News Releases - 2023

Page 1 of 7

• 4/8/2023 DEEP Warns Residents of Very High Fire Danger Level Today Red Flag Warning Issued

  (HARTFORD)--The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is reminding residents that the fire danger level for today is very high, and a red flag warning has been issued by the National Weather Service.

• 4/4/2023 DEEP Reminds Residents to be Bear Aware

• 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.

• 5/19/2023 DEEP Promotes National Safe Boating Week May 20-26

  (HARTFORD) – The Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) announces the start of National Safe Boating Week, which runs from May 20 – 26, 2023, the week before Memorial Day Weekend. This observance week is the annual kick-off of the Safe Boating Campaign, a global awareness effort that encourages boaters to boat responsibly and wear a life jacket on the water.

• 3/29/2023 DEEP Begins Cold Water Safety Campaign

  (HARTFORD)—Boaters across the state have been taking advantage of mild early spring temperatures and boating activity is only expected to increase as the weather warms. Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) will be publicizing cold water safety through a targeted social media campaign to remind residents about the dangers of boating in the spring.

• 12/4/2023 DEEP Announces Free Swimming Lesson Program in Partnership with Connecticut Institute For Communities of Danbury

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Deputy Commissioner Mason Trumble joined local and state elected officials and the Connecticut Institute For Communities (CIFC) leaders at the Danbury Community Center (DCC) today to announce $128,000 to fund free swimming lessons to qualifying children. The partnership with the CIFC will enable children ages 17 and under to receive free swim lessons at the DCC pool.

• 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.

• 5/19/2023 DEEP Announces the No Child Left Inside® Families in the Parks Program 2023

  (HARTFORD, CT) - The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced that registration for the 2023 No Child Left Inside® (“NCLI”) Families in the Parks Program is now open at: www.NoChildLeftInside.org.

• 11/22/2023 Celebrate the Winter Holidays at Two Connecticut State Park Museums - Visit Gillette Castle and Osborne Homestead Museum for Holiday Flair

  (HARTFORD) — The winter holiday season is upon us, and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is celebrating with the festive transformation of two of its historic buildings: Gillette Castle in East Haddam and Osborne Homestead Museum in Derby. Enjoy the wonderous atmosphere created by special decorations that help set the tone for holiday cheer.

• 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 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.

• 5/18/2023 Moose Struck and Killed by Motor Vehicle in Hartland

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is reporting that a moose was killed in a motor vehicle collision in Hartland last night. It is the 3rd moose fatality of the year in Connecticut from a motor vehicle collision, and the 2nd in Hartland. The Connecticut State Police and DEEP’s Environmental Conservation Police responded to the scene of the accident on Rt. 179 at approximately 8:30 last night.

• 4/14/2023 Lt. Governor and DEEP Officials Highlight Lifeguard Opportunities in State Parks Ahead of the 2023 Summer Parks Season

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz joined Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) officials at Milford’s Silver Sands State Park today to tout the amazing lifeguard opportunities available at the State’s shoreline and inland swimming areas this summer.

• 6/8/2023 Air Quality to Remain at Unhealthy Levels through Thursday Due to Canadian Wildfire Smoke

  (HARTFORD)—Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is expecting smoke from wildfires over Quebec to continue to linger throughout the day on Thursday and result in elevated fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels. These levels are expected to exceed Unhealthy levels for the entire state as the smoke slowly disperses throughout the day.

• 6/9/2023 Air Quality to Improve Friday as Smoke from Canadian Wildfires Moves to the South and West of Connecticut

  (HARTFORD)—Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is expecting smoke from wildfires over Quebec that impacted Connecticut this week to continue to recede throughout the day on Friday, with air quality improving statewide.