David Michel

These were my comments on the House floor in support of moving from the antiquated and broken system of the Transfer Act to a Release Base System.

It will focus on spills rather than already contaminated soil, and therefore the DEEP should really bolster their Environmental Standards as they work on the regulatory framework.

In the meantime, the Transfer Act will not be sunsetted.

Additionally, the DEEP should also review their RSRs and broaden them. There is no way the public should expect standards to protect our public health and environment to remain the same or even be weakened, it would be a grave mistake.

Another concern I raised was this idea to push for more use of LEPs (Legal Environmental Prof), while we use less environmental protection agents from our DEEP. That would also be a grave mistake. There are questions being raised across the state and in my district as to the potential conflicts of interests.

If we genuinely intend to protect our environment and public health, then our state government needs to ensure the DEEP gets better funding and can have agents on the grounds and not private companies paid by the entities being scrutinized to work with them.

We need Environmental and Public Health enforcement and protection.

My good colleague Rep Reyes, proponent of the Environmental Justice bill, talks on the house floor about the bill.

Thank you Representative Reyes!

It is clear that between flying broken down polystyrene, smells of coal tars, compromised catch basins, potential over shadowing buildings preventing solar generation expansion on overshadowed private houses, rock crushing dust in the air - that the South End and Shippan parts of my district are getting lower air and water quality than we should.

At one of the South End NRZ meetings, it was mentioned families were leaving the district due to their kids getting COPD and Asthma.

Bacteria in our shoreline is no better and will get swimmers sick.

What is our city and state doing to protect the most affected communities? We need to go back and work some more on this bill and give it the teeth it needs to make sure we protect public health and the environment from polluting entities and hold the perpetrators accountable.

As always, don't hesitate to contact me at the Capitol at 860-240-8585 or email me at David.Michel@cga.ct.gov. Don't forget to like my Official Facebook Page for news and legislative updates!