or  atmospheric 
science  from  an  institution  of  higher  education;  and  (9)  any  other 
person,   as   deemed   necessary   by   the   commissioner,   to   fulfill   the 
purposes of this section. 
(c) In undertaking its work for the purposes described in subsection 
(a) of this section, the working group shall: (1) Review the requirements 
of section 22a-174 of the general statutes and any regulations adopted 
pursuant to said section, including section 22a-174-3a of the Regulations 
of   Connecticut   State   Agencies,   as   such   requirements   apply   to 
crematories;  (2)  review  federal  regulations  and  guidance,  including 
from  the  United  States  Environmental  Protection  Agency  and  the 
Department  of  Energy  and  Environmental  Protection,  and  any  other 
state  or  local  jurisdiction  in  the  United  States  concerning  mercury 
emissions  from  crematories;  (3)  evaluate  available  data,  emissions 
factors  and  methodologies  used  to  estimate  mercury  vapor  emissions 
and  fine  particulate matter  emissions  from  the  cremation  of  human 
remains;  (4)  assess  variability  in  mercury  vapor  emissions,  including, 
but not limited to, variability attributable to dental amalgam, operating 
practices and emissions control technologies; (5) identify best available 
practices and technologies for minimizing mercury vapor emissions and 
fine  particulate  matter  emissions  from  crematories;  (6)  evaluate  the 
manner  in  which  emissions  factors  are  used  by  the  Department  of 
Energy and Environmental Protection in implementing section 22a-174 
of   the   general   statutes,   including,   but   not   limited   to,   in   permit 
application  review  and  establishment  of  new  setback  guidelines  for 
currently   permitted   crematories   and   whether   updated   factors   are 

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warranted;   and   (7)   develop   recommendations   for   mercury   vapor 
emissions  factors  and  fine  particulate  matter  emissions  factors  and 
related  guidance  to  be  used  by  the  department  in  carrying  out  its 
responsibilities under section 22a-174 of the general statutes. 
(d) Not later than January 15, 2027, the working group shall submit a 
report,  in  accordance  with  section  11-4a  of  the  general  statutes,  to  the 
joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 
matters  relating  to  the  environment.  Such  report  shall  include  the 
findings  and  recommendations  of  the  working  group,  including  any 
legislative recommendations. 
(e)  The  Department  of  Energy  and  Environmental  Protection  shall 
provide administrative staff support to the working group. 
(f) The working group shall terminate on the date that it submits the 
report required pursuant to subsection (d) of this section or January 15,