Governor Carney pledges support in fight against climate change

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney announced on Monday that Delaware has joined the U.S. Climate Alliance, a coalition of states committed to upholding the Paris Agreement to combat climate change, after President Trump announced last week that he would withdraw the U.S. from the agreement. The Climate Alliance now includes 13 members.

“Delaware is the country’s lowest-lying state and with 381 miles of coastline, climate change is a very real threat to our future,” said Governor Carney. “As sea levels rise, more than 17,000 Delaware homes, nearly 500 miles of roadway and thousands of acres of wildlife habitat including our critical wetlands are at risk of permanent inundation. Rising average temperatures and an increase in extreme weather events also pose health risks to Delawareans, and threaten our economy. The U.S. should lead in the global fight against climate change. Delaware is proud to join this coalition of states providing that necessary leadership.”

The Paris Agreement called for the U.S. to achieve a 26-28 percent reduction of emissions, from 2005 levels, by 2025. Delaware’s continued commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to clean energy also will provide economic opportunity for Delawareans, and offer significant public health and environmental benefits.

Delaware’s greenhouse gases come from three primary sources: energy production, transportation, and industry. The state is working to reduce emissions in a number of ways, including through continued participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a nine-state program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. Delaware also has set renewable energy targets and increased energy efficiency with building codes, weatherization and other voluntary programs.

“Reducing greenhouse gas emissions requires action at all levels – from people using less energy and driving fuel efficient cars, to the government establishing national pollutant standards,” said Shawn Garvin, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. “We are proud of the progress the state has made and programs that help Delawareans drive cleaner cars and improve energy efficiency in homes and businesses. There is still much work to be done to reduce Delaware’s share of global greenhouse gas emissions, and I look forward to working with our sister states through the US Climate Alliance to meet Delaware’s pledge for the Paris Agreement.”

In the transportation sector, the state has incentivized the transition to cleaner fuels and electric vehicles, and now has a statewide network of charging stations.

“As we look to the future, it is imperative that we improve transportation resiliency to adapt to the effects of a changing climate. Incorporating the impact of climate change into our project planning and development, and adding more alternative fuel vehicles to our public transportation fleet each year are just two examples of how DelDOT is responding, and we thank Governor Carney for his leadership and commitment to this effort,” said Jennifer Cohan, Secretary of Transportation.

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YORKLYN – Revitalization milestones will be on display from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday, June 4, during the first Yorklyn Day festival at the former NVF manufacturing site in Yorklyn. The event will highlight site remediation – including toxics removal and flood mitigation – along with new trails and amenities, and plans for continued redevelopment.

“We are making tremendous progress in transforming Yorklyn into a residential, commercial, conservation and recreation area, while also removing a century of contamination,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “We are turning the area into a revitalized, vibrant hub of activity that retains its historic character and provides the kinds of amenities that will help drive economic growth while improving the quality of life for residents and visitors alike.”

• Already completed is the new Yorklyn Bridge Trail, located in the bullseye of the revitalization effort. It will surround a new flood mitigation wetland, which is slated to begin construction later this summer.
• The Yorklyn Bridge Trail now also connects to the CC Arts/Snuff Mill Trail, which also will be open to the public on Yorklyn Day. The trail connects the former NVF site with the historic Garrett Snuff Mills and the Center for Creative Arts. The centerpiece of the trail is the restored foundation of one of the Snuff Mills, dating back to the 1800s.
• In addition, the Oversee Trail, with beautiful, scenic views, is planned to be open in the next several days.
• Coming soon, a connection between the Yorklyn Bridge Trail and the Auburn Heights Trail loop, the first trail section completed in 2012, will be under construction in late summer 2017. This connection will include a renovated historic bridge behind the former Marshall Brothers Paper Mill on Benge Road.

What is not readily seen, but critical in the revitalization effort is the environmental remediation that continues. The former NVF manufacturing facilities in the area of Red Clay Creek are undergoing a massive environmental cleanup of nearly a century of historic contamination in soil, groundwater, sediment and surface water. In the process of remediating harmful contaminants from soils, a series of wetlands and flood mitigation measures will be created to reduce severe flooding that has resulted in significant economic impacts to the valley. In addition, restoration of the cross-stream that flowed through the facility will improve water quality and help to protect fish and other organisms in the Red Clay Creek.

DNREC’s Division of Waste & Hazardous Substances’ Site Investigation and Restoration Section (SIRS) is leading the remediation of the Brownfield site, including removal, treatment and disposal of hazardous materials from inside demolished buildings, removal and disposal of soil containing hazardous levels of zinc and lead, groundwater recovery and treatment, and monitoring of Red Clay Creek surface water and sediments. The private property owner has funded asbestos removal and building demolition. To date, more than 200 tons of contaminated materials have been removed from the interior of demolished buildings.

During the recent soil removal effort dubbed the “Big Dig,” more than 325,000 pounds (over 162 tons) of zinc have been removed from soils beneath the former manufacturing facility that now won’t contaminate the Red Clay Creek. Removing the zinc-contaminated soil eliminates the source of contamination to groundwater, and will thus minimize the time needed to operate the groundwater zinc recovery/treatment system. On average the treatment system recovers 600-700 pounds of zinc per month from the groundwater beneath the site. Since 2008, approximately 75,000 pounds of zinc has been recovered from groundwater and been kept from discharging to Red Clay Creek.

The partnership includes private developers, neighboring organizations and DNREC’s Divisions of Parks & Recreation, Waste & Hazardous Substances, Watershed Stewardship and Water. Partners include the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the EPA, local, state and federal legislators, business developers and strong support from neighboring property owners, as well as conservation and recreational organizations in the Yorklyn area. The collaboration is one of the most inventive undertaken in Delaware and serves as a national model for other similar projects.

To date, almost $8 million dollars of state funding has been spent to remediate the site, in addition to $1.6 million from FEMA for property acquisition, more than $800,000 in private loans from EPA and State HSCA funds to assist in asbestos removal and building demolition, and additional private funding for building demolition and restoration of an onsite office building.

Vol. 47, No. 127

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Tourism, Parks, La Vida Hospitality Group partner on new beach umbrellas, new Big Chill Beach Club

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. – Governor John Carney on Tuesday joined the Delaware Tourism Office, Delaware State Parks, and La Vida Hospitality Group to kick off beach season at Delaware Seashore State Park and promote the state’s tourism economy. Delaware’s tourism industry is the state’s fourth largest private employment sector – supporting 42,000 jobs– and contributes more than $3 billion annually to Delaware’s GDP.

The kick off included an unveiling of new beach umbrellas that will be available to rent this summer season. The umbrellas are emblazoned with the Visit Delaware logo and website, as well as the Delaware State Parks’ logo.

In partnership with Delaware State Parks, La Vida Hospitality Group previewed the new Big Chill Beach Club, a full-service restaurant and bar built atop the park’s existing bathhouse. This is one of the largest public-private partnerships and capital investments in state parks history, with an investment of $1 million. The addition to the state park features 360-degree views of the Atlantic Ocean, Indian River Inlet and Indian River Bay from its large rooftop deck. It has a large, beach-themed “umbrella room,” fire pit, game area and more that create a family atmosphere for visitors.

Click here for photos from the event.

“Delaware’s beaches and state parks attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to our state, are key drivers of our $3.1 billion tourism industry and improve the quality of life for all Delawareans,” said Governor Carney. “Through the dedicated and effective work of the Delaware Tourism Office and Delaware State Parks, we continue to position Delaware as a leading vacation destination, and attract even more visitors and growth to our great state.”

“We’ve had so much success with our Endless Discoveries branding since it was introduced in 2015 – including it being ranked one of the top two statewide tourism efforts in the country,” said Linda Parkowski, Delaware Tourism Director. “These umbrellas are a strong addition to the campaign, which also grew with a new travel guide, a new television commercial and new print/online advertising this year.”

“By increasing the park’s visibility and providing new services and conveniences, DNREC’s Delaware State Parks, the Delaware Tourism Office and La Vida Hospitality Group are helping to ensure visitors to the beaches keep returning year after year,” said Department Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “Delaware’s state park beaches are world-class. And the partnerships we celebrate today will help beachgoers experience the extraordinary beauty to be discovered at Delaware Seashore State Park.”

“We are so excited to be opening and providing a new layer of fun to the experience of coming to Delaware Seashore State Park,” said Josh Grapski, managing partner at La Vida, which owns other beach area restaurants, including Fork & Flask at Nage and Crooked Hammock Brewery and provides the food for Lefty’s Alleys and Eats. “This unique venue with its incredible views will be a wonderful amenity for the park.”

“These partnerships are a clear example of why our state parks received the 2015/16 National Gold Medal Award for the best managed park system in the country,” said Ray Bivens, Delaware State Parks Director. “They’re providing innovative experiences for our visitors and showing, once again, how DNREC’s Delaware State Parks keeps its eye on the future.”

Proposals due by May 24

DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship and office of Environmental Finance, and the Department of Health and Social Services’ (DHSS) Division of Public Health are now accepting project proposals from state, county and municipal governments and governmental subdivisions for matching grants for wastewater, surface water and drinking water project planning. Proposals must be received by 4:30 p.m. on May 24, 2017.

Eligible projects include: planning, preliminary engineering and feasibility analysis of wastewater and/or drinking water projects; stormwater retrofits; green technology practices; stream and wetland restoration projects; small watershed studies; master surface water and drainage plans; and other source water pollution control projects.

Wastewater Planning Grants assist with wastewater infrastructure project planning and design necessary to submit a loan application for funding consideration. Surface Water Planning Grants support projects and activities that focus on reducing surface water runoff and improving water quality in impaired watersheds. Drinking Water Planning Grants help municipal water systems prepare for large, often costly projects such as troubleshooting source water quality and proposing solutions, reconfiguring water plants to optimize treatment, and determining water main size and locations, among other activities.

Grant applications of up to $50,000 will be considered with a one-to-one cash match requirement. Up to 10 percent of the grant funds may be used for administrative costs. There is an annual cumulative grant award cap of $100,000 per successful applicant per fiscal year.

The Wastewater, Drinking Water and Surface Water Matching Planning Grant programs are set-asides in the State’s Clean Water and Drinking Water Revolving Funds. Projects will be recommended for funding by the Delaware Water Infrastructure Advisory Council through a competitive grant process.

Wastewater Matching Planning Grant, project guidelines and application can be found online by clicking Wastewater Matching Planning Grant. Proposals must be submitted by email (less than 10 MB) to Greg.Pope@delaware.gov.

Surface Water Matching Planning Grant, project guidelines and application can be found online at Surface Water Matching Planning Grant. Proposals must be submitted by email (less than 10 MB) to James.Sullivan@delaware.gov.

Drinking Water Matching Planning Grant, project guidelines and the application can be found online at Drinking Water Matching Planning Grant. Proposals must be submitted by email (less than 10 MB) to Heather.Warren@delaware.gov.

For more information, please contact Greg Pope, Environmental Finance at 302-739-9941, Jim Sullivan, Division of Watershed Stewardship at 302-739-9922, or Heather Warren, DHSS’ Division of Public Health at 302-744-4739.

Vol. 47, No. 95

DELAWARE CITY – Surrounded by children from the Delaware City Police Athletic League (PAL), State Senator Nicole Poore, State Representative Valerie Longhurst, DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin, representatives from the Delaware River and Bay Authority, and Ray Bivens, director of DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation, today cut the ribbon to celebrate the start of the Forts Ferry Crossing service and the first day of 2017 season at the Civil War-era attraction, Fort Delaware.

The Forts Ferry Crossing’s vessel, the Delafort, has transported visitors from the docks in Delaware City across the Delaware River to Fort Delaware since 1997. The ferry service connects Delaware City, DE with Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island and Fort Mott in Pennsville, NJ.

“We’re celebrating not only the opening of the season for historic Fort Delaware but also this year’s maiden voyage of the Forts Ferry, which is an exciting and fun experience in itself,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “Amazingly, over the years of our longstanding partnership with the Delaware River and Bay Authority, more than 100,000 visitors have been ferried to the fort, and we thank the DRBA for making this unique adventure possible. Fort Delaware is where history comes alive and it’s a spectacular tourist stop along the Delaware Bayshore Byway, and an important part of our Delaware Bayshore initiative.”

“The importance of tourism to Delaware’s economy cannot be overstated,” said State Senator Nicole Poore. “Delaware is blessed with a variety of events, activities and attractions for residents and visitors alike.  I’m particularly proud of our state parks system and Fort Delaware is at the top of list.  What a treasure!”

“Fort Delaware is one of 17 state parks in Delaware and each has something unique and special to offer our residents and visitors,” said State Representative Valerie Longhurst. “Fort Delaware is a legendary Civil War-era attraction and the Forts Ferry Crossing is a time machine transporting its passengers back to a bygone era.  It’s a history lesson you’ll never forget.”

Located on Pea Patch Island, Fort Delaware, part of DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation, has been restored and comes alive with interpreters who demonstrate what life was like during the Civil War era. Visitors experience Civil War life through living history and museum theater programs at the fortress that was once home to nearly 33,000 prisoners, garrison, and civilians.

From there, a short ferry ride across the Delaware River is Fort Mott, N.J. Fort Mott was fully garrisoned until 1922 and was staffed by a detachment of caretakers until the post was abandoned in 1944.  Today, the Ordnance Warehouse holds a small museum with displays on the fort as well as on the local area.  Guided tours are available upon request of the Fire Control Tower that rises 53 feet into the air, keeping a watchful eye on the approaches of the Delaware River.

Following a self-guided tour of Fort Mott, visitors can take a short walk to Finn’s Point National Cemetery, the final resting-place for 2,400 Confederate prisoners who died at Fort Delaware. Admission to Fort Mott is free.

The Forts Ferry Crossing will operate on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays through mid-June. Beginning June 14 and continuing through Labor Day, the Forts Ferry Crossing will begin operating Wednesday through Sunday and holidays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.  The cost is $12 for adults and $7 for children 2-12.  Children under the age of 2 are free.  The cost includes admission to Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island. Visitors take a one-half-mile ferry ride from Delaware City to Pea Patch Island. A jitney provides transport from the island dock to the granite and brick fortress.  Fort Mott is free. Additional information on the Forts Ferry Crossing is available at www.fortsferrycrossing.com

About the Delaware River and Bay Authority

The DRBA, a bi-state governmental agency created by Compact in 1962, owns and operates the Delaware Memorial Bridge, the Cape May- Lewes Ferry, and the Forts Ferry Crossing. The DRBA also manages corporate and aviation properties through its economic development powers – two airports in New Jersey (Millville Airport and Cape May Airport) and three in Delaware (New Castle Airport, Civil Air Terminal and Delaware Airpark). All DRBA operating revenues are generated through the bridge, ferry and airport facilities.  For more information, please visit www.drba.net.

About Fort Mott State Park

Fort Mott was fully garrisoned until 1922 and was staffed by a detachment of caretakers until the post was abandoned in 1944.  Today, the Ordnance Warehouse holds a small museum with displays on the fort as well as on the local area.  Guided tours are available upon request of the Fire Control Tower that rises 53 feet into the air, keeping a watchful eye on the approaches of the Delaware River.  Following your self-guided tour of the Fort, take a short walk to Finn’s Point National Cemetery, the final resting-place for 2,400 Confederate prisoners who died at Fort Delaware.

About Fort Delaware State Park

Located on Pea Patch Island, Fort Delaware has been restored and is alive with interpreters who put a human face on history.  Visitors experience Civil War life through living history and museum theater programs at the fortress that was once home to nearly 33,000 prisoners, garrison, and civilians. Prepare to be awed by its 32-foot-tall, 30-foot-thick granite walls with gun emplacements and an authentic 8″ cannon—the only cannon of its kind still fired in America.   A jitney provides transport from the island dock to the granite and brick fortress.

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