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

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22a-1c (2026)

Actions which may significantly affect the environment. Definition

✓ current as of May 2026
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As used in sections 22a-1 to 22a-1i, inclusive, “actions which may significantly affect the environment” means individual activities or a sequence of planned activities proposed to be undertaken by state departments, institutions or agencies, or funded in whole or in part by the state, which could have a major impact on the state's land, water, air, historic structures and landmarks as defined in section 10-410, existing housing, or other environmental resources, or could serve short term to the disadvantage of long term environmental goals. Such actions shall include but not be limited to new projects and programs of state agencies and new projects supported by state contracts and grants, but shall not include (1) emergency measures undertaken in response to an immediate threat to public health or safety; or (2) activities in which state agency participation is ministerial in nature, involving no exercise of discretion on the part of the state department, institution or agency.

(P.A. 73-562, S. 3, 8; P.A. 77-514, S. 3; P.A. 81-177, S. 1; P.A. 91-228, S. 1; P.A. 02-121, S. 2.)

History: P.A. 77-514 redefined actions which may significantly affect the environment as those defined “for the purposes of section 22a-1b as individual activities or a sequence of planned activities ...” rather than as “projects” and added provision specifically excluding certain actions from consideration as actions significantly affecting the environment; P.A. 81-177 included activities which have impact on historic structures and landmarks as actions which significantly affect the environment; P.A. 91-228 included activities which impact existing housing as actions which affect the environment; P.A. 02-121 applied definition of “actions which may significantly affect the environment” to Secs. 22a-1 to 22a-1i, inclusive, and made technical changes.

Cited. 184 C. 51; 204 C. 38; Id., 212; 227 C. 71.

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1981–2024 · leading case: Connecticut Energy Marketers Assn. v. Dept. of Energy & Env't Prot., 152 A.3d 509 (Conn. 2016).
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Connecticut Energy Marketers Assn. v. Dept. of Energy & Env't Prot., 152 A.3d 509 (Conn. 2016). · cites it 69× “’’ General Statutes § 22a-1c. The legislature could have merely stated that if the state is not paying for the project in whole or in part, any other actions of state departments are not actions which affect the environ- ment.”
Smith v. Zoning Bd. of Appeals of the Town of Greenwich, 629 A.2d 1089 (Conn. 1993). · cites it 2× “The EPA in General Statutes § 22a-1c includes a broad definition of actions that significantly affect the environment: “activities .”
Manchester Env't Coalition v. Stockton, 441 A.2d 68 (Conn. 1981). · cites it 2× “The determination of whether an action "may significantly affect the environment" is a legal issue, involving the interpretation of § 22a-1b and § 22a-1c, which can be decided by a court.”
Jefferson Solar, LLC v. FuelCell Energy, Inc., 315 A.3d 302 (Conn. App. Ct. 2024). “the subsequent approval of a plan to expand the use of natural gas in this state by the department and [PURA] constituted ‘’’actions which may significantly affect the environment’’’ within the meaning of General Statutes § 22a-1c, thereby triggering the requirement for written…”
Connecticut Energy Marketers Assn. v. Dept. of Energy & Env't Prot. (Conn. 2017). · cites it 35× “defendant Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (department), pursuant to a legislative directive, and the subsequent approval of a plan to expand the use of natural gas in this state by the department and the defendant Public Utilities Regulatory Authority…”
Bingham v. Dep't of Pub. Works, 16 A.3d 865 (Conn. Super. Ct. 2009). “as the subject property, and thus no such document, analysis or evaluation was required before the subject property could be sold and transferred as proposed; the transfer of the subject property to the Town pursuant to §§ 3-14b and 4b-21 (c) is ministerial in nature, involving…”
Berkshire-Litchfield Env't Council, Inc. v. Esty (Conn. App. Ct. 2016). “cation of habitat designated as essential to such species, unless such agency has been granted an exemption as provided in subsection (c) of this section’’; General Statutes § 26-310 (a); and that ‘‘[e]ach state agency responsible for the primary recommendation or initiation of…”
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