August 12, 2011 

REP. RYAN BILL ON QUARRY REGULATIONS BECOMES LAW
Governor Malloy signs bill inspired by Bozrah issue

Deputy Speaker of the House Kevin Ryan praised the enactment of a new law he initiated (HB 5526) which establishes a permitting program for any commercial project that involves quarrying. Governor Dannel Malloy signed the bill into law during a ceremony Friday afternoon. Under the law, the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection would have final say on any application based on any potential adverse affects on the quantity or quality of any surface water or groundwater.

“Since there were no municipal regulations regarding a quarry in Bozrah, this state regulation will now allow the permitting process to move forward uniformly,” said Rep Ryan. “Allowing the Department of Environmental Protection to decide the merits of an application is best.”

The law is a result of an application filed in Bozrah which targeted 100 acres in the village center for a potential quarry with a goal of 6.6 million cubic yards removed over 20-30 years. Concerns were raised over the proposed mines proximity to Town Hall, town firehouse, Fields Memorial Elementary school and several homes. Specifically, the act of rock crushing would create high levels of noise and dust and potentially negatively affect businesses, the environment and neighbors. Other concerns included impacts on property values, safety and long term effects on the property mined.

370 Bozrah residents signed a petition against the idea of a quarry in their village center for ecological, historic, recreational and scenic reasons.

The law took effect July 1, 2011.

Rep. Ryan is a Deputy Speaker in his 10th term and serves the 139th House District.