DNREC’s Environmental Crimes Unit Natural Resources Police officers investigated this fire on Sandtown Road on April 4. DNREC ECU photo.

FELTON – Natural Resources Police Officers with DNREC’s Environmental Crimes Unit arrested two Kent County men April 4 on multiple illegal burning charges related to a fire in the Felton area. DNREC ECU officers responded at the request of the Felton Fire Company to investigate a large fire at a property on Sandtown Road, with fire companies from Harrington, Greensboro, Md., and Goldsboro, Md., also responding to assist.

Muhammad Iran, 29, and Muhammad Asim, 33, both of Felton, were each cited at the scene for one count of each of causing or allowing the illegal open burning of refuse; illegal open burning in the conduct of a salvage operation; failure to give prior notice to the local fire call board for open burning; and unauthorized burning. Each charge carries a minimum fine of $100 each.

DNREC’s Environmental Crimes Unit also reminds residents that the state’s open burning ban is in effect May 1-Sept. 30. Residents can find more information on open burning on the DNREC Air Resources Web Page at https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/air/open-burning/.

Delawareans are encouraged to report open burning violations to DNREC’s Natural Resources Police Environmental Crimes Unit by calling the 24-hour environmental complaints line at 800-662-8802.

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

Vol. 49, No. 87

MAGNOLIA – Acting on a tip made to DNREC’s Environmental Complaint hotline, Natural Resources Police Environmental Crimes Unit arrested two Kent County men May 11 and charged both of them with illegal dumping in Magnolia.

Michael B. Warncke, 41, of Magnolia, was charged with disposal or discharge of solid waste materials and fined $500. He was issued a citation and ordered by the Environmental Crimes Unit to pick up the dumped trash that led to his arrest.

Dustin T. Hicks, 21, also of Magnolia, was charged with using a motor vehicle to help dispose of or discharge of solid waste, operation of an unregistered motor vehicle, failure to have insurance on an out-of-state vehicle, conspiracy third degree, and criminal trespass third degree. He was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 7 in Dover and released on $500 unsecured bail.

Illegal trash dumping can be reported to DNREC’s Natural Resources Police Environmental Crimes Unit by calling the toll-free 24-hour environmental complaint hotline at 800-662-8802.

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

Vol. 48, No. 116

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DOI Will Publish Names of Companies Who Violate State Insurance Regulations

​Dover, DE – The Delaware Department of Insurance now publishes fines imposed by Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart against insurance companies who violate state insurance regulations.

Commissioner Stewart fined the following companies a total of $83,300 during the first quarter of 2016:

Name                                                        Fine                              Date

21st Century                                          $27,500.00                 1/21/2016

Teachers Insurance Co.                       $25,000.00                  2/04/2016

Homesite Insurance Co.                      $15,000.00                  3/17/2016

Jackson National Life Ins. Co.                $3,800.00                  3/22/2016

Progressive Direct                                  $5,000.00                  3/03/2016

Progressive Northern                            $7,000.00                  3/04/2016

The Department previously announced that penalties assessed against Aetna and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware earlier in January totaled $483,000.

Fines generally result from a “market conduct” examination of a company’s practices performed by the Department, or from DOI’s participation in a multi-state examination conducted by several jurisdictions.  Details of the companies’ particular violations may be found in the Stipulation and Consent Order entered into by the parties and listed under “Consent Decrees” in the Enforcement Actions & Fines section of the Department website at http://www.delawareinsurance.gov/departments/documents/enforcement/actions.shtml.

Click on the PDF link in the right-hand column to read the consent decree in its entirety.

For more information, call the Department at 1-800-282-8611.

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DOVER (April 25, 2013) – DNREC’s TrashStoppers program to stop illegal trash dumping in Delaware thrives on violators convicting themselves on camera of breaking the law and possibly costing themselves thousands of dollars in fines. 

Now, in a new DNREC video, the TrashStoppers program itself goes before the camera for an inside look at how this nationally-recognized program operates to thwart illegal dumping and do away with roadside dump sites in the state. The video on Your DNREC YouTube channel details how the program has become a strong deterrent against trash dumping in Delaware.

 TrashStoppers – working out of DNREC’s Office of Community Services and within the department’s Environmental Crimes Unit – was an immediate success, and states as far away as Alaska have emulated its strategic use of surveillance cameras to reduce illegal trash dumping.

Since it was launched in 2010, the TrashStoppers program has resulted in some 100 arrests for illegal dumping in all three Delaware counties, while a website featuring photos of illegal dumpers taken by TrashStoppers cameras has generated still more leads for identifying and apprehending violators.

CONTACT: Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 43, No. 168

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