(a) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall establish a Nitrogen Credit Advisory Board to assist and advise the commissioner in administering the nitrogen credit exchange program. The board shall consist of the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection or the commissioner’s designee, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management or the secretary’s designee, the State Treasurer or the Treasurer’s designee and nine public members to be appointed in accordance with this section. The nine public members shall include an official of a major publicly-owned treatment works appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, a municipal public works official appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, a representative from a municipality with a population of greater than twenty thousand that purchases nitrogen credits and a representative from a municipality with a population of less than twenty thousand that sells credits appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, a representative from a municipality with a population of greater than twenty thousand that sells nitrogen credits and a representative from a municipality with a population of less than twenty thousand that purchases nitrogen credits appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, and three persons having experience in either wastewater treatment, environmental law or finance, one to be appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, one to be appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, and one to be appointed by the Governor. All initial appointments shall be made not later than August 1, 2001, and shall be made so the composition of the board is, to the extent possible, balanced with regard to buyers and sellers of credits, large and small municipalities and representatives from different geographic regions of the state.

(b) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, or the commissioner’s designee, shall serve as chairperson of the board and shall schedule the first meeting of such board not later than September 1, 2001. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The principal office of such board shall be the office of the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection. At its first meeting, the board shall determine by lot which members shall serve for one, two or three years, provided the terms of office of not more than fifty per cent of the board shall expire in any one year. Thereafter, each term of office shall be for three years. The board shall choose a secretary by ballot from its membership.

(c) Not later than September thirtieth, annually, the board shall submit to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the environment its findings that address the following:

(1) A summary of the nitrogen credit exchange program’s progress in achieving the total maximum daily load;

(2) The adequacy of the Clean Water Fund financing pursuant to § 22a-477 to support the nitrogen credit exchange program and the total maximum daily load;

(3) Recommendations for changes to the program including, but not limited to: (A) Exchanging nitrogen credits with entities outside the state; (B) expanding the general permit for nitrogen discharges and the nitrogen credit exchange program to include additional point and nonpoint sources; and (C) exchange transactions executed outside of the nitrogen credit exchange program;

(4) Identification of any other issues that need to be resolved; and

(5) Recommendations relating to the use of federal funding to assist distressed municipalities in the planning, design and construction of nitrogen removal facilities in implementing the provisions of subsection (h) of § 22a-477 and sections 22a-521 to 221-527, inclusive.