The state of Connecticut, acting through the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, is authorized to grant a lease or other appropriate authorization to allow for the occupancy of submerged lands held in public trust by the state underlying or associated with lighthouses for the purpose of facilitating the preservation of such lighthouses pursuant to the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000, 16 USC 470w-7, provided any such lease shall be for a term: (1) Of thirty years with the option to renew whenever such lighthouse is sold pursuant to said act, or (2) that is coterminous with the applicable lease whenever such lighthouse is leased pursuant to said act. Any such lease shall contain appropriate conditions to ensure consistency with the goals and policies of section 22a-92 and with other interests of the state, including, but not limited to, reasonable public access whenever such lease is to a nonprofit organization, preservation of historic structures and education of the public regarding such structures. Nothing in this section and no provision in any lease authorized pursuant to this section shall be construed to relieve any lessee from the obligation to obtain any applicable federal, state or local permit for the construction of any new structure or appurtenance on such submerged lands.

(Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-4, S. 14; P.A. 11-80, S. 1; P.A. 15-35, S. 1.)

History: Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-4 effective September 25, 2009; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection”, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 15-35 replaced “over” with “to allow for the occupancy of” and reference to Penfield Reef Lighthouse with reference to lighthouses, deleted provisions re lease or other authorization constituting right of occupancy and lease for consideration for term of no more than 10 years, added Subdivs. (1) and (2) re terms of lease, added reference to nonprofit organization in provision requiring reasonable public access, added provision re lessee to obtain permits for construction of any new structure or appurtenance, and made technical changes, effective June 5, 2016.