DOVER – October is “Children in Nature Month,” and to celebrate, the Delaware Children in Nature Coalition is launching a new statewide outdoor activity program for kids – “Children in Nature Prescription for Health.”

More than 3,000 “Prescription for Health” cards have been distributed so far in communities throughout the state. They are being offered in schools, doctors’ offices and other organizations and businesses that take part in the state’s Children in Nature Coalition. Kids pick up the “prescription” cards, which list numerous healthy activities and where those activities are being offered. Children who participate in the activities fill in their cards and are then eligible to win free prizes in a monthly drawing. The activities are free of charge.

The program will remain in effect beyond Children in Nature month,  and new cards will be available at any time.

The Delaware Children in Nature Coalition is a group of more than 19 partner organizations, including DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation, that are Delaware’s leaders in child health and welfare, and environmental education. The coalition identifies and promotes outdoor programs and activities designed to get children to participate in outdoor activities.

Children in Nature Month was first declared by Governor Markell in 2014. That year, more than 219,000 kids and families took part in programs at 16 sites across the state. That number increased to more than 228,000 at 31 sites last year. This year, more than 40 programs have taken place throughout October in all regions of the state. The Children in Nature initiative provides meaningful outdoor experiences and promotes healthy lifestyles for children.

For more information, or to download a “Prescription for Health” card, visit dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/children-in-nature/, or call Franchesca Garland, Delaware State Parks, 302-739-9221.

Proposals due by Nov. 16

DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship, the office of Environmental Finance, and the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Division of Public Health are now accepting 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. Nov. 16, 2016.

Eligible projects include planning, preliminary engineering and feasibility analysis of: wastewater and 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.

Grant applications of up to $50,000 will be considered with a 1:1 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 Delaware’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.

For a Wastewater Matching Planning Grant, the project guidelines and the 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.

For a Surface Water Matching Planning Grant, the project guidelines and the 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.

For a Drinking Water Matching Planning Grant, the 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, contact Greg Pope, DNREC Environmental Finance at 302-739-9941, Jim Sullivan, DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship at 302-739-9922, or Heather Warren, Division of Public Health at 302-744-4739.

Media Contact: Melanie Rapp, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 349

DOVER – DNREC Secretary David Small has issued a Notice of Administrative Penalty and Secretary’s Order to Formosa Plastics Corporation for violations of Delaware’s laws and regulations governing hazardous waste management, with Formosa Plastics ordered to pay a penalty of $241,013 along with $3,563 in cost recovery for the department.

Formosa Plastics Corp. operates a polyvinyl chloride resin manufacturing facility at 780 Schoolhouse Road in Delaware City. As a result of its operations, the facility is designated by DNREC as a large-quantity generator of hazardous waste.

On June 27, 2016, DNREC representatives conducted a compliance assessment at Formosa’s Delaware City facility. The assessment identified seven violations of Delaware’s Regulations Governing Hazardous Waste, including failure to properly label and date 89,097 pounds of off-specification polyvinyl chloride (PVC) solids in approximately 71 “super-sack” bags. PVC solids are hazardous due to their vinyl chloride content, which is considered highly toxic, flammable and carcinogenic.

Additionally, Formosa Plastics, after failing to ship the waste offsite within the required 90 days, was cited for operating a hazardous waste storage facility without a permit. The company also failed to make a hazardous waste determination on spent filters generated from the puncturing of aerosol cans; failed to post a “No Smoking” sign near ignitable wastes, and failed to properly close a container of used oil generated by maintenance activities. Based on the assessment, a Notice of Administrative Penalty and Secretary’s Order has been issued to Formosa Plastics Corporation.

Formosa previously incurred similar violations before entering into a consent decree with the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) on June 28, 2005. The consent decree included a penalty of $450,000 plus and an investment of $842,847 in supplemental environmental projects undertaken by Formosa. During subsequent inspections conducted by USEPA and DNREC in 2012 and 2014, Formosa incurred additional violations relating to the mismanagement of PVC solids and on Sept. 17, 2015 was fined an additional $112,500 by USEPA.

The Secretary’s Order can be found on the DNREC website at http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/Info/Pages/SecOrders_Enforcement.aspx.

Formosa Plastics Corporation has 30 days to appeal the Secretary’s Order.

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

Vol. 46, No. 352

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DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Air Quality will hold three public workshops later this month to share information with Delawareans on climate change, the EPA’s Clean Power Plan (CPP) and how Delaware plans to comply with it, as well as how to take advantage of grants and other programs offered by DNREC’s Division of Energy & Climate.

Workshops will be held as follows, with one in each county:
• Sussex County: 4:30-7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 27, Millsboro Senior Center, 214 Irons Avenue, Millsboro, DE 19966
• Kent County: 4:30-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 28, City of Dover Public Library, 35 East Loockerman Street, Dover, DE 19901
• New Castle County: 4:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 29, Bellevue Community Center, 500 Duncan Road, Wilmington, DE 19809

“Through these workshops, we are inviting Delawareans to participate in the decision-making process and development of Delaware’s state Clean Power Plan,” said Valerie Gray, Division of Air Quality planning supervisor. “We want to involve our communities on how they could be impacted by this plan, and work together to develop strategies to further reduce emissions.”
“We’ll also share information on the state’s free weatherization assistance program, which has helped hundreds of Delawareans cut energy use in their home and lower their monthly bills,” said Rob Underwood, Division of Energy & Climate energy administrator. “We invite community members to come learn about the programs DNREC has dedicated to cleaner energy use for healthier communities.”

The workshops will be held in an open format, with DNREC staff available for individual discussions. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions, discuss the issues and share their concerns.

For more information on the workshops, or to request accommodations for hearing impairment or language translation, please contact Valerie Gray, DNREC Division of Air Quality, at 302-739-9402 or email valerie.gray@delaware.gov.

For information on Delaware’s Weatherization Assistance Program, visit de.gov/wap  or call the Division of Energy & Climate at 302-735-3480.

The Clean Power Plan (CPP) was developed by the EPA to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. States are required to develop and submit their own Clean Power Plans for reducing these emissions to the EPA. EPA’s CPP is modeled after the Regional Greenhouse Gas initiative (RGGI), a program that Delaware and nine New England and Mid-Atlantic states developed and implemented beginning in 2009. RGGI reduces CO2 emissions by establishing a regional cap on the amount of CO2 that power plants can emit through the issuance of a limited number of tradable CO2 allowances. Since 2008, power plant emissions have decreased by over 50 percent. Delaware plans to comply with the federal requirements through continued participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). More information on the federal Clean Power Plan is available at https://www.epa.gov/cleanpowerplan, and on the RGGI program website at http://rggi.org/.

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

Vol. 46, No. 332

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Reminder for the week: Hunters reminded to avoid using railroad tracks for hunting access

Officers responded to 72 complaints and issued 41 citations, five of which were related to the C&D Canal Conservation Area and associated recreational trail, where there is an increased Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence.

An incident of note:

• On Sept. 1, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police cited two New Castle County men for illegal deer hunting activities at the C&D Canal Conservation Area. One was cited for hunting deer over bait on a wildlife area and littering; he was fined $214, including court costs. The other was cited for hunting deer over bait on a wildlife area, possession of unlawfully taken deer and littering on a state wildlife area; he was fined $379, including court costs. K-9 River, a Labrador retriever deployed by NRP, aided the investigation, using her tracking skills to lead Fish & Wildlife officers to a wooded area baited with corn and evidence that a deer had been harvested there.

Citations issued by category, with the number of charges in parentheses, included:

Wildlife Conservation: Hunting deer over bait on a wildlife area (2)*, possession of unlawfully taken deer (1)*, hunting with an unplugged shotgun capable of holding more than three shells (1), hunting migratory waterfowl without required HIP number (1), hunting doves on a wildlife area without a permit (1), trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (4), and littering on a state wildlife area (2)*.

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Unlicensed fishing (2), possession of undersized blue crabs (8), improperly marked recreational crab pots (3), and trespassing to fish (1).
Commercial: Unlawful transfer of commercial tags/striped bass (9).

Boating and Boating Safety: Operating a vessel with insufficient number of lifejackets (1), no lifejacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (1), allowing use of a non-compliant vessel (2), operating a personal watercraft after sunset (1), and no boating education certificate (1).

*Citations issued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area.

Are you AWARE?
With early fall hunting seasons now open, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind hunters to avoid using railroad tracks for access to hunting areas.

“All railroad tracks are private property, and no one should be walking, driving or parking on tracks without landowner permission. If found on the tracks, violators will be charged with trespassing and fined,” said Sgt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police. “Those considering using railroad tracks for access to hunt doves or other game also need to consider the safety hazard involved – many railroad tracks throughout the state are still in active use.”

With dove, resident Canada goose and archery deer seasons now open, teal season opening today and squirrel season opening Sept. 15, hunters also are reminded that early-season hunting opportunities are offered on many wildlife areas throughout the state. Non-toxic shot must be used for all dove hunting on state wildlife areas during the month of September.

Season dates and legal hunting hours are as follows:
• White-tailed deer: Archery and crossbow seasons, Sept. 1, 2016-Jan. 31, 2017 (½ hour before sunrise to sunset)
• Doves (early season): Sept. 1-Oct. 1 (½ hour before sunrise to sunset)
• Resident Canada Geese: Sept. 1-24 (½ hour before sunrise to sunset)
• Teal: Sept. 9-27 (½ hour before sunrise to sunset).
For later season dates and other migratory game bird seasons, hunters should consult the 2016-2017 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide.

Hunters also are reminded to purchase their 2016/2017 hunting license if they have not already done so. A Delaware resident annual hunting license costs $25 for ages 16 through 64. A resident junior hunting license costs $5 for ages 13 through 15. To hunt waterfowl in Delaware, including teal, residents age 16 through 64 are required to purchase a state waterfowl (duck) stamp, which costs $9. Higher license prices apply to non-resident hunters, and no exemptions are made for non-residents age 65 and older on purchasing a Delaware hunting license or waterfowl stamp.

Hunters who are exempt from purchasing a license must obtain an annual, free License Exempt Number (LEN). Teal, dove and goose hunters also must obtain a Federal Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. Both are available online at https://egov.delaware.gov/htr or by calling 855-335-4868 toll-free.

If hunting waterfowl on a state wildlife area from a blind that was selected through a lottery, all hunters in the blind are required to carry the $20 annual blind permit, available for purchase online or where hunting licenses are sold. This requirement is waived for hunters participating in Division of Fish & Wildlife-designated youth hunting days.

Delaware hunting licenses, blind permits and waterfowl stamps are sold online, at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and by license agents statewide. To find a participating hunting license agent, to purchase a license or blind permit or to obtain a HIP or LEN number online, click Delaware Licenses and Permits. For additional information on Delaware hunting licenses, call 302-739-9918.

A Federal Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp, available for purchase online, at U.S. Post Offices and at Bombay Hook and Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuges, is required for all waterfowl hunters age 16 and older; no exemptions are made for persons 65 years or older for purchasing federal stamps.

For more information on hunting in Delaware, including specific wildlife area rules, hunters should consult the 2016-2017 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide along with this year’s newly-revised wildlife area maps. Both are available online at Delaware Hunting Information. Hard copies of the guide and the hunting maps are also available at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Dover office at 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, or by calling the Wildlife Section office at 302-739-9912.

DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife recognizes and thanks the majority of anglers, hunters and boaters who comply with and support Delaware’s fishing, hunting and boating laws and regulations. Citizens are encouraged to report fish, wildlife and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030 or online at http://de.gov/ogt.

Like Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Facebook, www.facebook.com/pages/Delaware-Fish-Wildlife-Natural-Resources-Police.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Twitter, https://twitter.com/DE_FW_NRPolice.

Contact: Sgt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 330

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