Posts Tagged ‘environment’
Volunteer Registration Begins for Del. Coastal Cleanup
There is much more summer to come, but volunteers are already being recruited to take part in the 35th Delaware Coastal Cleanup.41 spots along beaches and waterways will be targeted Saturday, September 17th between 9:00 a.m. and noon. Online registration opens today (Monday) and is open through Wednesday, August 31st. Volunteers may choose the location…
Read MoreFormer Floating Casino Becomes Part of Artificial Reef
With a slow splash, the 180-foot long Texas Star, originally outfitted as a floating casino and repurposed as a commercial fishing vessel, recently became part of Delaware’s artificial reef system. The reef site is 16.5 miles off the Delaware coast. “With today’s sinking of the Texas Star on Redbird Reef, one of 14 separate reef…
Read MoreThat’s a Wrap: 151st Del. General Assembly Concludes
The curtain has come down on the 151st Delaware General Assembly.Members of the House and Senate stayed in session after midnight to meet constitutional requirements to have a special session if it’s necessary. “We’ve done a lot this legislative session to move the state forward,” Governor John Carney said. “We’ve signed a sustainable budget. We…
Read MoreDel. Legislation Seeks To ban Single-Use Plastic Coffee Stirrers, Polystyrene Containers At Restaurants
Delaware restaurants would be prohibited from serving ready-to-eat food in polystyrene containers, under legislation that has been approved in the State Senate. Polystyrene is best known as Styrofoam. The bill, Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 134, would also require restaurants to only provide single-use plastic straws if requested by a customer, and single-use plastic…
Read MoreU.S. Interior Dept. Details Environmental Review Of US Wind Offshore Energy Proposal
The U.S. Department of the Interior said this week that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will conduct an environmental review of U.S. Wind’s Maryland offshore wind power proposal.The area is about ten nautical miles off the coast of Ocean City and nine nautical miles off Sussex County.The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management during the…
Read MoreRehoboth Park & Ride To Be Modernized With Grant Support
The Rehoboth Beach Park & Ride will be modernized in support of DART’s efforts to move to zero-emissions buses, thanks in part to a Federal Transit Administration Bus and Bus Facility Grant of $5.4-million. Senator Tom Carper, D-Del., DelDOT Secretary Nicole Majeski and Delaware Transit Corporation CEO John Sisson gathered Tuesday in Rehoboth Beach for…
Read MoreDel. Bill Proposes “Green Amendment” In State Constitution
Delawareans would have a constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment, under legislation introduced in the Delaware General Assembly.The constitutional Green Amendment would add language to the Delaware Constitution to conserve, protect and maintain the state’s natural resources.House Bill 220 would represent the first leg of a constitutional Green Amendment. A two-thirds majority would…
Read MoreUS Wind, U. of Md. To Partner In Wind Power Research Project
A wind power company pledges $11-million over ten years in a research partnership with the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.According to Baltimore-based U.S. Wind Incorporated, the research would take place in its 80,000-acre federal lease area off the Ocean City coast. Three research projects are aimed at understanding the potential effects of offshore…
Read MorePFAS Found In Untreated Well Water Across Del., Says USGS
Contaminants known as PFAS have been found to be widely distributed in untreated well water in Delaware, with the highest number of types of chemicals in Sussex and New Castle Counties. The wells receive their groundwater from the Columbia aquifer, and samples found to contain the chemicals generally had low concentrations. Research is still going…
Read MoreVIDEO | Md. Gov. Hogan Sets Priorities In His Final State-of-the-State Address
Governor Larry Hogan Wednesday thanked Marylanders for their persistence through the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as providing him with the opportunity to serve as governor for two terms. The two-term Republican delivered his final State of the State Address. “My message to you tonight is that we must all learn to live with this virus,…
Read MoreVIDEO | Gov. Carney Highlights Education, Budget Stability, Workforce, Support For Family Leave In State Of The State Address
Governor John Carney stressed budget sustainability, workforce development, housing, education and the environment among other priorities as he delivered his 2022 State of the State Thursday afternoon to a joint session of the Delaware General Assembly. Carney also touched upon the state’s ongoing commitment to expand access to broadband internet More spending specifics will come…
Read MoreDel. State Parks Invite You To Take A Hike Jan. 1st
Delaware State Parks will offer a total of 17 First Day Hikes on New Year’s Day, as part of a national movement sponsored by America’s State Parks to encourage people to ring in the new year with some activity while enjoying the great outdoors. Hikes are self-guided and there is no need to register in…
Read MoreUntreated Wastewater Spills Into Rehoboth Bay Waterway; Shellfish Harvesting Suspended
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources has issued an emergency closure of commercial and recreational harvest of oysters, clams and mussels in Rehoboth Bay after a spill from a residential sewer line in the Long Neck area. According to DNREC, thousands of gallons of untreated wastewater were discharged into a waterway of Rehoboth Bay. The…
Read MoreChristmas Tree Recycle Programs Get Underway
The time will come to say goodbye to your natural Christmas tree. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources says it can be tree-cycled. Real trees can be regifted to the environment at several yard waste recycling facilities across the state. According to DNREC, more than 158,000 tons of yard waste – including grass, leaves, brush,…
Read MoreTalking Trash: Rehoboth Beach Tweaks Waste Collection, Recycling Services
Rehoboth Beach is making a few changes in how it handles waste pickup and recycling services. The revisions concern the size and model of the container that’s used by residents. Revisions are also being made to the schedule of pick-ups, including for yard waste which will be every other Wednesday. Rehoboth Beach commissioners also said…
Read MoreFerry Installs Electric Vehicle Charging Stations At Cape May Terminal
Electric vehicle owners can get a charge at the Cape May – Lewes Ferry terminal in Cape May. Two new dual-port Electric Vehicle Charging Stations are now available to the public during normal operating hours of the Ferry. Charging stations have been available at the Lewes terminal since 2015. “We’re pleased to be able to…
Read MoreUS Energy Secretary Visits Del. To Highlight Energy Efficiency, Infrastructure
During a visit to Delaware Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm – recently under fire for laughing off a question about high prices during an interview – took part in an announcement that the U.S. Department of Energy has upgraded one-million homes with energy efficiency improvements through the Home performance with ENERGY STAR program.…
Read MoreRehoboth Beach, Sussex Co. Negotiate On Ocean Outfall Agreement
Sussex County is proposing to purchase a portion of Rehoboth Beach’s excess ocean outfall capacity for treated wastewater. The Rehoboth Beach Commissioners discussed the proposal at a special meeting Thursday. Under the proposal, the county would directly connect the county treatment facility to the ocean outfall pipe. The county would make a one-time payment of…
Read MoreDel. Wetlands Conference Scheduled For Feb. ’22
The dates are set for the 10th Delaware Wetlands Conference. The event in February will highlight the importance of wetlands in Delaware and around the mid-Atlantic region. According to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources, more than 400 wetland experts and advocates are expected to gather for the biennial conference at the Wilmington riverfront. DNREC…
Read MoreDiesel Fuel Spills At Indian River Power Plant
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources Emergency Response Team, the EPA and the US Coast Guard responded to a diesel fuel spill at the Indian River power plant Wednesday. The plant is operated by NRG, which issued a statement: “NRG takes protection of the environment and compliance with all environmental regulations seriously. Unfortunately, NRG experienced…
Read MoreOcean City Green Team Welcomes Help For Cleanup Program Saturday
The Ocean City Green Team will host a cleanup day this Saturday, September 11th. The focus is the downtown area, but all locations within the town can be targeted for cleaning. The International Coastal Cleanup, promoted by the Ocean Conservancy, is helping to coordinate the cleanup program.Supplies such as bags, gloves and other materials can…
Read MoreBill To Tighten Plastic Bag Ban Moves Forward
Delaware lawmakers are strengthening the near-prohibition on single-use plastic bags that took effect at the start of the year. The House approved a bill Wednesday (House Bill 212) that would close a loophole in which many larger stores or chains introduced slightly thicker plastic bags touted as reusable. The new legislation defines a reusable bag…
Read MoreLewes Hosts Environmental Listening Sessions
The City of Lewes invites the public to take part in two additional environmental listening sessions. Lewes is working with the Resilient Community Partnership, established and administered by DNREC Delaware Coastal Programs, to identify environmental challenges that may impact the future of the coastal community. The second of three sessions is tonight (Wednesday June 9th)…
Read MoreMERR Institute Treats Rescued Seal Pup
A gray seal pup has been rescued from the Gordon’s Pond area. According to the Marine Education Research and Rehabilitation Institute, the male seal was found to be underweight and with bite wounds on Monday. Otherwise, the pup is described as ‘alert and feisty’ at the time. The MERR Institute is still evaluating the seal,…
Read More100 lbs. of oily debris removed from beach
The Coast Guard and the Department of Natural Resources have responded to the discovery of oil on Towers Beach. About 100-pounds of oily debris were cleaned up by a group of contractors from Lewis Environmental. The source of the oil that was first discovered Monday evening is under investigation. Three months ago, oil washed up…
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