DNREC Prioritizes Equity in Community Environmental Project Fund Grants, Launches New Mapping Tool

Cornerstone West Community Development Corporation received a CEPF grant from DNREC to improve recreational green space in Wilmington’s west side – leading to the renovation of three playgrounds. /DNREC photo

Applications Open through Sept. 16 for Six $25,000 Grants

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today the 2025 Community Environmental Project Fund (CEPF) grants will have a focus on equity. This change comes after the CEPF grant process was revamped to better address community needs and strengthen partnerships.

The DNREC Environmental Justice Office is accepting CEPF grant applications for projects in 2025. Applications are due by Sept. 16, 2024. To help communities and nonprofit organizations from areas impacted by pollution and contaminants, DNREC is providing additional resources to assist with completing grant applications, ensuring a better chance at securing funding.

In addition to these changes, DNREC is introducing a new CEPF Tool. This searchable mapping tool will help DNREC to identify communities where environmental violations have occurred, ensuring that penalty money for CEPF grant funding supports the state’s environmental justice priorities.

Identifying the state’s equity focus areas allows the DNREC Environmental Justice Office to direct investments to address existing inequities by use of the federal Justice40 lens. These areas are shown on the mapping tool, along with locations of past CEPF investments, and of facilities regulated by DNREC that have paid penalty assessments that correlate to CEPF funding.

The DNREC Environmental Justice Office will award up to six CEPF grants of $25,000 each this year. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and selected grantees will be notified in early October. Approved projects will run from January through December 2025.

Eligible project for CEPF grants include:

Pollution mitigation: Eliminate, minimize or reduce environmental pollution and reduce the risks to human health and the environment.
Environmental enhancement: Enhance natural resources, improve indigenous habitats and improve the quality of habitats and ecosystem functions.
Recreational opportunities: Enhance natural resources, improve indigenous habitats to create new recreational opportunities and increase access to existing recreational opportunities.

While being designated as an equity focus area does not guarantee a grant, prioritizing investment in these areas is expected to have a positive impact on quality of life.

For more information about the CEPF grants or assistance with the application process, visit de.gov/cepf. Additional details, including instructions for obtaining hard-copy applications, are also available on the DNREC website.

Media Contacts
Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

###

DNREC Opens Doors to Environmental Careers With New Internship Program

The first cohort from DNREC’s summer internship program were feted by DNREC leadership at a recognition event last month. Celebrating the program and the 17 DNREC interns, who work in full-time positions that span the Department’s eight divisions, were DNREC Deputy Secretary Lisa Borin Ogden, front row left; Chief of Staff Leslie Reese, second from right; and DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. /Delaware DNREC photo: Errol Ebanks

Wide Range of Full-time Summer Positions Now Filled by College Students and Recent Graduates

When the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control kicked off a summer internship program, the goal was to offer accomplished college students and recent graduates an opportunity to work alongside experts in public service and science.

Launched in early June, the 12-week pilot program employs 17 interns in various roles in a number of fields within the Department, including environmental science, natural resource management, wildlife biology, data science and statistics, marketing communications, engineering and compliance, and government administration. The new program spans all three Delaware counties, in DNREC offices throughout the state. The interns are able to take their passion afield, introduce themselves to new communities and work flexible weekly schedules.

“This program has proven to be a career-track opportunity for high-performing college students and recent graduates,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “In addition to providing a foundation for students to gain vital work experience, our vision is to also help address longstanding staff shortages across the Department by attracting interns back after graduation. We launched the program with confidence that it would enable DNREC to arrive at the mutually beneficial intersection of higher education and a rewarding career.”
DNREC partnered with the University of Delaware and Delaware State University to promote the internship program’s opportunities to their students and recent alumni. And though those two schools have filled the majority of summer positions at DNREC in inaugurating the new program, the internships also are available to all college students and recent graduates of any institutions of higher learning, whether in-state or out.

The DNREC summer internship program pays $17 per hour for a full 37.5-hour work week. The wage and full-time work week allowed the first cohort of DNREC interns to gain valuable, hands-on experience, helping them start careers in government and public service.

Interns have also learned that the core of DNREC’s mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Delaware’s natural resources for current and future generations. As an executive state agency, the Department spans eight divisions: Air Quality; Climate, Coastal and Energy; Community Affairs; Fish and Wildlife; Parks and Recreation; Waste and Hazardous Substances; Water and Watershed Stewardship. Each division has hired at least one intern who is actively training in their respective field.

Lillian Kuntz, a marine science major at the University of Delaware who is among the first DNREC interns, said: “I have gotten a lot out of this internship in terms of networking, field work experience, and data analysis experience – it has been helpful for my career. I was recommended to DNREC by a teacher I really respect and saw the job requirements align with what I feel I can bring to a job. I really love what I am doing.” Ms. Kuntz is working with the DNREC Division of Climate Coastal and Energy collecting data on the Delaware Bay’s horseshoe crab population and expects to delve into other aspects of marine science that would include traveling to Delaware beaches to identify and analyze various living organisms.

Semaj Bungy-Carter, an environmental science major at Delaware State from New Castle, said his internship with the Division of Watershed Stewardship matched up with his academic pursuits. “I have had the opportunity to travel the state inspecting various sites’ stormwater management structures and apply the knowledge I’ve gained in my studies to help combat severe erosion in my home state,” he said. “This has been an excellent experience – for showcasing the type of work environment DNREC provides and the different avenues that I can use my degree in.”

Another intern, Carson McClung, also a UD student with a double major in public policy and women and gender studies, joined the DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation volunteer and community engagement team this summer. He said: “My main responsibilities are to assist the (Americorps) NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) team with their field days, community events, and working on a geocaching project for the state parks system. I enjoy going to the parks for fieldwork, mostly Fort Delaware and Auburn Valley for their historical value. I would recommend this internship to others; it is a cool way to get involved with the community. This internship is allowing me to gain connections and community service experience, which I feel is extremely important for future endeavors.”

The wide-ranging experience gained from the program has impressed another DNREC intern, Andrew Mikalajczyk, who works for the Division of Water this summer while pursuing an engineering degree at the University of Delaware. “So far, I have been involved in the large systems wastewater program, doing field work checking on the septic system status of mobile home communities, alongside using GIS tools to map the locations of all mobile home communities in Delaware,” he said. “Apart from this, I have also been involved in the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFOs) program, reviewing permit applications, and reaching out to farmers to ensure they have all of the correct information filed with DNREC. So far, I’ve been very happy with my position at DNREC, as I’ve been given plenty of opportunities to see different paths that I may want to go down for my career, alongside the fact that I’ve greatly enjoyed the field work that has allowed me to explore my home state. I’d highly recommend anyone interested to apply for an internship in the upcoming year.”

To learn more about the DNREC internship program and receive updates about future internship opportunities, visit dnrec.delaware.gov/internships.

Media contacts: Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov; Ana Golia, ana.golia@delaware.gov

###

USACE and DNREC Sign Agreement for Bayshore Beaches

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Philadelphia District has signed a design agreement with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) for the Delaware Beneficial Use of Dredged Material (BUDM) for the Delaware River, Philadelphia to Sea Project, also known as the “Delaware Bayshore BUDM Project.”

The agreement, signed by USACE Philadelphia District Commander Lt. Col. Jeffrey Beeman and DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin and effective as of July 30, 2024, outlines federal and non-federal responsibilities and requirements and enables USACE to begin design efforts on the project. The agreement is for $3 million total, cost shared 90% federal and 10% non-federal.

The project allows for a one-time placement of sand at locations identified in the separate Delaware River Dredged Material Utilization (DMU), DE study, which examined opportunities to beneficially use dredged material from the Philadelphia to the Sea federal navigation channel. It ultimately recommended placement of sand at multiple communities along the Delaware Bayshore. Federal appropriations have provided $56.95 million in funding including appropriations from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

A Design Coordination Team, with representatives from USACE and DNREC, will oversee the project. The team will work to identify available quantities of sand within the federal navigation channel and at the Buoy 10 borrow area in the Delaware Bay.

USACE and DNREC will also coordinate on potential placement locations. Design work will include updating surveys, assessing beach conditions and needs, specifying placement areas and elevations, and designing beach profiles. Environmental coordination and real estate acquisition will also be required.

The design phase is expected to take approximately 15 months to complete, with subsequent construction phases to follow based on funding and priority needs.

“We appreciate the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for their collaboration and commitment. Together, we finalized this critical agreement, addressing the interests of both parties involved, to protect our communities, infrastructure and wildlife habitat from coastal storms,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “We will continue to endure the impacts of climate change, including sea level rise and more frequent intense storms, but we are working together to make Delaware’s coastal communities more resilient and better prepared for the future.”

“I’m proud to continue our long-standing partnership with the State of Delaware,” said USACE Philadelphia District Commander Jeffrey Beeman. “We are excited to work collaboratively with the DNREC team to move this important Delaware Bayshore effort forward.”

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship develops and implements innovative watershed assessment, monitoring and implementation activities. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts
DNREC: Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov
USACE: Steve Rochette, Stephen.Rochette@usace.army.mil

DNREC Sets Information Meetings for Draft State Energy Plan

Visitors Invited to Browse Displays, Ask Questions

Delawareans will have an opportunity to learn about strategies incorporated into the latest State Energy Plan update at public information meetings planned this month in each county.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s State Energy Office has been working on an update to the energy plan for the past year, with public input integral to developing it, said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin.

“Feedback from the public who attended meetings or completed online surveys helped shape the strategies outlined in the Plan, shifting toward a more resilient and reliable electric grid and identifying actions Delaware can take to achieve state greenhouse gas reduction targets in order to mitigate the impacts of climate change,” he said.

Four workgroups within the Governor’s Energy Advisory Council (GEAC), which is charged with providing recommendations to the State Energy Office on the plan update, held a series of meetings from June through December last year to gather information on what they thought should be included in the plan.

Those workgroups included: Renewable Energy and Clean Technologies; Energy Efficiency and Electrification; Grid Modernization; and Environmental Justice and Energy Equity.

As part of their outreach efforts, the State Energy Office, in coordination with the GEAC, held public input and information sessions in each county last November. More than 150 residents attended those meetings. Others submitted their thoughts through an online survey.

The workgroups combined drafted more than 250 recommendations, 82 of which were sent to the full Council. All of those were approved by a majority vote.

Visitors can arrive at any time during the two-hour events, browse the displays and learn about the State Energy Plan update from DNREC State Energy Office staff.

The draft energy plan public information meetings will be held:

Tuesday, Aug.13, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Cheer Community Center, 20520 Sand Hill Road, Georgetown
Wednesday, Aug. 14, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Route 9 Library and Innovation Center, 3022 New Castle Avenue, New Castle
Thursday, Aug. 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Dover Public Library, 35 Loockerman Plaza, Dover.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy uses science, education, policy development and incentives to address Delaware’s climate, energy and coastal challenges. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Media Contact: Michael Globetti, Michael.globetti@delaware.gov or Jim Lee, JamesW.Lee@delaware.gov

###

DNREC Announces Opening of New Boat Ramp at Records Pond near Laurel

DNREC opened a new boat ramp at Records Pond near Laurel today with the facility featuring expanded parking including expanded vehicle and boat trailering spaces, and consistent water depth for launching boats. The old ramp at Records Pond is now to become a canoe and kayak launch, for which it is better suited. /DNREC photo

Enhanced Facility Includes Courtesy Dock, Expanded Boat Trailer Parking and New Pier Decking for Fish Pier

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today the grand opening of a new boat ramp facility at Records Pond near Laurel in Sussex County. Construction began earlier this year on the new facility – which includes a new boat ramp with courtesy dock, expansion of existing parking lots to accommodate boat trailers, and new decking for an existing fishing pier on Records Pond. The main parking lot has eight boat trailer spaces and 10 car spaces.

In addition to the main parking lot there is an auxiliary lot on the opposite side of Willow Street that has 10 additional boat trailer spaces and four additional car spaces. Shoreline anglers can access the timber tidal fishing pier which was closed during ramp construction, but is now reopened.

The new ramp also features improved water depth for launching boats and should allow unimpeded access to the pond from the ramp regardless of the pond’s water level. The old ramp at Records Pond, located on the east side of US Route 13, will also remain open, but is better suited for putting in canoes and kayaks due to the shallower water depths at that location.

For more information related to this project call the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife Fisheries Section at 302-739-9914.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife, within which the Mosquito Control Section operates, conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on more than 68,000 acres of public land owned or managed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Media contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov

###