Endangered Species - Enforcement and Penalties - Connecticut

Any officer or agent authorized by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection or any state police officer or any police officer of any town shall have authority to execute any warrant to search for and seize any goods, merchandise or any threatened or endangered species possessed, sold or offered for sale in violation of section 26-311 or any property or item used in connection with a violation of said section. Such goods, merchandise, threatened or endangered species or property shall be held pending proceedings in any court of proper jurisdiction. Upon the conviction of any person charged with a violation of section 26-311, the goods, merchandise or threatened or endangered species seized in connection therewith under the provisions of this section shall be forfeited and retained by the commissioner or offered to a recognized institution for scientific or educational purposes, or destroyed. All costs incurred by the state shall be assessed against the violator.

Citation: C.G.S.A. § 26-40c.

Any person who commits, takes part in or assists in violating section 26-40c, 26-40d or section 26-311 or the regulations adopted pursuant to said sections shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than six months or both for each offense. Any employer requiring or encouraging its employees to violate said sections shall be fined not more than ten thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year or both. The taking of each endangered or threatened plant or wildlife species or specimen or part thereof shall be deemed to be a separate offense.

Citation: C.G.S.A. § 26-40f.

If the commissioner or his duly authorized agent finds that any person is conducting any activity or maintaining a facility or condition which is in violation of section 26-311, the commissioner shall issue a written order by certified mail to such person to cease immediately such activity or to correct such facility or condition. Within ten days of the issuance of such order the commissioner shall hold a hearing to provide the person an opportunity to be heard and show cause why the order should not remain in effect. The commissioner shall consider the facts presented at the hearing and within ten days of the completion of the hearing notify the person by certified mail that the original order remains in effect, that a revised order is in effect, or that the order has been withdrawn. The original order shall be effective upon issuance and shall remain in effect until the commissioner affirms, revises or withdraws the order. The issuance of an order pursuant to this section shall not delay or bar an action pursuant to section 26-40c.

Citation: C.G.S.A. § 26-312.

(a) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54,1 to establish a schedule setting forth the amounts, or the ranges of amounts, or a method for calculating the amount of the civil penalties which may become due under this section. Such schedule or method may be amended from time to time in the same manner as for adoption provided any such regulations which become effective after July 1, 1993, shall only apply to violations which occur after said date. The civil penalties established for each violation shall be of such amount as to insure immediate and continued compliance with applicable laws, regulations, orders and permits. Such civil penalties shall not exceed the following amounts:...

(7) For wilful violation of any condition imposed pursuant to section 26-313 which leads to the destruction of, or harm to, any rare, threatened or endangered species, no more than ten thousand dollars per violation per day...

Citation: C.G.S.A. § 22a-6b.