DOVER – The third of four open houses to gather public input on creating a master plan for the future of White Clay Creek State Park in Newark will be held 4-7 p.m., Wednesday Aug. 1, at Deerfield, 507 Thompson Station Road, Newark, DE 19711.

DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin announced in May that DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation is beginning the process of creating a master plan for the future of the park and will be holding four open houses this summer to gather public input before a plan is drafted.

The Aug. 1 open house will focus on roads and trails, for public input on topics such locations, surfacing, widths, uses, and connectivity. Posters on existing roads and trails will be provided for discussion, and staff will be available to answer questions. The open houses are an opportunity for members of the public to convey what they enjoy about the park and what concerns or ideas they might have for the future. This is an important, initial step in the planning process.

The fourth and final open house is scheduled from 4-7 p.m., Monday, Aug. 20, at Deerfield focusing on current and future recreation opportunities in the park.

White Clay Creek State Park is the second-largest park in DNREC’s park system. The park hosts more than 322,000 visitors each year and contains the most trail miles. The park also holds popular summer concerts, a well-attended summer camp program, the high school cross-country state meet, and other events. Visitors enjoy birding, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, and horseback riding.

In addition to the open houses, the public is encouraged to participate in a brief online survey to provide comments. A second survey with more specific questions will be developed later. To submit general comments, please email DNREC_WCCmasterplan@delaware.gov, or write to DNREC-DPR, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, Attn: WCCSP Master Plan.

The public is also encouraged to visit the White Clay Creek State Park Master Plan web page  for the latest information and updates, and to check back frequently for the latest news and draft documents for review once developed. In addition to the webpage, announcements will be made by DNREC press releases, signs in the park, and other means.

Media Contact: Beth Shockley, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

WILMINGTON (July 10, 2018) – The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will hold a public meeting Monday, July 16 to enable Delawareans to express their opinion about the US Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to deny the state’s 126(b) Clean Air Act petitions aimed at reducing air pollution that comes into Delaware after originating elsewhere. The public meeting will be held from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. in Room A112, Wing A, Delaware Technical Community College Stanton Campus, 400 Stanton Christiana Rd., Newark, DE 19713.

DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin scheduled the July 16 public meeting in response to EPA’s refusal to provide a more convenient venue to Delawareans for voicing their opinion of EPA’s proposed denial of the CAA petitions, and also on account of EPA’s sharply limiting the public comment period for the agency’s proposed actions. EPA held a public hearing in Washington, D.C., June 22 – only 15 days after the agency announced it would deny Delaware’s Clean Air Act petitions – failing to act on both Secretary Garvin’s requests for not less than 45 days for public comment and a later date for EPA’s hearing to be held in Delaware.

“We are holding this meeting to provide an opportunity for the public to comment about the transmission of air pollution from out of state into Delaware,” Secretary Garvin said. “The Department has pursued – and will continue to pursue – voluntary and collaborative efforts with partner states to ensure upwind power plants meet the same stringent standards Delaware is required to meet. All Delawareans would agree that it is now time for EPA to hold upwind sources accountable for ozone emissions that are impacting downwind states.”

More information about the meeting can be found on the Delaware Public Meeting Calendar at https://publicmeetings.delaware.gov/Meeting/60043. Comments from the public meeting will be submitted to EPA in the form of a transcript on behalf of all who speak on the proposed denial of the CAA petitions, to EPA’s federal docket (EPA-HQ-OAR-2018-0295). More information from EPA on its proposed denial of Delaware’s 126(b) petitions can be found on EPA’s website at https://www.epa.gov/ozone-pollution/proposed-action-clean-air-act-section-126-petitions-delaware-and-maryland. Acting Director David Fees of DNREC’s Division of Air Quality gave testimony on Delaware’s behalf at EPA’s public hearing last week in Washington that can be found on the DNREC website.

Anyone interested in speaking at the meeting can sign up until 4 p.m. Friday, July 13 by sending an email to Valerie.Gray@delaware.gov of the Division of Air Quality. Written comments about the EPA’s proposed denial of the 126(b) petitions also can be submitted to Ms. Gray via email, but must be received by 4 p.m., Friday, July 13.

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

Vol. 48, No. 185

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Related news:

Tell the EPA: Delawareans Deserve Clean Air

Governor Carney: EPA can’t let other states pollute Delaware’s air

Agency to provide opportunity for public input from Delawareans and other East Coast citizens on EPA’s proposal

WILMINGTON – Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will host a public meeting Monday, Jan. 8, 2018 to provide an opportunity for Delawareans and citizens of other East Coast states to comment on the US Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to repeal the federal Clean Power Plan (CPP). The DNREC-sponsored listening session will begin at 10 a.m. at the Chase Center on the Riverfront, 815 Justison Street, Wilmington, DE 19801.

The goal of the Clean Power Plan is to reduce carbon pollution from coal-, oil-, and natural gas-burning power plants, all of which have been scientifically-proven as contributing to climate change. As the lowest lying state in the nation, Delaware already is experiencing the detrimental effects of climate change, and both Delaware and the nation will be further impacted by EPA’s proposed repeal of the plan. Because EPA has refused to provide a reasonable venue for Delawareans and others along the East Coast to voice their opinions on the proposed CPP repeal, DNREC has chosen to conduct a listening session enabling that opportunity. The EPA has held a public hearing only in Charleston, W. Va., and though additional hearings are planned for the Midwest and California, none are to take place on the East Coast. Comments from the Delaware public meeting will be submitted in the form of a transcript on behalf of all who speak on the proposed repeal to EPA’s federal docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2017-0355.

“EPA should not take action to repeal this important rule without first hearing from our citizens – and Delaware has stepped up to host this public meeting because EPA is not offering a reasonable venue for citizens’ voices to be heard,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “The Clean Power Plan offers the states a vital and flexible tool to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the nation’s fossil-fuel burning power plants. We are hosting the meeting to afford the public the opportunity to participate in the EPA’s decision-making process that will directly impact their lives and environment.”

The federal Clean Power Plan – formally known by its EPA title “Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units (EGUs)” – was promulgated on Oct. 23, 2015. On Oct. 16, 2017 the EPA proposed repealing it. More details about the Clean Power Plan can be found on EPA’s website, including the final rule, technical analyses, and other supporting information.

DNREC’s Division of Air Quality, which is hosting the listening session for comment on the CPP, anticipates limiting each speaker to five minutes, but time may be adjusted, depending on the number of people who register to speak. Those who still wish to speak are asked to register by emailing Valerie Gray (Valerie.Gray@delaware.gov).

For updated information on the CPP meeting and for more information on DNREC’s climate and greenhouse gas mitigation programs, please visit the Clean Power Plan webpage on the DNREC website. More information about the meeting and listening session is available on the Delaware Public Meeting Calendar.

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

Vol. 48, No. 3

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DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife will host an Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission public hearing on the latest draft addendum to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Black Sea Bass at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 3 in the DNREC Lewes Facility, 901 Pilottown Road, Lewes, DE 19958.

The draft addendum proposes alternative regional management approaches for the recreational fishery, including options for regional allocation of the recreational harvest limit based on historical harvest and exploitable biomass. The addendum also includes an option for coastwide management of black sea bass recreational fisheries should a regional approach not be approved for management.

The draft addendum is available at www.asmfc.org. Public comment will be accepted until 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22, 2018 and should be forwarded to Caitlin Starks, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland Street, Suite 200 A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; faxed to 703-842-0741 or emailed to comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Draft Addendum XXX).

For more information about the Lewes public hearing, please contact DNREC’s Fisheries Section at 302-739-9914.

Follow the Division of Fish & Wildlife on Facebook, www.facebook.com/DelawareFishWildlife.

Vol. 47, No. 267

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

DOVER – Due to the volume of requests and interest expressed at a Jan. 25 public hearing regarding an application by Blessings Greenhouses and Compost’s Milford facility for a Non-Hazardous Liquid Waste Transporters Permit, DNREC Hearing Officer Lisa Vest announced that the record will remain open through March 3 to allow more time for concerned groups and individuals to submit additional public comment.

DNREC’s Groundwater Discharges Section received a Non-Hazardous Liquid Waste Haulers Permit application Nov. 2, 2016 from Blessings to transport dissolved air flotation (DAF) cake from Perdue Foods LLC, located at 255 North Rehoboth Boulevard in Milford to Blessings Greenhouses and Compost’s Milford facility at 9372 Draper Road. The company’s application, hearing transcript, and exhibits for the proposed permit are available for inspection at DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building in Dover by contacting Kathy Potter via email at Katharyn.Potter@delaware.gov or by phone at (302) 739-9948 in advance to arrange for viewing.

Anyone wishing to submit public comment for the DNREC Secretary’s consideration before ruling on Blessings Greenhouses and Compost Facility’s application for a Liquid Waste Transporters Permit may email their comments (preferred) to Hearing Officer Lisa Vest, or submit via U.S. Mail to Ms. Vest, c/o DNREC, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, or FAX comments to (302) 739-1174. Comments will be accepted through DNREC close of business Friday, March 3. Comments must be submitted in written form for inclusion in the formal hearing record.

Vol. 47, No. 36

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