Environmental protection is a necessity, not a luxury

Whether you visit state parks, frequent Connecticut’s beaches, or enjoy our pastoral landscapes, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) programs have enhanced our enjoyment of nature in Connecticut while protecting our water and air quality.

What is the Department of Environmental Protection and why is it important?

The mission of DEP is to protect, preserve and manage the state’s natural resources. DEP funding supports numerous programs in every part of the state that provide tremendous benefits to all Connecticut residents. Due to projected budget shortfalls, environmental funding is at risk, including state parks, forests, and outdoor recreation programs, drinking water, Long Island Sound Protection, recycling and air quality monitoring and controls. CCE is working to restore funding for Department of Environmental Protection.

What programs does the DEP support?

Connecticut’s environment, economy, and public health are dependent upon the DEP. Connecticut benefits from the numerous programs and projects in the DEP, including

• State Parks, Forests, and Outdoor Recreation. DEP provides affordable opportunities to camp, fish, hike, boat, and to enjoy our shoreline and inland water bodies.
  
  
• Drinking Water Protection. Connecticut’s Aquifer Protection Area Program protects major public water supply wells in sand and gravel aquifers to ensure a plentiful supply of clean drinking water for present and future generations.
  
  
• Air Quality. Since the DEP was formed in 1971, CT has seen marked improvements in air quality. The Bureau of Air Management regulates air quality to protect public health and the environment through pollution control and abatement strategies.
  
  
• Clean Water. DEP carries out numerous programs to improve surface water quality in our rivers and streams, and protects public health by monitoring beach water quality, implementing the Long Island Sound Water Quality Program, reducing polluted storm water pollution and managing non point source pollution. Some of the visible impacts of neglect include:
• Park drives and picnic grounds closed to the public due to cuts in park staffing;
• Illegal toxic discharges into our rivers due to lack of enforcement staff;
• Degraded water quality polluted by runoff, due in part, to limited DEP staff available to coordinate polluted runoff reduction for over 100 communities;

Protect the DEP

For years the need for environmental programs has outpaced funding creating a backlog of projects and slowly critical environmental initiatives in every part of the state. While many essential programs are administered by DEP, a lack of funding compromises Connecticut’s air, water, land, wildlife, and public parks. The General Assembly and Governor should restore DEP budget to $161 million in the 2010-2011 budget to allow DEP to hire new staff positions across the entire state agency to rebuild and strengthen programs that urgently need support.

Funding Environmental Protection

In 2009, with the overwhelming support of the public, the CT legislature expanded the state’s bottle bill to include water bottles. The state expects to generate millions of dollars annually from unclaimed deposits. These resources need to be reinvested to protect CT’s environment. The legislature also considered enacting fees on disposable plastic bags, which would reduce harmful plastic bag pollution while generating state income for critical environmental programs.

Tell your Legislators to Reduce Plastic Bag Pollution

Plastic grocery bags create unnecessary environmental threats. The lightweight bags are common litter, easily blown around and often end up in trees and waterways. Plastic bags and their degraded particles harm fish by becoming entangled and mistaking them for food. It is time to phase out throwaway plastic bags in exchange for sustainable, reusable bags at the checkout counter. In 2002, Ireland enacted an incredibly successful program to reduce plastic bag litter by adopting a small fee on plastic bags at the checkout counter. This policy resulted in a 90% reduction of plastic bag use in one year!

Connecticut communities, like Westport, are already leading the way on reducing plastic bag pollution and it is time for statewide consistency. Adopting a fee on one-time disposable checkout bags promotes reusable bag use while generating funding to support essential recycling and environmental programs.

How you can help:

Write a letter to the Governor and your State Senator and Representative, telling them to save DEP environmental programs and institute incentives to encourage reusable shopping bag use to help fund the DEP.

Letter writing tips:

Write your letter in your own words and print your name and e-mail address under your signature.

• Urge your state legislative leaders and Governor Rell to:
• Maintain funding to critical environmental programs at the DEP.
• Reduce plastic bag pollution and increase revenues to the DEP by adopting incentives to encourage reusable shopping bags at the checkout.
• Please respond in writing, informing you how s/he will address your concerns.

Email your General Assembly representative:

Not sure who your General Assembly member is?

Locate your representative

Email Governor Rell:

Email via the State of Connecticut website

Please forward any response you receive to , or call (203) 785-9080 --- it helps us track progress on the issue. Thanks!

Updated by bferenz 4/1/10