[Rimarinefisheries] PRE-HEARING WORKSHOP

[RI Marine Fisheries]

PRE-HEARING WORKSHOP ANNOUNCMENT

Please be advised that the DEM Division of Marine Fisheries will hold three pre-hearing virtual workshops on Monday, April 27, 2020, beginning @ 3:00PM.  Due to the Covid-19 emergency, which prevents the Division from holding public meetings in-person, these meetings will be held virtually only. For each workshop, there will be a Zoom webinar and a conference call line to provide for public participation. The login and call-in information will be sent in a subsequent listserve notice prior to the date of the workshops.

After the workshops have been held, the Division will publicly notice the proposed rule amendments through the Office of the Secretary of State pursuant to the requirements of the Administrative Procedures Act, as is normal procedure.  However, due to the Covid-19 emergency, there is no hearing currently planned.  Once noticed, a listserve will be sent which will include links to the rulemaking documents (i.e., public notice and proposed rules) on the Secretary of State's webpage, and which will include the public comment period and contact information to submit comments.  Once the public comment period has concluded, the RI Marine Fisheries Council will then deliberate and provide recommendations on each of the proposals at their next meeting (date TBD).  Whether the Council meeting will be in-person or virtual is unknown at this time.  Listserve updates will be provided as new information becomes available.

Presentations for these workshops have been posted to the Division's webpage at http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/marine-fisheries/rimfc/index.php.  Interested persons are strongly encouraged to view these presentations prior to the workshops and provide questions and comments in advance. Please provide questions and/or comments to DEM.MarineFisheries at dem.ri.gov<mailto:DEM.MarineFisheries at dem.ri.gov> by 8am on Monday April 27, 2020. All questions and comments will be reviewed prior to the workshop and will be answered as best as possible during the workshop.

During each workshop Division staff will briefly run through each presentation, address all comments and questions submitted in advance, and will then entertain new questions and comments live during the workshop. All workshops will end promptly at the designated end time.

The First workshop<http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/marine/mfminits/4202020ws1.pdf> will be held 3:00 - 4:00PM. The agenda for this workshop is:

  *   Whelk minimum size measurement


The Second workshop<http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/marine/mfminits/4202020ws2.pdf> will be held 4:15 - 5:15PM. The agenda for this workshop is:

  *   Jonah Crab management
  *   Commercial Bluefish management
  *   Groundfish sp. recreational possession limits
  *   Control date language clarification


The Third workshop<http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/marine/mfminits/4202020ws3.pdf> will be held 5:30 - 6:30PM. The agenda for this workshop is:

  *   Summer Flounder Exemption Certificate Program


If you have any questions regarding the proposals or participation in the workshops please email DEM.MarineFisheries at dem.ri.gov<mailto:DEM.MarineFisheries at dem.ri.gov>.

Things to remember:

*         Workshops will be held virtually only.

*         Webinar and call-in information will be sent in a subsequent listserve notice.

*         Comments and proposals submitted prior to or during the workshop do not serve as official public record. Persons wishing to provide comments for the official public record must provide such comments during the public comment period.

Thank you.
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