Dear Finance Committee Members -
This has been
a difficult session for everyone who cares about protecting Connecticut's
natural resources.
Our most
recent emails to you and your staff have highlighted exemptions and rollbacks
that we hope you will oppose. However, we also want to point out two
initiatives that would benefit the environment with no fiscal impact
to the state or towns.
The two bills
listed below could generate new revenues for municipalities and for
Environmental Conservation programs of the DEP.
We urge members of the Finance Committee to support these two
initiatives:
- 6397 - to enable towns to establish a Municipal Green
Fund for environmental projects
-
6428 - to establish a Marine Waters Fishing License
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Please
note that 6397 must be acted on by the Finance Committee this week. This bill provides a local revenue stream
option for local conservation projects that have regional benefits, including
farmland and open space conservation, energy conservation (green buildings),
clean air and water projects, efficient transportation.
Supporting
groups include: Audubon CT,
CACIWC, CFE, CT Forest and Park, CT Fund for the Environment, CT Land
Conservation Coalition, CT League of Conservation Voters, Environment Connecticut, PACE, Rivers
Alliance, Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, Working Lands Alliance, 1000
Friends, numerous land trusts, and clean air, water, and energy conservation
groups.
Please
contact Lori Brown from CTLCV at 860-236-5442 or lori.brown@ctlcv.org for more information. We hope you can help make this a good session
for the environment!
The broader list of bills that are being tracked by
environmental leaders can be viewed on our watchlist at www.ctlcv.org/watchlist. Please check this list for updates and contact us if you have questions or
concerns.
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