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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">To Interested Persons, <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">As you may be aware, RIDEM has adopted new Freshwater Wetlands Rules, referenced as 250-RICR-150-15-3, that will take full effect on July 1, 2022. The first in a series of training workshops on
these rules will take place Wednesday January 26, 2022 at 3:00 pm via ZOOM. The call details are listed below. The workshop is targeted to persons involved in the wetland</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">s
<span style="color:black">permitting process including applicants, design professional</span>s,
<span style="color:black">and consultants. <o:p></o:p></span></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">The workshop will provide an overview of major rule changes and review in detail the new terminology and buffer standards. This will include information about
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">how <span style="color:black">to identify the applicable buffer zone(s) and corresponding site plan requirements. Future workshops will focus on various aspects of the wetland</span>s
<span style="color:black">permit process, including the new variance procedure and general permits, expanded exemptions as well as municipal coordination. Additional information on the schedule and content for those workshops will be forthcoming.<o:p></o:p></span></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">Please note that RIDEM has created a form for submitting questions about the new rules that is available on our website at the following link:
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/newwetlandsrules"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:blue">dem.ri.gov/newwetlandsrules</span></b></a><span style="color:#44546A">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">RIDEM encourages the submittal of questions in advance of the workshops in order to tailor the content of presentations to address the common issues being raised.<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">For additional information on the Freshwater Wetlands Rules, see:
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/newwetlandsrules"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:blue">dem.ri.gov/newwetlandsrules</span></b></a><span style="color:#44546A">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#44546A"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="color:#201F1E">Topic: Freshwater Wetlands Rules Workshop</span></b><span style="color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="color:#201F1E">Time: Jan 26, 2022 3:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)</span></b><span style="color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="color:#201F1E"> </span></b><span style="color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="color:#201F1E">Join Zoom Meeting</span></b><span style="color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:black"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82480096850?pwd=cjY1dXlQOWZJMWJRbFlKUmYraFRGdz09__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!bClz1UY7XNOm1UX8YvChK1eo9eXSU6lDSZR8db9gu_3e5V6u_a5EFU_8sjGiIJgm1mXZ6g$" target="_blank"><b>https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82480096850?pwd=cjY1dXlQOWZJMWJRbFlKUmYraFRGdz09</b> [us02web.zoom.us]</a></span><span style="color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="color:#201F1E"> </span></b><span style="color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="color:#201F1E">Meeting ID: 824 8009 6850</span></b><span style="color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="color:#201F1E">Passcode: 854165</span></b><span style="color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="color:#201F1E"> </span></b><span style="color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="color:#201F1E">Dial by your location: 1 929 205 6099 US (New York)</span></b><span style="color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#201F1E"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Cordially, <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">Sue Kiernan, Deputy Administrator<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">RIDEM Office of Water Resources<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">401-222-4700 ex 2777600<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:sue.kiernan@dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:blue">sue.kiernan@dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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