(a) On or before March 1, 1993, and annually thereafter, each newsprint user shall submit a report to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection. The report shall indicate the percentage of recycled fiber used in the preceding calendar year, along with any information required by the commissioner to determine compliance with the provisions of sections 22a-256m to 22a-256u, inclusive. Any newsprint user who fails to submit the report required by this section shall be deemed to have failed to meet the percentages established in sections 22a-256n and 22a-256p.

Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 22a-256r

(b) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall exempt a publisher or a printer from compliance with the provisions of sections 22a-256n and 22a-256p if the commissioner determines that such publisher or printer was unable to obtain sufficient amounts of newsprint containing recycled fiber at a price comparable to the price for virgin newsprint, that he was unable to obtain newsprint containing recycled fiber within a reasonable time or that he was unable to obtain newsprint which is runable. The publisher or printer shall certify to the commissioner the specific reason for failing to use newsprint containing a sufficient amount of recycled fiber. Such certification shall be submitted along with the report required by subsection (a) of this section and shall be construed to have been made in good faith if the publisher or printer submits proof of having contacted, to obtain newsprint containing recycled fiber, each producer of such newsprint which offered to sell newsprint containing recycled fiber to the publisher or printer not more than eighteen months before the certification. Such proof shall include the address, telephone number and name of each producer contacted and the corporate name of such producer, if any.