(a) Any person who submits an application to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection for any permit or other license pursuant to § 22a-32, 22a-39, 22a-174, 22a-208a, 22a-342, 22a-361, 22a-368, 22a-403 or 22a-430, subsection (b) or (c) of § 22a-449, § 22a-454 or Section 401 of the federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 USC 466 et seq.), except an application for authorization under a general permit shall: (1) Publish notice of such application in a newspaper of general circulation in the affected area; (2) notify the chief elected official of the municipality in which the regulated activity is proposed; and (3) include with such application a copy of such notice as it appeared in the newspaper and a signed statement certifying that the applicant notified the chief elected official of the municipality in which such regulated activity is proposed. Such notices shall include: (A) The name and mailing address of the applicant and the address of the location at which the proposed activity will take place; (B) the application number, if available; (C) the type of permit sought, including a reference to the applicable statute or regulation; (D) a description of the activity for which a permit is sought; (E) a description of the location of the proposed activity and any natural resources affected thereby; (F) the name, address and telephone number of any agent of the applicant from whom interested persons may obtain copies of the application; and (G) a statement that the application is available for inspection at the office of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The commissioner shall not process an application until the applicant has submitted to the commissioner a copy of the notice and the signed statement required by this section. Any person who submits an application pursuant to § 22a-32 or 22a-361 shall additionally mail such notice to any land owner of record for any property that is located five hundred feet or less from the property line of the property on which such proposed activity will occur. The provisions of this section shall not apply to discharges exempted from the notice requirement by the commissioner pursuant to subsection (b) of § 22a-430, to hazardous waste transporter permits issued pursuant to § 22a-454 or to special waste authorizations issued pursuant to § 22a-209 and regulations adopted thereunder.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title or any regulation adopted pursuant to this title, the following applications are exempt from the provisions of subsection (a) of this section: (1) An application for authorization under a general permit; (2) an application for a minor permit modification for sources permitted under Title V of the federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 in accordance with 40 C.F.R. § 70.7; and (3) an application for a minor permit modification or revision if the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection has adopted regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, establishing criteria to delineate applications for minor permit modifications or revisions from those applications subject to the requirements of subsection (a) of this section.