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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@01D703AA.42FEFDD0" 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">Monday, February 15, 2021
</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;color:black">DEM, URI HOSTING WEBINAR THIS MONTH ON THE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY, AN INVASIVE PEST TARGETING PLANTS AND TREES<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>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
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</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;margin-left:188.25pt;margin-top:.8pt;width:318pt;height:210.3pt;z-index:251658240;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute;mso-position-horizontal-relative:margin;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:margin;mso-height-relative:margin'>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width="424" height="280" style="width:4.4166in;height:2.9166in" src="cid:image004.jpg@01D70450.3BDF3E60" align="left" hspace="12" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2"><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">PROVIDENCE,
R.I. – The Department of Environmental Management (DEM), in partnership with the University of Rhode Island (URI) is hosting a webinar this month to provide information about the spotted lanternfly, an exotic pest that targets various plants and trees.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="MsoBookTitle"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal">Native to China, the spotted lanternfly is an invasive plant-hopper that is currently infesting portions of the mid-Atlantic
region of the United States. It was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014 and has quickly spread through surrounding states. It is anticipated that the pest may be introduced into Rhode Island within the next few years. This invasive species targets “Tree
of Heaven” plants, grapes, hops, fruit trees, and various hardwood trees including walnut and maple, impacting environmental and economic resources.</span></span><span class="MsoBookTitle"><span style="font-weight:normal;font-style:normal"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">The virtual informational session is being held to help the transportation and trucking industries, landscapers, local growers, vineyards and wineries, stone and outdoor commodity
industry, environmental organizations and others prepare for and respond to this invasive pest, should it be detected in Rhode Island. The 90-minute presentation will include historical and current information on spotted lanternfly, pest identification, risks
and expected impacts to Rhode Island, prevention and treatment options, and resources. Staff from DEM’s Division of Agriculture and URI will be participating in the webinar and available for questions and discussion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">The webinar, entitled “Spotted Lanternfly: What You Need to Know to Prepare for This Invasive Pest In Rhode Island,” will be offered as follows:</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span class="MsoBookTitle"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal">Tuesday, February 23
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span class="MsoBookTitle"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal">1 p.m. – 2:30 a.m.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span class="MsoBookTitle"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal">Wednesday, February 24<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span class="MsoBookTitle"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal">1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m.
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span class="MsoBookTitle"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span class="MsoBookTitle"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal">Thursday, February 25<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span class="MsoBookTitle"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal">10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="MsoBookTitle"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="MsoBookTitle"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal">Registration is required to receive a link to the webinar. To RSVP, and for questions about the presentation or spotted
lanternfly, contact Cynthia Kwolek in DEM’s Division of Agriculture via email at
</span></span><b><a href="mailto:Cynthia.kwolek@dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;letter-spacing:.25pt">Cynthia.kwolek@dem.ri.gov</span></a></b><span class="MsoBookTitle"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;font-weight:normal">,</span></span><span class="MsoBookTitle"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal">
or at 401-949-1770.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="MsoBookTitle"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<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.com/v3/__http://www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!ap6MbvVba84_fumXsqs6FnwW01TqUZGsvlExzSJuplV5_narbE5I2KX4YsEGIwQp9yhKmOsL$" 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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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">-30-<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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