News Releases - 2024

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• 4/19/2024 DEEP Environmental Conservation Police Make Arrests in Alleged Railroad Tracks Theft Case

  (HARTFORD) — The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police arrested two individuals on April 9 in connection with the theft of railroad tracks from Connecticut Valley Railroad State Park in Old Saybrook. EnCon officers conducted an extensive investigation with assistance from the Valley Railroad Company.

• 7/12/2024 Seaside State Park Planning Process Continues to Move Forward

  (HARTFORD) — Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) seeks public input to help inform the design of the Passive Park concept as it continues to make progress in its planning process for Seaside State Park in Waterford.

• 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!

• 9/5/2024 DEEP Conducting Community Engagement to Promote Nearly $3M in Funding for Increased Urban Tree Cover

  (HARTFORD)- The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today that starting this week, in partnership with UConn, DEEP is hosting a series of community and stakeholder workshops through November intended to increase access to historic funding opportunities for urban forestry.

• 8/21/2024 DEEP Announces New Open Space and Urban Green Grant Round

  (HARTFORD) – The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) encourages municipalities, land trusts, and water companies to apply for funding to aid in the purchase and protection of open space through the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program (OSWA). In addition, DEEP welcomes municipalities and land trusts to apply for funding through the Urban Green and Community Garden Program (UGCG). Both programs are accepting applications now through December 2, 2024.

• 3/25/2024 Governor Lamont and Commissioner Dykes on Biden Administration’s Announcement Regarding Expanded Offshore Wind Tax Credits

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes released the following statements regarding today’s announcement from the Biden administration on the expansion of tax incentives to support and stimulate more offshore wind projects:

• 7/26/2024 MEDIA ADVISORY: DEEP to Hold Public Meeting on Draft Connecticut Clean Hydrogen Roadmap

  (HARTFORD)--The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) will hold a public meeting on Monday, July 29, to present and discuss the main findings of its Draft 2024 Connecticut Clean Hydrogen Roadmap.

• 7/26/2024 DEEP’s ParkConneCT Program Offering Free Bus Transportation to No Child Left Inside® Summer Events

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s ParkConneCT program is pleased to offer free bus transportation for two No Child Left Inside events: Dino Day at Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill on Saturday, August 3, 2024, and Saltwater Fishing Day at Fort Trumbull State Park in New London on Saturday, August 10, 2024. DEEP is offering two pick up locations for each event.

• 2/5/2024 DEEP Launches 2024 Seasonal Staff Recruitment

• 3/25/2024 CONNECTICUT FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK MARCH 25-29

  HARTFORD, CT – As flood season approaches, the Connecticut Insurance Department (CID), Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), and Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) are partnering to provide resources and preparedness information during "Flood Safety Awareness Week", taking place this year from March 25 to March 29.

• 7/12/2024 DEEP Announces Notice of Availability of FY 2024 Funding Opportunity for Boating Infrastructure Grants

  (HARTFORD) – The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is pleased to announce the release of a request for proposal for the Boating Infrastructure Grant Program. This competitive federal funding opportunity is offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under the Department of the Interior (DOI). DEEP will review and select qualifying state projects from the pool of submissions to recommend for funding, which will then be submitted to the USFWS for final approval.

• 7/16/2024 DEEP Forecasts Elevated Levels of Ozone for July 16 - 17

  (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 Wednesday. The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for the entire State through Wednesday. These hot temperatures will contribute to elevated ozone levels for western Connecticut on Tuesday and continuing along the coast on Wednesday. These levels may approach or exceed Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) levels for these parts of Connecticut.

• 8/30/2024 Migratory Bird Hunting Seasons Starting Soon

  (HARTFORD)- Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced the dates for 2024-2025 migratory bird hunting seasons, which include seasons for ducks, geese, woodcock, snipe, rails, and crows.

• 11/26/2024 DEEP Lifts Statewide Burn Ban on Public Lands It Administers

  (HARTFORD)- The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is pleased to announce that, effective immediately, the statewide burn ban for Connecticut’s State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management Areas has been lifted. This decision comes as recent precipitation has significantly improved conditions and lowered the forest fire danger level to LOW to MODERATE statewide over the past few days.

• 8/9/2024 DEEP Announces Connecticut Interstate Fire Crew's Return from Oregon Deployment

  (HARTFORD)— The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is thrilled to announce the safe return of the Connecticut Interstate Fire Crew (CIFC) following their recent deployment to Washington and Oregon. The CIFC members who deployed include 15 people from Connecticut, among them six full-time DEEP staff members. The remainder of the crew was composed of individuals from Massachusetts and Rhode Island.