Connecticut Environmental Protection Act (CEPA)

The core purpose of CEPA is to provide a public process for state agencies to identify and assess the extent to which their proposed actions may potentially affect the environment, and to evaluate alternatives to avoid or minimize such impacts. A key component of the assessment process is the public’s opportunity to review the proposed state action and provide feedback. This state law also allows anyone to sue to prevent, “the unreasonable destruction of historic structures and landmarks of the state,” defined as buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. The SHPO often relies on local preservationists to let it know when National Register buildings are threatened. In addition, the State Attorney General’s Office also looks for local support in deciding whether to take a CEPA case.