News Releases - 2023

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• 8/31/2023 DEEP Urges Caution as State Park Lifeguard Presence Reduced on Labor Day Weekend

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today reminded state park visitors that the number of lifeguards at state park swimming areas will be reduced over Labor Day weekend, and that Monday, September 4, will be the last day for lifeguard coverage in the state park swimming areas.

• 3/20/2023 DEEP Announces 2023 Sky's The Limit Hiking Challenge in Connecticut State Parks

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Ready for an outdoor adventure exploring Connecticut State Parks and Forests? The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (“DEEP”) State Parks ring in spring on Monday, March 20, 2023, with the release of the 2023 Sky’s The Limit Hiking Challenge (“STL”), an annual checklist of hiking locations chosen from the state’s 142 parks and forests.

• 2/3/2023 DEEP Launches Free Swimming Lesson Program in Partnership with Connecticut YMCAs

  (WATERBURY, CT) – Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz and Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (“DEEP”) Commissioner Katie Dykes joined U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, D-Conn., U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes (CT-05), local and state elected officials, and YMCA leaders today to announce $1.5 million to fund free swimming lessons to qualifying children. The partnership with the YMCA will enable 14 participating YMCA pools in the state to offer lessons over the next three years.

• 11/13/2023 Connecticut Interstate Fire Crew Deploys to Fight North Carolina Wildfires

  (HARTFORD) — Three members of the Connecticut Interstate Fire Crew (CIFC) mobilized early Sunday morning from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)’s Eastern District Headquarters in Marlborough to fight wildfires in North Carolina.

• 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.

• 6/26/2023 Governor Lamont and Commissioner Dykes Statements on President Biden’s Announcement of $144 Million To Improve Broadband Connectivity in Connecticut

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes released the following statements in response to the announcement made today by President Joe Biden and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration that Connecticut is receiving $144 million in federal funding to support its ongoing efforts in deploying affordable, reliable high-speed internet service statewide:

• 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.

• 11/20/2023 DEEP Announces Opportunities to Reduce Air Pollution Through Clean Vehicles and Energy Storage Technology

• 2/3/2023 DEEP to Host 17th Annual No Child Left Inside® Winter Festival

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Winter is a great time to celebrate the outdoors, so children and their caregivers are invited to join the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (DEEP) No Child Left Inside® 17th annual Winter Festival at Burr Pond State Park, 384 Burr Mountain Road, Torrington. Multiple outdoor winter activities for the entire family are planned for Sunday, February 5, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Winter Festival is a partnership between DEEP’s No Child Left Inside® and Fish with CARE (Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education) programs along with the City of Torrington.

• 6/26/2023 Governor Lamont Commits $85 Million in State Funding To Address Flooding Mitigation in North Hartford

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that his administration is committing $85 million in state funding from the state’s Clean Water Fund and Clean Water Fund-related funding to implement a pilot program that will address sewage overflows in streets and basements in North Hartford, where residents have been chronically impacted by the long-term recurrence of sewer overflows.

• 6/27/2023 Governor Lamont Announces Release of $6 Million in Volkswagen Settlement Funds To Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Connecticut

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that his administration is releasing more than $6 million from the legal settlement in the Volkswagen Corporation (VW) emissions cheating scandal to fund 54 electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) projects across Connecticut.

• 8/10/2023 DEEP’s Next No Child Left Inside® Families in the Parks Program is Saturday August 12, 2023

  (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 Fort Trumbull State Park in New London on Saturday, August 12, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. alongside DEEP’s Fish with CARE team.

• 6/28/2023 DEEP Announces Launch of Operation Dry Water

  (HARTFORD) — In an effort to educate recreational boaters nationwide about the dangers of boating under the influence (BUI) of alcohol or drugs, the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) will be participating in the annual Operation Dry Water campaign. The mission of Operation Dry Water is to decrease the number of alcohol- and drug-related incidents and fatalities on the water.

• 6/16/2023 DEEP and White Memorial Conservation Center Launch Bat Cam

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Wildlife Division and White Memorial Conservation Center have worked together to establish a “Bat Cam” in a Litchfield barn. The barn, on the White Memorial property, is where female big brown bats give birth and raise their young every year.

• 6/8/2023 DEEP Re-imposes Alcohol Ban for Seven Recreation Areas

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has re-imposed temporary alcohol bans for seven state recreation areas. These bans are in effect from Friday, June 9, through Wednesday, September 6, at the following locations: