News Releases - 2020

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• 12/22/2020 TODAY AT 1:30 PM: DEEP AND TCI TO HOLD BACKGROUND TECHNICAL BRIEFING ON BENEFITS AND CONSUMER PROTECTIONS OF TRANSPORTATION AND CLIMATE INITIATIVE PROGRAM

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Today, at 1:30 p.m., DEEP will provide a technical background briefing for reporters on the estimates of the regional environmental, health, and economic benefits and costs of the Transportation and Climate Initiative Program (TCI-P), a historic program to reduce carbon pollution by 26% from transportation sources and invest $1 billion in Connecticut by 2032.

• 12/17/2020 DEEP Issues Draft Integrated Resources Plan, Connecticut’s First Assessment of Pathways to Achieve 100% Carbon-Free Electric Grid

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today released the state’s draft Integrated Resources Plan (IRP), a statutorily required recurring assessment of the State’s future electric supply needs and potential means to meet those needs.

• 4/1/2020 State Parks to Reduce Visitor Capacity During COVID-19 Pandemic

  Connecticut is announcing stricter measures to support safe, solitary enjoyment of outdoor spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• 7/18/2020 Elevated Levels of Ozone for Western and Coastal Connecticut Over the July 18th Weekend

  Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is expecting several days of very warm weather, which will contribute to elevated ozone levels across parts of Connecticut. These levels may approach or exceed Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) levels for western Connecticut, on Sunday, July 19, 2020. The impacted area includes western Connecticut as far inland as Cornwall and along the coast from Greenwich to Madison.

• 8/26/2020 Barkhamsted Woman Ties 40-Year-Old State Record with Massive Northern Pike Catch

  (COLEBROOK, CT) – An evening of kayak fishing with the family turned into a record evening for a Barkhamsted woman recently. ​

• 9/25/2020 MEDIA AVAILABILITY: 10-person Group of Firefighters Returns Home after Fighting California Wildfires

• 2/10/2020 RecycleCT Foundation Awards More Than $17,000 in Grants to 16 Connecticut Schools

  The RecycleCT Foundation has awarded more than $17,000 in grants to 16 Connecticut schools as part of the RecycleCT School Grant program and in support of its mission to promote the importance of recycling and to encourage people, government, businesses and organizations to adopt recycling as part of their lives and every day operations.

• 6/8/2020 DEEP Press Release

• 5/20/2020 DEEP Issues State Park Operations Plan Heading into Summer Season

  As we approach Memorial Day weekend, the traditional launch of the summer season, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has released an operational plan that outlines for DEEP staff and visitors current guidelines around the operation and use of Connecticut state park grounds, trails, beaches, boat launches and other areas as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

• 4/2/2020 DEEP Reminds State Park Visitors to Maintain Safe Distance from Beach Nesting Birds

  In addition to asking people to maintain proper social distancing in the outdoors, and to adhere to state park capacity limits and closures where encountered, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is reminding visitors to state parks to maintain a safe distance from the wildlife that call those parks home.

• 4/23/2020 DEEP Launches Celebration of Arbor Day Online and at Home

  Arbor Day is celebrated every year on the last Friday in April to highlight trees and all of the great things that trees do. This year, Arbor Day is Friday, April 24.

• 7/27/2020 DMHAS and DEEP Announce Series of Wellness Activities in State Parks

  Southbury, CT – The Connecticut Departments of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) and Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), in collaboration with local-nonprofit Toivo, are excited to announce a series of mindful outdoor experiences in local and state parks. DMHAS Commissioner Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon and DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes will participate in the first virtual wellness event at Kettletown State Park in Southbury on Monday August 10th, 2020 at 10am.

• 4/27/2020 2020 Spring Wild Turkey Hunting Season Opens April 29

  Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is reminding hunters and other outdoor users that the 2020 Connecticut spring wild turkey hunting season runs from April 29 through May 30.

• 7/17/2020 DEEP Opening Eight Inland Swim Areas and Seaside State Park

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) will open inland swimming areas at eight state parks and will also re-open Seaside State Park and the marsh boardwalk at Silver Sands State Park tomorrow.

• 3/13/2020 DEEP Announces Precautionary Closures of Some Public Spaces

  The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today that as a precaution to limit the risks presented by the Coronavirus, it is closing to the public certain satellite office locations, branch facilities, and high-traffic visitor centers within State Parks and Forests.