Conn. Gen. Stat. » Title 22a — ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION · Chapter 439 — Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. State Policy
Connecticut General Statutes

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22a-15 (2026)

Declaration of policy

✓ current as of May 2026
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It is hereby found and declared that there is a public trust in the air, water and other natural resources of the state of Connecticut and that each person is entitled to the protection, preservation and enhancement of the same. It is further found and declared that it is in the public interest to provide all persons with an adequate remedy to protect the air, water and other natural resources from unreasonable pollution, impairment or destruction.

(1971, P.A. 96, S. 2.)

Cited. 170 C. 47; 175 C. 483; 184 C. 51; 192 C. 591; 197 C. 134; 204 C. 38; Id., 212; 212 C. 710; Id., 727; 215 C. 474; 218 C. 580; 220 C. 54; 222 C. 98; 226 C. 205; Id., 579; 233 C. 486; 234 C. 488; 235 C. 448; 237 C. 135; 239 C. 786.

Cited. 30 CA 204; 41 CA 89; Id., 120.

Cited. 35 CS 145. There is a “public trust” in the natural resources of our state and each person is entitled to their “protection, preservation, and enhancement”. 48 CS 594.

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 29 cases, 1974–2015 · leading case: Nizzardo v. State Traffic Comm'n, 788 A.2d 1158 (Conn. 2002).
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Nizzardo v. State Traffic Comm'n, 788 A.2d 1158 (Conn. 2002). · cites it 9× “See General Statutes § 22a-14. 2 General Statutes § 22a-15 of the act provides: “It is hereby found and declared that there is a public trust in the air, water and other natural resources of the state of Connecticut and that each person is entitled to the protection,…”
Avalonbay Communities, Inc. v. Zoning Comm'n, 867 A.2d 37 (Conn. App. Ct. 2005). · cites it 12× “It provides that "[i]n any administrative, licensing or other proceeding, and in any judicial review thereof made available by law, the Attorney General, any political subdivision of the state, any instrumentality or agency of the state or of a political subdivision thereof, any…”
Avalonbay Communities, Inc. v. Zoning Comm'n, 908 A.2d 1033 (Conn. 2006). · cites it 8× “) General Statutes § 22a-15. This court previously has concluded that the act "expands the class of plaintiffs who are empowered to institute proceedings to vindicate the public interest.”
Fort Trumbull Conservancy, LLC v. Alves, 815 A.2d 1188 (Conn. 2003). · cites it 3× “[and] it is in the public interest to provide all persons with an adequate remedy to protect the air, water and other natural resources from unreasonable pollution, impairment or destruction.”
Zoning Comm'n v. Fairfield Resources Mgmt., Inc., 674 A.2d 1335 (Conn. App. Ct. 1996). · cites it 7× “The decisions of our Supreme Court clearly set out that the purpose of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA), General Statutes § 22a-14 et seq., is “ ‘to give private citizens a voice in ensuring that the air, water and other natural resources of the state remain protected,…”
City of Waterbury v. Town of Washington, 800 A.2d 1102 (Conn. 2002). · cites it 2× “It is reasonable, therefore, to conclude that the meaning of the concept of impairment of a watercourse should be judged in relation to its natural flow rate.”
Keeney v. Fairfield Resources, Inc., 674 A.2d 1349 (Conn. App. Ct. 1996). · cites it 5× “96, § 2, now codified at General Statutes § 22a-15, entitled “Declaration of Policy” provides: “It is hereby found and declared that there is a public trust in the air, water and other natural resources of the state of Connecticut and that each person is entitled to the…”
Red Hill Coalition, Inc. v. Conservation Comm'n, 563 A.2d 1339 (Conn. 1989). · cites it 2× “” General Statutes § 22a-19 (a) is part of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA).”
Connecticut Water Co. v. Beausoleil, 526 A.2d 1329 (Conn. 1987). · cites it 2× “Its purpose is to give private citizens a voice in ensuring that the air, water and other natural resources of the state remain protected, preserved and enhanced, and to provide them with “an adequate remedy to protect the air, water and other natural resources from unreasonable…”
Bingham v. Dep't of Pub. Works, 945 A.2d 927 (Conn. 2008). · cites it 3× “5 At oral argument in this court, the plaintiffs asserted that the language of General Statutes §§ 22a-15 and 22a-20 supports their claim that the protection act provides statutory aggrievement for their claim.”
Collins v. Olin Corp., 418 F. Supp. 2d 34 (D. Conn. 2006). · cites it 4× “2 That complaint sets forth claims *39 against the Town of Hamden for negligence (count 2); gross negligence/reckless conduct (count 4); violation of the Connecticut Environmental Protection Act of 1971 (“CEPA Act”), Conn. Gen.Stat. § 22a-15 et seq. (count 6); negligence per se…”
Burton v. Com'r of Env. Prot., 970 A.2d 640 (Conn. 2009). · cites it 2× “12 For example, General Statutes § 22a-15 sets forth state policy regarding the preservation of the public trust in the air, water and other natural resources of the state, General Statutes § 22a-16a provides certain remedies in an action brought pursuant to § 22a-16 or other…”
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