Issue Position: Protect Clean Air, Water & Soil

Issue Position

Everyone who lives in Connecticut has a right to clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment. I pledge to ensure that the state relies on the best science possible to undertake the research and enforcement necessary to clean up our air, water and land.

Despite our state's record on environmental regulations, we must review our current regulations to ensure we are doing the best for our state. For example, I am deeply saddened that many of Connecticut's communities suffer from high rates of childhood asthma, and I will improve our regulations to reduce the indoor and outdoor pollutants that contribute to this disease.

As governor, I will:

Review our current regulations and compare them to other states, such as California, that have even stronger track records to learn and implement best practices.

Order DEEP to work with our attorney general to bring a suit regarding regulatory responsibilities against the federal government. As the Trump Administration's EPA in Washington backs down from its responsibilities, Connecticut will not.

Protect our farmers and landowners by reviewing commercially available herbicides and pesticides used in the state and determine which ones are significantly harmful, and enacting changes if necessary. For instance, I will look to ban neonicotinoids and save our bees, which are critical to pollination of our crops, orchards and native vegetation across the state.

Push forward with our state's efforts to combat non-point source pollution, which lead to elevated levels of phosphorus and nitrogen in our waterways. We will focus on improved stormwater systems in our towns and cities, and continue to clean up our rivers, especially the various toxic hotspots in the Housatonic, Naugatuck and Still rivers, to improve fish populations and biodiversity overall.

Source