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News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
DEM EXTENDS CLOSURE OF CONDITIONAL AREA A TO SHELLFISHING UNTIL SUNRISE ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 12 DUE TO SEWAGE DISCHARGE PROVIDENCE -- The Department of Environmental Management is extending its current shellfishing ban in "Conditional Area A" in upper Narragansett Bay until sunrise Monday, December 12.The closure results from an electrical failure at the East Providence Wastewater Treatment Facility that took place on Sunday, December 4, which caused 1.2 million gallons of partially treated sewage to be discharged into Narragansett Bay. As reported by the East Providence facility, a malfunction of the plant's chlorination system resulted in inadequate disinfection of the sewage prior to its release into the Bay. Conditional Area A has been closed to shellfishing for the past seven days due to heavy rainfall, but was expected to be reopened tomorrow. All other conditional areas will be open to shellfishing beginning at sunrise tomorrow. The emergency closure enacted in Bristol Harbor remains in effect until further notice. DEM maintains a 24-hour shellfishing hotline with recorded updated information on shellfish closure areas. That number is 222-2900. -30- |
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