News Releases

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• 5/1/2025 DEEP Environmental Conservation Police Celebrate Graduation of the 2025 Ranger Academy

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) celebrated the graduation ceremony for the 2025 Environmental Conservation Police (EnCon) Ranger graduating class on Wednesday, April 30th. Thirty-three recruits successfully completed a 120-hour training academy to become EnCon Rangers. An additional 10 Rangers will return to the field from previous years.

• 4/30/2025 DEEP Reminds Boaters About New Aquatic Invasive Species Stamp Purchasing Requirement

  (HARTFORD) – The Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) today reminds those who operate a motorboat or personal watercraft on Connecticut’s inland waters that they are now required to purchase an Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Stamp through DEEP’s online Sportsmen Licensing System or wherever fishing licenses are sold.

• 4/28/2025 Connecticut and Northeast Partners Issue Strategic Action Plan to Advance Cost-Saving Electric Transmission Solutions

  (HARTFORD) – The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today joined eight other Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states in issuing a joint strategic action plan that identifies specific steps that state, regional, and federal policymakers can take to pursue interregional transmission solutions to reduce costs for consumers and make our energy systems more reliable.

• 4/28/2025 DEEP EnCon Police Make Arrest in Fatal May 2024 Candlewood Lake Boating Incident

  (HARTFORD)—The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today that DEEP’s Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police arrested Robert McDonald, 23, of Flushing, New York, for a fatal boating incident that took place on Candlewood Lake on May 29th, 2024.

• 4/25/2025 Amtrak and DEEP Open New Fishing Pier at Eagle Landing State Park in Haddam

  (HARTFORD) – A brand-new pier at Eagle Landing State Park in Haddam is now open for anglers, nature lovers, and other members of the public to enjoy scenic views, fishing, and more. Built by Amtrak and owned by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), the permanent pier now provides an alternate fishing location while the Ferry Landing Pier/Boardwalk in Old Lyme is closed to make way for Amtrak’s construction of a new Connecticut River Bridge between Old Lyme and Old Saybrook.

• 4/24/2025 DEEP To Celebrate Arbor Day in Communities Across Connecticut

  (HARTFORD) — The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is celebrating Arbor Day April 25th with communities across Connecticut and invites you to join us at any one of the many events planned around the state. Many municipalities celebrate Arbor Day as part of the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City Program. This national program recognizes cities across the United States for their dedication to growing, protecting, and maintaining urban and community forests. Connecticut boasts 24 Tree Cities, 4 Tree Campuses, and 4 Tree City Growth Awards this year. This list includes the Town of Fairfield and City of Stamford, which are tied for first place as the longest-standing Tree Cities in the state at 37 years.

• 4/23/2025 DEEP Asks Residents to Continue to Exercise Caution During Spring Brush Fire Season

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is again advising Connecticut residents to take precautions to help minimize the likelihood of a fire. Spring fire season is underway; DEEP received reports of 40 wildfires from April 14 to April 21 alone, totaling approximately 300 acres. Most fires can be prevented because they are caused by human actions.

• 4/22/2025 Governor Lamont Applauds Legislative Approval of Release-Based Cleanup Regulations

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes, and Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) Commissioner Daniel O’Keefe are applauding the vote today by the Connecticut General Assembly’s Legislative Regulation Review Committee to approve the adoption of Release-Based Cleanup Regulations.

• 4/22/2025 DEEP Announces Release of Key Saltmarsh Dataset

  (HARTFORD) — Coinciding with Earth Day, and after more than two years of intensive work, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and its contractor, Vermont-based geospatial technology company Whiteout Solutions, have released a groundbreaking high-resolution dataset capturing over 12,000 acres of coastal saltmarsh and adjoining upland buffer in the state of Connecticut.

• 4/22/2025 Governor Lamont Announces $10 Million in Grants Awarded for Continued Broadband Expansion

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today the second round of awards in the state’s ConneCTed Communities Grant Program. Totaling $9.9 million, these funds will be used by internet service providers to build out broadband infrastructure, which will serve an estimated 3,802 residences and businesses in 44 towns and cities.

• 4/18/2025 DEEP Begins Cold Water Safety Campaign

  (HARTFORD) — With warm air temperatures forecast across the state this weekend, Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) wants to remind boaters – especially paddlers – about the dangers of early spring boating. DEEP urges any boaters heading out on the water to prioritize water safety during this season when the air warms but the water remains dangerously cold.

• 4/17/2025 Governor Lamont Announces $7.5 Million Now Available To Support Municipalities With Sustainable Waste Reduction

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that $7.5 million in state funding is now available to support Connecticut’s municipalities in their efforts to increase recycling and diversion and augment their self-sufficiency in managing municipal solid waste disposal.

• 4/17/2025 DEEP and Audubon CT Urge Residents to Take Down Birdfeeders and Be Bear Aware as Bears Become More Active in Spring

  (HARTFORD)— As black bear activity increases in the spring following winter denning season, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) warns residents to be “bear aware” and to do what they can to protect both their communities and bears by preventing human-bear conflicts. Simple steps to avoid feeding bears such as taking down birdfeeders now that bears are up and about will reduce the likelihood of conflicts that can lead to potential harm for both people and bears.

• 4/14/2025 DEEP’s Client Concierge Service Celebrates Five Years of Excellence in Environmental Permitting Assistance

  (HARTFORD)— The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) recently celebrated the fifth anniversary of its Client Concierge Service. Established under DEEP’s successful 20 By 20 initiative and expanded in DEEP’s current 20 By 26 initiative to enhance transparency and efficiency, the Concierge Team has become DEEP’s front door for permitting assistance. Since then, the Concierge Team has guided hundreds of businesses, municipalities, and individuals through regulatory requirements and connected them with the right resources. Concierge has provided early permitting help to projects involving a tremendous range of issues: multiple permitting requirements or cross-cutting programmatic needs; waste organics; energy generation; solar and offshore wind-related permitting, including on brownfields and agricultural lands; economic development; large-scale filling; brownfields; transit-oriented development; green technology; and more.

• 4/11/2025 DEEP Invites You to Celebrate Spring Fishing Day on Saturday April 12

  (HARTFORD) — Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) invites all residents and their families to celebrate Spring Fishing Day this Saturday, April 12. Every spring, the second Saturday in April is the start of the “catch and keep” season for trout. Starting at 6:00 a.m. on April 12, anglers are allowed to keep the trout they catch, though the permissible numbers and size of fish that can be kept varies by waterbody. While trout fishing is open year-round, it is “catch and release” fishing only from March 1 until 6:00 a.m. on April 12 on most waterways in the state (the exceptions are Trout Management Lakes, Sea-Run Trout Streams, and waters designated as “Tidal Waters and Tributaries”).