Issues & Action > Public Policy Priorities >

Wildlife Diversity Program

Non-game wildlife conservation

State Agencies

• Work with Science Committee and DEP to initiate legislation creating a state Important Bird Area Preserve program that will function in partnership with Audubon’s IBA program
• Work with DEP/DMV to ensure adequate marketing of the Wildlife Conservation License Plate

Federal

• Support funding for State Wildlife Grants under the Conservation Trust Fund

Invasive Plant Species

State Agencies

• Ensure action is taken by the Connecticut Invasive Plants Council to address remaining invasive species sold or cultivated in the state, and to promote public education and research

State Legislature

• Work to enact phased in bans or other management strategies on remaining invasive plants; ban those cultivars now shown to be invasive

Pesticides and Fertilizers

State Legislature

• Promote legislation prohibiting cosmetic use of lawn care pesticides at middle and high schools as a next step toward reducing pesticide exposure for birds and other wildlife

Light Pollution

State Legislature

• Support legislation reducing light pollution in order to prevent bird collisions

State Agencies

• Ensure lighting plans for new Q-bridge meets state standards for preventing light pollution (see Policy Act below)

Grassland Protection

State Agencies

• Establish a Grasslands Council under the auspices of the Environment Committee to identify priorities and incentives, and to recommend legislation to protect Connecticut’s endangered grasslands
• Work to ensure that Rentschler Field development includes adequate mitigation for grassland birds

Long Island Sound

Audubon Connecticut, in collaboration with Audubon New York and the D.C. Policy Office, is focusing on Long Island Sound with a major campaign. The main goal of this year’s effort is federal legislation: the LIS Stewardship System and LIS Restoration Act.

State Legislature

• Monitor Long Island Sound issues as they relate to habitat and IBAs

State/Federal Agencies

• Seek funding for comprehensive mapping of underwater resources
• Support positions and legislation recommended by Long Island Sound Study Citizen Advisory Council and Stewardship Working Group
• Support implementation of Phase II/III provisions of the Clean Water Act

Federal

• Support passage of the Long Island Sound Stewardship Act
• Work for reauthorization and full funding (appropriation of $40 million) for Long Island Sound Restoration Act
• Monitor Broadwater LNG Re-Gassification proposal
• Support National Marine Research Reserve designation where appropriate
• Support Clean Water Act against efforts to weaken its provisions

Open Space Protection

State Legislature

• Ensure State bonding continues to fund Connecticut’s existing Land Acquisition Programs: the Recreation and Natural Heritage Trust Fund; the Municipal Open Space and Watershed Matching Grants Program; and the Farmland Purchase of Development Rights Program
• Support implementation of alternative mechanisms to fund land acquisition programs such as PA 228, CT Community Investment Act: Home, Heritage and Land
• Increase funding to protect privately-owned public water supply watershed lands through development of the Clean Water Investment Fund or other strategies

Federal

• Support funding for open space land acquisition and habitat management through the Conservation Trust Fund including State Wildlife Grants, Land and Water Conservation or other federal funding to protect
  • :Long Beach, Stratford as an addition to Stratford Great Meadows Unit, McKinney National Wildlife Refuge
  • Pleasure Beach, Bridgeport, as a potential addition to Stratford Great Meadows Unit, McKinney National Wildlife Refuge
  • Horse Island, Branford as an addition to the McKinney Refuge
  • Menunketesuck Island, Westbrook as an addition to the McKinney Refuge
  • Conte Refuge, special focus areas along the Connecticut River
  • Monitor Highlands Stewardship Act

Connecticut's Environmental Laws

Connecticut Environmental Policy Act - environmental review of state-funded projects

State Agencies

• With CFE and UCONN Environmental Law Clinic, research status of 1994-2005 mitigation plans approved under Policy Act: what EIEs or FONSIs required mitigation plans; what was proposed; were the plans implemented; and was/is the mitigation effective, e.g. DOT plans for lighting Q-Bridge and for removal of invasive plants· Work with OPM and other agencies to create and implement new regulations and Environmental Classification Documents
• Work with OPM, DEP, CEQ and other agencies to improve oversight process for mitigation plans approved under Policy Act including enforcement and documentation, e.g. include check-off box on OPM Record of Decision

Connecticut Environmental Protection Act – citizens can intervene to save environment

State Legislature

• Seek to restore the public’s ability to utilize the Protection Act in cases where existing, but outdated regulations are in place
• Discourage legislators and others from circumventing this law

Ensure adequate funding for DEP and CEQ

State Legislature

• Support DEP, CEQ and Ag Station Budget in the face of serious budget deficits · Work with other organizations to investigate avenues to increase DEP budget

Legislative Contact: Sandy Breslin, Director of Governmental Affairs, at sbreslin@audubon.org

Audubon Connecticut, a part of the National Audubon Society with more than 10,000 members in the state, works to protect birds, other wildlife and their habitats through education, research and conservation, and legislative advocacy