(a) In accordance
with sections
4-174 and
26-306
of the General Statutes and section
22a-3a-1 of the
Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, any person may petition the
Commissioner to add or remove a species from the list of endangered species,
threatened species, or species of special concern set forth in sections
26-306-4,
26-306-5
and
26-306-6
of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, or to add or remove an area
identified by the Commissioner as an essential habitat for an endangered or
threatened species. The burden of proof for listing or delisting species or
essential habitats shall be on the person requesting such listing or
delisting.
(b) In addition to the
information required by section
4-174 of
the General Statutes and section
22a-3a-1 of the
Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, a petition under this section shall
set forth facts demonstrating why the species or habitat at issue should be
added or removed. A petition shall be on a form provided by the Commissioner
and shall contain at least the following information:
(1) The petitioner's name, address, telephone
number, and signature; and the date of the petition;
(2) The objective of the petition;
(3) For a petition to list a species as
endangered, threatened, or of special concern:
(A) The common and scientific name of the
species at issue;
(B) The list for
which the species is proposed; and
(C) A detailed justification for listing the
species as proposed, including without limitation past and present population
and distribution in (i) Connecticut and (ii) throughout its range, and any
known or suspected threats to its numbers in Connecticut.
(4) For a petition to remove a species from
the list of endangered species, threatened species, or species of special
concern:
(A) The common and scientific name
of the species at issue;
(B) The
list from which the delisting of the species is proposed; and
(C) A detailed justification for delisting
the species, including without limitation any changes in population and
distribution in (i) Connecticut and (ii) throughout its range, and in any known
or suspected threats to its numbers in Connecticut.
(5) For a petition to add an area to those
identified by the Commissioner as essential habitat for an endangered or
threatened species:
(A) The common and
scientific name of the species for which the area is claimed to be essential
habitat; and
(B) A detailed
justification for adding the area, including without limitation a description
of the area's physical and biological features, location, and ownership; the
nature of the species' use or potential use of the area; any known or suspected
threats to the area or the species' continued or potential use of the area; and
the relative abundance of similar such areas (i) in Connecticut and (ii)
throughout the range of the species and the geographic relationship of the area
at issue to such other similar areas.
(6) For a petition to remove an area from
those identified by the Commissioner as essential habitat for an endangered or
threatened species:
(A) The common and
scientific name of the species for which the area is listed as essential
habitat; and
(B) A detailed
justification for removing the area, including without limitation a description
of the area's physical and biological features, location, and ownership; a
discussion of any changes in the nature of the species' use or potential use of
the area; any known or suspected threats to the area or the species' continued
or potential use of the area; and the relative abundance of similar such areas
(i) in Connecticut and (ii) throughout the range of the species and the
geographic relationship of the area at issue to such other similar
areas.
(7) Copies of or
citations to all scientific studies and other documentation which are relevant
to the petition and known to the petitioner.
(c) Although the Commissioner will act on a
petition containing the information set forth above, nothing in this section
shall preclude the Commissioner from requesting information in addition to that
initially provided by a petitioner.
