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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=59 height=96 src="cid:image002.png@01D06189.E9ABF940" align=left hspace=12 v:shapes="_x0000_s1028"><![endif]><b><span style='font-size:36.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>News Release<o:p></o:p></span></b></h1><p class=MsoNormal><b>RI Department of Environmental Management<o:p></o:p></b></p><h2>235 Promenade St., Providence, RI 02908<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal><b>(401) 222-2771 </b><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov">www.dem.ri.gov</a></span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:line id="_x0000_s1027" style='position:absolute;z-index:251657728' from="0,1.3pt" to="475.2pt,1.3pt" o:allowincell="f" strokeweight="3pt" /><![endif]--><![if !vml]><span style='mso-ignore:vglayout;position:relative;z-index:251657728'><span style='position:absolute;left:-2px;top:-1px;width:638px;height:5px'><img width=638 height=5 src="cid:image003.png@01D06189.E9ABF940" v:shapes="_x0000_s1027"></span></span><![endif]><o:p> </o:p></p><br style='mso-ignore:vglayout' clear=ALL><p class=MsoNormal><b>For Release:</b> March 18, 2015<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Contact:</b> DEM: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Joe Migliore, 401-222-4700, Ext. 7258<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center'><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black;background:white'>DEM ANNOUNCES THE RE-OPENING OF SHELLFISH WATERS IN BRISTOL HARBOR BEGINNING AT SUNRISE THURSDAY, MARCH 19</span></u></b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black;background:white'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black;background:white'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:black;background:white'>PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management has announced that the waters of Bristol Harbor and waters in the vicinity of Hog Island that were closed to shellfishing due to a failure in the disinfection system at the Bristol Wastewater Treatment Plant are scheduled to re-open at sunrise Thursday, March 19. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black;background:white'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:black;background:white'>Specifically, waters North and East of a line from the southern tip of Poppasquash Point, Bristol to Southwest Point on Hog Island and from the southwest point of Hog Island to the southwestern extremity of Arnold Point in Portsmouth, where a DEM range marker has been established. Those waters classified as Prohibited in the area in accordance with RIDEM’s May 2014 -2015 shellfish closure map remain closed to shellfishing. Aquaculturists in the areas that will reopen on March 19 can resume normal operations of their leases at sunrise tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:black;background:white'>The DEM collected water samples to test for fecal coliform bacteria in response to this emergency closure with the Bristol Harbor Master on Tuesday, March17. Results from the Rhode Island Department of Health's laboratory analysis indicate that these waters are now suitable for the harvesting of shellfish. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:black;background:white'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:black;background:white'>A DEM investigation of the failure is continuing. The facility is currently operating normally. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:black;background:white'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:black;background:white'>For more information on the plant failure, contact Bristol Wastewater Treatment Facility superintendent Jose DaSilva at 401-253-8877. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:black;background:white'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:black;background:white'>For more information about the shellfish closure, contact Joseph Migliore in DEM's Office of Water Resources at 222-4700 extension 7258.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:black;background:white'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>DEM maintains a 24-hour shellfishing hotline with recorded updated information on shellfish closure areas. That number is 222-2900.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b> </b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>-30- <o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>