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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><img width="83" height="119" style="width:.8645in;height:1.2395in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D66688.3F5EEF60" alt="DEM-logo-small"><o:p></o:p></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<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><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"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT:
</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Gail Mastrati, 401-255-6144<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Thursday, July 30, 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">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">MORE THAN 100 RHODE ISLANDERS HAVE RECEIVED UNSOLICITED SEEDS FROM CHINA<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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Description automatically generated" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2"><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">PROVIDENCE,
R.I. – Over the past several days the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has received reports from more than 100 Rhode Island residents who have received unsolicited packets of seeds from China. DEM is working in conjunction with the US Department
of Agriculture (USDA) Plant Protection and Quarantine Office to respond to this emerging issue.
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">“When unlabeled seeds enter the country without evidence of being inspected and certified, there is an increased risk that they may produce invasive or noxious weeds or harbor plant pests
that could threaten agriculture or the natural environment,” said Matt Green, an environmental scientist in DEM’s Division of Agriculture. “DEM and USDA are working closely to safeguard agriculture and protect the environment and consumers while facilitating
trade and movement of agricultural products.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">DEM is providing the following guidance to anyone who may have received these seeds:
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Do not plant the seed and do not throw the seed away
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Keep the seed in its original packaging
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Keep all other original materials that came with the seed, such as labels and envelopes
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Do not open the package if it is sealed; if it has been opened place in a Ziploc bag
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Wash hands after handling the package or seeds if the package is opened<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Make a report to DEM to include your name, address, email address, and phone number. The report can be made by phone by calling the Division of Agriculture at 401-222-2781 ext. 4516 or via
email to </span><a href="mailto:DEM.SPRO@dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">DEM.SPRO@dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Place the seeds and related materials in a Ziploc bag and then place the sealed Ziploc bag into a suitably sized envelope. Mail the seeds and related materials to the USDA Plant Protection
and Quarantine Office at the following address with your name, address, email and phone number:<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">USDA APHIS PPQ<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">97 Barnes Road, Unit 200<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Wallingford, CT 06492<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo6"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">If you are unable to ship the seed or have already planted the seed, please email Chuck Baker at
</span><span style="color:windowtext"><a href="mailto:Charles.e.baker@usda.gov"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Charles.e.baker@usda.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> with your name,
address, phone number and email address.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
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<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="color:black;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:windowtext">If you have already planted the seed, please await guidance from USDA as to disposal of the seed and associated soil. Do not put seed or plant material in a compost pile.
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">For additional information on the seeds from China, visit DEM’s website at
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/agriculture"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">www.dem.ri.gov/agriculture</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">.
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">USDA is aware that people across the country have received suspicious, unsolicited packages of seed that appear to be coming from China. According
to USDA, currently there is no evidence indicating this is something other than a “brushing scam” where people receive unsolicited items from a seller who then posts false customer reviews to boost sales. USDA is currently collecting seed packages from recipients
and will test their contents and determine if they contain anything that could be of concern to US agriculture or the environment. All seeds collected will be incinerated. Visit the
</span><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com_-3Furl-3Dhttps-253A-252F-252Fwww.aphis.usda.gov-252Faphis-252Fourfocus-252Fplanthealth-252Fimport-2Dinformation-252Fsa-5Fsitc-26data-3D02-257C01-257C-257Cbf4bab19d274416315c308d832f3dc4a-257Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697-257C0-257C0-257C637315370239176894-26sdata-3DPbwwlnYGfljUuGQIvP2-252B-252B4SPtXM9ly9dH7g2D65U-252Fs0-253D-26reserved-3D0&d=DwMFAg&c=tSLbvWYfvulPN3G_n48TUw&r=7y0fw44BW2r1PwMOKktV7u6aCU9gPgwhh82HS29ILjo&m=pxs5rE0gvLV78nO696b4HUE66sB-yiCUif6ojlB_QKo&s=4Ahe3bP4rjSwMHbcbG_OpXakpFagXvm43PrP-lpDO9s&e="><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79">APHIS’
website</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> [gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com]</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79">
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">to learn more about USDA’s efforts to stop agricultural smuggling and promote trade compliance. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">http://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=DwMFAg&c=tSLbvWYfvulPN3G_n48TUw&r=PNPCCLvWGdSuU1Tdn5Dnfma8bA9iLrs91avOnZ4uMV0&m=EqnMZCBAVYHRPKBN40_6Weg41b0dNbeuZdv6MJPLt7c&s=yM_k4vcxOB--L-QycLHJfCK5LmtFHhoCxnvsMURix-E&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><o:p></o:p></p>
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