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Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street | Providence, RI 02908 | 401. 222. 4700 | www. dem. ri. gov | @RhodeIslandDEM CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Evan LaCross, 401-799-0100 Friday, May 24, 2024 Dem. communications@ dem. ri. gov
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><img width="83" height="119" style="width:.8645in;height:1.2395in" id="Picture_x0020_782" src="cid:image002.png@01DAADD9.BCA6FDE0" alt="DEM-logo-small"></span><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><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><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a></span><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-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">CONTACT:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">
<b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Evan LaCross, 401-799-0100 Friday, May 24, 2024<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="mailto:Dem.communications@dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#3366FF">Dem.communications@dem.ri.gov</span></a></span><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#3366FF">
</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center">
<b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">DEM AWARDS MORE THAN $100,000 TO SEVEN COMMUNITY<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">BOAT PUMPOUT FACILITIES TO KEEP COASTAL WATERS CLEAN<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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RI –<span style="color:black"> The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) today announces the award of $139,254 in matching grants to help communities and businesses expand and maintain boat pump-out facilities across Rhode Island. The grants
are funded under the </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.bing.com/search?pglt=41&q=US*Fish**A26*Wildlife*Service*Clean*Vessel*Act&cvid=07633fe3261d4dba81c1c99223a7b184&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQRRj8VdIBDTI2NTgxOTc3MWowajGoAgCwAgA&FORM=ANNAB1&PC=U531__;KyslKysrKys!!KKphUJtCzQ!LNRozPlquWp9LH_4nepX8cMIqJazUqaTiUDxoqbwoOqYbUhjCP-AHCzYn7_lUJjX9b9Ql-Oyde9TAJQFKM12CcUNgWyojhxdLdkn$"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">US
Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Clean Vessel Act (CVA)</span> [bing.com]</a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"> and support seven projects throughout Rhode Island waters. Since 1994, DEM has awarded more than $2.5
million in CVA Clean Vessel grants. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">“Most of us know it’s not right to discharge wastewater directly from our boats into Narragansett Bay or the ocean. In fact, it’s illegal to pump waste within
three nautical miles of the Rhode Island coast,” said DEM Director Terry Gray. “DEM works with municipal and marine trades partners to prevent the discharge of boat sewage, which impairs water quality by introducing bacteria and other pathogens and chemicals
that are harmful to humans and marine life. The support of the USFWS CVA helps accomplish this by subsidizing pump-out facilities that empower thousands of Rhode Island recreational boaters to do their part to keep the bay and our local waters clean, which
are central to the Ocean State’s environment, way of life, and economy.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Boat sewage can threaten water quality by introducing bacteria and other pathogens, excess nutrients, and chemicals that are harmful to humans and marine
life. In 1998, Rhode Island became the first state in the nation to receive a statewide “no discharge” designation from the US Environmental Protection Agency that prohibits boaters from discharging sewage into local waterways.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">The 2024 grant recipients include:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin-left:.75in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Stanley’s Boat Yard– $4,775 for the replacement of an existing stationary pumpout and purchase of mobile cart in the Barrington River<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin-left:.75in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Greenwich Cove Marina – $29,200 for the construction of a new stationary pumpout in Greenwich Cove<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin-left:.75in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Providence Marina – $1,100 for the maintenance of a stationary pumpout in the Providence River<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin-left:.75in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Barrington Yacht Club – $1,477 for the maintenance of a stationary pumpout in the Barrington River<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin-left:.75in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Town of New Shoreham – $6,550 for maintenance of five existing mobile pumpout boats in Great Salt Pond<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin-left:.75in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Town of Bristol – $86,487 for the purchase of a new pumpout boat in Bristol Harbor
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin-left:.75in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Town of Westerly - $9,665 for the maintenance of two existing pumpout boats in the Pawcatuck River<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">DEM works with municipal and marine trades partners to reduce pollution entering local waters. Boat sewage can pose a significant threat to water quality
by potentially introducing bacteria and other pathogens that can jeopardize public health. In 1998, Rhode Island became the first state in the nation to receive a statewide “no discharge” designation from the US Environmental Protection Agency prohibiting
boaters from discharging sewage into local waterways. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">There are currently 63 marine sanitation pump-out facilities operating in RI waters – 48 dockside pump-out facilities and 15 pump-out boats. Many existing
facilities require repair and upgrades as they have exceeded their useful life expectancy since initial construction. All pumpout facilities must be kept fully operational to adequately meet demand and help prevent sewage discharges into RI waters.
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">The grants require a 25% funding match and funded facilities must be available to all boaters. In addition, grant recipients agree to charge no more than $5 per 30 gallons of sewage
pumped.<span style="color:black"> Visit DEM’s website for a </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/maps/mapfile/pumpmap.pdf"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">map</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">
of marine pumpout facilities in Rhode Island.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Some 40,000 boats are registered in Rhode Island, and the state welcomes many thousands more visiting boats each year. Last year, a total volume of over 600,000
gallons of sewage was pumped out at these facilities and diverted from directly entering Rhode Island’s coastal waters.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Along with fishing and many other commercial and recreational interests, Rhode Island shellfish harvesters benefit from CVA pumpout grants. For more information on RI
shellfish harvesting, </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://dem.ri.gov/environmental-protection-bureau/water-resources/research-monitoring/shellfish-area-monitoring"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">click
here</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> or email here
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="mailto:DEM.Shellfish@dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">DEM.Shellfish@dem.ri.gov</span></a></span><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">.</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">.
Follow </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!LNRozPlquWp9LH_4nepX8cMIqJazUqaTiUDxoqbwoOqYbUhjCP-AHCzYn7_lUJjX9b9Ql-Oyde9TAJQFKM12CcUNgWyojiub-rzt$"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">DEM on Facebook</span> [facebook.com]</a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">,
Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates.<span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">###<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F4E79;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><br>
Evan LaCross, MPA</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F4E79"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F4E79;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Programming Services Officer, Public Affairs<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#004678;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#767171;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">235 Promenade Street, Providence RI 02908</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#767171;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#767171;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">401-799-0100 (c)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="mailto:evan.lacross@dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">evan.lacross@dem.ri.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:gray;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">
</span><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#767171;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">(E);
</span><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/"><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#767171">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#767171;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">
(W)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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