New Castle County
Coverage of New Castle County in the Nexus archive.
- Delaware City Refinery faces nearly $1 million penalty for toxic gas release in May
Environmental regulators in Delaware fined the Delaware City Refinery $960,000 for releasing 745 tons of sulfur dioxide and over 50 tons of nitrogen oxides in May due to malfunctioning pollution control equipment. The emissions occurred during a repair period when secondary controls were used, exceeding permitted levels, though officials stated the pollution dispersed without posing a public health threat.
- What Should Delaware Do With Half-Empty Schools?
More than a dozen Delaware public schools, primarily in New Castle County, operate below 60% capacity, prompting House Speaker Mimi Minor Brown to propose repurposing underutilized facilities into community services like child care or senior housing. The resolution seeks a framework to define 'underutilized' properties and addresses enrollment declines linked to charter school expansion and bus pattern changes, though some school officials argue capacity metrics may not reflect actual usage due to varying student needs.