Sec. 25-199c. Designation of the Housatonic River within the national wild and scenic rivers system. Administering agency. Authorized agricultural activities.

(a) The portion of the Housatonic River that is the subject of a memorandum of agreement among the Housatonic River Commission, the National Park Service, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Northwest Hills Council of Governments and the Housatonic Valley Association, Inc. is designated as a wild and scenic river for purposes of preservation of said river under the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, Public Law 90-542, as amended.

(b) The Northwest Hills Council of Governments shall act as the administering agency for the Housatonic River on behalf of the Housatonic River Commission, in accordance with the terms of the memorandum of agreement described in subsection (a) of this section and as required by Section 2(a)(ii) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The Northwest Hills Council of Governments shall constitute a political subdivision of the state for purposes of executing its duties and responsibilities in accordance with this section.

(c) The Governor shall submit an application to the Secretary of the Interior for purposes of completion of the designation of the portion of the Housatonic River, described in subsection (a) of this section, under Section 2(a)(ii) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

(d) Such designation shall not affect any person's ability to conduct any authorized agricultural activity provided such activity does not require a permit to be issued by the Army Corps of Engineers.

(P.A. 16-38, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 16-38 effective May 25, 2016.