DNREC Opens New Delaware Environmental Laboratory in Smyrna

June 18, 2026/Joe Ciccanti

DNREC opened the new Delaware Environmental Laboratory near Smyrna today with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. This state-of-the-art facility features scientific analysis of emerging contaminants such as PFAS, water quality testing and early detection of human and animal diseases in Delaware. Participants in the ceremonial ribbon cutting included DNREC Secretary Greg Patterson along with representatives of the state’s congressional delegation, state legislators, former DNREC cabinet secretaries and organizations that depend on the environmental lab for scientific analysis. The new lab replaces a facility that has operated since 1983 in a converted 19th-century cannery that serves as DNREC’s headquarters building in Dover. The spacious new lab building will house up to 24 scientific, technical and support staff.
 
DNREC featured a ceremonial ribbon cutting to open the new Delaware Environmental Laboratory June 18, 2026

DNREC opened the new Delaware Environmental Laboratory near Smyrna today with a ceremonial ribbon cutting for a state-of-the-art facility that features scientific analysis of emerging contaminants such as PFAS, water quality testing and early detection in Delaware of human and animal diseases. DNREC Secretary Greg Patterson led the cutting. Celebrants, left to right, were: DNREC Deputy Secretary Dayna Cobb, former DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin, Sec. Patterson, Delaware Environmental Lab Director Ashley Kunder, former DNREC Secretary Christophe Tulou, former DNREC Secretary David Small, State Senator Stephanie Hansen, US EPA Region 3 Deputy Administrator Catherine Libertz, State Sen. Kyra Hoffner, Kate Rohrer representing US Senator Chris Coons, and John Gentile, representing Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester.  /Delaware DNREC photo

Posted in , , , , , ,