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

Informational Workshop on Illegal Dumping Enforcement

Throwing away unwanted materials of any kind in any unapproved location is illegal. The laws governing illegal dumping cover disposal of even very small items, like the remains of a fast-food meal, and larger objects such as tires and furniture, as well as truckloads of household garbage and debris from construction sites. 

What happens when waste is dumped illegally?

Too often, illegally dumped waste stays exactly where it is dumped until town, city or state authorities become aware of the problem.  Even then, the cleanup can take weeks, months and sometimes years to complete.  The health risks are significant.  Areas used for illegal dumping may be easily accessible to people, especially children who are vulnerable to the physical hazards (i.e. protruding nails or sharp edges), toxic chemicals and hazardous materials (lead and asbestos contaminated waste.)   Dump sites with scrap tires provide ideal breeding grounds for mosquitos which can lead to severe illnesses including West Nile Virus. Other consequences that hurt everyone: 

  • Neighborhoods become eyesores, unpleasant to live in
  • Property values fall
  • Rodents and insects carry diseases from the wastes into the surrounding community
  • Water, soil and air become polluted
  • Significant local financial burden - The public has to pay for the costly cleanup which can amount to tens of thousands of dollars per site!

On June 26, 2015 State and Federal enforcement experts provided training to local code enforcement agencies on how to respond to illegal dumping and how the State and Federal USEPA can provide assistance.

Topic
(with links to presentations)		 Presenter Video Link/ Length
Welcome
Opening Remarks
Edith Pestana, Administrator, DEEP Environmental Justice Program
Yvonne Bolton, Bureau Chief, DEEP Materials Management and Compliance Assurance 
(4 min)
Law Enforcement Procedure/Definition of Litter Sergeant Ramos, DEEP Environmental Conservation Police
(10 min)
Assistance in Prosecuting Illegal Dumping as a Criminal Case Tamberlyn Conopask, Office of the Chief State's Attorney 
(17 min)
Statewide Housing Matters Judy Dicine, Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney 
(15 min)
Mathew Levine, Office of the Attorney General 
(20 min)
Evidence the USEPA Seeks to Prosecute Senad Metjahic, Special Agent, USEPA, Criminal Division 
(22 min)
Dumping on Private Property Robert Isner, Director, DEEP Materials Management and Compliance Assurance 
(14 min)
Audience Questions  
(39 min)

If after reviewing the Workshop videos and PowerPoint presentations you have further questions, please contact:

  • Robert Isner, Director, Waste Engineering & Enforcement Division, DEEP
    860-424-3264; robert.isner@ct.gov
  • Matthew Levine, Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General
    860-808-5250; matthew.levine@ct.gov
  • Tamberlyn E.C. Conopask, Senior Assistant States Attorney, Office of the Chief State’s Attorney
    860-258-5839; tamberlyn.conopask@ct.gov
  • Judy Dicine, Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney - Housing Matters; Office of the Chief State’s Attorney
    203-773-6755; judith.dicine@ct.gov
  • Senad Metjahic, Special Agent, USEPA Criminal Enforcement Division
    617-918-2358; metjahic.senad@epa.gov
  • Edith Pestana, Administrator Environmental Justice Program, DEEP
    860-424-3044; edith.pestana@ct.gov
  • Doris Johnson, Outreach & Education Coordinator, Environmental Justice Program; DEEP
    860-490-3258; doris.johnson@ct.gov
  • DEEP Emergency Dispatch to report a spill or other environmental emergency - 24 hours: 860-424-3333 or 1-866-337-7745 (toll free)

Content last updated February 4, 2020