The Council on Environmental Quality was created in 1971 to do three jobs:
1. Assess the condition of Connecticut's environment and report its findings annually to the Governor, and recommend actions to improve state environmental programs.
2. Advise other state agencies on the environmental impacts of proposed construction projects.
3. Investigate citizens' complaints and allegations of violations of environmental laws.
In addition, under the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) and its attendant regulations, the Council on Environmental Quality reviews Environmental Impact Evaluations that state agencies develop for major projects. The Council also publishes the Environmental Monitor, the official publication for state project information under CEPA.
The duties of the Council on Environmental Quality are described more fully in Sections 22a-11 through 22a-13 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
The Council is a nine-member board that works independently of the Department of Environmental Protection (except for purely administrative functions). The Chairman and four other members are appointed by the Governor, two members by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and two by the Speaker of the House. Members donate their time and expertise. They work closely with staff to shape the Council's priorities and recommendations.
MEMBERS
Barbara C. Wagner (Chair)
Resident of Glastonbury and Minority Leader of Glastonbury Town Council. Attorney with law office in Glastonbury, specializing in commercial and residential real estate. Co-Founder and Board Member of Town Center Initiative, addressing walkability issues in Glastonbury’s center. Board of Trustees, Diamond Lake Land Trust. Former member, State Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Board.
M. Howard Beach
Resident of Simsbury. Conservation & Zoning Compliance Officer / Planning Analyst, Town of Simsbury. Member, Simsbury Conservation / Inland Wetlands Commission from 1980 to 2004, Chairman from 1994 to 2004. Former Member, Board of Directors, The Farmington River Watershed Association (2004 to 2008). Life Member and past Board Member, Simsbury Land Conservation Trust. Founding Member, Farmington Valley Biodiversity Project. Former Member, Town of Simsbury Open Space Committee (1999 to 2004). Member, CT Developers Council. Member, Government Affairs Committee, Simsbury Chamber of Commerce. In 2004, completed a Masters Degree in Environmental Law at Vermont Law School.
Janet P. Brooks
Resident of Middletown. Attorney with law office in East Berlin with a practice in environmental, administrative and land use law. Member of the Connecticut Bar Association Planning & Zoning Section and Environment Section. Co-author of Connecticut Environmental Protection Act, Volume 15 of the Connecticut Practice Series published by Thomson West. Formerly Assistant Attorney General in the Environment Department of the Connecticut Attorney General’s (AG's) Office for 18 years enforcing the state’s environmental laws running the gamut from noise, odor, water pollution, air pollution, pesticides to habitat protection and preservation of land. While at the AG’s Office, coordinated the wetlands appeal practice and developed the legal training for wetlands commissioners for DEP’s annual training. Recipient of 1984 German Marshall Fund grant to study the effect of citizen participation on hazardous waste clean-ups in four European countries. Based on those experiences, author of chapter published in America’s Future in Toxic Waste Management: Lessons from Europe. Staff Attorney for five years at the Connecticut Fund for the Environment, Inc., representing citizens groups in administrative and court proceedings. Began practice of law assisting the Middletown City Attorney in the city’s opposition to the utility company’s burning of PCB waste oil within the city boundaries.
Bruce R. Fernandez
Resident of Farmington. Technical and Marketing Executive and Entrepreneur. Former President and CEO of insurance software and energy efficiency companies, including AMS Rating Group, Savage Rating Services, and BTU's Inc. Served in United States Army Corps of Engineers as small unit commander; served in Viet Nam and ten years in Army Reserves.
John M. Mandyck.
Resident of West Hartford. Vice President of Sustainability & Environmental Strategies for Carrier Corporation. Responsible for assessing and managing the impact of environmental trends to guide Carrier product development, brand positioning and market opportunities on a global basis. Former Director of Government Relations for the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce. International Advisor to the China Green Building Council.
Earl W. Phillips, Jr.
Resident of Middle Haddam, village of East Hampton. Partner with the law firm of Robinson & Cole LLP and Chair of its Environment and Utility Practice. Member of American College of Environmental Lawyers. Chair of Environmental Practice Section of the United States Law Firm Group. Executive Committee, Environmental Section of the CT Bar Association. Member, past or present DEP Advisory Committees, including E-2000, Waste, and Water. Executive Steering Committee (15 years), CBIA Environmental Policies Council and Past Chairman of its Hazardous Waste Section. Former Chairman, Environmental Section, National Institute of Municipal Law Officers. Multiple publications, including Brownfields Law and Practice: The Cleanup and Redevelopment of Contaminated Land, Connecticut Chapter (Matthew Bender), Environmental Law Practice Guide, Connecticut Chapter (Matthew Bender). Past Adjunct Instructor of Environmental Law, Wesleyan University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Hartford Graduate Center).
Richard L. Sherman
Resident of Chaplin. Architectural designer and construction manager of earth sheltered, passive solar and energy efficient residences. Former CEQ Representative to the Route 6 Advisory Committee. Charter Member, Transit Alliance of Eastern CT, and Citizens for a Sensible Six. Former Organizer, the Progress and Equity Partnership. Member of CEPA Working Group, League of Conservation Voters of CT. Former President, Northeast Chapter of ACLU-CT Board of Directors. Chair, Mansfield Transportation Advisory Committee. Former President, Mansfield Commonground. Member, Mansfield Planning and Zoning Design Review Panel. Former Chair, Mansfield Democratic Town Committee. Host and producer of the radio show, "A Distant Shore" on WHUS (91.7 FM, Storrs). Former Public Affairs Director of WHUS. Stopover host, American Tour d'Sol solar electric car race.
Ryan Suerth
Resident of Madison. Attorney with the law firm of Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C., where he represents insurance policyholders in disputes with their insurers. Served four years in the U.S. Army, including a one-year deployment to Baghdad, Iraq. Served in Washington, D.C. as legislative aide to former Connecticut Congressman Rob Simmons advising Mr. Simmons on a variety of issues, including transportation. Member, Madison Land Conservation Trust.
Norman VanCor
Resident of Harwinton. Owner of Buy Safe Home Inspection, LLC, and Mizzentop Antiquities. Served in United States Marine Corp in Viet Nam. Awarded the Navy Cross, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and other decorations. One of first ten inductees to CT Veterans Hall of Fame. Former Director, Yankee Energy in sales, marketing, government relations, communications. Founding member and President Emeritus, Quinnipiac River Watershed Association. Former member Rivers Advisory Committee. Former Chairman, Southington Conservation Commission. Former host of radio program on environmental topics. Former President, Southington Water Works. Former member, Board of Directors of Operation Fuel. Active Pheresis donor at American Red Cross with over 34 gallons of whole blood and platelet donations. Former Volunteer Hunter Safety Instructor for the DEP Conservation Education Program. Certified Master Gardener.
