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<div class=Section1>

<h1><span lang=EN>DFG News Release<o:p></o:p></span></h1>

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<h2><span lang=EN>Public Scoping Meetings Held to Receive Comments on Suction
Dredge Permitting Program<o:p></o:p></span></h2>

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<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Nov.
2, 2009<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p><b><i><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Contact:<br>
Mark Stopher, Environmental Program Manager, (530) 225-2275<br>
Jordan Traverso, Deputy Director, Office of Communications, Education and
Outreach, (916) 654-9937<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>

<p><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The
Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is holding public scoping meetings for input
on its suction dredge permitting program. Three meetings will provide an
opportunity for the public, interested groups, and local, state and federal
agencies to comment on potential issues or concerns with the program. The
outcome of the scoping meetings and the public comment period following the
scoping meetings will help shape what is studied in the Subsequent
Environmental Impact Report (SEIR).<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>A
court order requires DFG to conduct an environmental review of the program
under the California Environmental Quality Act. DFG is currently prohibited
from issuing suction dredge permits under a court order issued July 9. In
addition, as of Aug. 6, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's signing of SB 670
(Wiggins) places a moratorium on all California instream suction dredge mining
or the use of any such equipment in any California river, stream or lake,
regardless of whether the operator has an existing permit issued by DFG. The
moratorium will remain in effect until DFG completes the environmental review
of its permitting program and makes any necessary updates to the existing
regulations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The
scoping meetings will be held in Fresno, Sacramento and Redding. Members of the
public can provide comments in person at any of the following locations and
times:<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:11.25pt;
margin-left:16.8pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span
lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></span></span><![endif]><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"'>Fresno: Monday, Nov. 16, 5 p.m.<br>
California Retired Teachers Association Building<br>
3930 E. Saginaw Way<br>
Fresno, CA 93726<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:11.25pt;
margin-left:16.8pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span
lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></span></span><![endif]><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"'>Sacramento: Tuesday, Nov. 17, 5 p.m.<br>
City of West Sacramento Galleria<br>
1110 West Capitol Ave.<br>
West Sacramento, CA 95691<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:11.25pt;
margin-left:16.8pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span
lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></span></span><![endif]><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"'>Redding: Wednesday, Nov. 18, 5 p.m.<br>
Shasta Senior Nutrition Program Center<br>
100 Mercy Oaks Drive<br>
Redding, CA 96003<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Written
comments must be postmarked by Dec. 3, 2009 and may be submitted, either by
e-mail to <a href="mailto:dfgsuctiondredge@dfg.ca.gov">dfgsuctiondredge@dfg.ca.gov</a>
or by regular mail to: <br>
<br>
Mark Stopher<br>
California Department of Fish and Game <br>
601 Locust Street<br>
Redding, CA 96001<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>For
more information about these meetings, the suction dredge program or to view
the Initial Study and supporting documents, please visit <a
href="http://www.dfg.ca.gov/suctiondredge/">www.dfg.ca.gov/suctiondredge</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>Byron
Leydecker, JcT</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>Chair, Friends
of Trinity River</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>PO Box 2327</span></i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>Mill Valley, CA
94942-2327</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>415 383 4810
land</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>415 519 4810
cell</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'><a
href="mailto:bwl3@comcast.net"><span style='color:blue'>bwl3@comcast.net</span></a></span></i></b><b><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'><a
href="mailto:bleydecker@stanfordalumni.org"><span style='color:blue'>bleydecker@stanfordalumni.org</span></a>
</span></i></b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>(secondary)</span></i><b><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'><a
href="http://fotr.org/"><span style='color:blue'>http://www.fotr.org</span></a>
</span></i></b><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>

<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>

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