Recycling Working Group Submits Final Report

Governor Malloy appointed members to a Modernizing Recycling Working Group last year to make recommendations on how the state can modernize its approach to source reduction, reuse, and recycling, more efficiently use waste materials and reduce costs for municipalities, residents, and businesses. Those recommendations can be found in The Report of the Governor's Modernizing Recycling Working Group.

The Working Group heard from experts, thought leaders from around the country, members of the public, and stakeholders to evaluate information about the current state of materials management in Connecticut. The report supports a more integrated approach to sustainable materials management in the state to drive environmental and economic benefits today and in the future through:

• Promoting an environmentally beneficial infrastructure;
• Fostering economic development and job creation through increased materials recovery;
• Reducing economic, operational, and administrative burdens on municipalities and individuals; and
• Redefining the role of the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority and the role and value of multiple Regional Solid Waste Authorities.

For more information, please contact DEEP.CTRecycleWG@ct.gov.

DEEP is coordinating a "Recycling Means Jobs" Legislative Day on February 28, 2-4  p.m. at the State Capitol Building in Hartford to promote reuse and recycling businesses that represent this growing industry. This event is open to the public and businesses and entrepreneurs are encouraged to attend.  For more information, contact  Sherill Baldwin.

DEEP has also published a new Recycling Means Jobs webpage for businesses and entrepreneurs.   According to a recent study by the CT Economic Resource Center, Connecticut generated $746 million in sales related to recycling activity in 2012, representing about 4,800 recycling jobs (directly & indirectly). The reuse and recycling sectors are poised for growth in Connecticut. New incentives, such as unit-based pricing and extended producer responsibility, are being developed to move Connecticut beyond its current 30% recycling rate. Increasing the amount of materials collected for reuse and recycling will result in more jobs and more economic activity in this expanding materials economy.   The reuse, recycling and materials recovery industries include those that collect, sort and market recyclable materials and sell them to others who turn them into new products. Reaching for 40%, 50% or even a 60% recovery rate could double the number of jobs in the reuse and recycling sectors.

Upcoming Webinars on RICE Air Standards  

U.S. EPA is hosting free public webinars on the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) and New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) covering stationary reciprocating internal combustion engines (RICE) and the January 2013 revisions to these rules. The webinars will take place on February 28, March 6, March 14, and March 19, 2013 (all webinars have the same program). Registration and log-on to the webinar will be first come, first served. Space is limited so consider registering for one of the later dates as the first dates tend to fill up quickly. Go to DEEP's  Air Compliance Assurance Training and Education webpage to register.

New Air Compliance Assurance Webpage

DEEP continues to work on improving its communication with its customer base by improving the flow of compliance information. As part of the Department's transformation under the leadership of Commissioner Esty and Deputy Commissioner McCleary, a new webpage was developed to ensure the regulated community has access to the necessary air compliance assurance tools and information. The  Air Compliance Assurance webpage consolidates new and previously available information, such as air compliance reporting forms, a What's New section, and a Frequently Asked Questions section. A new section concerning training and educational opportunities is being developed for the webpage. In addition, an air compliance hotline (860-424-3702) will connect anyone with a compliance related question to a live staff person.

Power of Change Awards Celebrate Energy Efficiency Efforts

The new  Power of Change Award program will celebrate and recognize outstanding achievements in energy efficiency among Connecticut's state and municipal buildings. Town officials, municipal leaders, facilities managers and public advocates involved in managing and leading  

PURA Holds Hearings on Storm Sandy Response  

Last month, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) held a series of public hearings on the preparation and response of Connecticut's electric distribution companies and gas companies in restoring service following Storm Sandy. Governor Malloy's Storm Legislation, Public Act 12-148, requires PURA to review utility company performance when more than 10 per cent of an electric distribution company's customers are without service for more than 48 consecutive hours, which was the case during Storm Sandy.  Their performance will be evaluated against the Gas and Electric Company Performance Standards PURA recently approved.  Written and electronic comments were accepted from the public, including town officials. At the conclusion of this investigation, PURA may order specific remedies, compliance filings and orders and may determine whether other sanctions are warranted. Information on this can be found at Docket No. 12-11-07.

Interviewing Mark Fenton in East Hartford

Municipalities "Caught on Tape" Leading by Example

Last spring DEEP began videotaping and conducting interviews around the state -- in town halls and schools, out on the streets, and even on the roof of a municipal building. The result of this effort is a series of videos that "bring to life" the success stories of Connecticut's towns and cities -- hopefully inspiring additional municipalities to reduce their energy use and to create more sustainable communities.  The project was done in partnership with the Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) and Middlesex Community College's Corporate Media Center. The funding was provided by The Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation through the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority (CEFIA). The videos are being used to support the DEEP's Lead by Example municipal outreach and marketing campaign as well as CRCOG¹s  Sustainable Capitol Region Initiative. Check out and share the videos posted on both DEEP's website  and YouTube channel to discover some ways to help your community become more sustainable.

Housatonic River Basin Natural Resources Restoration Plan

DEEP, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have released a draft amendment to the Housatonic River Basin Final Natural Resources Restoration Plan. The Plan, originally released in 2009, details restoration projects to be implemented using settlement funds provided by General Electric in response to PCB contamination in the Housatonic River. These funds grew to a total of approximately $9 million, and are to be allocated equally among projects in three distinct categories: recreational use of natural resources, riparian and floodplain natural resources, and aquatic natural resources. Because aquatic natural resources projects were lacking, it was decided to set aside a portion of the money for a future amendment to fund additional projects in this category. That amendment has been prepared, and an additional seven projects in this category are proposed to be funded. Projects include increasing habitat for migratory fish via dam removal and bypass channel construction, improving estuarine habitat through marsh restoration, and analyzing culvert replacement opportunities to improve stream connectivity. The public has until March 11, 2013, to provide comments on the draft amendment. Historical information on the project is available at the Housatonic River Natural Resources Restoration website.

Recreational Trails Grant Funding Available

DEEP is now accepting proposals for Connecticut's National Recreational Trails Program Grants. Applications are available on DEEP's website and will be accepted through March 29, 2013. Grants may be made to any private nonprofit organizations, municipalities, state departments and tribal governments. Recreational Trails Program funds may be used for:

• Construction of new trails (motorized and non-motorized).
• Maintenance and restoration of existing recreational trails (motorized and non-motorized).
• Access to trails by persons with disabilities.
• Purchase and lease of trail construction and maintenance equipment.
• Acquisition of land or easements for a trail, or for trail corridors.
• Operation of educational programs to promote safety and environmental protection as related to recreational trails.

2013 Is the Year of the Snake

2013 has been designated as the Year of the Snake and DEEP's Wildlife Division is participating in an outreach campaign with the Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) to raise awareness of the status of snakes and the threats and human perceptions that contribute to their decline. DEEP's Wildlife Division is responsible for the conservation of the 14 native species of snakes found in Connecticut. As part of Year of the Snake, DEEP will send out monthly press releases on snakes, publish informational articles in  Connecticut Wildlife magazine, and hold several educational events and activities including an art contest for kids and a Snake Day scheduled for Jun e 23 at Sessions Woods Conservation Education Center. Stay tuned for Year of the Snake activities on the DEEP website and at Facebook. Local conservation organizations, nature centers, schools, and other groups are encouraged to participate in and come up with their own Year of the Snake activities and to let us know by email or posting on our Facebook page.

NERC to Develop Environmental Specifications

The  Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) has a grant to develop model environmental specifications for three products that public purchasers find challenging to buy in "green."  The primary target audience is the public sector, e.g., state agencies, public schools, colleges and universities, municipalities, and regional governments.  They hope to increase green purchasing by providing model green specifications for challenging products, and by offering targeted assistance to organizations that may be going out to bid for those products. NERC is asking for your help with identifying the three products that will be the focus of the model specification effort by responding to and/or forwarding this survey to as many purchasers in state agencies, public schools, colleges and universities, municipalities, and regional governments as you can - https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/M3RSK36 - by the end of February.

Noise Ordinances On-line  

Links to Connecticut's municipal noise ordinances are now available on the DEEP's Noise Pollution Control webpage. The first point of contact for the resolution of noise issues is at the local government. Depending on the town, the enforcement of the local noise ordinance has typically fallen under the jurisdiction of the local Police, Health, Zoning or Building Departments. In accordance with Connecticut General Statutes Section 22a-73, DEEP reviews and approves municipal noise ordinances. DEEP's website lists the approved municipal noise ordinances that have been adopted by many towns in Connecticut.

Reducing Phosphorus in Connecticut's Waters

Last spring, the General Assembly approved P.A.12-155, An Act Concerning Phosphorous Reduction in State Waters. Phosphorus is a naturally occurring element - but excessive human inputs can result in increased growth of algae (eutrophication) in freshwaters in the state. Excessive amounts of algae can lead to low dissolved oxygen, impair or kill fish and other aquatic life, inhibit recreation and threaten human health (e.g., cyanobacteria blooms). The act requires DEEP to collaborate with towns on (1) a state-wide response to address phosphorus nonpoint source pollution; (2) develop approaches for municipalities to comply with standards established by the U.S. EPA for phosphorus, including guidance for treatment and potential plant upgrades; and (3) scientific methods to measure current phosphorus levels and to make future projections of phosphorus levels.

Public meetings were held regarding nonpoint source strategies, and point source strategies for phosphorus controls in Connecticut non-tidal waters. The meetings were well attended by town officials and many other stakeholders. Public comments from the meetings and more details on DEEP's phosphorus strategy can be found on the phosphorus website. Additional public meetings are being planned to continue discussions with stakeholders including workgroups to further explore these topics.

Coast Guard Academy (Mark Buck, Chief Environmental Branch; DEEP Commissioner Dan Esty, Ryan O'Neill, Cadet Second Class, and Justin Sherman, Cadet Third Class)

Green Circle Awards

DEEP recently recognized 19 Connecticut businesses and individuals for their environmental efforts at a GreenCircle awards ceremony at its headquarters in Hartford. Since the Agency launched the program in 1998, approximately 1025 awards have been granted to people, businesses, schools and organizations have been recognized for more than 1450 projects that have made a real difference in preserving natural resources and protecting the quality of the state's air, water and lands.  GreenCircle recipients are presented a certificate of commendation and recognized publicly for their efforts.  The GreenCircle Program is an on-going award program and award categories are for both common and innovative activities in the environmental field.  Visit the GreenCircle webpage for a list of award recipients and a description of the program.  

Municipalities Receive Funding for New Diesel Vehicles

DEEP recently announced grants of $360,000 to seven Connecticut municipalities to replace older diesel trucks with new vehicles that burn fuel cleaner and more efficiently (see listing below). With improved fuel economy, the replacement trucks will save taxpayer dollars, and the pollution controls on these vehicles will help Connecticut achieve its clean air goals.  The funds are from a settlement of a case involving environmental violations with American Electric Power Service Corporation, Columbus, Ohio and are required to be used to reduce diesel emissions in heavy traffic areas in environmental justice communities.  For further information on this program and other diesel grants, visit DEEP's website.

Youth Fishing Passport Program Launched

DEEP has launched a free Youth Fishing Passport program that enables youth under 16 years of age to access fishing information and fishing related activities, connecting them to a lifetime of appreciation for Connecticut's beautiful natural resources. Youngsters interested in participating in this program (with parent/guard ian permission) can register online for their free 2013 Youth Fishing Passport through the same electronic system used to obtain fishing and hunting licenses, permits, and tags.

A number of special fishing-related programs are being built around the Passport and various recreational fishing vendors will be offering free products and discounts to passport holders. By registering through DEEP's on-line sportsmen's licensing system and providing an email address, participants will receive email communications about special events, promotions, and fishing opportunities specifically designed for Passport holders. The Youth Fishing Passport is one of several DEEP initiatives, including the very popular  No Child Left Inside program, aimed at connecting young people with the outdoors.

Free Fishing Day 2013

On May 11, 2013, everyone is invited to experience the many excellent fishing locations in Connecticut without having to possess a fishing license. Take advantage of this opportunity to "try" fishing for a day and become "hooked!" Feel free to strike out on your own or plan on fishing at one of several locations across the state which will be freshly stocked with trout. Locations include Kent Falls State Park (Kent), Chatfield Hollow State Park (Killingworth), Hubbard Park (Meriden), and the No Child Left Inside/CARE Family Fishing Day event at Osbornedale State Park (Derby). Please remember that while participating in Free Fishing Day 2013, all fishing regulations, including seasons, size limits, and catch limits remain in effect. For additional information, including places to fish, current regulations, purchasing your fishing license, and periodic updates regarding free fishing day, you can visit the DEEP Fisheries Division web page, friend us on Facebook , join the Inland Fisheries ListServ, or call 860-424-Fish (3474).

Farmington Canal Greenway, New Haven

Seeking Nominations for State Greenway Designations 

DEEP and the Connecticut Greenways Council are soliciting nominations for official greenway designations.  Greenways are an integral part of any community, offering recreational opportunities, providing alternate transportation options, helping to preserve the environment, and supporting economic development.  They can make a community a more attractive place to live by connecting living spaces with the environment, and they preserve history and cultivate town pride. An official designation by the Greenways Council recognizes a greenway as an open space that not only meets the definition, but also enhances the community and is supported by local government initiatives.  Designated greenways, both for recreation and resource protection, will be listed in a subsequent revision of the State Plan of Conservation and Development and may receive increased consideration for a variety of grants.  There are currently 68 designated greenways in Connecticut.  The deadline for the submission of the nomination form is May 1, 2013.

Temporary Housing for Displaced Staten Island Residents

Last fall, a Connecticut church initiated an aggressive project to construct a temporary housing community for Staten Island residents displaced by Hurricane Sandy. Located on Faith Church's 37 acre campus in New Milford, the project was led by New Fairfield First Selectman John Hodge, who is also director of operations for the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation--a charity named after John Hodge's cousin, a New York City firefighter who lost his life responding to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

DEEP and New Milford town officials worked with Faith Church to quickly authorize necessary construction for the temporary housing site and to permit connection to the church's existing septic system. In turn, church officials worked persistently with numerous contractors in order to complete the construction of approximately 20 mobile homes in under a month. Funding provided by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation was used to purchase the housing. Just before the onset of extreme winter cold in December, the displaced Staten Island residents began moving into their new homes equipped with electric heat, water, basic furniture and small appliances. They can remain in them for up to a year, and children of the families may attend an onsite school through scholarships made available through the Hope Foundation for Kids.

CVS to pay $800,000 Penalty and Correct Violations

DEEP recently entered into a comprehensive settlement with CVS under which the pharmacy chain is paying penalties of $800,000 for violations of the state's hazardous waste management regulations and recycling laws. Inspections of CVS stores in Connecticut found mismanagement of hazardous materials used in photographic processing solutions, non-dispensable pharmaceuticals, non-saleable consumer goods, and state-mandated recyclables. This included improper identification, management and disposal of hazardous waste. The violations occurred at CVS stores in the following towns: Clinton, Coventry, Guilford, Madison, Mansfield, Southbury, and Vernon. The settlement includes eight consent orders. CVS has agreed to:

• Pay a civil penalty of $300,000,
• Pay an additional $500,000 as a supplemental environmental project with the money to improve materials management practices in Connecticut,
• Retain qualified environmental management professionals to oversee the actions required under the consent order,
• Complete closure of eleven identified former hazardous waste (spent photographic processing solutions) container storage areas,
• Develop and implement a state-wide waste management and recycling program, and
• Have a consultant perform unannounced compliance audits at twenty CVS stores in Connecticut.

For more information on proper waste management, visit DEEP's website.

Don't Use Outdoor Pesticides for Bed Bugs

The Department of Public Health (DPH), DEEP, and the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station are warning the public not to use outdoor pesticides to treat for bed bugs. Bed bugs are parasites that preferentially feed on humans. In the past decade, bed bugs have made a comeback across the United States. With the growing concern about bed bugs, there have been reports of people using strong outdoor pesticides in bedrooms and other indoor areas.

The National Pesticide Information Center has received numerous calls to their hotline where residents, homeowners, or pesticide applicators sprayed pesticides indoors to treat bedbugs. These cases involved pesticides that were misapplied, not intended for indoor use, or legally banned from use. Many of the calls resulted in mild or serious health effects (including one death) for persons living in affected residences. In Connecticut, pesticide use is regulated by DEEP. People who have concerns about possible misuse of pesticides or questions about the proper use of pesticides should contact DEEP's Pesticide Management Program at (860) 424-3369. For more information on bed bugs and the precautions that should be taken when considering using pesticides, go to DPH's website.

DEEP Comings and Goings

Meghan Ruta is the new Volunteer Monitoring Coordinator for the Monitoring and Assessment Program in the Bureau of Water Protection and Land Reuse. She previously worked for DEEP as a seasonal and at the Housatonic Valley Authority coordinating their volunteer  

A macroinvertebrate being monitored by the RBV Program in CT's water bodies.

monitoring program as well as work on Lake Lillinonah. Meg will lead the successful RBV Program, a water quality-monitoring program that allows citizens to participate in science that DEEP can use to inform the assessments of the state's waters as required by the Federal Clean Water Act. In addition, the RBV Program provides a strong environmental educational component to teach our citizens about the values of our aquatic resources.