Section 25-102qq - Powers and duties of the commissioner. River management and protection program(a) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall be responsible for state-wide river policy and comprehensive protection of rivers. The commissioner shall: (1) Identify rivers or river segments to be protected, (2) designate protected river corridors, and (3) approve, reject or modify river corridor maps and management plans submitted pursuant to sections 25-205 and 25-235.(b) The commissioner may establish a river management and protection program designed to improve the management and protection of the state's rivers.(c) In developing the river protection program, the commissioner may: (1) Develop a proposal for a state-wide river management and protection program that includes, but is not limited to: (A) The coordination of existing protective state authorities as a means of improving river management and protection; (B) the development of any statutory modifications to provide effective regional and interstate cooperation for the development of river management plans; (C) the development of recommendations for river protection for use in regulations of local land use agencies; and (D) the development of any other needed protection or management of the state's rivers, as determined by the commissioner; (2) define the river resources to be inventoried and assessed;(3) conduct a state-wide inventory and assessment of the state's rivers;(4) develop a state-wide data base of river resource information to facilitate environmental planning, regulatory and management decisions;(5) develop a river classification system;(6) develop criteria for identifying rivers or river segments for designation as protected rivers and recommended priorities for the management of the rivers or river segments; and (7) develop a program to educate the public on river protection issues and ensure public involvement in the development and implementation of the river protection program.Conn. Gen. Stat. § 25-102qq
(P.A. 84-522, S. 2, 8; P.A. 91-394, S. 1; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; 95-333, S. 12; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146 (h), 210(e); P.A. 04-20, S. 3; 04-189, S. 1; 04-205, S. 5; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2, S. 30; P.A. 11-48, S. 170; 11-80, S. 1; P.A. 13-247, S. 312; 13-299, S. 30.)