Connecticut HB 5154: AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE RETENTION OF UNCLAIMED BOTTLE DEPOSITS BY DISTRIBUTORS AND REQUIRING AN INCREASE IN THE HANDLING FEE PAID TO REDEMPTION CENTERS.

Bill Text

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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 5154
February Session, 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING CERTAIN REVISIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT
OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION'S PERMITTING
AUTHORITY.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) Except as prohibited in 1
subdivision (1) of subsection (i) of section 22a-208a of the general 2
statutes, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection 3
may, notwithstanding any provision of title 22a of the general statutes, 4
issue a general permit for any activity that the commissioner may 5
authorize by issuance of an individual permit provided the 6
commissioner determines that such activity both separately and 7
cumulatively causes minimal environmental effects. Such 8
determination shall be specified in the public notice for any such general 9
permit noticed pursuant to this section. 10
Sec. 2. Subsection (j) of section 22a-208a of the general statutes is 11
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 12
2026): 13
(j) When a permittee makes a sufficient application for the renewal of 14
an individual permit to operate a solid waste facility, in accordance with 15
the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, the permit shall be 16
deemed renewed if, not less than ninety days after conducting a 17

Substitute Bill No. 5154

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technical review and determining the application is sufficient, the 18
commissioner does not sign a notice of tentative determination to 19
approve or deny the application. The application to renew a solid waste 20
facility individual permit to operate shall be made on a form prescribed 21
by the commissioner and accompanied by the applicable fee. Nothing 22
in this subsection shall be construed to limit the commissioner's 23
authority to review all aspects of the permittee's existing operations and 24
the application to renew, including, but not limited to, exercising any 25
authority described in section 22a-6m. 26
[(j)] (k) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection 27
may issue an approval for a demonstration project for any activity 28
regulated by the commissioner under this chapter provided the 29
commissioner determines that such demonstration project (1) is 30
necessary to research, develop or promote methods and technologies of 31
solid waste management which are consistent with the goals of the state-32
wide solid waste management plan; (2) does not pose a significant risk 33
to human health or the environment; and (3) is not inconsistent with the 34
federal Water Pollution Control Act, the federal Rivers and Harbors Act, 35
the federal Clean Air Act or the federal Resource Conservation and 36
Recovery Act. An application for such approval shall be on a form 37
prescribed by the commissioner, be accompanied by a fee of one 38
thousand dollars and shall provide such information as the 39
commissioner deems necessary. Any person applying for such approval 40
shall not commence the project prior to the commissioner's written 41
approval. The commissioner may impose conditions upon such 42
approval as deemed necessary to adequately protect human health and 43
the environment or to ensure project success and such approval shall be 44
valid for a period of not more than two years. The commissioner may 45
renew such approval provided the total period of approval does not 46
exceed five years. The commissioner may order summary suspension of 47
any such approval in accordance with subsection (c) of section 4-182. 48
Notwithstanding the renewal process, any person may seek, or the 49
commissioner may require, that the project obtain a general or 50
individual permit pursuant to this chapter. 51

Substitute Bill No. 5154

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This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 July 1, 2026 New section
Sec. 2 July 1, 2026 22a-208a(j)

ENV Joint Favorable Subst.