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Jan. 26, 2001 For more information contact David Small at 302-739-4403 DNREC Advisory Council Establishes Project BankThe Governor's Council on Environmental Control is implementing an innovative new program designed to assist not-for-profit organizations with projects to improve Delaware's environment. The Council, in conjunction with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, is establishing an Environmental Improvement Project Bank. Projects approved by the Council and placed in the Bank will be eligible for funding through administrative enforcement actions taken by DNREC. "This program will assist in making improvements to our natural resources that otherwise may not happen," said Grover Biddle, Council Chairman. "Having the Council approve these projects to be placed in the Bank will provide external oversight as to how some funds that result from enforcement actions are used." The program is one of several changes the Department is making following a review of Department enforcement practices last year by the Legislative and Citizens Committee on Environmental Control chaired by Senator David B. McBride. Approval by the Council is not a guarantee that the projects will be funded. DNREC's Secretary will be able to select appropriate projects from the Bank as part of the settlement of enforcement actions. When appropriate, projects will be selected that are in the same media or geographic area where the environmental violation occurred. For example, a facility that is fined for an air quality violation may be required to fund an air quality improvement project. "Not all of the administrative enforcement actions that we take will include funding for projects in the Bank," said DNREC Secretary Nicholas A. DiPasquale. "Some actions will lend themselves to supporting Bank projects more than others. In some cases we may allow an alleged violator to perform an environmental improvement project on the site where the violation occurred. Violators will be required to pay at least 25 percent of all administrative fines in a direct monetary penalty as well as reimbursement of the Department's costs for taking the action." The Council will entertain project proposals that are fully implementable, must begin immediately, have a clearly defined end and must address an environmental priority as defined in DNREC's current Strategic Plan. Projects must be submitted by public or private not-for-profit organizations and not exceed $100,000. Projects must also meet at least one of the following criteria:
The deadline for submitting applications to the Council is March 15, 2001. Applications and copies of DNREC's strategic plan can be obtained from DNREC by calling 302-739-4403 or from the Department internet web site at www.dnrec.state.de.us. |
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