Section 22a-1a-6 - Public scoping procedure(a)Required public scoping. A sponsoring agency shall conduct public scoping for those actions listed as requiring public scoping in the generic or applicable agency-specific environmental classification document.(b)Scoping determinations. An agency shall specifically assess an action or category of action, which is not listed or otherwise addressed in the generic environmental classification document or an agency-specific environmental classification document in accordance with section 22a-1a-4(b) or section 22a-1a-4(c) of the CEPA regulations, to determine whether it requires public scoping. An agency may complete the applicable portion of the environmental review checklist to assist in and document this assessment as necessary.(c) A sponsoring agency may, at its discretion, conduct public scoping or hold a public scoping meeting for any action. Any discretionary public scoping or public scoping meeting shall follow the procedures in this section.(d) Public scoping conducted in accordance with this section will satisfy the requirement of section 22a-1b of the Act to conduct early public scoping.(e)Public scoping notice. The sponsoring agency shall initiate public scoping by publishing notice of such process in the Environmental Monitor. The public scoping notice shall be on a form required for publication in the Environmental Monitor and shall contain the following information: (1) Name and brief description of the action;(2) A description of the purpose and need of the action, and any relevant site selection criteria;(3) Any considered locations for the action;(4) Figures, maps, or plans, if available;(5) Date, time and location of any public scoping meeting planned by the sponsoring agency, or the procedure to request a public scoping meeting if one is not planned;(6) Duration of the public comment period, which shall end no less than thirty (30) days after the publication of the notice or, if a public scoping meeting is planned, not less than five (5) days after the public scoping meeting, whichever is later;(7) The procedure for submitting comments; and(8) Any other information deemed necessary by the sponsoring agency.(f)Public scoping meeting. A public scoping meeting shall be held if requested in accordance with section 22a-1b of the Act. If, prior to publishing a public scoping notice, the sponsoring agency has decided to hold a public scoping meeting, information regarding the date, time, and location of the public scoping meeting shall be included in the public scoping notice; otherwise, notice of the public scoping meeting that includes the same information required pursuant to subsection (e) of this section shall be submitted for publication in the Environmental Monitor on a form required for publication in the Environmental Monitor.(g)Public comments. During the public scoping comment period, which includes the public scoping meeting, any person may submit written comments to the sponsoring agency or state oral comments at the public scoping meeting on the extent and nature of any environmental effects of the action. If the commenter is a state agency, such state agency shall also provide the information pursuant to section 22a-1b(b)(6) of the Act.(h)Consideration of public comments. The sponsoring agency shall consider any comments received pursuant to this section in determining whether the action requires an environmental impact evaluation or in preparing a post-scoping notice in accordance with the section 22a-1a-7 of the CEPA regulations.Conn. Agencies Regs. § 22a-1a-6
Effective November 6, 1978; Amended 9/9/2019