Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

DEEP COVID-19 Response

DEEP is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in a number of ways. First and foremost, DEEP is striving to continue to carry out its mission and provide services while keeping both the public and our workforce safe. Please check this page for updates on DEEP’s facilities, process changes, and response initiatives. Below are bookmarks to the different programs within DEEP providing updates.

Adjudications (Environmental Hearings) | Air| Boating | Energy | Enforcement | Environmental Justice - Public Participation| Hunting, Fishing and Forestry | Land Acquisition | Land and Water Resources Division| Licensed Environmental Professionals | Materials Management | Outdoor Recreation | Remediation| State Parks and Forests | Wastewater Discharges | Water

Doing Business with DEEP during the COVID-19 Pandemic

DEEP has closed its offices to the public and the majority of DEEP’s employees are working remotely. To minimize risks to the public and DEEP staff, DEEP employees working with the public, including inspectors, maintainers and environmental educators have been provided instructions to practice social distancing, wherever possible. The majority of DEEP staff have transitioned to telework, and the Department is working to maintain continuous operation of its programs and functions to the greatest extent possible during this public health emergency.

Wherever possible, DEEP programs are encouraging that submittals be sent digitally, rather than hard copy.   Services that were previously available to in-person visitors at 79 Elm Street, Hartford may be accessible online, including:

  • Select documents including Hazardous Waste Manifests are now electronically accessible on the DEEP Document Online Search Portal. Please use this portal to search for documents that you may need before submitting a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. If you still wish to submit a FOIA request, please submit your request electronically to DEEP.FOIA@ct.gov. DEEP's FOIA webpage provides information relating to submission requests. 
  • Please note that due to the coronavirus, FOIA compliance is being processed remotely and and may result in longer than usual processing times.  
  • If you are looking to submit or pay for Marine Event Permits, Fishing Derby and Fish Importation/Liberation Permits, Radiation Registrations (DTX and RMI), Stormwater Registrations (Construction, Industrial and No Exposure) or Underground Storage Tank Notifications please visit our ezFile website.
  • Access to DEEP’s records center at 79 Elm Street, Hartford is not available to the public. Requests for records must be submitted by using the File Request Form and sent to DEEP.RecordsCenter@ct.gov. Requests will be fulfilled in the order in which they are received, once the "Stay Safe, Stay Home" order is lifted.
Adjudications (Environmental Hearings)

In order to facilitate the filing of requests for hearing during the COVID-19 emergency and consistent with the Department’s Temporary Directive, the Office of Adjudications will accept electronically-filed petitions and requests for hearing in addition to petitions or requests submitted by mail. Petitions with required signatures or requests may be filed by email to the Office of Adjudications or mailed to the DEEP Office of Adjudications, 79 Elm Street, 3rdfloor, Hartford, CT 06106.

Within 30 days, original petitions or requests that were filed electronically must be also be mailed to the Office of Adjudications at the above-noted address. If the original petition or request exists only in electronic format or signatures were produced using a computer or typewriter, the petition or request must be submitted with a statement bearing the wet-ink signature of the petitioner or requester that the petition or request is only available in that format and has been submitted to satisfy the requirement that an original petition or request be filed.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all meetings and hearings are being held via web-based conferencing tools (e.g., Zoom) until further notice, in accordance with Governor Lamont’s Executive Order No. 7D limiting group gatherings of more than 50 people enacted on March 16, 2020.

Air
  • Biennial Registration of X-Ray Devices - DEEP has extended the April 30, 2020 deadline to June 30, 2020, for biennial registration requirements for the operations of diagnostic and therapeutic x-ray devices, to ease the financial and administrative burden to the regulated community, many of whom are actively engaged in the COVID-19 public health response or are small businesses negatively impacted by the crisis (April 7, 2020).
  • Continuous Emissions Monitoring (CEM)- DEEP is extending the April 30 deadline for the 1st Quarter reporting for Continuous Emissions Monitoring (CEM) (applicable to regulated businesses including fuel burning sources and municipal waste combustors).The new deadline will be June 1, 2020 (April 1, 2020).
  • RVP Waiver - DEEP and DCP Commissioners have issued a Joint Waiver of Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) regulations in recognition of reduced travel and an associated oversupply of gasoline meeting winter season RVP requirements during the public health emergency (April 30, 2020).
  • Annual Fee Due Date Extension - DEEP is providing an extension to all Title V annual fees due on 7/1/2020 to the date of 9/30/20. Annual fee invoices will consequently be mailed out in early August. (June 9, 2020)
Boating

Download the 2021 COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines

  • Governor Lamont issued Executive Order #7JJ on May 6, 2020 which suspends certain legal restraints enabling DEEP and our partners to provide on-line safe boating courses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Commissioner Dykes also issued an Order with details for this effort. Specifically, the on-line classes will be held on an interactive videoconferencing platform which provide the opportunity for dialog between the instructors and students. DEEP will now also allow the boating safety course students or those wishing to take an equivalency examination to take an on-line examination. Registration is available online or requests can be made through DEEP.BoatingClasses@ct.gov.
Energy
  • Energy Affordability & Ratepayer Relief - DEEP and DECD submitted testimony to PURA seeking urgent ratepayer relief, including lowering barriers to reconnecting previously disconnected utility customers, waiving or suspending fees and penalties on delinquent accounts, and providing more flexible options for payment plans (March 27, 2020).
  • Support for Energy Efficiency -In order to ease the burden imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic on the more than 160 small-business clean energy contractors employed through the Conservation & Load Management plan, DEEP has issued a decision outlining several relief actions including: continuing to develop projects in the pipeline; extending rebate and contract expiration periods; providing partial payment for initiated projects in the resident and small business program; and virtualizing inspection processes for residential/commercial/industrial projects.
  • Support for Clean Energy Businesses - DEEP is coordinating with the Office of the Governor, Connecticut Green Bank, DECD, Eversource Energy, and The United Illuminating Company to provide webinars to clean energy contractors with information about available state and federal aid. DEEP is committed to engaging in an ongoing stakeholder process to review potential changes to program implementation and to monitoring the impacts of the current crisis on our critical clean energy workforce.
Enforcement During COVID-19

Regulated entities are expected to comply with Connecticut’s environmental laws during the public health emergency. Should, however, extenuating circumstances associated with the COVID-19 emergency prevent a regulated entity from fully complying with environmental laws, DEEP recommends that the regulated entity document in detail and communicate in writing with DEEP as soon as practicable concerning the entity’s inability to achieve full compliance. DEEP's full statement on enforcement can be found on the DEEP Enforcement page. 

Environmental Justice -- Public Participation
Hunting, Fishing & Forestry

Governor Lamont is urging all Connecticut residents to "Stay Safe, Stay Home," to help  minimize community spread of COVID-19. It is important that if you plan to engage in any form of wildlife oriented recreation, whether that be bird watching, hunting, fishing or exploring tidepools, that you do your part to stop the spread of COVID-19 practicing social distancing.

Land Acquisition
  • DEEP has extended the deadline for submission of applications for the state’s Open Space & Watershed Land Acquisition (OSWA) and Urban Green and Community Garden (UGCG) Grant program by 30 days to July 1, 2020. DEEP is granting a 60-day extension for the property appraisal portion of the application, to August 1, 2020. Contact Nicole.lugli@ct.gov with any questions (March 30, 2020).
Land & Water Resources Division
  • The Land and Water Resource Division (LWRD) is accepting applications for the various regulatory programs it administers electronically through an ftp site.  Directions for e-filing can be found here.
  • Applications are being reviewed and processed electronically in response to COVID-19.
  • Training for the Connecticut State Harbor Masters scheduled for May 8, 2020 at DEEP's Marine Headquarters in Old Lyme has been cancelled. The Connecticut Harbor Management Association and DEEP, the event co-sponsors are planning to hold this event in the spring of 2021.
Licensed Environmental Professionals

At its meeting on April 9, 2020, the State Board of Examiners of Environmental Professions addressed the following in response to the COVID-19 emergency:

  • The Board approved a waiver of the regulatory limitation on the number of credits a Licensed Environmental Professional (LEP) can receive from approved distance learning courses for the biennial period from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2021. Only approved distance learning courses can be used for credit.
  • The Board clarified that a live webinar can be approved as a regular course for CECs. If the intent is to offer an on-demand version, i.e. not a live experience, then the course will need to be approved as a distance learning course, which, in addition to other requirements, is required to provide an assessment of learning at its conclusion on which the LEP needs to score at least 70%. 
Materials Management

  • DEEP has extended the General Permit to Construct and Operate a Commercial Facility for the Management of Recyclable Materials and Certain Solid Wastes. The expiration date of this general permit is now May 3, 2021. Additional information on the expected reissuance of this general permit will be forthcoming by DEEP. The Commissioner's Order to expand this general permit can be viewed here.

  • During the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, DEEP has been engaged with the waste management sector to provide guidance on safe handling of materials as well as regulatory and contingency planning to ensure continuity of operations for essential waste services, including recycling, during this public health emergency.  Please check DEEP’s Materials Management COVID-19 Response page for detailed description of agency actions undertaken during this time.

  • Annual Fee Due Date Extension - DEEP is providing an extension to all annual fees due on 6/30/20 or 8/1/20 to the date of 9/30/20. Annual fee invoices will consequently be mailed out in early August. (June 9, 2020)

  • Pursuant to Executive Order No. 7NN (signed May 13, 2020), Governor Lamont has ordered the temporary extension through June 30, 2020 of the provisions of Executive Order 7N sections 4-5 suspending the ten-cent fee on single-use plastic checkout bags, and allowing retail employees the opportunity to decline to bag for customers who bring in reusable bags (March 26, 2020). Customers may still use their own reusable bags if they bag their own items. DEEP, DPH and DRS have provided additional guidance that reusable bags do not present a significant health risk (updated May 15, 2020).
     
  • Solid waste hauling and recycling have been classified as essential services pursuant to Executive Order No. 7H (March 20, 2020).
  • DEEP has extended the temporary suspension of enforcement actions against Connecticut retailers for failing to accept empty beverage containers for redemption until May 20, 2020. On March 17, 2020, DEEP issued a press release noting that during the temporary suspension time or extension thereof, if stores do not accept empty beverage containers, DEEP will not issue them a notice of violation. (April 2, 2020).  On May 20, 2020, DEEP will terminate its enforcement discretion related to the retail suspension of redemption services. DEEP is working with representatives of grocery stores, retailers and redemption service providers as they develop plans to resume state-wide redemption of deposit containers at retail locations where redemption services were suspended during the COVID-19 response. The plans will provide at least limited redemption activities beginning on May 20, 2020 and full redemption services by June 3, 2020.
  • DEEP has extended the life expectancy of underground storage tanks (UST) that otherwise would have reached the end of life expectancy between March 15, 2020 and September 30, 2020. For more detail refer to UST COVID-19 FAQs and COVID-19 Alternate Life Expectancy.
Outdoor Recreation

Download the 2021 COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines

On April 9, 2021, Governor Ned Lamont and Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes announced that Connecticut’s State Parks system and boat launches are planning to return to providing full services to visitors during the 2021 season. Personal and group compliance with COVID-19 precautions, mask wearing, and maintaining social distance practices will be essential to the safety of park visitors and staff, and DEEP’s ability to ensure maximum safe access to these valuable resources.

Remediation
  • The Remediation Division recognizes that Licensed Environmental Professionals (LEPs) and their associated staff that are actively conducting oversight of environmental investigation, cleanup, and construction projects are performing services that are deemed essential.
  • In order to maintain continuous processing of LEP verifications submitted to the Department, we ask that any LEP who submitted a verification after March 6, 2020, and for any verification submitted during the COVID-19 response, please email a copy of the verification form and verification report to Carolyn Fusaro at Carolyn.Fusaro@ct.gov
  • Other submittals from LEPs and regulated entities can be made electronically to the assigned project manager in the Remediation Division.
  • Large files can be uploaded to the Division’s ftp site.
State Parks and Forests

All Connecticut State Parks & Forests are open.

Download the 2021 COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines

  • Campgrounds will be open for the 2021 season to campers with reservations, made through Reserve America.
  • Early season camping, with a reservation, is available at Black Rock, Devil's Hopyard, Hopeville Pond, Macedonia Brook, and Mashamoquet State Parks, along with American Legion and Pachaug State Forests.
  • Camping cabins are open for reservation.
  • Museums and Nature Centers plan to open for the 2021 season on Memorial Day Weekend, May 28, 2021.
  • Most satellite DEEP office locations and branch facilities within State Parks and Forests remain closed to the public.
  • Follow @CTStateParks on Twitter for the most up to date information. 
Wastewater Discharges

Read about the suspension of examination requirements order under regulations of Connecticut State Agencies during the COVID-19 emergency.

Filing Deadlines for General Permits for Miscellaneous Industrial Users (MIU GP) and Significant Industrial Users (SIU GP) Extended to April 29, 2021. Download the order here.

Commissioner Dykes has issued an order, in accordance with Governor Ned Lamont’s Executive Orders 9A and 7M, extending The General Permit for the Discharge of Stormwater and Dewatering Wastewaters from Construction Activities for 90 days. This extension is retroactive and shall begin effective October 1, 2020, making December 30, 2020 the new expiration date of the General Permit.  

Water

During the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, DEEP has prioritized the continued operations and functionality of critical infrastructure, such as municipal wastewater and dams.

  • DEEP has been engaged with the wastewater management sector to provide guidance on safety as well as regulatory and contingency planning.The collective goal is to ensure continuity of operations for essential wastewater services.
  • Annual Fee Due Date Extension - DEEP is providing an extension to all annual fees due on 6/30/20 or 8/1/20 to the date of 9/30/20. Annual fee invoices will consequently be mailed out in early August. (June 9, 2020)
  • Please subscribe to DEEP’s Municipal Wastewater Listserv to receive updates of agency actions or recommendations undertaken during this time.
  • Wastewater utilities have been classified as essential services pursuant to Executive Order No. 7H (March 20, 2020)
  • DEEP has established a dedicated address (DEEP.WPCF@ct.gov) for submission of Monthly Operating Reports and Aquatic Toxicity Monitoring Reports to allow facilities to submit those permit-required documents by email.
  • DEEP is receiving files from dam owners electronically through email to DEEP.DamSafety@ct.gov or by uploading files to the dam Safety FTP site. Please email us to access this FTP site.
  • Review of dam safety files is available on a limited basis. Please email DEEP.DamSafety@ct.gov to arrange access to electronic dam safety files.      

Content Last Updated April 14, 2021.