Service Providers

The Connecticut Environmental Review Team (ERT) is a program of Connecticut Resource Conservation and Development (CT RC&D). The ERT provides technical assistance to towns and land trusts through review of projects, as well as grant writing guidance, with an emphasis on open space, natural resource, and agricultural planning. Since 1969, the ERT has completed over 1,000 reports throughout Connecticut’s 169 municipalities.

The ERT provides assistance to all Connecticut municipalities and land trusts in meeting the challenges of land use decision making at low or no cost. This valuable, non-regulatory natural resource and planning information is given to approved ERT applicants to ensure well-informed planning decisions. The ERT Program is adaptable and flexible while striving for excellence, objectivity, and accuracy.
Requests may come from the chief elected official of a municipality or the chairperson of a municipal commission charged with the responsibility of managing the natural resources of the town provided they have the endorsement and support of their respective boards or commissions. Connecticut land trusts are also eligible to apply. Private citizens, citizens groups, engineers, and developers are not eligible. Interested participants can visit the ERT website for submission requirements and complete an application. Applications are reviewed and approved by the CT RC&D Council. ERT services include grant writing assistance for natural resource and open space projects, and ERT reviews with expert team members based on the applicant’s concerns. A coordinated group of environmental and planning professionals are drawn from a variety of federal, state, regional, and local agencies, in addition to consultants and volunteers, to form multidisciplinary environmental study teams. Professional consultant services are tailored to each application and may include: forestry, geology, wildlife, landscape ecology, archaeology, herpetology, soils, wetlands ecology, planning, transportation, agriculture, open space management, wastewater, and coastal resources.