[BCNnet] FCC Notice of Inquiry-Birds and Towers; Atlanta Newspaper Article; A More Complete Picture

Sun, 24 Aug 2003 16:36:45 -0500

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Hi BCN friends;

In my post from yesterday on this issue, I said it is welcome that the FCC
is finally responding.  Since then, I received the following from American
Bird Conservancy V.P., Gerald Winegrad, who has been a leading in pressuring
these agencies on the issue.  Here is his take on the problem.  Evidently,
my optimism was premature.

Incidentally, Gerald’s note to me came with 2 attachments, which, because of
size constraints I couldn’t include in this email.  If anyone would like to
see them, please contact me directly.

Donald R. Dann
60 Ravinoaks Lane
Highland Park, IL 60035
Ph/Fax: 847-266-2222
Cell: 847-997-1011
Email: donniebird@yahoo.com <mailto:donniebird@yahoo.com>

-----Original Message-----
From: Gerald Winegrad [mailto:gww@abcbirds.org]
Sent: Saturday, August 23, 2003 9:54 AM

Subject: FCC Notice of Inquiry-Birds and Towers (FCC 03-205); Atlanta
Newspaper Article

Since ABC has been engaged for years in the tower kill issue, I wanted to
share with you some recent developments.  A Notice of Inquiry on birds and
towers was adopted by the FCC on August 8 and released on August 20. The
first attachment contains details of the Notice of Inquiry and public
comments are due in 60 days and reply comments for 90 days after that,
meaning nothing happens for at least 5 months.  The second is a Press
release from the FCC on this inquiry. Plaintiffs and attorneys will be
consulting on our response.

In my opinion, the FCC action is a charade designed to prevent any movement
forward in assuring migratory birds are considered and protected in tower
construction.   It is intended to show a court of law and the public that
the FCC is doing "something" on this issue.  In reality, all the issues the
FCC raises in its Inquiry, the FCC was directed to research and answer by
the FWS Director in her letter of November 2, 1999 urging NEPA compliance
through the completion by the FCC of a programmatic EIS.  The FCC refused
and has fostered zero research and essentially stonewalled us on this issue.

On  May 1, 2003, the FCC issued another Press Release of its intentions to
conduct a Notice of Inquiry on migratory birds.  The FCC issued the Press
release as we were filing briefs before the Federal Court of Appeals on our
tower suit.  Since May 1, the FCC has done nothing to move the NOI forward
and now it has issued its NOI that appears as if it was written or at least
reviewed by the telecommunications industry.

Here's a story from the August 23, 2003 Atlanta Journal-Constitution on the
Inquiry and tower kills.
See http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/extra/songbirdsindex.html for a
neat migratory bird interactive display that the newspaper has done, with
threats to birds.

Cell tower role in birds' deaths triggers inquiry
By CHARLES SEABROOK <mailto:cseabrook@ajc.com>
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Related:
•  Flash presentation: Listen to the sounds of Georgia's endangered
songbirds <http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/extra/songbirdsindex.html>

The federal government is beginning an investigation into bird kills caused
by communications towers.
The Federal Communications Commission said this week that it was responding
to reports that millions of migrating songbirds die each year from crashing
into the tall structures.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates the number at more than 5
million. Other ornithology experts put the number as high as 50 million per
year.
An investigative report on songbird declines by The Atlanta
Journal-Constitution two years ago showed that tower kills are a major
problem in the South.
The American Bird Conservancy says the deaths are contributing to the
decline of several songbird species. The group is concerned the problem
likely will worsen because of the growing number of cellular phone and
digital television towers.
FCC Chairman Michael Powell said the agency's new inquiry would help it
develop guidelines for placing new communication towers and for
bird-friendly airplane warning lights on the structures.
The FCC wants to "assess exactly how, and to what extent, migratory birds
may be affected by our nation's critical communications infrastructure,"
Powell said in a statement. "The record gathered here will guide us in
deploying such facilities in the most environmentally sound way possible."
The Fish and Wildlife Service says 350 species of neotropical birds -- those
that breed in North America in spring and summer and winter in Latin
America -- are vulnerable to collisions with communications towers.
They include species of warblers, hummingbirds, vireos, thrushes, orioles,
tanagers and flycatchers.
The birds migrate at night. They are most susceptible to tower collisions
when visibility is limited, due to rain, fog or low clouds.
At those times, aircraft warning lights on the towers lure the birds,
according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. The lighted towers may confuse
the birds' sense of navigation, which relies on stars and other natural
light to find migratory routes.
Environmental groups said Friday the FCC was late in paying attention to the
problem.
"Towers are incredible threats to birds," said Gerald Winegrad, vice
president for policy of the American Bird Conservancy, "but the FCC has
ignored the problem for years."
The conservancy and Friends of the Earth sued the FCC in March, saying the
agency illegally approved towers that kill millions of migratory birds. The
groups said the agency should have conducted environmental impact studies
before approving the structures.
The lawsuit claimed that up to 50 million birds die each year in tower
crashes in the United States. The nation has 60,000 communication towers
that are at least 200 feet high. Most are cellphone towers, but some also
serve TV, radio or paging networks.
The lawsuit focused on the 5,800 towers built since 1996 on the Gulf of
Mexico coast. Large flocks of birds stop in the region's forests and
wetlands during spring and fall migrations, before or after they fly across
the Gulf.
A federal judge this summer dismissed the lawsuit, saying it was premature
and that the groups should first exhaust administrative appeals.

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<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle19><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Hi BCN =
friends;<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle19><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle19><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"'>In my post from yesterday on =
this
issue, I said it is welcome that the FCC is finally responding.<span
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Since then, I received the =
following
from American Bird Conservancy V.P., Gerald Winegrad, who has been a =
leading in
pressuring these agencies on the issue.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes">&nbsp;
</span>Here is his take on the problem.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes">&nbsp;
</span>Evidently, my optimism was premature.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun:
yes">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle19><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle19><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Incidentally, Gerald&#8217;s =
note to me came
with 2 attachments, which, because of size constraints I couldn&#8217;t =
include in
this email.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>If anyone =
would like
to see them, please contact me directly.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes">&nbsp;
</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D4 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]></span></font><font
size=3D4 color=3Dblack><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D4 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><![if =
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size=3D4 color=3Dblack><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

Donald =
R. Dann<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D4 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>60 =
Ravinoaks
Lane</span></font><font size=3D4 color=3Dblack><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:=
p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D4 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Highland=
 Park,
IL 60035</span></font><font size=3D4 color=3Dblack><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:=
p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D4 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Ph/Fax:
847-266-2222</span></font><font color=3Dblack><span =
style=3D'color:black;
mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Cell: =
847-997-1011</span></font><font
size=3D4 color=3Dblack><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Email:<span =
style=3D"mso-spacerun:
yes">&nbsp; </span><a =
href=3D"mailto:donniebird@yahoo.com">donniebird@yahoo.com</a></span></fon=
t><span
class=3DEmailStyle20><font size=3D4 color=3Dblack><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></span><span =
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size=3D4 color=3Dblack><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"'><span style=3D"mso-spacerun:
yes">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle19><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle19><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
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!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DTahoma><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:black'>-----Original Message-----<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b> Gerald Winegrad
[mailto:gww@abcbirds.org]<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Saturday, August =
23, 2003
9:54 AM<br>
<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;</span><br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> FCC Notice of
Inquiry-Birds and Towers (FCC 03-205); Atlanta Newspaper Article =
</span></font><font
color=3Dblack><span =
style=3D'color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font><=
/p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]></span></font><font
color=3Dblack><span =
style=3D'color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font><=
/p>

Since ABC has been engaged for =
years in
the tower kill issue, I wanted to share with you some recent
developments.&nbsp;&nbsp;A&nbsp;Notice of Inquiry on birds and towers =
was
adopted by the FCC on August 8 and released on August 20.&nbsp;The first
attachment&nbsp;contains details of the Notice&nbsp;of
Inquiry&nbsp;and&nbsp;public comments are due in 60 days and reply =
comments for
90 days after that, meaning nothing happens for at least 5 months.&nbsp; =
The
second is a Press release from the FCC on this inquiry. Plaintiffs and
attorneys will be consulting on our response.<o:p></o:p><=
/p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>&nbsp;</span></font><font =
color=3Dblack><span
style=3D'color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font><=
/p>

In my opinion, the FCC action is =
a charade
designed to prevent any movement forward in assuring migratory birds are
considered and protected in tower construction.&nbsp;&nbsp; It is =
intended to
show a court of law and the public that the FCC is doing =
&quot;something&quot;
on this issue.&nbsp; In reality, all the issues the FCC raises in its =
Inquiry,
the FCC was directed to research and answer by the FWS Director in her =
letter
of November 2, 1999 urging NEPA compliance through the completion by the =
FCC of
a programmatic EIS.&nbsp; The FCC refused and has fostered zero research =
and
essentially stonewalled us on this issue. <o:p></o:p><=
/p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>&nbsp;</span></font><font =
color=3Dblack><span
style=3D'color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font><=
/p>

On &nbsp;May 1, 2003, the FCC =
issued
another&nbsp;Press Release of its intentions to conduct a Notice of =
Inquiry on
migratory birds.&nbsp; The FCC issued the Press release as we were =
filing
briefs before the Federal Court of Appeals on our tower suit.&nbsp; =
Since May
1, the FCC has done nothing to move the NOI forward and now it has =
issued its
NOI that appears as if it was written or at least reviewed by the
telecommunications industry. <o:p></o:p><=
/p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>&nbsp;</span></font><font =
color=3Dblack><span
style=3D'color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font><=
/p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>&nbsp;</span></font><font size=3D2
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

Here's a story from the August =
23, 2003
Atlanta Journal-Constitution on the Inquiry and tower kills. =
<o:p></o:p><=
/p>

<p style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times =
New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>See <a
href=3D"http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/extra/songbirdsindex.html">h=
ttp://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/extra/songbirdsindex.html</a>&nbsp;fo=
r
a neat migratory bird interactive display that the newspaper has done, =
with
threats to birds.</span></font><font color=3Dblack><span =
style=3D'color:black;
mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times =
New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>&nbsp;</span></font><font =
color=3Dblack><span
style=3D'color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font><=
/p>

<p style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><b><font size=3D4 color=3Dblack =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'=
>Cell tower
role in birds' deaths triggers inquiry</span></font></b><font =
color=3Dblack><span
style=3D'color:black'> </span></font><font color=3Dblack><span =
style=3D'color:black;
mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3DGeneva><span
style=3D'font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Geneva;color:black'>By <a
href=3D"mailto:cseabrook@ajc.com" oldonclick=3Dnull>CHARLES SEABROOK =
</a><br>
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution </span></font><font color=3Dblack><span
style=3D'color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font><=
/p>

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<!--RIGHT BOX-->

The federal government is =
beginning an
investigation into bird kills caused by communications towers. =
<o:p></o:p>

<p style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>The Federal =
Communications
Commission said this week that it was responding to reports that =
millions of
migrating songbirds die each year from crashing into the tall =
structures.</span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

The U.S. Fish =
and
Wildlife Service estimates the number at more than 5 million. Other =
ornithology
experts put the number as high as 50 million per =
year.<o:p></o:p>

<p style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>An =
investigative report
on songbird declines by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution two years ago =
showed
that tower kills are a major problem in the South.</span></font><font =
size=3D2
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

The American =
Bird
Conservancy says the deaths are contributing to the decline of several =
songbird
species. The group is concerned the problem likely will worsen because =
of the
growing number of cellular phone and digital television =
towers.<o:p></o:p>

<p style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>FCC Chairman =
Michael
Powell said the agency's new inquiry would help it develop guidelines =
for
placing new communication towers and for bird-friendly airplane warning =
lights
on the structures.</span></font><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;mso-color-alt:win=
dowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

The FCC wants =
to
&quot;assess exactly how, and to what extent, migratory birds may be =
affected
by our nation's critical communications infrastructure,&quot; Powell =
said in a
statement. &quot;The record gathered here will guide us in deploying =
such
facilities in the most environmentally sound way =
possible.&quot;<o:p></o:p>

<p style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>The Fish and =
Wildlife
Service says 350 species of neotropical birds -- those that breed in =
North
America in spring and summer and winter in Latin America -- are =
vulnerable to
collisions with communications towers.</span></font><font size=3D2 =
color=3Dblack
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;
mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>They include =
species of
warblers, hummingbirds, vireos, thrushes, orioles, tanagers and =
flycatchers.</span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

The birds =
migrate at
night. They are most susceptible to tower collisions when visibility is
limited, due to rain, fog or low clouds. <o:p></o:p>

At those times, =
aircraft
warning lights on the towers lure the birds, according to the Fish and =
Wildlife
Service. The lighted towers may confuse the birds' sense of navigation, =
which
relies on stars and other natural light to find migratory =
routes.<o:p></o:p>

<p style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Environmental =
groups
said Friday the FCC was late in paying attention to the =
problem.</span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>&quot;Towers =
are
incredible threats to birds,&quot; said Gerald Winegrad, vice president =
for
policy of the American Bird Conservancy, &quot;but the FCC has ignored =
the
problem for years.&quot;</span></font><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;mso-color-alt:win=
dowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

The conservancy =
and
Friends of the Earth sued the FCC in March, saying the agency illegally
approved towers that kill millions of migratory birds. The groups said =
the
agency should have conducted environmental impact studies before =
approving the
structures.<o:p></o:p>

The lawsuit =
claimed that
up to 50 million birds die each year in tower crashes in the United =
States. The
nation has 60,000 communication towers that are at least 200 feet high. =
Most
are cellphone towers, but some also serve TV, radio or paging =
networks.<o:p></o:p>

The lawsuit =
focused on
the 5,800 towers built since 1996 on the Gulf of Mexico coast. Large =
flocks of
birds stop in the region's forests and wetlands during spring and fall
migrations, before or after they fly across the Gulf.<o:p></o:p>

<p style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>A federal judge =
this
summer dismissed the lawsuit, saying it was premature and that the =
groups
should first exhaust administrative appeals.</span></font><font size=3D2
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

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