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News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
For Release: December 2, 2008
Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402

DEM TO HOLD DISCUSSION SESSIONS ON ARBORIST LICENSING PROGRAM ON DECEMBER 16 AND JANUARY 9
Arborists and the Public Invited to Provide Feedback and Comments to the Department on Potential Legislative Proposal that Would Modify the Current Licensing Program

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management's Division of Forest Environment invites arborists and other members of the arboriculture industry to participate in one of two upcoming information sessions to discuss and evaluate the current arborist licensing program and ideas for reforming it.

Arboriculture is the care and maintenance of trees and includes work such as tree bracing, tree pruning, cavity treatment of trees, hazardous tree removal and other activities related to the management of trees. There are approximately 650 licensed arborists in Rhode Island. License holders must pass an initial examination and obtain a renewal license each year.

Chapter 2-19 of the RI General Laws requires all arborists in the state to be licensed by DEM. The statute was first enacted in 1928, and has not been substantively modified since then. Recent questions regarding the effectiveness of the statute has given rise to suggestions that the law should be changed to better serve the public and the arboriculture industry.

In advance of the upcoming legislative session, DEM's Division of Forest Environment is particularly interested in exploring, with industry and the public, the question of whether the current state licensing program effectively upholds professional standards within the industry. As a follow-up, the Division is particularly interested in industry's thoughts and perspectives on a potential legislative proposal that would seek to replace the state licensing program with a certification program requiring continuing educational credits and more rigorous examination standards. The Division would also welcome any other ideas and suggestions that participants may have for better meeting the needs and interests of the industry and the public related to the field of arboriculture.

Arborists are invited to attend one of two discussion sessions that will be held in the coming weeks. Both sessions will be identical in nature and will focus solely on the issues identified above. Invitees may attend both sessions if they so desire, but the intent is to provide a choice.

The first discussion session will take place on Tuesday, December 16 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at George Washington Management Headquarters, located at 2185 Putnam Pike in Chepachet. The second session will take place on Friday, January 9 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Room 300 at DEM Headquarters, 235 Promenade Street in Providence.

Written comments will be accepted until January 9 and should be sent to Brian Satterlee, urban and community forestry coordinator in DEM's Division of Forest Environment, 1037 Hartford Pike, North Scituate 02857, or via email at brian.satterlee@dem.ri.gov.

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