News Releases - 2021

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• 3/31/2021 DEEP Expanding Non-Resident Fee Collection at Certain State Parks

  The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), building off of a successful pilot program launched last fall, is expanding its remote non-resident parking fee system to more state parks beginning Thursday, and will resume in-person non-resident parking fee collection at several state parks beginning Memorial Day Weekend.

• 3/22/2021 Windsor Locks Canal State Park Trail Now Open

  The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Ahlstrom-Munksjo, and the towns of Windsor Locks and Suffield are pleased to announce that the Windsor Locks Canal State Park Trail is open as of today.

• 8/20/2021 MEDIA AVAILABILITY: DEEP Commissioner Dykes, HRRA Town Officials, Stakeholders to Hold Press Conference Celebrating Launch of HRRA Glass Recycling Program

  (HARTFORD)—On Thursday, August 26th, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes, along with the Mayors and First Selectmen of the Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority (HRRA) region, and other recycling stakeholders, will hold a press conference to highlight the importance of a new glass recycling program for HRRA member towns, which will help to address the issue of glass contamination in our mixed recycling stream, contributing to a greater amount of recycled material and another important step in the effort to solve Connecticut’s waste disposal crisis.

• 6/11/2021 DEEP EnCon Police Partner with Foundation to Promote Wearing of Life Jackets

  (HARTFORD)—Thanks to a donation from the Emily Catherine Fedorko Foundation, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)’s Environmental Conservation Police will be in a position to provide new donated life jackets to individuals on Candlewood Lake who are without one.

• 3/24/2021 DEEP Seeks Qualified Volunteers to Fill LEP Board Vacancies

  Board of licensed environmental professionals plays important role in remediation of contaminated properties, applicants from diverse backgrounds strongly encouraged to apply.

• 8/20/2021 DEEP Lifts Feeding and Watering Advisory Related to Sick Songbird Illness, Vigilance and Certain Precautions Continue to be Advised

  (HARTFORD)—The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is lifting its advisory issued July 8 related to the usage of bird feeders and bird baths in association with a songbird mortality event observed in Connecticut and several other states, though vigilance and certain other precautions continue to be advised.

• 10/25/2021 October Is a Great Time to Celebrate Connecticut's Bats

  (HARTFORD)—October heralds seasonal changes across Connecticut – the days continue to grow shorter, leaves change color, temperatures drop, and Halloween candy packs the shelves at stores. One of Halloween’s most iconic symbols is going through a big seasonal change as well. Across Connecticut, bats are on the move; three species of tree bats are moving south for the winter, while the six cave bat species are moving shorter distances where they will spend the winter hibernating.

• 10/27/2021 DEEP and UConn CIRCA Partner to Develop Mapping Tool for Environmental Justice Communities

  (HARTFORD)— The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the University of Connecticut’s Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) are partnering on the development of an “Environmental Justice (EJ) Mapping Tool” to identify vulnerable populations that may be disproportionately impacted by programs, policies, or projects and to inform initiatives for creating healthy communities.

• 12/7/2021 DEEP Announces Beverage Container Recycling Grant Program Opportunities

  (HARTFORD)— The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today the Beverage Container Recycling (a.k.a. Bottle Bill) Grant Program opportunities. The grant program will support the establishment of beverage container redemption centers in urban centers and environmental justice communities to help provide convenient and reliable access for container redemption to all Connecticut residents.

• 3/15/2021 DEEP to Hold Hearing, Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Spill Regs

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes issued a Notice of Intent Thursday to adopt regulations governing the reporting of spills and releases commonly referred to as the Release Reporting Regulations.

• 7/19/2021 Search for Missing Teens on Farmington River

  DEEP Environmental Conservation Police (EnCon) are continuing a land-based search for the two Plainville teens who have been missing since Thursday night.

• 9/13/2021 Fall Archery Deer and Turkey Seasons Open September 15

  (HARTFORD)—The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) reminds sportsmen and women that the 2021 fall archery hunting seasons for deer and turkey open on Wednesday, September 15, on state and private land.

• 8/20/2021 DEEP Announces $12 Million in Clean Air Grants from VW Settlement Funds

  (HARTFORD, CT)— The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection today announced that the State of Connecticut is making up to $12 million dollars in clean air grants available as the third round of funding from the legal settlement in the Volkswagen (VW) Corporation emissions cheating scandal.​

• 9/21/2021 DEEP Announces Request for Applications for Sustainable Materials Management Grant Funding

  (HARTFORD, CT) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is pleased to announce that the State of Connecticut is making several million dollars in grant funds and technical assistance available to Connecticut municipalities and regional waste authorities to support sustainable materials management (SMM) efforts in direct response to the solid waste disposal crisis that Connecticut municipalities are facing.

• 5/5/2021 DEEP Accepting Grant Proposals for Clean Vessel Act program for 2022 Boating Season

  The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is now accepting competitive grant proposals for the federal Clean Vessel Act (CVA) program for the 2022 boating season.