News Releases

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• 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.

• 6/7/2024 DEEP Applauds More Than $300 Million in State Bond Commission Funding Approvals

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today received more than $300 million from the State Bond Commission that will fund several critical and complex environmental initiatives across the state, including State Park upgrades, municipal clean water projects, and an effort to drain high water levels at Portland’s Jobs Pond.

• 6/6/2024 GreenerGov CT Awards Honor State Government Leadership in Sustainability Efforts

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management (OPM), and the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) proudly hosted the annual GreenerGov Awards Ceremony today. This event celebrated the exceptional work taken on by agency staff to reduce their agencies’ environmental impact and advance Connecticut’s climate and sustainability goals.

• 6/3/2024 Governor Lamont Announces $10 Million in State Grants for Recreational Trails Across Connecticut

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes today announced the release of a series of grants totaling $10 million that will support the planning, building, expansion, and improvement of 45 multi-use trails located in towns and cities throughout Connecticut.

• 5/30/2024 Commissioner Dykes Statement on EPA Clean School Bus Award Announcement

• 5/29/2024 CT Greenways Council to Hold 25th Annual Greenway Awards and Kick Off CT Trails Day Events

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Greenways Council (CGC) will host its 25th Annual CT Greenway Awards at Riverfront Recapture’s Boathouse in Hartford on Friday, May 31. The event is traditionally held on the Friday before CT Trails Day, which occurs the weekend of June 1 and 2.