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<span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; color:#1F497D"><img width="83" height="119" id="Picture_x0020_2" style="width:.8645in; height:1.2395in" alt="DEM-logo-small" data-outlook-trace="F:1|T:1" src="cid:image002.png@01D5FE03.C005CBE0"></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; color:#1F497D"></span></p>
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<p style="margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; font-family:"Impact",sans-serif; color:#00457A">Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management</span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif; color:#00457A">235 Promenade Street | Providence, RI 02908 | 401.222.4700 |</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif; color:#0070C0">
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif; color:#0070C0">
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif; color:#00457A">| @RhodeIslandDEM</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif; color:#1F497D"></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT:
</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Gail Mastrati, DEM: 401-222-4700, X2402<b></b></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Thursday, March 19, 2020
</span><a href="mailto:gail.mastrati@dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">gail.mastrati@dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">
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<b><span style="font-size:18.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">DEM ENCOURAGES CUSTOMERS TO USE ONLINE SERVICES AND CONTACT DEM VIA PHONE AS IT REMAINS FULLY OPERATIONAL BUT LIMITS WALK-IN SERVICES
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">PROVIDENCE – Given the evolving COVID-19 situation, the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is pausing walk-in service at the offices with the most frequent lines and crowds. DEM encourages its customers
to use online, telephonic, or mail-in services whenever possible. Across the Department, DEM remains fully operational and committed to serving customer needs.
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">The pause in walk-in service adjusts the following interactions with DEM: submitting permit applications, taking a blue card test, obtaining whelk pot and tautog tags, and purchasing fishing and hunting licenses
and registering boats. </span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">DEM’s outdoor spaces remain open
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">to the public, and DEM encourages people to enjoy them while adhering to the Governor’s guidance on not gathering in groups and practicing social distancing. All indoor parks and management area spaces
are closed. For more information on parks and management areas, call: DEM Parks Headquarters at 401-667-6200, Fish and Wildlife Headquarters at 401-789-0281, and Forestry Headquarters at 401-539-2356.</span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">“These are challenging times, and Rhode Islanders appreciate the opportunity for fresh air and a walk in the park,” said DEM Director Janet Coit. “DEM parks and open spaces are open for
visitors, and people should be practicing social distancing both on and off our properties.”</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Submitting Permit Applications</span></b></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">The Permit Application Center (PAC) at DEM Headquarters located at 235 Promenade Street in Providence is still accepting and processing applications and honoring all scheduled in-person appointments, but
walk-in service is paused at the PAC until further notice. Applications can be dropped off directly outside the PAC, and the team will</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> respond within one to two business days.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Contact DEM at 401-222-4700 ext. 7265 with questions or to set up an appointment for other services.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> If you are seeking assistance for wetlands
or OWTS/septic systems, please call 401-222-4700 and ask for the person on-call for the specific program.</span></p>
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<b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Taking a Blue Card Test</span></b></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Blue card tests are not currently available at the PAC or at the Division of Fish & Wildlife Headquarters at the Great Swamp Management Area in West Kingston, but the tests are still available at other locations.
Blue cards are presented to firearm dealers to certify that the applicant has successfully passed the State’s requisite safety exam. For a list of testing locations visit
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/pdf/blue-card-testing-locations.pdf"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/pdf/blue-card-testing-locations.pdf</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">
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<b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Obtaining Whelk Pot and Tautog Tags</span></b></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Commercial fishermen are advised that beginning yesterday and until further notice, whelk pot and tautog tags will not be available for pickup at DEM’s Divisions of Marine Fisheries and
Coastal Resources offices. <a name="_Hlk35521141">Because some fishermen have not received their tags yet, and the rules requiring these tags begin on April 1<sup>st</sup>, DEM will
<b>delay the commercial tagging requirements for whelk pot and tautog tags until May 1, 2020</b>. The rules to date have required tags be on all commercial pots deployed beginning April 1, 2020 and all tautog commercial harvested and sold beginning April 1,
2020; these specific requirements are postponed until May 1, 2020.</a></span><span style=""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> </span></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">DEM’s Marine Fisheries Division is developing a plan to issue the tags via mail. Further guidance will be sent to stakeholders via a listserv message. To sign up for the fisheries listserv,
visit </span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/marine-fisheries/"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/marine-fisheries/</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> and
click the link on the right side of the page; or send an email to </span><a href="mailto:Peter.Duhamel@dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Peter.Duhamel@dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">
and request to be added; or email </span><a href="mailto:rimarinefisheries-subscribe@listserve.ri.gov"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">rimarinefisheries-subscribe@listserve.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">
with the words “subscribe rimarinefisheries” in the body of the email.</span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">All reporting requirements and other marine fisheries regulations remain in effect. DEM’s Marine Fisheries and Coastal Resources staff are currently serving all customer needs by phone,
mail, and email. For questions, contact the Division of Marine Fisheries at 401-423-1923 or
</span><a href="mailto:DEM.MarineFisheries@dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">DEM.MarineFisheries@dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> and the Division of
Coastal Resources at 401-783-5551. </span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Purchasing Parking Placards for the Galilee State Parking Lot G</span></b></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Walk-in service at DEM’s Coastal Resources office in Galilee has been paused and applications for seasonal parking placards for Galilee State Parking Lot G are available online at:
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/coastal/pdf/seasonal-parkg.pdf"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/coastal/pdf/seasonal-parkg.pdf</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Please follow the instructions on the application for submittal. We will process your application and mail the completed placard back to the address listed on your application.
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<b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Purchasing Fishing and Hunting Licenses and Registering Boats</span></b></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">DEM is encouraging anglers, boaters and hunters to purchase their 2020 fishing and hunting license and renew their boat registration through DEM’s
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/managementservices/licenses/"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Licensing and Registration portal</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">. This online service provides
customers with streamlined, on-demand access to the licensing and registration process from the comfort of home – eliminating the need for an in-person visit to DEM offices. All walk-in service at the Office of Boat Registration and Licensing is paused until
further notice.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">B</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">oaters
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">are encouraged </span>
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">to renew their registration through the
</span><a href="https://www.ri.gov/dem/boatrenewal/"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">online portal</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">.
<span style="color:black; background:white">Upon completion of the online renewal, boat owners will be able to print a <strong><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif; border:none windowtext 1.0pt; padding:0in">temporary</span></strong> registration
that allows the vessel to be used during the two-week period while the registration is being processed and the decal mailed.
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif; color:black; background:white">New vessels can be registered by mail by filling out a
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bpoladm/manserv/hfb/boating/pdfs/boatreg.pdf"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif; background:white">registration application</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif; color:black; background:white">,
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bpoladm/manserv/hfb/boating/pdfs/outbdapp.pdf"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">outboard motor registration</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> application and </span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bpoladm/manserv/hfb/boating/pdfs/vestitle.pdf"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">title</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">
application. Required registration documents are located on this </span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bpoladm/manserv/hfb/boating/pdfs/vestitle.pdf"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">information sheet</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">.
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Boaters may also deposit their applications in the drop-off boxes outside the Boat Registration and Licensing office at DEM Headquarters at 235 Promenade Street in Providence.
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">For more information, call the Boat Registration and Licensing office at 401-222-6647.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">DEM encourages everyone to follow guidance about COVID-19 from Governor Raimondo and the Rhode Island Department of Health. More information about COVID-19 and Rhode Island’s response can be found here:
</span><a href="https://health.ri.gov/diseases/ncov2019/"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">https://health.ri.gov/diseases/ncov2019/</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">For information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">. Follow us on Facebook at
</span><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.facebook.com_RhodeIslandDEM&d=DwMF-g&c=tSLbvWYfvulPN3G_n48TUw&r=mFo_PQgKiG9BdqWd-3e80ftB8ffgqCZgAhuqVNuMqAM&m=8spuaXWhpaKMZ85Q9EmakVUUKLu0mZP6S5NsvgI3WfE&s=8MSE4_AHdV-dRd-0qyXHf1NzHFydriQolIZ3fRnhEmw&e=" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM</span> [facebook.com]</a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> or on Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) for
timely updates.</span></p>
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