Building upon the foundation of our highly successful 20BY20 initiative, DEEP’s new 20BY26 initiative commits to pursuing 20 measurable improvements across the agency that increase the predictability, efficiency, and transparency of DEEP’s processes. The 20BY26 initiative will focus not only on continuing to implement those successful strategies for regulatory process improvement but also on developing new ones to benefit the businesses, towns, and people of Connecticut.
Through 20BY26, DEEP has identified 16 goals and has now added 4 new goals based on suggestions from our stakeholders.
Read the Introductory Message from Commissioner Dykes Here
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Materials & Reports | Contact Us | 20BY26 Goals | Events
Materials & Reports
DEEP will release reports on our progress in each of the 20 goals to maintain accountability to our commitments.
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DEEP All Hands Presentation on Goals 1-10 (July 2024)
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View DEEP's Chambers of Commerce & Municipal Update webinar (April 2024)
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View DEEP’s 20BY26 kickoff presentation and webinar (February 2024)
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Read DEEP’s 20BY26, Setting the Target: CT DEEP 2026 Goals (February 2024), a kickoff report that describes what we’ve been working on since 20BY20 and where we are headed with the 20BY26 initiative.
- View the DEEP Transparency, Predictability & Efficiency Initiatives Dashboards to track progress since 2020.
Contact Us, Stay Updated
Want to receive reports and other news as they are released?
- Sign up to receive email updates on the 20BY26 Initiative.
- You can also always reach us at DEEP.20BY26@ct.gov.
DEEP's 20BY26 Goals
20BY26 Goal 1:
ADOPT RELEASE-BASED REGULATIONS TO MODERNIZE CONNECTICUT’S CLEANUP FRAMEWORK
Because clear standards are needed for environmental cleanups
What We Achieved in 20BY20:
Timely audit decisions for Transfer Act sites (Goal 4) and finalized revisions to Remediation Standard Regulations and Environmental Use Restrictions Regulations (Goal 5)
Building on Our Success in 20BY26:
Secure formal adoption of Release-Based Regulations
20BY26 Goal 2:
ACHIEVE 90% ON-TIME COMPLETION FOR CRITICAL PERMIT APPLICATIONS
Because businesses need to know what to expect
What We Achieved in 20BY20:
Transparent and predictable permitting timeframes
Building on Our Success in 20BY26:
Achieve 90% on-time completion rate for critical permit applications
20BY26 Goal 3:
REDUCE LEGACY PERMIT BACKLOG BY 65% BY 2026
Because closing out long-pending permit applications enhances environmental protection and regulatory certainty
What We Achieved in 20BY20:
Cut a backlog of pre-2017 permit applications by 45%
Building on Our Success in 20BY26:
Reducing legacy permit backlog by 65%
20BY26 Goal 4:
STRENGTHEN ENFORCEMENT RESOURCES
Because businesses and the public should be aware of activities that may have an environmental impact on their communities
What We Achieved in 20BY20:
Increased transparency of environmental enforcement efforts
Building on Our Success in 20BY26:
Ensuring consistency across DEEP’s enforcement programs, inclusion of equity and environmental justice in decision-making
20BY26 Goal 5:
EXPAND COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE
Because businesses need assistance and improving assistance leads to better environmental outcomes
What We Achieved in 20BY20:
Enhanced use and ease of compliance assistance mechanisms in permitting and enforcement
Building on Our Success in 20BY26:
Providing greater compliance assistance in sectors with higher noncompliance
20BY26 Goal 6:
ENHANCED FINANCIAL ASSURANCE TRACKING AND MANAGEMENT
Because robust and clear financial assurance mechanisms ensure compliance, consistency, predictability, and protection
What We Achieved in 20BY20:
Strategic planning for use of financial assurance, agency-wide
Building on Our Success in 20BY26:
Implement the strategic vision for comprehensive financial assurance management
20BY26 Goal 7:
COLLABORATIVELY DEVELOP REGULATIONS THAT IMPLEMENT RECENT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE REFORMS
Because clear standards are needed for underserved communities
As part of this new goal in the 20BY26 initiative, DEEP will provide for a predictable timetable and transparent process for implementation of Environmental Justice regulations.
20BY26 Goal 8:
EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION FOR EQUITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Because awareness of our laws promotes equity
While 20BY26’s Goal 7 implements the cumulative impact provisions of Public Act 23-202, Goal 8 focuses on the provisions of that Public Act that expanded public participation requirements for certain permit applications.
20BY26 Goal 9:
ENHANCED PUBLIC RECORDS TRANSPARENCY
Because businesses and the public need greater access to information for research, planning, and accountability
What We Achieved in 20BY20:
Digitization of more than 1 million documents
Building on Our Success in 20BY26:
Complete document digitization for large record sets
20BY26 Goal 10:
EXPAND TOOLS FOR ONLINE SERVICES
Because technology can create more efficient processes to better communicate with you
What We Achieved in 20BY20:
Established e-permitting options for six permit types (Goal 13) and launched the Natural Diversity Database (Goal 9)
Building on Our Success in 20BY26:
Integrate e-filing and data management systems
20BY26 Goal 11:
SPEED UP GRANT AND CONTRACTING PROCESSES BY 50% FOR KEY GRANT PROGRAMS
Because grant funds can make positive impacts on our communities and businesses and improve the sustainability of our environment
What We Achieved in 20BY20:
Digitized processes for better contract routing and execution
Building on Our Success in 20BY26:
Speeding up DEEP’s grants and contracting processes, by 50% for key grant programs
20BY26 Goal 12:
EXPAND DEEP CONCIERGE SERVICES TO MUNICIPALITIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES
Because helping our partners results in environmental success
What We Achieved in 20BY20:
Established DEEP’s Permitting Concierge (Goal 12) and provided timely pre-application assistance (Goal 2)
Building on Our Success in 20BY26:
Build out DEEP’s Client Concierge Services Service with a focus on municipalities and small businesses
20BY26 Goal 13:
STRENGTHENING COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION WITH DEEP
Because engaging in collaborative partnerships can enhance achievement of our mission
What We Achieved in 20BY20:
Agency-wide succession planning and increased stakeholder engagement
Building on Our Success in 20BY26:
20BY26 Goal 14:
PERMITTING FOR DECARBONIZATION
Because permitting renewable energy strikes the right balance for reaching our zero carbon goals while protecting our natural resources and environment
Building on the progress of Sustainable, Transparent, and Efficient Practices for Solar (STEPS) and the Commission on Environmental Standards (CES), DEEP is committing in 2026 to developing a broader programmatic approach for meeting renewable energy goals while protecting our natural resources and environment and following through on best practices to streamline renewable energy permitting, including battery storage, solar, and wind energy.
20BY26 Goal 15:
TOOLS FOR NAVIGATING AVAILABLE FEDERAL & STATE FUNDING
Because connecting residents with funding opportunities is key to improving equity and accessibility
Increasing the deployment of clean energy, energy efficiency, broadband, and energy storage technologies, as well as providing resources to reduce GHG emissions and support investments in environmental priorities, are critical actions that DEEP is leading. Ensuring that the public has easy access to these resources is essential.
20BY26 Goal 16:
DEEP PARTNERSHIPS WITH PUBLIC ENTITIES IN STATE PARKS
Because partnerships elevate the outdoor experience for everyone
What We Achieved in 20BY20:
Innovative partnerships to improve services
Building on Our Success in 20BY26:
Launching the Partnership in Parks initiative
NEW 20BY26 Goal 17:
IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF NDDB REVIEW
Because predictability is critical to environmental protection and economic development
What We Achieved in 20BY20:
Significant upgrades that resulted in a new Natural Diversity Data Base (NDDB) system that allows digital submission and automatic determinations for many NDDB review requests (NDDB staff biologists conduct the more in-depth, technically complex reviews).
Building on Our Success in 20BY26:
Generate process and conservation outcome improvements from internal and external stakeholder feedback, and a realistic timeframe for their implementation.
NEW 20BY26 Goal 18:
ENHANCING DAM SAFETY THROUGH IMPROVED PERMITTING FOR REPAIR AND REMOVAL
Because public safety and environmental and ecological health are key elements in dams' roles for water supply, recreation, energy production and more
Improve dam permitting process through initiating an advisory group, analysis of DEEP controlled dams, and creation of sediment management guidelines.
NEW 20BY26 Goal 19:
ESTABLISH EQUITY HUBS
Because listening and engaging with Connecticut communities will build inclusivity and link DEEP’s efforts to on the ground realities
Establish Equity Hubs to provide community-based services and support related to DEEP’s programs and initiatives in communities that face environmental and public heath burdens and are economically distressed.
20BY26 Goal 20:
DEVELOP A METRICS DASHBOARD
Because we want to raise awareness and empower residents to join DEEP’s mission addressing climate change, protecting the environment and natural resources of Connecticut, and promoting environmental justice.
Launch a Metrics Dashboard to highlight metrics in energy, waste, and climate mitigation sectors.
Events
More Coming soon: in person and online. Please stay tuned!
6/18/24: DEEP’s Remediation Roundtable Forum
5/29/24: Pullman & Comley Annual Legislative Breakfast
5/17/24: Waterbury Regional Chamber
4/30/24 CT Bar
4/23/24: Webinar for Chambers, COGs, and municipal organizations
4/18/24: CBIA presentation on new EJ laws and regs (Goals 7&8)
4/17/24: Environmental Business Council
4/11/24: SIPRAC stakeholder meeting
3/21/24: CBIA E2
3/6/24: CT Environmental Forum
3/1/24: Governor’s Event, Waterbury
Content last updated November, 2024