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<p class="xxxxmsonormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;color:black">Draft Revisions to Freshwater Wetlands Rules -- Public Workshop</span></b><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="xxxxmsonormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), in collaboration with the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC), has been developing
revisions to its freshwater wetlands</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#201F1E"> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">rules as required by changes to state law intended to strengthen wetlands</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:red"> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">protection
and provide a clear and predictable regulatory process that includes permit streamlining. DEM is hosting a public workshop via ZOOM on the draft rules which have been updated following comments and input received during and in association with an earlier
workshop held in September 2019. The purpose of the workshop is to present an overview of the revised draft rules and provide an opportunity for questions. The Agency expects to initiate the formal rule-making process later this month.</span><span style="color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="xxxxmsonormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">The Workshop is scheduled for
<b>Monday November 23, 2020 10:00 am. </b></span><span style="color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="xxxxmsonormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#201F1E">Zoom will be utilized to run the workshop. You can access the meeting using </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85405401189?pwd=YkZtVzlGYlo3cWcyby9Gc2tCSWFaZz09__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!YwAEPZ5nIsBR1WyUZN9Hy7UUGwm8JwiXbfbr8hGhGGV-CGGSmZm5lcrShWEppCaCE4Nqpw$" target="_blank"><span style="color:purple">https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85405401189?pwd=YkZtVzlGYlo3cWcyby9Gc2tCSWFaZz09</span> [us02web.zoom.us]</a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#201F1E"> (Zoom)
or via the telephone at 1-929-205-6099. The Meeting ID is </span><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"inherit",serif;color:#201F1E">854 0540 1189</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#201F1E"> and the Passcode is </span><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"inherit",serif;color:#201F1E">964538.</span></b><span style="color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="xxxxmsonormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">A summary of the rule changes and the full text of the draft rules are available on the DEM website at: <a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/water/permits/pn-wetland.php" target="_blank"><span style="color:purple">http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/water/permits/pn-wetland.php</span></a></span><span style="color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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