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<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt">The RIDEM’s Office of Water Resources has issued its first-ever Freshwater Wetlands General Permit (FWW GP), effective October 31, 2022, in accordance with Rule 3.10 of the
</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext">Rules and Regulations Governing the Administration and Enforcement of the RI Freshwater Wetlands Act (250-RICR-150-15-3,
</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt">“FWW Rules”) for a limited list of projects and activities. This FWW GP is intended to streamline the review and authorization of smaller projects with limited impacts to freshwater wetlands. For this FWW GP, RIDEM is piloting
an electronic application form that will step applicants through the form and assist them in determining whether their project will be eligible for authorization under the FWW GP.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt">A link to the new FWW GP, along with links to the new electronic application form, an application checklist to assist preparation of a complete application, and a fact sheet on the FWW GP can all be found on
the web page for the new FWW Rules at <a href="https://dem.ri.gov/programs/water/permits/pn-wetland.php">
https://dem.ri.gov/programs/water/permits/pn-wetland.php</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt">Questions about the new Freshwater Wetlands General Permit, or any other topic concerning the recently updated and promulgated FWW Rules, can be submitted using the yellow “Submit a Question” button on the same
web page linked above.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#0070C0">Chuck Horbert,
</span></b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#0070C0">Deputy Administrator<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Groundwater & Freshwater Wetlands Protection<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">RIDEM Office of Water Resources<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">(401) 222-6820, ext. 2777402<span style="color:red"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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