News Releases

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• 8/6/2020 DEEP Advises Against Contact Recreation in Mill Brook, Packers Pond, and Quinnebaug River Below Mill Brook Intersection Over Next 48 Hours Due to Sewage Bypass

  The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has been advised that 150,000 gallons of partially treated, but not disinfected, wastewater has bypassed the Plainfield Village wastewater treatment facility in Plainfield, CT.

• 8/5/2020 DEEP Advises Against Contact Recreation in CT River over next 48 hours due to Massachusetts Sewage Release

  The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has been advised that hundreds of thousands of gallons of combined untreated stormwater and sewage has been released into the Chicopee River in Springfield, which feeds into the Connecticut River. As a precaution, DEEP advises against contact recreation in the Connecticut River north of the city of Middletown over the next 48 hours.

• 7/27/2020 DMHAS and DEEP Announce Series of Wellness Activities in State Parks

  Southbury, CT – The Connecticut Departments of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) and Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), in collaboration with local-nonprofit Toivo, are excited to announce a series of mindful outdoor experiences in local and state parks. DMHAS Commissioner Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon and DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes will participate in the first virtual wellness event at Kettletown State Park in Southbury on Monday August 10th, 2020 at 10am.

• 7/24/2020 DEEP Forecasts Elevated Levels of Ozone for Western and Coastal Connecticut Over July 25th Weekend

  Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is expecting several days of very warm weather, which will contribute to elevated ozone levels across parts of Connecticut. These levels may approach or exceed Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) levels for Coastal Connecticut, on Sunday, July 26, 2020, and Monday July 27, 2020. The impacted area for both days includes all coastal towns extending from Greenwich to Stonington.

• 7/24/2020 DEEP and Other Local Firefighters Deploy to Fight California Wildfires

  Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Forest Protection Staff are preparing a 10-person group of trained wildland firefighters to assist the U.S. Forest Service in fighting wildfires in the western United States, following receipt of a request for national wildfire response this morning.

• 7/18/2020 Elevated Levels of Ozone for Western and Coastal Connecticut Over the July 18th Weekend

  Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is expecting several days of very warm weather, which will contribute to elevated ozone levels across parts of Connecticut. These levels may approach or exceed Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) levels for western Connecticut, on Sunday, July 19, 2020. The impacted area includes western Connecticut as far inland as Cornwall and along the coast from Greenwich to Madison.

• 7/17/2020 DEEP Opening Eight Inland Swim Areas and Seaside State Park

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) will open inland swimming areas at eight state parks and will also re-open Seaside State Park and the marsh boardwalk at Silver Sands State Park tomorrow.

• 7/17/2020 TODAY AT 1 PM - DEEP ANNOUNCES OPENING OF SOME INLAND SWIM AREAS AND OTHER RECREATIONAL AREAS

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Today at 1:00 p.m., Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes will hold a news briefing at Stratton Brook State Park in Simsbury to announce the opening of some inland swim areas and other state recreational areas previously closed in response to COVID-19 heath concerns.

• 7/14/2020 Connecticut Joins Bi-Partisan Multi-State Effort to Green Truck Fleets

  Connecticut took another significant step forward in its effort to address the climate crisis and the health impacts of air pollution today as it joined 14 other states and the District of Columbia in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work collaboratively to advance and accelerate the market for electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

• 7/14/2020 State Rejects MIRA Plea for Hundreds of Millions in Subsidies for Hartford Waste Incinerator

  In a letter Tuesday, DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes rejected a plan submitted by the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority (MIRA) for presenting a “false choice, and a bad deal” for taxpayers across the state, Hartford residents, and the environment.

• 7/14/2020 Interactions with Black Bears on the Rise in Connecticut

  Interactions between black bears and people are continuing their year-to-year rise, resulting in unprecedented numbers of complaints and requests for assistance, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today.

• 7/10/2020 DEEP and DOAG Seek Feedback on Draft Spend Plan for CARES Act Assistance to Fisheries Participants

  The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DOAG) are currently soliciting public feedback until July 19, 2020, on a draft spending plan that details proposed disbursement guidelines for $1.8 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds for marine fishery participants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• 7/3/2020 DEEP Issues Updated State Park Operations Plan Heading into July 4th

  As we approach July 4th weekend, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has released an updated operational plan that outlines for DEEP staff and visitors current guidelines around the operation and use of Connecticut state park grounds, trails, beaches, campgrounds, picnic areas and pavilions, boat launches and other areas as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

• 6/30/2020 DEEP Announces Operation Dry Water 2020

  As boaters begin to prepare for the July 4th holiday weekend, law enforcement officers across Connecticut will be on heightened alert looking for those violating boating under the influence laws.

• 6/24/2020 DEEP Issues Third Quarterly Update on 20BY20 Initiative

  The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) recently released the third quarterly update for its 20BY20 initiative, a set of 20 goals that focus on improving the predictability, efficiency, and transparency of DEEP’s regulatory processes by the end of the year.