Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to Hold Virtual Joint Delaware-N.J. Public Hearing March 28

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) will hold a joint Delaware-New Jersey virtual public hearing regarding the Recreational Harvest Control Rule Draft Addenda to the Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and the Bluefish FMP, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today. The virtual hearing will be held Monday, March 28 from 6-8 p.m. To register for the hearing and for more information about providing input at the hearing, visit the ASMFC website.

The draft addenda considers changes to the process used by the ASMFC and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) to set recreational possession, size and season limit management measures for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass and bluefish. MAFMC is considering an identical set of options. Taking final action on the addenda will not implement any specific possession, size or season limits, but rather will start a new specification process for setting future management measures.

These potential changes are intended to provide greater stability and predictability in recreational fisheries management measures from year to year. The changes also will place greater emphasis on stock status when setting management measures. The draft addenda proposes five possible approaches for setting management measures. Key differences between the options include the information considered when setting measures, and the circumstances under which management measures would change.

The draft addenda is available on the ASMFC website, as is a reference guide to aid stakeholders in understanding the options contained in the draft addenda. The comment period for the Harvest Control Rule Draft Addenda runs until 11:59 p.m. EDT April 22, 2022 for providing input on the management of recreational summer flounder, scup, black sea bass and bluefish. Written comment should be sent to Dustin Colson Leaming, FMP Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St., Suite 200 A-N, Arlington, Virginia 22201; faxed to 703-842-0740; or submitted by email to comments@asmfc.org (Subject: “Harvest Control Rule”).

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. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on nearly 68,000 acres of public land. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

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

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Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to Hold Virtual Delaware Public Hearing on Striped Bass Management Plan

The Atlantic Striped Bass Fisheries Management Plan is the topic of March 10 virtual public hearing for Delaware by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Graphic credit: Duane Raver for DNREC.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) will hold a virtual public hearing for Delaware regarding Draft Amendment 7 to the Atlantic Striped Bass management plan on Thursday, March 10 from 6-8 p.m., the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today. Atlantic coastal states from Maine through Virginia have scheduled hearings to gather public input on the proposed changes to striped bass management through the draft amendment.

Draft Amendment 7 proposes options to address the following issues: management triggers – population indicators that require the ASMFC to take management action, recreational release mortality, stock rebuilding plan and conservation equivalency, which allows states to develop their own measures that equal measures required by the ASMFC’s fisheries management plan. These issues were identified during the public scoping process for Amendment 7 as important to helping rebuild the Atlantic striped bass stock and updating the management program.

To register for the virtual public hearing and for more information about providing input during the hearing, visit the ASMFC website.

The commission will also post a recording of the hearing presentation on the ASMFC’s YouTube page so that stakeholders may watch the presentation and submit comment at any time during the comment period, which runs until11:59 p.m. EDT April 15, 2022. The recording of the presentation will be available prior to the hearing.

Draft Amendment 7 is available on the the ASMFC website. Public comments should be sent to Emilie Franke, FMP Coordinator, at 1050 N. Highland St., Suite 200 A-N, Arlington, Virginia 22201; faxed to 703-842-0741, or emailed to comments@asmfc.org (with “Draft Amendment 7” in the subject line).

Any Delaware interest group planning to release an action alert during the comment period in response to Draft Amendment 7 is asked to email Emilie Franke at efranke@asmfc.org, or call 703-842-0740 for guidance on how best to organize and summarize incoming comments for ASMFC Board review.

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

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Delaware Early Education & Child Care Stabilization Fund Hearing

CCDF Public Hearing Announcement 5.3.21

DNREC Extends Public Comment Period 30 Days for Diamond State Port Corp.’s Proposed Container Port

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will extend the public comment period through Tuesday, Dec. 1 on the Diamond State Port Corporation’s (DSPC) proposed new container port on the Delaware River at the DSPC property at 4600 Hay Road, Edgemoor, New Castle County.

DNREC held a virtual public hearing on the container port proposal Sept. 29 and the public comment period was scheduled to end Nov. 1. Widespread interest in the project – which will require permits from both DNREC’s Division of Water and the Division of Waste of Hazardous Substances, as well as a Federal Consistency Certification from the Delaware Coastal Management Program within DNREC’s Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy – led DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin to extend the comment deadline 30 days.

Written comments may be submitted online, via email or mail from now Port Contuntil close of DNREC business, 4:30 p.m. EST, Tuesday, Dec. 1. Written comments are made available for public viewing on the DNREC website (https://de.gov/portproject) as they are received. Instructions for submitting comments can be found at the same site/url.

All comments receive equal weight from DNREC and will be reviewed by the hearing officer as she makes her recommendations on all pending matters associated with this proposed project to Secretary Garvin. Comments will also be reviewed by the Secretary as he makes a final decision on the applications for DNREC permits.

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. The Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy uses science, education, policy development and incentives to address Delaware’s climate, energy and coastal challenges. The Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances ensures Delaware’s wastes are managed to protect human life, health, safety and the environment. For more information, visit the website and connect with DNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

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

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Public Comment Open, Transcript and Presentation Available on Proposed Plastic Bag Ban Regulations

Some May Have Had Trouble Accessing Virtual Hearing

On Wednesday , Oct. 21, 2020, DNREC conducted a virtual hearing on proposed regulations implementing a ban on single-use plastic bags in retail stores. Anyone who attempted to watch the hearing online by clicking on a direct link on the DNREC public hearing page was able to attend, and 12 members of the public were in attendance. As a result of a misprint that appeared in public notices, however, anyone who attempted to access the hearing online or by phone by manually entering the WebEx “event number” was unable to access the hearing.

DNREC encourages anyone interested in the proposed regulations implementing a ban on single-use plastic bags in retail stores to view the materials from Wednesday’s virtual public hearing. As with all DNREC public hearings, a transcript of the hearing has been made available online as well as the presentation from the hearing on the proposed regulations. All other exhibits – including written comments from the public – are also available online. The public hearing page is https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/events/public-hearing-plastic-bag-ban-and-recycling/.

DNREC will accept written comments on the proposed plastic bag ban regulations by email, webform or U.S. mail until Nov.5, details of which are provided on the public hearing webpage. DNREC provides period to accept written public comment after all regulatory hearings. Live comments presented at the hearing carry the same weight as written comments, as live comments are transcribed and made available to the hearing officer and the DNREC Secretary in their deliberation and decision process.

The ban on single use plastic bags was passed by the General Assembly in 2019, and the law becomes effective Jan. 1, 2021. The regulations – “Plastic Carryout Bag Ban and At Store Recycling Program,” 7 Del. Admin. Code 1301 Section 14 – include further details and provisions implementing the ban.

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. The Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances ensures Delaware’s wastes are managed to protect human life, health, safety and the environment. For more information, visit the website and connect with DNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

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

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