Developers and other business interests are gearing up for a legislative fight in an attempt to change one of Connecticut’s key environmental protection laws that they say is being abused and makes the state one of the most unfriendly places to do business.
The law, known as 22a-19, is part of the landmark Connecticut Environmental 
Protection Act and allows any individual to intervene in an administrative proceeding if they have concerns that a development will negatively impact the environment.
The intervention status allows development opponents to become a “full party” to any regulatory proceeding, like a wetlands commission hearing, and challenge permitting decisions to the courts, which can tie up proposed projects in the judicial system for years, creating tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees and delays that derail developments.