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Delaware Department of Natural Resources

In Delaware, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is the principal body concerned with the administration of public land, natural resources, and environmental regulations for the state.  The DNREC was established pursuant to 29 Del. C. § 8001.  The DNERC is headed by the Office of the Secretary. The Office of the Secretary provides for the policy development, program coordination, financial and human resource management, information and systems management, public information and education, and Coastal Zone Act administration.

The DNREC’s mission includes:

  • to protect and manage the vital natural resources of the state for present and future generations;
  • to protect public health and safety;
  • to provide quality outdoor recreation; and
  • to improve the quality of life and educate the citizens of the state about the wise use, conservation, and enhancement of Delaware’s environment.

 

The DNREC is composed of the following divisions:

  • Division of Air and Waste Management-Oversees the handling, transferring, and storing of solid and hazardous materials by regulating, monitoring, inspecting, and enforcing Delaware’s environmental laws and regulations[i];
  • Division of Fish and Wildlife-Conserves and manages the state’s fish and wildlife resources; conducts statewide biological surveys and studies of living resources; provides safe and enjoyable fishing, hunting, and boating opportunities to Delaware citizens and its visitors; manages approximately 60,000 acres including ponds, wildlife, and water access areas and facilities for public use and enjoyment; and improves the public’s understanding and interest in the state’s fish and wildlife resources through information and outreach programs[ii];
  • Division of Parks and Recreation-Operates and maintains 14 state parks and related preserves and greenways throughout Delaware; provides recreational opportunities and educational and interpretive programs for the public; acquires and develops recreational lands and facilities; and provides for the protection of natural areas[iii];
  • Division of Soil and Water Conservation- Protects and preserves state’s soil, water, and coastal resources by managing the state’s shoreline, coastal zone and navigable waterways; regulates coastal and urban land use and construction activities; develops and implements innovative wetland and stream restoration techniques and concepts; and promotes wise agricultural and urban land and water management practices; and
  • Division of Water Resources-Protects, monitors, and manages Delaware’s ground and surface waters, underwater lands and tidal wetlands; serves as a connection to the Delaware Estuary Program, Inland Bays Estuary programs and the Delaware River Basin Commission; provides centralized geographic information system services; and coordinates citizen volunteer monitoring programs.

 

In general, some of the functions of the DNREC are:

  • to administer and enforce the laws and regulations of the state relating to finfishing in the tidal waters of the state[iv];
  • to cooperate and assist departments, agencies and offices of the state and other states, local governments and the federal government in the management and conservation of finfishery resources[v];
  • to investigate, conduct studies and determine the extent of growth and infestation of Phragmites australis in the state, and the effect of such species on wildlife and the environment[vi];
  • to develop, establish, and maintain state parks on the public lands of the state in Sussex County bordering on the Atlantic Ocean[vii]
  • to adopt standards, rules and regulations, after public hearing, for the prevention, control, reduction, and abatement of noise pollution[viii],
  • to conduct and supervise research programs for the purpose of determining the causes, effects, and hazards of noise; and
  • to protect public health, and to help avoid adverse impacts to local economies from severe mosquito infestations[ix].

 

Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control

[i] 29 Del. C. § 8014.

[ii] 29 Del. C. § 8005.

[iii] 29 Del. C. § 8008.

[iv] 7 Del. C. § 903.

[v] Id.

[vi] 7 Del. C. § 3802.

[vii] 7 Del. C. § 4517.

[viii] 7 Del. C. § 7106.

[ix] 16 Del. C. § 1902.


Inside Delaware Department of Natural Resources