DOVER – Final amendments to the Regulations Governing Delaware’s Coastal Zone, approved Aug. 26 by the Coastal Zone Industrial Control Board (CZICB), have been published in the September Register of Regulations and become effective Sept. 11, 2019, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Shawn M. Garvin announced today.

HB190, signed into law by Governor John Carney on Aug. 2, 2017, authorized the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) to issue permits for construction and operation of new heavy industry uses at 14 existing heavy industry use sites within the state’s Coastal Zone. Like standard Coastal Zone permits, conversion permits require an assessment of the environmental and economic impacts of the proposed conversion.

To begin the process of developing regulations, DNREC Secretary Garvin convened a Regulatory Advisory Committee (RAC), comprising various stakeholder groups and chaired by retired Delaware Supreme Court Justice Randy Holland. The committee provided recommendations on a number of issues, including a Sea Level Rise and Coastal Storms Plan, an Environmental Remediation and Stabilization Plan, and evidence of financial assurance. DNREC then held public workshops to gather input on developing regulations for issuing permits.

The committee’s work and recommendations were presented at open houses, where public comments were received. Comments also were submitted to DNREC during a public comment period. The Secretary’s draft regulations and amendments were also presented to the CZICB for approval, as mandated by the Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act.

“From the start of the process, DNREC has been committed to developing the regulations governing Delaware’s Coastal Zone Act Conversion Permit, consistent with the law, in a transparent manner that facilitated and encouraged public input and involvement,” Secretary Garvin said. “The new regulations incorporate recommendations from the RAC, technical experts, and the public that were received throughout the process.”

The regulations provide for Coastal Zone Conversion Permits to return industrial sites to active or more productive use while ensuring the protection of natural resources.

The new Regulations Governing Delaware’s Coastal Zone can be found online at Delaware’s Register of Regulations.

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

Vol. 49, No. 229

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DOVER – In accordance with the Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and Delaware’s Coastal Zone Industrial Control Board (CZICB) held a joint public hearing June 24 on proposed amendments to the Regulations Governing Delaware’s Coastal Zone, as set forth in 7 DE Admin. Code 101.

DNREC also reminds the public that the public comment period for the proposed amendments to Coastal Zone regulations remains open through close of business Tuesday, July 9, 2019. Comments may be emailed to Lisa.Vest@delaware.gov or submitted via U.S. Mail to Lisa Vest, Regulatory Specialist, Office of the Secretary, DNREC, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901.

House Bill 190, which was ultimately codified as the Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act (CZCPA) in 2017, amended the original Coastal Zone Act of 1971 and required DNREC to revise its Regulations Governing Delaware’s Coastal Zone (7 DE Admin. Code 101). Prior to the passage of the CZCPA, all heavy industry and bulk product transfer activities not in operation on June 28, 1971 were prohibited in the coastal zone. The CZCPA allows for the permitting of these activities under certain conditions. The proposed regulations specify these conditions in accordance with the CZCPA.

For more information pertaining to CZCPA regulations, please visit DNREC’s website at https://de.gov/czaregs.

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

Vol. 49, No. 174

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DOVER – The sixth meeting of the Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act Regulatory Advisory Committee (RAC) will be held at 9 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 7, at DNREC’s Lukens Drive Office, Pat Ellis Conference Room and Conference Room B, 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE 19720. More information about the Nov. 7 RAC meeting, including the agenda, can be found on the state public meeting calendar at https://publicmeetings.delaware.gov/Meeting/60812.

The four CZCPA Work Groups – Economic Effect, Environmental Impact, Risk Evaluation and Financial Assurance, and Offsets – also each meet regularly to provide the CZCPA RAC with support on technical subject areas. Work Group meetings scheduled in November are:

• Offsets (tentative meeting), 9 a.m.-noon, Tuesday, Nov. 15, DNREC’s Lukens Drive Office, Conference Room B, 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE 19720.
• Environmental Impact, 1-4 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 28, DNREC’s Lukens Drive Office, Conference Room B, 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE 19720.
• Economic Effect (tentative meeting), 9 a.m.-noon, Wednesday, Nov. 28, DNREC’s Lukens Drive Office, Pat Ellis Conference Room, 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE 19720.
• Risk Evaluation and Financial Assurance (tentative meeting), 1-4:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 28 (Note: This meeting is rescheduled from Nov. 29), DNREC’s Grantham Lane Office, West Wing Conference Room, 715 Grantham Lane, New Castle, DE 19720.

The next CZCPA RAC meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 11, starting at 9 a.m. at the Bellevue Community Center, 510 Duncan Road, Wilmington, DE 19809.

All RAC meetings and related CZCPA Work Group meetings are open to the public. Information about future meetings also can be found on the Coastal Zone Conversion Permits webpage. For more information, the public can sign up for the Coastal Zone Conservation Permit Act listserv by sending a blank email to join-dnrec_coastal_zone@lists.state.de.us.

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

Vol. 48, No. 302

DOVER – The fifth meeting of the Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act Regulatory Advisory Committee (RAC) will be held at 9 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 9, at Buena Vista Conference Center, Buck Library, 661 South Dupont Highway, New Castle, DE 19720. More information about the Oct. 9. RAC meeting, including the agenda, can be found on the state public meeting calendar at https://publicmeetings.delaware.gov/Meeting/60646.

The four CZCPA work groups – Economic Effect, Environmental Impact, Risk Evaluation and Financial Assurance, and Offsets – also each meet bi-weekly to provide the CZCPA RAC with support on technical subject areas. Work group meetings scheduled in October are:

• Offsets, 1 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 9, Buena Vista Conference Center (Buck Library), 661 South Dupont Highway, New Castle, DE 19720.
• Economic Effect, 1 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 9, Buena Vista Conference Center, Dining Room, 661 South Dupont Highway, New Castle, DE 19720.
• Risk Evaluation and Financial Assurance, 1 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 16, DNREC’s Grantham Lane Office, West Wing Conference Room, 715 Grantham Lane, New Castle, DE 19720.
• Offsets, 9 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 23, Blackbird DNERR, 801 Blackbird Landing Road, Townsend, DE 19734.
• Economic Effect, 9 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 23, New Castle County Government Center, Executive Office Conference Room, 87 Reads Way, New Castle, DE 19720.
• Environmental Impact, 1 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 24, American Birding Association, 93 Clinton Street, Delaware City, DE 19706.
• Risk Evaluation and Financial Assurance, 1 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 30, DNREC’s Grantham Lane Office, West Wing Conference Room, 715 Grantham Lane, New Castle, DE 19720.

Upcoming monthly CZCPA RAC meetings, each starting at 9 a.m., are scheduled for the following dates and locations, locations and times:

• Wednesday, Nov. 7, DNREC Lukens Drive Office, 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle DE 19720
• Tuesday, Dec. 11, Bellevue Community Center, 510 Duncan Road, Wilmington, DE 19809

All RAC meetings and related CZCPA Work Group meetings are open to the public. Information about future meetings also can be found on the Coastal Zone Conversion Permits webpage. For more information, the public can sign up for the Coastal Zone Conservation Permit Act listserv by sending a blank email to join-dnrec_coastal_zone@lists.state.de.us.

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

Vol. 48, No. 272

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DOVER – The fourth meeting of the Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act Regulatory Advisory Committee (RAC) will be held from 9 a.m. – noon, Wednesday, Sept. 12, at DNREC’s Lukens Drive Office at 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE 19720.

More information about the Sept. 12 RAC meeting (including the agenda) can be found on the state public meeting calendar at https://publicmeetings.delaware.gov/Meeting/60440.

The four CZCPA work groups – Economic Effect, Environmental Impact, Risk Evaluation and Financial Assurance, and Offsets – also each meet bi-weekly for the purpose of providing the CZCPA RAC with support on technical subject areas. Work group meetings scheduled in September are:

• Offsets, Tuesday, Sept. 11, DNREC’s Lukens Drive Office (Pat Ellis Conference Room), 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE 19720, 9 a.m.
• Economic Effect, Tuesday, Sept. 11, Grass Dale Conference Center, 108 Reedy Point Road, Delaware City, DE 19706, 9 a.m.
  • Environmental Impact, Wednesday, Sept. 12, DNREC’s Lukens Drive Office (Conference Room B), 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE 19720, 1 p.m.
• Risk Evaluation and Financial Assurance, Wednesday, Sept. 19, location and time to be determined (TBD)
• Offsets, Tuesday, Sept. 25, TBD
• Economic Effect, Tuesday, Sept. 25, New Castle County Government Center (Executive Office Conference Room), 87 Read’s Way, New Castle, DE 19720, 9 a.m.
• Environmental Impact: Wednesday, Sept. 26, DNREC’s Lukens Drive Office (Conference Room B), 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE 19720, 1 p.m.

Upcoming monthly CZCPA RAC meetings, each starting at 9 a.m., are scheduled for the following dates and locations, locations and times:

• Tuesday, Oct. 9, Buena Vista Conference Center, 661 South DuPont Highway, New Castle, DE 19720
• Wednesday, Nov. 7, DNREC Lukens Drive Office, 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle DE 19720
• Tuesday, Dec. 11, Bellevue Community Center, 510 Duncan Road, Wilmington, DE 19809

All RAC meetings and related CZCPA Work Group meetings are open to the public. Information about future meetings also can be found on the Coastal Zone Conversion Permits webpage. For more information, the public can sign up for the Coastal Zone Conservation Permit Act listserv by sending a blank email to join-dnrec_coastal_zone@lists.state.de.us.

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

Vol. 48, No. 240