Governor Carney’s Statement on EPA’s Replacement of Clean Power Plan

Governor John Carney released the following statement after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s announced its decision to replace the Clean Power Plan with the Affordable Clean Energy Rule:

“I’m disappointed in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to replace the Clean Power Plan with the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule, which removes a strong incentive for states and the Federal government to work together to protect and improve air quality.

“Delaware citizens and our economy will be negatively affected by the ACE Rule. Rising average temperatures and prolonged heat waves pose critical health risks to Delaware farmers, outdoor workers, children, and the elderly. Changing climate conditions will increase local levels of particulate matter and ground-level ozone, which increase the risk our residents face of premature death and chronic heart and lung problems, and many of these pollutants are transported from states to the west of us. These threats will only increase if we do not take a stance as a nation and a global community to reduce the human emissions of greenhouse gases that feed rapid climate change.

“We must reduce greenhouse gas emissions to address climate change and the dangers it poses to all of us.”

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DNREC initiates new permit program for removal of lead coatings from water tanks

DOVER – Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) announced today the creation of a new permit program that establishes regulatory conditions for the sandblasting of outdoor water tanks to remove lead-based paint. Contractors often use sandblasting to remove paint from water tanks in preparation for repainting them. Effective immediately, all water tank sandblasting projects involving removal of lead paint are required to have an air quality permit from DNREC that will ensure sufficient containment measures are taken to prevent the release of lead paint chips into the environment.

The new sandblasting permit to be issued by DNREC’s Division of Air Quality also requires the tank owner to provide residents within 1,000 feet of a tank notification 30 days prior to any sandblasting activities.

“DNREC is committed to the proper management of sandblasting activities of outdoor water tanks to ensure no lead enters the environment, given the harm that lead exposure can cause,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “By implementing this new permit, DNREC will also increase public awareness of lead-containing water tank sandblasting projects in Delaware.”

For information on the permit, please visit DNREC’s website at de.gov/sandblasting or contact DNREC’s Division of Air Quality, at 302-739-9402.

According to the Division of Public Health, the largest source of potential lead exposure for Delaware residents is in homes constructed before 1978. To learn more about lead abatement strategies, please visit www.LeadSafeDelaware.org, or call the Division of Public Health’s Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program at (302) 744-4546, ext. 4.

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

Vol. 49, No. 4

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Kent Conservation District receives Mid-Del Foundation grant to help support Delaware Envirothon

Presenting the check, left to right: Howell Wallace of the Mid-Del Foundation, Tim Riley of the Kent Conservation District, and Andy Burger of the Mid-Del Foundation.

HARRINGTON – The Kent Conservation District recently received a Mid-Del Foundation grant in support of the annual Delaware Envirothon, an environmental education challenge sponsored by the Delaware Association of Conservation Districts (DACD), in which teams of Delaware high school students compete for scholarships and awards. DACD partners with DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship, working with landowners and managers to implement agricultural and urban/suburban conservation plans.

The Kent Conservation District was among 29 local organizations receiving grants from the Mid-Del Foundation, the charitable arm for Harrington Raceway and Casino, at the foundation’s 17th annual grant luncheon on Nov. 12 in the casino’s gold room.

During the Delaware Envirothon, five-member teams test their practical knowledge and application of environmental science in the categories of aquatic ecology, forestry, soils/land-use, wildlife, air quality, and a current environmental issue, along with their public speaking skills. The state champion team goes on to represent Delaware in national competition. The Envirothon’s goals include:

Promoting environmental awareness and stewardship;
Developing students’ critical thinking, cooperative problem solving, and decision-making skills;
Presenting balanced options for management of our renewable and non-renewable natural resources; and
Providing awareness of and accessibility to resource organizations offering assistance in environmental issues.

For more information about the Delaware Envirothon, please visit www.delawareenvirothon.org or contact Rick Mickowski at 302-365-8979.

The Mid-Del Foundation supports organizations and activities involving agricultural, civic, and social needs in Delaware. Established to consolidate the charitable undertakings of Harrington Raceway, Inc., the Mid-Del Foundation has awarded nearly $1.4 million in grants since 2002.

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 48, No. 326

Governor Carney’s Statement on Repeal of Clean Power Plan

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Tuesday issued the following statement on the Trump Administration’s repeal of the Clean Power Plan. The goal of the Clean Power Plan is to reduce carbon pollution from coal-, oil-, and natural gas-burning power plants, and combat the threat of climate change.

“Delawareans up and down our state are already experiencing the effects of climate change and sea level rise. Delaware is the lowest-lying U.S. state, and 17,000 homes here are at permanent risk of inundation. Rising average temperatures and stronger storms pose risks to our $8 billion agricultural industry and threaten our natural resources. And unchecked air pollution presents health risks for all Delawareans.

“The Clean Power Plan set national targets for carbon emission reductions, but provided flexibility for the states to determine how best to achieve these targets. We have worked hard in Delaware to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and partner with other states in addressing pollution that feeds rapid climate change. This proposed replacement of the Clean Power Plan will make our efforts to reduce carbon pollution more difficult, and will remove a strong incentive for state and federal governments to work together to clean up our air.

“Put simply, it’s a bad idea to abandon any tool we have to fight climate change together. Through the U.S. Climate Alliance, we are already working with states to uphold the goals of the Paris climate agreement. But today, I join leaders across our country in calling on the Trump Administration to abandon this new proposed rule and reinstate the Clean Power Plan so we can provide the global leadership necessary to confront this threat.”

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Governor Carney Urges U.S. EPA to Reconsider Repeal of Clean Power Plan

Governor: “I am here today to state that the rest of the country must follow Delaware’s lead and be part of the solution”

WILMINGTON, Del.— Governor John Carney joined Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) at its public meeting on Monday to offer public comment on the Trump Administration’s proposal to repeal the federal Clean Power Plan. The goal of the Clean Power Plan is to reduce carbon pollution from coal-, oil-, and natural gas-burning power plants, and combat the threat of climate change. President Trump issued an executive order last year to dismantle the plan. In his remarks, Governor Carney stated the importance of the Clean Power Plan to regulate greenhouse gases, address climate change, and improve air quality.

Below are excerpts from Governor Carney’s remarks, which will be submitted to the EPA:

“Our state environmental regulators are charged with protecting Delawareans’ health and our environment, in collaboration with the federal government. The proposed repeal will make our efforts to reduce carbon pollution much more difficult, and will also remove a strong incentive for states and the federal government to work together to clean up our air….the citizens and economy of Delaware are negatively affected by these changes and if the Clean Power Plan is repealed, we will suffer even more.

Rising average temperatures and prolonged heat waves pose critical health threats to Delaware farmers, outdoor workers, children, and the elderly….these threats will only increase if we don’t take a stance as a nation and a global community to reduce the human emissions of greenhouse gases that feed rapid climate change. Delaware has become a national leader in taking that stance, going to great lengths to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

CPP builds on experiences of the states who have already begun enacting clean energy policies – Delaware chief among them. Moving ahead with the Clean Power Plan is of particular importance to Delaware, given EPA’s failure to directly address emissions from power plants that impact Delaware’s air quality. CPP promises to provide additional ozone precursor emissions reductions – which would mean significant public health benefits.

I am convinced that the nation needs viable environmental action such as the Clean Power Plan. We must reduce greenhouse gas emissions to address climate change and the perils it poses to all of us here in the United States and around the world. I leave you today with the pledge that Delaware stands ready to implement the Clean Power Plan as originally proposed and I strongly encourage the EPA to reconsider their proposal to repeal it.”

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