The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has
proposed spill reporting regulations. According to DEP, the
Regulations Concerning the Reporting of Releases reflect an effort
to clarify for the regulated community when spills must be
reported. The draft regulations set forth release reporting
criteria, including threshold quantities and a detailed list of the
types of releases that must be reported.
Section 22a-450 of the Connecticut General Statutes requires the
reporting of any spill or discharge of oil or petroleum or chemical
liquids or solid, liquid or gaseous products, or hazardous wastes
that pose a potential threat to human health or the environment.
However, section 22a-450, first enacted in 1969, does not define
what constitutes a reportable release or adequately address the
procedure for reporting such a release. Prior efforts to address
these concerns through regulation have been unsuccessful.
