CT's Stream Flow Regulations needs your support today!

COMMENTARY 

This is solely the opinion of the author of this article and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of any other Middletown Eye authors.


Monday's Middletown Press business section printed commentary by the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce opposing the DEP's Proposed Stream Flow Standard Regulations.  


This post argues in favor of the passage of DEP's  Proposed Stream Flow Standard Regulations and provides the citizens of Middletown web links for information on the history and the process used in creating the regulations that began in earnest in 2005. Environmentalists have affirmed that passage of this regulation will help to protect the states long term needs for drinking water and will aid in preserving the environment through which OUR waters flow. 


The Regulation Review Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly meets monthly. Oct 26th is the next meeting, and a vote is anticipated. Please read on for further information regarding these regulations.

The DEP's current proposal has been a work in progress beginning as far back as 2005 when Public Act 05-142 was passed requiring the CT Department of

DEP Web Site Image and text


"...conserving, protecting and improving
the natural resources
 and environment of the state..." 

Environmental Protection to write new regulations to protect stream flows in the state's rivers and streams. The law required the DEP to balance various societal interests with environmental health, based on the premise that the need for drinking water trumps all other considerations. The regulation was intended to be ready by January of 2007, but all involved recognized that the statutory schedule was going to be almost impossible to meet, so the DEP initiated a stakeholder process and formed an advisory committee of 3 work groups--Science & Technical, Policy & Implementation, and a Commissioner's Advisory Group--which have been meeting since that time to develop the proposed regulations.




The River Alliance of Connecticut, an organization that serves as the state wide united voice for river conservation, has asserted that "the first draft of the regulation 4 years ago struck a good balance between business interests and environmental interests. There were some technical problems, but the balance was a fair one. Since that time negotiation through to the final regulation released this summer shifted that good balance against environmental protection and toward short-term money interests. After a public hearing and comment period in Jan/Feb 2010 the regulation was significantly weakened post-public hearing, even though regulation supporters at the hearing handily out-numbered opponents." 


The Middlesex Chamber and Middletown's Water and Sewer Department participated in the hearing and admit that some concerns that they and other business interests brought forward where addressed and incorporated into the current proposed regulations, making them weaker, much to the disappointment of environmentalists and other concerned citizens state wide. For the Chamber to claim that they "support the intent of stream flow regulations — to protect the state’s aquatic life while providing for the public health, safety, agricultural and economic development needs of the state." but submit that, "In this instance, though, there is no balance between the two viewpoints and that is what needs to change," does not accurately reflect the series of compromises and concessions that have in fact been made by environmentalists and those at the table of the DEP's advisory committee. The River Alliance supports the regulations that have been presented to the review committee even though they are concerned "that the environmental community is not completely satisfied with the resulting proposed regulations which leave too many “outs” for major water users and will not fully protect for the natural life in our rivers.

The assertion made by the chamber, that business will be burdened, and "that these proposals could undermine the state’s eventual economic recovery, a recovery that we all are eagerly looking toward" is hard to swallow, when there is a ten year period built into the regulations before the compliance is required of small businesses. I'm also left to wonder if the Chamber is projecting that our states economic recovery that far off? The River Alliance believes you will hear concerns regarding the cost of water for businesses and the home owner. The Alliance reply is that "water rates might go up. They go on to state that "it is true that water rates will and should go up, but investment in preserving streamflow would be a very small part of this increase. Water rates are going to go up because so many utilities have postponed needed investment in their infrastructure. (IE the expense just assumed by the city of Middletown to upgrade the infrastructure of our water management operations.) Another reason water rates are going to go up is that revenues to water utilities are diminishing. Many of the water companies (hopefully not ours in Middletown) are determined to hold on to every last drop of "their" (actually "our") water, are not short of water; they are short of water-splurging customers."

I urge citizens of Middletown to become knowledgeable about the proposed regulations and to advocate for the passage of this regulation. In order to pass it must be approved by the Regulation Review Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly, Paul Doyle who represents Middletown is a member of that Committee. Please contact him today to urge the passage of these regulations, and then contact your Representative as well asking them to urge the committee to adopt these regulations. Following a favorable vote by the "review committee" the regulation as written will become law. Again the Committee may vote on the regulations at their next meeting on Oct 26th.
                                                                          

Despite the Chambers claims and fear of hurting business interests, the only thing to really fear is a degradation of our environment and water supply, and long term threats to a clean water supply for future generations if the regulations are not adopted.
 

For more detailed information on the process and history of creating the current regulation please visit the DEP website which links to every document related to the process of creating the DEP's proposed stream flow standards and regulations. You can also find a copy of the current proposed regulations, and DEP comments on why they did not act on some of the recommendations received by big business concerns. You can also visit the River Alliance of Connecticut's web site link to stream flow regulations (mostly a repeat of what you find on the DEP site without the completed instructions.)