News Releases

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• 8/4/2023 DEEP’s Next No Child Left Inside® Families in the Parks Program is Saturday, August 5, 2023

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and Friends of Dinosaur Park and Arboretum present the next 2023 No Child Left Inside® (NCLI) Families in the Parks Program at Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill on Saturday August 5, 2023, for free, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• 7/27/2023 Governor Lamont Announces Connecticut Adopting Clean Air Car and Truck Emission Standards To Reduce Air Pollution, Protect Public Health, Promote Development

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today that the State of Connecticut is proposing regulations to make cars and trucks up to 90% cleaner and to require vehicle manufacturers to deliver more zero-emission vehicles to Connecticut drivers while also increasing consumer protections. The public comment period remains open until August 23, 2023.

• 7/25/2023 DEEP Releases Draft Clean Energy Solicitations

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (“DEEP”) today released two draft Requests for Proposals for new large-scale zero carbon electricity resources. The proposals will help advance Governor Lamont’s Energy Action Plan to improve energy affordability and reliability for Connecticut ratepayers, and help achieve the state’s statutory mandates for a 100 percent zero carbon electric sector by 2040 and economy-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction of at least 80 percent below 2001 levels by 2050.

• 7/21/2023 DEEP’s Next No Child Left Inside® Families in the Parks Program is Saturday

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) presents its next 2023 No Child Left Inside® (NCLI) Families in the Parks Program at Hopeville Pond State Park in Griswold on Saturday, July 22, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration for NCLI is now open at: www.NoChildLeftInside.org.

• 7/19/2023 DEEP Issues Recreation Safety Reminder Regarding High Water and Summer Weather Forecast

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (“DEEP”) is reminding residents and visitors to exercise caution when recreating in and on the water considering the recent extreme weather events impacting the state and the region.

• 7/18/2023 DEEP Forecasts PM2.5 Levels Today will be “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” for Northwest Connecticut from Canadian Wildfire Smoke

  (HARTFORD) — Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is expecting smoke from wildfires over Quebec to elevate fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels today, July 18 through July 19. These levels are expected to reach Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) levels for northwest Connecticut on July 18 with elevated PM2.5 levels statewide on the morning of July 19. The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) also is issuing guidance and information on protective measures.

• 7/18/2023 DEEP Announces Free Swimming Lesson Program in Partnership with Boys Girls Club of New Britain

  (New Britain, CT) – Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz and Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (“DEEP”) Commissioner Katie Dykes joined local and state elected officials, and Boys & Girls Club of New Britain (BGCNB) leaders today to announce $250,000 to fund free swimming lessons to qualifying children at the BGCNB pool deck. The partnership with the BGCNB will enable children 17 and under to receive free swim lessons at the facility’s pool.

• 7/14/2023 DEEP to Renew Stakeholder Engagement on Bottle Bill Implementation

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is seeking public input on the implementation of recent and upcoming changes to Connecticut’s Bottle Bill, and will be holding a public meeting on this process on Monday, July 24 at 1 p.m. In order to maximize transparency and engagement with all stakeholders interested in Bottle Bill implementation, DEEP will convene a Bottle Bill Advisory Group that will meet regularly in coming months.

• 7/11/2023 Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition and Urban Green and Community Garden Grant Rounds Open Through Oct. 2

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is encouraging municipalities, land trusts, and water companies to apply for funding to aid in the purchase and protection of open space through the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition (OSWA) Grant Program. This round of grants represents the 26th funding round of grants awarded under the program. Additionally, DEEP welcomes municipalities considered distressed or target investments communities to apply for funding through the Urban Green and Community Garden Program (UGCG). Both programs are accepting applications through October 2, 2023.

• 7/1/2023 DEEP Forecasts PM2.5 Levels on Saturday will be “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” for the Entire State from Canadian Wildfire Smoke; DPH Shares Health Effects Information and Suggests Protective Measures

  (HARTFORD)—Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is expecting smoke from wildfires over Quebec to elevate fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels on Saturday, July 1. These levels are expected to reach Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) levels for the entire state. The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) also is issuing guidance and information on protective measures. Ozone levels (smog) are also expected to reach USG levels in Fairfield and New Haven counties.

• 6/30/2023 Lt. Governor Bysiewicz, DEEP, & DOT Remind Residents To Utilize Bus Service To State Parks & Beaches Through ParkConneCT This Summer

  (Hartford) – Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz joined DEEP and DOT officials today to remind residents that the ParkConneCT bus service will continue this summer, providing public transit options for safe and reliable transportation to various Connecticut State Parks and Beaches. The pilot program, which began in 2021, will provide public transit options for safe and reliable transportation to Hammonasset Beach, Silver Sands, Osbornedale, Indian Well, Sleeping Giant, and Sherwood Island State Parks.

• 6/30/2023 DEEP Applauds More Than $22 Million in State Bond Commission Funding Approvals

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today received more than $22 million from the State Bond Commission that will fund several key environmental initiatives across the state, including state park improvements, land acquisition for open space and outdoor recreation, and testing of private drinking water wells for the presence of PFAS.

• 6/30/2023 DEEP Forecasts Unhealthy Levels of PM2.5 Friday for the Entire State from Canadian Wildfire Smoke; DPH Shares Health Effects Information and Suggests Protective Measures

  (HARTFORD)—Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is expecting smoke from wildfires over Quebec to elevate fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels on Friday, June 30th. These levels are expected to exceed Unhealthy levels for the entire state. The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) also is issuing guidance for those residents in the USG category.

• 6/29/2023 DEEP Announces $1.6 Million in Beverage Container Recycling Grant Awards in Urban Centers and Environmental Justice Communities

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is pleased to announce the first round of grant awards for the Beverage Container Recycling Grant program. The grant program supports the establishment and expansion of beverage container redemption centers in urban centers and environmental justice communities.

• 6/29/2023 DEEP Reminds Visitors to State Parks to Plan Ahead this Weekend Arrive Early and Have a Back-up Plan

  (HARTFORD) — Ahead of the July 4th Weekend, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), the Connecticut State Police, and municipal leaders remind visitors to state parks and boat launches to plan ahead, arrive early, and have a back-up plan in case the location of your choice is full and closed to new visitors.