DOVER – The Source Water Protection Citizens and Technical Advisory Committee (CTAC) of the Source Water Assessment and Protection Program will meet from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, May 10 in Conference Room 220 A&B of the Kent County Administrative Offices on Bay Road in Dover.

The agenda includes:

• An update on recent source water projects and initiatives in Delaware;
• A presentation by David Wunsch, State Geologist and Director of the Delaware Geological Survey, on Water Supply Issues in the Delaware River System;
• A presentation by Scott Andres, senior hydrogeologist with the Delaware Geological Survey, on Delaware’s Groundwater and Surface Water Monitoring Infrastructure Improvements; and
• A presentation by Andrew Homsey, GIS Services manager with the Water Resources Agency at the University of Delaware, on the updates to the surface water source water assessments being done for the City of Wilmington, City of Newark, and SUEZ Water in Delaware.

The Source Water Assessment and Protection Program is charged with delineating source water areas around all sources of public drinking water in the state, identifying all existing and potential sources of contamination within those areas and making the information available to the public.

For more information, including a full agenda for this CTAC meeting, please visit delawaresourcewater.org, or contact Program Manager Anita Beckel at 302-739-9945.

Vol. 47, No. 92

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DOVER – Due to the volume of requests and interest expressed at a Jan. 25 public hearing regarding an application by Blessings Greenhouses and Compost’s Milford facility for a Non-Hazardous Liquid Waste Transporters Permit, DNREC Hearing Officer Lisa Vest announced that the record will remain open through March 3 to allow more time for concerned groups and individuals to submit additional public comment.

DNREC’s Groundwater Discharges Section received a Non-Hazardous Liquid Waste Haulers Permit application Nov. 2, 2016 from Blessings to transport dissolved air flotation (DAF) cake from Perdue Foods LLC, located at 255 North Rehoboth Boulevard in Milford to Blessings Greenhouses and Compost’s Milford facility at 9372 Draper Road. The company’s application, hearing transcript, and exhibits for the proposed permit are available for inspection at DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building in Dover by contacting Kathy Potter via email at Katharyn.Potter@delaware.gov or by phone at (302) 739-9948 in advance to arrange for viewing.

Anyone wishing to submit public comment for the DNREC Secretary’s consideration before ruling on Blessings Greenhouses and Compost Facility’s application for a Liquid Waste Transporters Permit may email their comments (preferred) to Hearing Officer Lisa Vest, or submit via U.S. Mail to Ms. Vest, c/o DNREC, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, or FAX comments to (302) 739-1174. Comments will be accepted through DNREC close of business Friday, March 3. Comments must be submitted in written form for inclusion in the formal hearing record.

Vol. 47, No. 36

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DOVER – The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has adopted a process for abbreviated review and approval of shellfish aquaculture leases by DNREC’s Division of Water following a comprehensive review conducted by the Division of Fish & Wildlife on a significantly-reduced number of acres than allowed for under state regulation, while also limiting operations in Little Assawoman Bay approved under the process to growing only hard clams.

DNREC Secretary David Small this week approved a Statewide Activity Approval (SAA) for use in considering applications for leasing state subaqueous lands for shellfish aquaculture in Little Assawoman, Rehoboth and Indian River Bays. The SAA will only be applicable to 343 acres rather than the 442 acres that were approved as shellfish aquaculture development areas (SADA) under regulations adopted in 2014. DNREC expects that most aquaculturists will seek SAA approvals due to the abbreviated process allowed, rather than individual permits that will be required for all other areas suitable for aquaculture that are outside of those approved under the SAA.

“Approval of this process addresses concerns we have heard from waterfront property owners around the Inland Bays, and still allows certainty for small business interests who wish to pursue growing oysters and clams in the Inland Bays,” Sec. Small said. “DNREC had an obligation to develop a process for implementing the law allowing aquaculture, and this approach does so in an equitable manner. This is a major step in moving the program forward.”

The portions of the SADA in the Little Assawoman Bay approved under the SAA process were limited to sections farther away from homes and areas potentially used by recreational boaters, sailors, kayakers and paddleboarders. The SADA in Beach Cove off Indian River Bay that had previously been adopted by regulation is not eligible for approval under a SAA. Under today’s action, DNREC is also committed to a future review of the regulations, including the potential permanent removal of some SADA areas, and the requirement for marking the one-acre tracts with white PVC pipe. Both of these provisions are included in the regulation and unable to be addressed by the establishment of a SAA for shellfish aquaculture.

Commercial shellfish aquaculture in the Inland Bays was facilitated by the 147th General Assembly’s unanimous passage, and signing into law by Governor Jack Markell in 2013, of House Bill 160. DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife was charged with adopting regulations for the new program, in consultation with other state and federal agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, about how different aspects of shellfish aquaculture might affect the Inland Bays. DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife sought public opinion via two public meetings, followed by a public hearing and comment period on commercial shellfish aquaculture regulations as required by the Administrative Procedures Act. Concerns about the location of some shellfish aquaculture development areas surfaced after the public process and adoption of the regulations.

As shellfish aquaculture program development continued after regulations were adopted, the Division of Fish & Wildlife proceeded with steps to include less acreage under an abbreviated review and approval process than adopted in SADAs. The reduction was facilitated by Fish & Wildlife seeking required subaqueous lands approval for shellfish aquaculture through submission of a Statewide Activity Approval application to DNREC’s Wetlands & Subaqueous Lands Section. The requested and approved SAA areas include 209 acres in Rehoboth Bay, 91 acres in Indian River Bay (a reduction of 24 acres under the SAA), and 43 acres in Little Assawoman Bay (a reduction of 75 acres under the SAA).

Shellfish aquaculture lease applications will be accepted by the Division of Fish & Wildlife after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issues new nationwide permits in spring 2017. The Corps’ nationwide permits are issued on a 5-year cycle with the current permits set to expire March 18, 2017. The new nationwide permits are expected to include conditioned approval of shellfish aquaculture. Soon thereafter, the Division of Fish & Wildlife will begin accepting lease applications to award shellfish aquaculture leases through an initial lottery.

The Secretary’s Order for use of a Statewide Activity Approval in considering shellfish aquaculture lease applications can be found on the DNREC website. For more information on the shellfish aquaculture SAA, please contact DNREC’s Wetlands & Subaqueous Lands Section at (302) 739-9943. For more information on the shellfish aquaculture program, please contact the Fisheries Section at (302) 739-9914.

Vol. 46, No. 424

MEDIA CONTACT: Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

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DOVER– With little yield of precipitation during the current stretch of weather – particularly unseasonable warmth as recently experienced in northern New Castle County and adjacent southeastern Pennsylvania – DNREC Secretary David Small reminds Delawareans that water conservation practices are a year-round action contributing to the continued good health of the state’s water supplies. This mindset is particularly important in northern New Castle County, where large numbers of Delawareans rely on several surface water streams and reservoirs for their public water supplies. These streams rely in large part on rainfall in watersheds extending from Delaware into southeastern Pennsylvania.

“Conserving water in any number of ways whenever possible can help offset the lack of rainfall for northern Delaware and watersheds in adjacent southeastern Pennsylvania, and will help maintain existing water supply levels,” Secretary Small said. “Our water supply is a precious natural and economic resource; and is a resource which Delaware residents have a direct influence on preserving through conservation-minded water use.”

Water conditions for northern Delaware were reported Nov. 21 during a teleconference with northern New Castle County water utilities. All utilities reported that demands were seasonally normal and that there is sufficient water supply at this time as demands are at their lowest of the year. “The water supply is sufficient because of investments in storage in northern Delaware made by water purveyors over the past decade,” said John Barndt, DNREC Water Supply Section program manager. Still, he noted that the Delaware Geological Survey reported that stream flows in northern New Castle County remain very low, and groundwater there continues declining toward below-normal levels. DNREC’s Water Supply Section has called an emergency meeting of the state’s Water Supply Coordinating Council for Tuesday, Dec. 13 to discuss and assess the state’s water supply and how current conditions are affecting it.

Eastern Pennsylvania, much of New Jersey, and western New York are experiencing drought conditions that prompted the Delaware River Basin Commission, comprising those three states and Delaware, to vote unanimously today to declare a basin-wide drought watch effective immediately. The DRBC resolution behind the drought watch called for encouraging all residents and business users of basin water supplies “to maximize water efficiency to preserve and protect the basin’s water supplies.” The resolution can be found on the DRBC website.

Delaware State Climatologist Dan Leathers emphasized that the primary concern for northern Delaware is the deficit in precipitation experienced in the headwaters of the Christina River Basin, including the Red Clay, White Clay and Brandywine Creek watersheds. During the last six months, only 75 to 90 percent of normal precipitation has fallen across these watersheds, with the northern portion of each watershed experiencing even greater deficits of 50 to 75 percent of normal precipitation. In addition, during the last six months the temperature in the Christina Basin has averaged 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit above normal, making it the warmest such period since 1948. The high temperatures have increased evaporation and transpiration, worsening northern Delaware’s dry conditions.

DNREC Secretary Small noted that reservoirs in northern Delaware, interconnections between the public water systems, and use of aquifer storage and recovery and other enhancements were designed to allow northern Delaware to be more resilient to periodic extended dry weather events. Since the state’s Water Supply Coordinating Council was established in 1999, the state and water purveyors who help comprise the council have worked together to enhance New Castle County’s water supply by an additional 2 billion gallons of water. Nevertheless, wise water use and conservation of supplies are highly encouraged in Delaware – tips for both practices can be found on the US Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense webpage.

Daily monitoring of water supply and demand conditions by water purveyors will continue in accordance with the plans established by the Water Supply Coordinating Council. Weekly meetings of the water agencies and utilities will be held until conditions return to normal, while the Water Supply Coordinating Council will be convened as necessary.

Media Contact: Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Vol. 46, No. 408

DOVER – The Source Water Protection Citizens and Technical Advisory Committee (CTAC) of the DNREC-led Source Water Assessment and Protection Program will meet from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Nov. 2 in Conference Room 220 of the Kent County Administrative Offices at 555 South Bay Road, Dover, DE 19901.

The agenda includes the following items:
• An update on recent source water projects and initiatives in Delaware;
• A presentation by Scott Andres of the Delaware Geological Survey on Delaware’s Ground Water Monitoring Network;
• A presentation from attorney Max B. Walton of the law firm Connolly Gallagher LLP on wellhead protection; and
• A presentation by Jennifer Adkins of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary on the Schuylkill Action Network, a source water collaborative in southeastern Pennsylvania.

For more information about the Source Water Assessment and Protection Program, including a full agenda for this meeting, please visit http://delawaresourcewater.org, or contact Program Manager Anita Beckel at 302-739-9945.

Delaware’s Source Water Assessment Plan was approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in October 1999. The program is charged with delineating source water areas around all sources of public drinking water in the state, identifying all existing and potential sources of contamination within those areas and making the information available to the public. The Source Water Protection Law of 2001 maintains the CTAC as an advisory committee to the Secretary of DNREC on the implementation of the Source Water Assessment Plan and closely related matters.

Media contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 359

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