CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

Today, DEEP is lifting the statewide burn ban for our state parks, forests, and wildlife management areas—an encouraging milestone as we transition back to a more typical fall fire season. This comes after weeks of unprecedented wildfire activity and a remarkable coordinated response to protect our state. 🔥 227 fires reported since October 21 🔥 Hundreds of responders from 6 states and 2 Canadian provinces 🔥 Aggressive and proactive strategies that limited fires to hundreds of acres, not thousands Connecticut’s wildfire defense centered on embedding DEEP and DEMHS personnel and mutual aid crews with local fire departments to ensure rapid decision-making and resource deployment. This approach, combined with partnerships through the Northeast Forest Fire Protection Compact and the Connecticut Army National Guard showcased the power of collaboration in safeguarding residents, businesses, and natural resources. While the rain has helped reduce the immediate fire risk, we remain vigilant. Connecticut’s fall fire season continues, and we urge everyone to follow local fire safety guidance and stay prepared. We are deeply grateful to the DEEP staff from across the agency who stepped up during this historic wildfire season, demonstrating unparalleled dedication and professionalism. Thank you to DEMHS, local fire departments, and our regional, national, and international partners for their teamwork and tireless efforts. Together, we protected Connecticut’s communities, wildlands, and resources during an unprecedented challenge. #ConnecticutStrong #FireSafety #EmergencyResponse #WildfireManagement

The CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Bureau of Air Management is hiring an #EngineerTrainee within the Planning & Standards Division's Mobile Sources Group. After successful completion of the program, the employee may be eligible for the target class of Environmental Protection Air Pollution Control Engineer 1💨 🌍️ If you have experience as an engineer, scientist or technician in an air pollution control program or the alike and if you're looking to join our state's environmental planning and standards, we invite you to explore this opportunity! Please share with anyone in your network who may be interested! Accepting applications through 12/9/24: https://lnkd.in/gb4Pn2Xk #CTCareers #AirPollutionControl #EnvironmentalProtection

It’s raining! And with it comes some much-needed relief during what has been an unprecedented wildfire season. Since October 21, Connecticut has experienced an unprecedented 221 wildfires and while the season isn’t over, this rain is a welcome development in the ongoing fight. Thanks to an aggressive and proactive strategy, we’ve been able to keep our brush fires from expanding, unlike what we are seeing in some of our neighboring states. By embedding DEEP and mutual aid crews with local fire departments, we’ve ensured rapid response to new fires, limiting their spread and protecting our communities. This success would not have been possible without the incredible collaboration of local, regional, and international fire crews. Their seamless teamwork, rooted in the spirit of mutual aid, has been essential. I’m profoundly grateful for their dedication and sacrifice in combating these increasingly frequent and fire prone conditions. While this rain is a positive sign, we remain vigilant and committed to keeping Connecticut safe. As we continue to support each other we will continue to find new and innovative ways to navigate these new challenges together.

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DEEP Deputy Commissioner Mason Trumble joined DOT Deputy Commissioner Karen Kitsis and local officials to celebrate a the opening of a multi-use trail in Moosup Valley State Park in Sterling. The 5.7 mile rail-to-trail conversion funded by the Connecticut Department of Transportation's Let’s Go CT! program connects multi-use recreational trails in Plainfield and Rhode Island to complete another segment of the East Coast Greenway in #Connecticut. https://lnkd.in/eAt2uY5h

When the Bridgeport Harbor Station went offline in 2021, it marked the end of Connecticut’s reliance on more expensive, polluting coal to generate electricity in our state. Many people driving by or living in the shadow of this “silent smokestack” have wondered, what comes next? This is a complex site still burdened by its industrial legacy, including PCBs, heavy metals, and other contamination that remain to be addressed. But it also has enormous value and potential, as an expansive coastal property in the heart of CT’s largest city. I’m proud that CT is advancing funding to catalyze cleanup and development of this site, to write an exciting next chapter for Bridgeport Harbor.

Proud to be in New Haven today with Attorney General William Tong to announce the settlement of our air quality enforcement case against Gulf Oil, which falsified nearly two years of records purporting to show—and providing false assurance—that its gasoline storage tanks in the New Haven Harbor were not leaking gasoline vapors. This case resulted from a routine inspection by DEEP staff, part of the service DEEP’s Environmental Quality branch is providing today to ensure that companies that ignore enviromental requirements and harm public health are held accountable.

📢 Reminder: Your Voice Matters! The Public Comment Period Ending Soon! DEEP is seeking community feedback on the Community Resource Hubs (https://lnkd.in/e7ZSk5pH) initiative designed to support environmental justice (EJ) communities. 📝 Submit Your Comments by: November 18, 2024, by the end of the day. This is your chance to help shape a program that aims to strengthen connections between EJ communities and DEEP's programs, services, and opportunities. How to Submit Comments: Email: DEEP.EJ@ct.gov Subject Line: "Community Resource Hub Draft RFQ Comments" Attach your response as a Word or PDF file, or include it directly in the email body. Your feedback will directly influence how these Hubs connect communities to critical resources, education, engagement, and more! Don’t miss this opportunity to make your voice heard! 🌿

Applying to Round 2 of ConneCTed Communities and have questions? Join DEEP on November 21st at 2:00 pm via Zoom! During this office hour, DEEP will answer questions related to the application guidance and application portal. Register here: https://lnkd.in/e6ZSuTy2

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