Matthew Ritter, Long-time Department Staffer, Appointed to Oversee DNREC Law
Enforcement Arm Environmental Crimes Unit, Other Community Service-Related Offices

Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Shawn M. Garvin has announced the appointment of Matthew Ritter as director of the DNREC Division of Community Affairs – a DNREC division that spans community-related government services sections, including the Delaware Natural Resources Police Environmental Crimes Unit, the DNREC Public Affairs team, and the Offices of the Community Ombudsman and the Small Business Ombudsman.

Ritter has served 18 years with the Department, most recently as an environmental program administrator for DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation. In his new position, he succeeds Pat Emory, who recently was appointed director of the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife.

“Matt Ritter has the rounded background in natural resources and the environment that we value at DNREC, especially given the breadth of our mission and the diverse focus of our regulatory oversight,” said Secretary Garvin. “During my time with the Department I’ve had many opportunities to work with Matt on a number of high-profile issues and always been impressed by his ability to meet any challenge and see it through.”

After joining DNREC in 2004 as a seasonal parks interpreter, Ritter worked his way up through the state parks system under the Division of Parks and Recreation to positions of operations administrator and administrator of planning, preservation and development. As parks’ operations administrator, he oversaw Natural Resources Police Park Rangers, one of three law enforcement units within DNREC.

As director of the Division of Community Affairs, Ritter will oversee another Delaware Natural Resources Police arm, DNREC’s Environmental Crimes Unit, which enforces the state’s environmental laws and regulations. His new role within the Department also calls for directing DNREC’s Public Affairs team, providing assistance to businesses and communities, and acting as a liaison with the General Assembly.

Ritter was integral in the Division of Parks and Recreation’s capturing two National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) National Gold Medals – with Delaware not only notable as the smallest state park system to win the award, but for having won it twice. He also led the division in receiving accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) – making the DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation one of only three state park systems in the nation with CAPRA accreditation. Ritter is a graduate of Frostburg (Md.) State University, having earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife and Fisheries and a master’s degree in education.

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.  For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram,  Twitter or LinkedIn.

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

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Public workshops set for Nov. 14 and 15 on CEPF grant process and environmental project funding program

DOVER – Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Shawn M. Garvin today announced the availability of Community Environmental Project Fund (CEPF) applications administered by the Department. The CEPF grant program was created in 2004 by House Bill 192, as legislation that enables DNREC to withhold 25 percent of all civil or administrative penalties collected by the Department as CEPF funds.

HB 192 requires that CEPF funds benefit communities where civil or administrative violations occurred, and provides for the restoration of these affected communities by funding environmental projects that:

• Reduce pollution.
• Enhance natural resources.
• Enhance natural resources for the purposes of creating recreational opportunities for the citizens of Delaware.

IRS tax-exempt organizations are eligible for CEPF grants of up to $20,000. Applications for the CEPF grants can be found on the DNREC website, or can be obtained by calling James Brunswick, DNREC community ombudsman, at 302-739-9040. The CEPF grant application deadline is Friday, Jan. 4, 2019 by DNREC’s close of business (4:30 p.m.)

DNREC will hold two public workshops Nov. 14 and 15 on the CEPF grant-funding program, scheduled as follows:

• New Castle County: Wednesday, Nov. 14, 7-7:30 p.m., at DNREC’s Lukens Drive offices (Conference Room A, 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE 19720)
• Kent and Sussex Counties: Thursday, Nov. 15, 7-7:30 p.m. DNREC Auditorium, Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover DE 19901

Pre-registration is requested, but not required. Please email Lisa Myura or call 302-855-1915 to pre-register.

For an application form, and more information on the CEPF grant program, please visit the Community Environmental Project Fund web page.