News Releases - 2024

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• 7/16/2024 DEEP Forecasts Elevated Levels of Ozone for July 16 - 17

  (HARTFORD) — Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is expecting temperatures in the mid-to-upper 90s (˚F) beginning today, with high temperatures persisting into Wednesday. The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for the entire State through Wednesday. These hot temperatures will contribute to elevated ozone levels for western Connecticut on Tuesday and continuing along the coast on Wednesday. These levels may approach or exceed Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) levels for these parts of Connecticut.

• 7/12/2024 Seaside State Park Planning Process Continues to Move Forward

  (HARTFORD) — Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) seeks public input to help inform the design of the Passive Park concept as it continues to make progress in its planning process for Seaside State Park in Waterford.

• 7/12/2024 DEEP Announces Notice of Availability of FY 2024 Funding Opportunity for Boating Infrastructure Grants

  (HARTFORD) – The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is pleased to announce the release of a request for proposal for the Boating Infrastructure Grant Program. This competitive federal funding opportunity is offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under the Department of the Interior (DOI). DEEP will review and select qualifying state projects from the pool of submissions to recommend for funding, which will then be submitted to the USFWS for final approval.

• 7/9/2024 DEEP Announces FY 2024/25 Clean Water Fund Priority List to Enhance Water Quality and Infrastructure Resilience

  (HARTFORD) - Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes has announced the FY 2024/25 Clean Water Fund Priority list. With this announcement, the State of Connecticut is continuing its strong investment in construction-ready municipal water pollution control projects that will protect the state’s waters from sewage pollution and help improve water quality.

• 7/9/2024 Newly Announced Agreement on Electricity Transmission Moves Northeastern States Toward Enhanced Grid Reliability

  (HARTFORD) - Connecticut today joined a total of 10 Northeast states in signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish a framework for coordinating their activities to improve interregional transmission planning and development, which will enhance grid reliability and accelerate the clean energy transition. Last year, a group of Northeast states led a request to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to convene and support a multi-state initiative, the Northeast States Collaborative on Interregional Transmission, in a first-in-the-nation effort to explore mutually beneficial opportunities to increase the flow of electricity between three different planning regions in the Northeast and assess offshore wind infrastructure needs and solutions. The MOU was signed by Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

• 7/5/2024 DEEP Reminds Beach Visitors to “Fish, Swim, and Play Far Away” from Bird Nesting Areas

  (Hartford, CT) - As beach season enters its peak, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) asks the public to help protect birds that nest in coastal areas by staying away from places where large concentrations of birds gather and areas that are roped off or marked with signs designating nesting locations. State law prohibits entering state-designated seabird and shorebird protection areas and requires pets, cyclists, and vehicles to remain at least 25 feet away.

• 7/5/2024 DEEP Announces Artwork for the 2025 Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp

  (HARTFORD)--The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today that an acrylic painting of a northern shoveler created by Storrs resident Alice Han (age 14), will be featured on the 2025 Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation (Duck) Stamp. Alice’s beautifully illustrated painting was selected as the "Best in Show" for the 2024 Connecticut Junior Duck Stamp Art Competition, and it also won first place in the 7th-9th grade category of the competition. Alice’s "Best in Show" winner represented Connecticut in the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest, where Alice placed in the top 25 in the nation!

• 7/3/2024 DEEP Stew Leonard and Greater Waterbury YMCA Highlight the Importance of Water Safety

  (HARTFORD)—Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Deputy Commissioner Mason Trumble joined Stew Leonard, Jr., President and CEO of regional supermarket company Stew Leonard’s, and Co-founder of the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation; and officials from the Greater Waterbury YMCA Wednesday at Black Rock State Park to promote swimming safety and the importance of swim lessons, ahead of what’s likely to be a busy July Fourth holiday weekend on Connecticut waterbodies. DEEP Lifeguards also conducted a water safety demonstration Wednesday with children from the Greater Waterbury YMCA.

• 7/3/2024 Reservations Full for Squantz Pond State Park on July 4th - No Additional Reservations Available

  (HARTFORD)—Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today that reservations for Squantz Pond State Park are full for July 4th. Only those with reservations will be permitted to enter the park – those who do not have a reservation will not be permitted to enter the park and are encouraged to visit ctparks.com to make plans to visit alternate locations, including Sherwood Island State Park.

• 7/2/2024 DEEP Adds Naugatuck State Forest to Existing Alcohol Ban for Recreation Areas

  (Hartford, CT) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has imposed a temporary alcohol ban for Naugatuck State Forest in addition to seven state recreation areas previously imposed this summer. The ban is in effect from Tuesday, July 2, 2024, through Monday, September 30, 2024, for the following area:

• 7/2/2024 DEEP Announces Operation Dry Water 2024

  (HARTFORD) - With boating under the influence continuing to be a major factor in incidents and deaths on our nation’s waterways, officers from local, state, and federal agencies will once again team up for Operation Dry Water, a national campaign to raise awareness of and enforce laws against boating under the influence.

• 6/28/2024 DEEP Celebrates the Passport to the Parks Program

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), joined by Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, State Legislators, and representatives from the Connecticut Forest & Park Association and the Friends of Connecticut State Parks, held an event at Hammonasset Beach State Park today to celebrate Connecticut’s Passport to the Parks program.

• 6/27/2024 Commissioner Dykes Statement on US Supreme Court Decision Striking Down the Good Neighbor Rule

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Today, the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked the “Good Neighbor Rule” in a 5-4 decision that will make it more difficult for states and the federal government to effectively combat pollution and improve air quality across the country.

• 6/21/2024 Lt. Governor, DEEP and DAS Commissioners, Cut Ribbon on New DEEP Western District Headquarters, the First Net Zero Executive Branch State Building

  (HARTFORD)--Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz today joined Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes and Department of Administrative Services (DAS) Commissioner Michelle Gilman for a ribbon-cutting and tour of DEEP’s new Western District Headquarters in Watertown. The new headquarters is the first net zero executive branch state building.

• 6/18/2024 DEEP Forecasts Elevated Levels of Ozone for June 18 - 21

  (HARTFORD) — Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is expecting temperatures in the mid-to-upper 90s (˚F) beginning today, with high temperatures persisting into Friday. The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Watch for Hartford and Tolland Counties, while a Heat Advisory is issued for Litchfield, Windham, Northern Fairfield and Northern New Haven Counties. These hot temperatures will contribute to elevated ozone levels for parts of inland Connecticut beginning on Tuesday and continuing through the end of the week. These levels may approach or exceed Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) levels for parts of Connecticut on June 18th, and may continue through Friday, June 21st.