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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Public Notice of Revisions to Freshwater Wetlands Rules<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">-Public Hearing: 1:00 December 17, 2020<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">- Written Comments Accepted through: 4:00 January 8, 2021
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">T<span style="color:black">he Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) has initiated the formal rulemaking process to repeal and replace its rules governing the administration and enforcement
of the Freshwater Wetlands Act. The revised rules implement changes to state law intended to strengthen wetlands protection and provide a clear and predictable regulatory process th</span>at<span style="color:black"> includes permit streamlining.
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">As part of the process, RIDEM has scheduled a public hearing on the proposed rules which will be run using Z</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">oom on
<span style="color:black">Thursday, December 17, 2020 beginning at 1:00 pm. The Z</span>oom hearing
<span style="color:black">details follow</span>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Join Zoom Meeting:
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/us02web.zoom.us/j/86978437441?pwd=SFp2N1Q5YnJMdGorZG5ESVp5aDAydz09__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!bMtrwHbX_84hSjT0-WmVVAb1W6zQ7taa-GZueruEuxqBMUpPKXkmPrFfi3hIqr2eEi2r2nm5$"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue">https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86978437441?pwd=SFp2N1Q5YnJMdGorZG5ESVp5aDAydz09</span>
[us02web.zoom.us]</a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Meeting ID: 869 7843 7441 Passcode: 751780 Dial in by phone: 1-929-205-6099<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">RIDEM will accept written comments on the proposed rules through 4:00 pm Friday January 8, 2021. Written comments should be directed by email to
</span><a href="mailto:carol.murphy@dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:blue">carol.murphy@dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"> or by mail addressed to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Carol Murphy, RIDEM<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Office of Water Resources<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">235 Promenade Street <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Providence, RI 02908<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The Draft Rules and a<span style="color:black">dditional information about this rulemaking is available on the RIDEM website at: </span></span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/water/permits/pn-wetland.php"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:blue">Public
Notice – Draft Wetland Rulemaking - Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (ri.gov)</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt">. A m<span style="color:black">apping tool has been added to the website to assist the user in identifying the boundaries
on the regional buffer map included in the proposed rules. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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