Sec.22a-1a-9. Notice, distribution, and review of environmental impact evaluations; public hearing

(a) The sponsoring agency shall publish notice of the availability of environmental impact evaluations in accordance with Section 22a-1d of the Act and may utilize any such other media such agency deems necessary to ensure adequate public notice. The notice of availability shall be on a form required for publication in the Environmental Monitor and shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:

(1) The name, address or location, and brief description of the action;

(2) The name of the municipality or municipalities where the action is located;

(3) The date, time and location of a public hearing planned by the sponsoring agency, if any, or the procedure to request a public hearing if one is not planned;

(4) The closing date of the public comment period, which shall end no less than forty-five (45) days after the publication of the notice in the Environmental Monitor or, if a public hearing is planned, no less than five (5) days after the public hearing, whichever is later;

(5) The procedure for submitting comments; and

(6) The sponsoring agency’s relevant contact information.

(b) Prior to or on the date of publication of the notice of availability in the Environmental Monitor, the sponsoring agency shall distribute copies of the environmental impact evaluation:

(1) in accordance with Section 22a-1d of the Act, and

(2) to other persons such agency deems necessary to ensure effective public participation.

(c) A sponsoring agency may hold, at its discretion, a public hearing on an environmental impact evaluation no less than thirty (30) days after the publication of the notice of availability. If a public hearing on an environmental impact evaluation is requested pursuant to Section 22a-1d(a) of the Act, the agency shall hold such hearing no less than fifteen (15) days after the publication of a separate notice of public hearing and no less than thirty (30) days after the publication of the notice of availability. The separate notice of public hearing shall be published in the Environmental Monitor and shall include, at a minimum, the information listed in subsection (a) of this section and shall be on a form required for publication in the Environmental Monitor. The sponsoring agency may use other media it deems necessary, in addition to the Environmental Monitor, to ensure adequate public notice. If a public hearing is held, the public comment period shall remain open for at least five (5) days following the close of the public hearing or until the date specified in the notice of availability of the environmental impact evaluation published in the Environmental Monitor, whichever is later.

(d) A public hearing held on an action pursuant to other state or federal law shall fulfill the public hearing requirements of the Act provided it is held no less than thirty (30) days after the notice of availability of the environmental impact evaluation is published in the Environmental Monitor in accordance with Section 22a-1d of the Act and notice of the hearing is provided in accordance with this section.

(Effective November 6, 1978; Amended September 9, 2019)