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Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street | Providence, RI 02908 | 401.&#8202;222.&#8202;4700 | www.&#8202;dem.&#8202;ri.&#8202;gov | @RhodeIslandDEM CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DEM.&#8202;communications@&#8202;dem.&#8202;ri.&#8202;gov Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024 TWO SHELLFISH</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:&quot;Impact&quot;,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:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#00457A">235 Promenade Street | Providence, RI 02908 | 401.222.4700 |</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0070C0">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0066FF">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0070C0">
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#00457A">| @RhodeIslandDEM</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,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:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">CONTACT:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><a href="mailto:DEM.communications@dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0066FF">DEM.communications@dem.ri.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0066FF">&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">TWO SHELLFISH HARVESTING AREAS IN UPPER NARRAGANSETT BAY REOPEN TOMORROW<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
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 RI &#8211;<span style="color:black"> The Rhode Island Department of Environmental </span>
Management (DEM) is announcing that the emergency closure <span style="color:black">
of Upper Narragansett Bay shellfish &#8216;Area A&#8217; and &#8216;Area B&#8217; will end at sunrise tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 20.
</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><a href="https://dem.ri.gov/press-releases/heavy-rain-closes-shellfishing-areas-narragansett-bay-salt-ponds"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0066FF">The
 emergency closure was put in place after last week&#8217;s heavy rain</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:black">. Water samples collected this week demonstrated that bacteria levels in both areas have returned
 to levels that support safe shellfish harvest, allowing them to reopen for shellfish harvest at sunrise tomorrow.&nbsp;
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:black">Other conditionally approved shellfish areas in Upper Narragansett Bay remain closed. Providence River Area E and Greenwich Bay are closed and are scheduled
 to reopen for shellfish harvest at noon on Thursday, Dec. 26.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:black"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">DEM, the
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><a href="https://health.ri.gov/programs/detail.php?pgm_id=164"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0066FF">Rhode Island Department of Health</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">
 (RIDOH), and the </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><a href="http://www.crmc.ri.gov/aquaculture.html"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0066FF">RI Coastal Resources Management Council</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,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. This monitoring enables a quick response when conditions
 indicate a change in water quality due to natural events such as </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><a href="https://dem.ri.gov/environmental-protection-bureau/water-resources/research-monitoring/cyanobacteria-blue-green-algae"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0066FF">algae
 blooms</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif"> or unusual weather events.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:black"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,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:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/shellfish"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0066FF">www.dem.ri.gov/shellfish</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">.
 An </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://ridemgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=110a7a4aec914a3492117e9848fe67da__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!L_82TUyT7sQyPA2kBsJEmJrd8dHsxCd78psXBrBZ_DmyN5lPRaWvM7yX9jEdrpRohcVRRrp5rp27q3bnu0_xeUhiIIgvTRiZMwfF$"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0066FF">interactive
 shellfishing map </span> [ridemgis.maps.arcgis.com]</a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">is also available.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">For information on emergency and conditional area water quality related shellfish closures, call DEM&#8217;s 24-hour shell fishing hotline at 401-222-2900 or sign up for DEM&#8217;s
 Office of Water Resources' listserv here: </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><a href="mailto:RishellfishOWR-subscribe@listserve.ri.gov"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0066FF">RishellfishOWR-subscribe@listserve.ri.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0066FF">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">.
 Follow </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!L_82TUyT7sQyPA2kBsJEmJrd8dHsxCd78psXBrBZ_DmyN5lPRaWvM7yX9jEdrpRohcVRRrp5rp27q3bnu0_xeUhiIIgvTT3hJ1XR$"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0066FF">DEM on Facebook</span> [facebook.com]</a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">,
 Twitter/X (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates.
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/JKHsVOn/medialist__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!L_82TUyT7sQyPA2kBsJEmJrd8dHsxCd78psXBrBZ_DmyN5lPRaWvM7yX9jEdrpRohcVRRrp5rp27q3bnu0_xeUhiIIgvTSkXIxkg$"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0066FF">Sign up here</span> [lp.constantcontactpages.com]</a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">
 to receive the latest press releases, news, and events from DEM's Public Affairs Office to your inbox.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri Light&quot;,sans-serif">###<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Cambria&quot;,serif;color:#1F4E79;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><br>
Evan LaCross, MPA</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Cambria&quot;,serif;color:#1F4E79"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:&quot;Cambria&quot;,serif;color:#1F4E79;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Programming Services Officer, Public Information Officer<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:&quot;Cambria&quot;,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:&quot;Century Gothic&quot;,sans-serif;color:#767171;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">235 Promenade Street, Providence RI 02908</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Century Gothic&quot;,sans-serif;color:#767171;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:&quot;Century Gothic&quot;,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:&quot;Century Gothic&quot;,sans-serif">evan.lacross@dem.ri.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-family:&quot;Century Gothic&quot;,sans-serif;color:gray;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">
</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Century Gothic&quot;,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:&quot;Century Gothic&quot;,sans-serif;color:#767171">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-family:&quot;Century Gothic&quot;,sans-serif;color:#767171;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">
 (W)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:&quot;Century Gothic&quot;,sans-serif;color:#767171;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/JKHsVOn/medialist__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!L_82TUyT7sQyPA2kBsJEmJrd8dHsxCd78psXBrBZ_DmyN5lPRaWvM7yX9jEdrpRohcVRRrp5rp27q3bnu0_xeUhiIIgvTSkXIxkg$">Sign up here [lp.constantcontactpages.com]</a></span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:&quot;Century Gothic&quot;,sans-serif;color:#767171;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">
 to receive the latest press releases, news, and events from DEM's Public Affairs Office to your inbox.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:&quot;Century Gothic&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0096D2;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Follow DEM on
</span></i><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM/?fref=ts__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!L_82TUyT7sQyPA2kBsJEmJrd8dHsxCd78psXBrBZ_DmyN5lPRaWvM7yX9jEdrpRohcVRRrp5rp27q3bnu0_xeUhiIIgvTUWz-PdM$"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:&quot;Century Gothic&quot;,sans-serif;color:#004678">Facebook</span></i> [facebook.com]</a></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:&quot;Century Gothic&quot;,sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">,<i><span style="color:#0096D2">
</span><span style="color:#00B0F0">on</span> </i></span><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.instagram.com/rhodeisland.dem/__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!L_82TUyT7sQyPA2kBsJEmJrd8dHsxCd78psXBrBZ_DmyN5lPRaWvM7yX9jEdrpRohcVRRrp5rp27q3bnu0_xeUhiIIgvTaPYaE4W$"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:&quot;Century Gothic&quot;,sans-serif;color:#002060">Instagram</span></i> [instagram.com]</a></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:&quot;Century Gothic&quot;,sans-serif;color:#002060;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">,</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:&quot;Century Gothic&quot;,sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">
<span style="color:#00B0F0">and</span> <i><span style="color:#0096D2">on </span></i></span><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://twitter.com/RhodeIslandDEM__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!L_82TUyT7sQyPA2kBsJEmJrd8dHsxCd78psXBrBZ_DmyN5lPRaWvM7yX9jEdrpRohcVRRrp5rp27q3bnu0_xeUhiIIgvTat5Lu0x$"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:&quot;Century Gothic&quot;,sans-serif;color:#004678">Twitter</span></i> [twitter.com]</a></span><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:&quot;Century Gothic&quot;,sans-serif;color:#0096D2;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">.</span></i><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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