Sec. 25-205. Approval of river corridor protection plan. Designation of protected river corridor by General Assembly.

(a) A river corridor protection plan adopted by a river committee pursuant to section 25-204 shall be submitted to the legislative bodies of the towns participating in such committee for their approval. Following the approval of all of such legislative bodies, a river committee may apply to the commissioner for approval of a map adopted pursuant to subsection (d) of section 25-204 and a river corridor protection plan prepared pursuant to subsection (f) of said section. An application under this section shall include, in addition to such map and plan, the inventory and statement of objectives adopted pursuant to subsection (d) of section 25-204, the report prepared pursuant to subsection (e) of said section and the response to comments prepared pursuant to subsection (f) of said section. The river committee shall submit a copy of the application to the secretary.

(b) In deciding whether to approve such a map and plan, the commissioner shall consider: (1) Whether such inventory, statement of objectives, map, response to comments and plan were completed in accordance with the requirements of section 25-204, (2) whether the inventory accurately identifies all resources, especially those of exceptional value, in the local drainage basin, (3) whether the river corridor protection plan would, if implemented, protect and preserve such resources particularly those resources of exceptional value and those resources ranked high in the state rivers assessment data base, (4) whether such plan would, if implemented, reconcile existing incompatible uses with resource protection and preservation and allow for uses which are compatible therewith, (5) whether the river corridor identified in the map prepared pursuant to subsection (c) of section 25-204 comprises sufficient river area and shoreland to implement the river protection plan, (6) whether the river committee adequately responded to public comments on the river corridor protection plan, (7) the comments submitted to the secretary pursuant to subsection (d) of section 25-204 and (8) other information the commissioner deems relevant.

(c) If the secretary finds that any provision of a river corridor protection plan submitted to him in accordance with subsection (a) of this section conflicts with a program, policy or proposed activity of any state agency, he shall act in coordination with the commissioner, the affected state agency and any other interested persons to attempt to resolve the conflict. If the secretary recommends modifications to the map or the river corridor protection plan to resolve any such conflicts, the commissioner shall not approve the plan until it has been revised in accordance with the secretary's recommendations.

(d) The commissioner's approval of a map and river corridor protection plan shall be in writing and shall be filed with the chief elected official of each member municipality and the river committee. If the commissioner denies such approval, the river committee may submit a revised map or river corridor protection plan.

(e) Any revision to a river corridor protection plan approved or rejected by the commissioner pursuant to this section shall be prepared and submitted in accordance with the requirements of sections 25-200 to 25-210, inclusive, for the original submittal provided that approval of the General Assembly shall not be required for revision of a plan for a river corridor previously designated pursuant to this section. A revision of an approved river corridor protection plan shall not be effective until such revision has been approved by the commissioner in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(f) The commissioner may periodically review an approved map and approved river corridor protection plan and recommend revisions. The river committee shall review an approved map and plan at least once every five years after their approval, and shall revise such map or plan as appropriate and in accordance with the requirements of section 25-204.

(g) Upon approval of a map and river corridor protection plan pursuant to this section, the commissioner shall recommend to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the environment that the General Assembly enact a law designating the river corridor which is the subject of such map and plan and providing for the protection and preservation of such corridor in accordance with the provisions of sections 25-200 to 25-210, inclusive. At any time prior to designation of the river corridor by law, any municipality, by vote of its legislative body, may withdraw from the river committee and, after such designation, the provisions of sections 25-200 to 25-210, inclusive, shall not apply to such municipality. A vote for withdrawal shall not be taken until after a public hearing on a proposed withdrawal at which parties in interest and citizens shall have an opportunity to be heard. Notice of the time and place of such hearing shall be given in a newspaper or newspapers having a substantial circulation in such municipality at least fifteen days before such hearing. The map and river corridor protection plan shall be filed for public inspection in the office of the town or city clerk of the municipality holding said hearing at least ten days before such hearing.

(P.A. 94-150, S. 6.)