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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 Wednesday, July 24, 2024 Dem. communications@ dem. ri. gov</div>
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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 Wednesday, July 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>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">DEM ANNOUNCES PRECAUTIONARY CLOSURE OF PRUDENCE ISLAND SHELLFISHING AREA JULY 27 THROUGH AUGUST 3 AHEAD OF “AQUAPALOOZA”</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;letter-spacing:.1pt">
</span><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">PROVIDENCE, RI –<span style="color:black"> The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is announcing that due to the increased risk of accidental or
illicit discharges of sewage from hundreds of boats gathering off Prudence Island that is expected this weekend, DEM
</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://dem.ri.gov/press-releases/aquapalooza-forces-preemptive-closure-prudence-island-shellfishing-area-july-29"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">is
once again</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"> preemptively closing 700 acres of shellfish grounds on the north end of the island. The precautionary closure is from sunrise on July 27 until sunrise
on August 3 and extends from the shoreline and all waters south and west of a line from Providence Point to the northwest extension of Warner Avenue on Prudence 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">The Aquapalooza gathering — an unaffiliated, social media-driven event — is necessitating the precautionary closure. The annual event typically draws more
than 1,000 boats and personal watercraft. With so many boats concentrated in such a small area for hours, federal and state public health guidance requires that the shellfish harvest area, which includes Potter’s Cove and adjacent waters, be closed to protect
public health.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">
</span><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"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Although most recreational boaters follow
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://dem.ri.gov/environmental-protection-bureau/water-resources/waters-wetlands/bay-and-coastal-waters/boat"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">Rhode
Island’s “No Discharge” law</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">, a high concentration of vessels increases the chances of accidental or illicit discharge of sewage into shellfish waters. The precautionary
closure will provide a sufficient volume of water and time for the dilution of inadvertently discharged sewage before the area is reopened to shellfishing. There are currently 15 pump-out boats and 59 facilities located across Narragansett Bay and RI coastal
waters. However, these facilities are not routinely in operation along the undeveloped north shore of Prudence Island. 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. Visit DEM’s website for a
</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">Closing shellfishing areas when warranted protects public health by ensuring that only quality, safe shellfish is harvested and enters the food system.
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">DEM, the
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://health.ri.gov/programs/detail.php?pgm_id=164"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">Rhode Island Department of Health</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">
(RIDOH), and the </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="http://www.crmc.ri.gov/aquaculture.html"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">RI Coastal Resources Management Council</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">
(CRMC), along with industry partners, collaborate to ensure that shellfish grown and harvested from Rhode Island waters continues to be a quality safe seafood product to be enjoyed by all consumers.
<span style="color:black">This is achieved by diligent monitoring of shellfish harvesting waters. Such monitoring enables a quick response, including shellfish closures, when conditions indicate a change in water quality due to natural events such
</span>as </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/cyanobacteria-blue-green-algae"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">algae
blooms</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> or
<span style="color:black">unusual events. <o:p></o:p></span></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">For more information on the shellfish harvesting classifications, review the annual notice available at
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/shellfish"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">www.dem.ri.gov/shellfish</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">.
An </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://ridemgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=110a7a4aec914a3492117e9848fe67da__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!M9EXnE_6G5iogrlhEcSq3uyV2PZldqvIYVe3SHj5JuXDr5DYLAV2rT6thc72qTbZrJmerHtOqV6J_yUGDw0ImYg2jStCSFhTZ4nX$"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">interactive
shellfishing map </span> [ridemgis.maps.arcgis.com]</a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">is also available.<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">For information on emergency and conditional area water quality related shellfish closures, call DEM’s 24-hour shellfishing hotline at 401-222-2900 or sign up for DEM’s
Office of Water Resources' shellfishing listserv here: </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="mailto:RishellfishOWR-subscribe@listserve.ri.gov"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">RIshellfishOWR-subscribe@listserve.ri.gov</span></a></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">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">.
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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>
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