Public Hearing in the Environment Committee on Wednesday, Feb 15
Thank you to everyone who joined us, in-person and on-line, for the Green Forum on Environmental Legislation. Also, thank you to the First Church of West Hartford for hosting us!
KEY ACTION ITEM: The Environment Committee is having a public hearing on Wednesday, Feb 15. The deadline to sign up to testify or submit testimony is Tuesday, Feb 14 at 3:00 pm. Please sign up here.
Important bills on this public hearing are:
SB 961 – The Carbon-Free and Healthy School Act – This bill will require net-zero for new schools and major renovations.
SB 100 -PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” linger in the environment and build up in the body, contributing to cancers, reproductive disorders, thyroid disruption, and other health problems. SB 100 provides for funds to municipalities with resources for testing, remediation, and resident assistance. This is a positive step but we must do more to stop PFAS at the source by banning all unnecessary use of these chemicals in products. Maine has done this and other states are moving in this direction.
HB 6606 cuts down on the use of polystyrene (Styrofoam) lunch trays and single-use containers. Polystyrene can attract and hold toxins such as PCBs, which are released when the foam is broken up or ingested by marine life. Alternatives like natural packaging or reusable containers are increasingly available and many schools and businesses have already stopped using polystyrene.
HB 6608 -Plastic straws can also hurt wildlife and break into tiny pieces that are hard to get rid of. HB 6608 would cut litter by reducing their use at sit-down restaurants, while protecting use for customers who need or want them.
SB 962 restricts use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides to situations where there’s no other choice. Outdoor use of rodenticides should be banned because it poses a grave threat to other animals—rats and mice consume this poison, then stumble around out in the open where they are eaten by raptors, snakes, and pets.
SB 963 bans non-agricultural use of neonicotinoids to help keep them from washing into our waterways.
HB 6610 – calls for “no net-loss for state forests.” Please also ask that HB 5592, which would identify and protect old-growth forests, be included in this bill.
How to Make Your Voice Heard
The Environment Committee is looking for public input on these bills and others by Tuesday afternoon. Here’s how to submit yours:
On Tuesday night, we heard about a LOT of legislation! You can find the pdfs f -or the presentations here.
Understanding the Legislative Process
PFAS and Toxic Chemicals
Climate and Energy
Composting: Cleaning Up Our Act
