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Show 176 CONNECTICUT of that Department, has supervisory responsibilities over all of the state's natural resources including the waters of the state. The commissioner is responsible for negotiating compacts with other States and with the Federal Government relating to flood con- trol, navigation, pollution, and diversion of interstate waters.3 The Commissioner is also given authority to control the use or ob- struction of navigable waters,4 to regulate the sale of water between public water companies,5 to regulate the removal of sand and gravel from under water-covered State lands,6 and to control water pollu- tion.7 The Commissioner is directed by statute to establish gauging stations to investigate water resources,8 to study conditions of flood control,9 and to make an inventory of land and water resources 10 in order to prepare a long-range, statewide plan for the management of the State's water resources in conjunction with the Office of State Planning.11 Any town, city, borough, or corporation must apply to the Commissioner of Environmental Protection for a permit before it may divert and use water from any river for public or domestic use.12 A Well Drilling Board, consisting of seven members appointed by the Governor,13 promulgates regulations for the well industry,14 issues certificates of registration to all well drillers,15 and grants permits for the drilling of wells upon application by the well drillers.16 The well drillers are required to keep data and records with respect to each well drilled and to file reports with the Well Drilling Board and the Department of Environmental Protection.17 2.2 Resolution of Water Use Conflicts Connecticut has no State administrative procedures designed to resolve conflicts between water users. Neither the Commissioner of Environmental Protection nor the State well drilling board have been given such powers. As mentioned above, water use conflicts have been resolved by the courts in private litigation. Most of these cases have tested the "reasonableness" of riparian water uses, but the con- flicts have arisen in a variety of situations. Some have been actions in the form of injunctive proceedings to prevent interference with water right, and many have been actions to recover damages for injury or impairment to a water use. 2.3 Other Agencies Having Water Resource Responsibilities a. WATER QUALITY CONTROL The Connecticut Water Pollution Control Act assigns responsibility for water quality control to the Commissioner of Environmental Pro- 8Conn. Gen. Stat., sec. 25-3(a). * Conn. Gen. Stat., sec. 15-7b. B Conn. Gen. Stat. sec. 25-7a. « Conn. Gen. Stat. sees. 25-10 to 25-17. 7 Conn. Gen. Stat. sec. 25-54b-99. 8 Conn. Gen. Stat. sec. 25-8. 8 Conn. Gen. Stat. sec. 25-5. 10 Conn. Gen. Stat. sec. 25-5(a). 11 Conn. Gen. Stat. sec. 25-5 (b). 12 Conn. Gen. Stat. sec. 25-8 (a)-(e). 13 Conn. Gen. Stat. sec. 25-127. " Conn. Gen. Stat. sec. 25-128. 15 Conn. Gen. Stat. sec. 25-129. 18 Conn. Gen. Stat. sec. 25-130. "Conn. Gen. Stat., sec. 25-131. |