Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Rocky Neck State Park is also closed until further notice due to a brush fire. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at a 'very high' or 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Introductory Message from Commissioner Dykes

Commissioner Katie Dykes

Dear Friends,

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has a unique mission, charged with conserving, improving, and protecting the state’s natural resources and environment while making cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable energy available for our residents and businesses.

As Commissioner, I have made it a priority to improve the transparency, predictability, and efficiency of DEEP’s regulatory programs. In 2019, I launched the 20BY20 initiative at DEEP, committing the agency to twenty measurable goals to strengthen and improve our regulatory programs by the end of 2020. Four of the twenty goals were selected from stakeholder suggestions. Despite an intervening global pandemic, we met and even exceeded sixteen of the goals, with significant progress on the others.

The work we began in 20BY20 did not end in 2020. In fact, DEEP kept up the effort, all while weathering the necessary disruptions of a government-wide “retirement cliff” that saw the retirement of 19% of DEEP’s Environmental Quality and Environmental Conservation staff, as we welcomed new staff to replace seasoned veterans.

As we begin a new year, I’m delighted to announce a new iteration of this performance improvement initiative: 20BY26. Over this year and next, DEEP will once again strive for increased transparency, predictability, and efficiency in our programs with a fresh set of sixteen goals to be achieved by the end of 2026. Once again, I invite the public to provide suggestions for four additional 20BY26 goals in areas where you think DEEP could make the most effective improvements. Please email us at DEEP.20BY26@ct.gov with your ideas for those additional four goals.

We look forward to collaborating with you and sharing regular updates throughout this initiative. In the meantime, I welcome your feedback at in-person stakeholder meetings or by emailing DEEP.20by26@ct.gov. Please also sign up for the 20BY26 mailing list to receive updates on the 20BY26 initiative as it rolls out and we provide quarterly status reports.

Sincerely,

Katie Dykes

Commissioner

 

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