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Back to HB 1907
Oklahoma Legislature· HB 1907Coauthored by Representative Dollens

An act relating to the environment, the official text

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1                   STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2   1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)

3 HOUSE BILL 1907   By: Alonso-Sandoval

4

5

6                   AS INTRODUCED

7   An Act relating to the environment; creating the

    Battery Stewardship Act; defining terms; restricting

8   the sale of certain batteries unless in compliance;

    making certain exceptions; requiring submittal of

9   certain plan for review; requiring operation under

    certain plan; limiting term of plan; listing

10  requirements of plan; requiring certain calculation

    of cost; requiring payment of certain annual fee;

11  requiring deposit of collected fees into certain

    fund; authorizing adjustment of certain fee;

12  requiring certain annual report; listing certain

    report content requirements; requiring certain public

13  awareness survey; stating survey requirements;

    requiring certain audit; stating audit requirements;

14  requiring submission of audit results; requiring

    certain materials be provided; requiring the

15  collection and recycling of certain batteries;

    authorizing certain separate collection facilities;

16  requiring convenient collection points; requiring

    certain targets be met; requiring annual reports

17  contain certain details; listing details; providing

    for certain punishments; requiring certain

18  collections be used; creating penalty for certain

    improper disposal; allowing certain requirements to

19  be met by certain participation; requiring Department

    of Environmental Quality to make certain

20  determination; requiring certain notification;

    providing for the submission of revised plan;

21  allowing certain plans to be deemed approved if no

    action taken; prohibiting amendments to plan unless

22  approved; authorizing Department to require certain

    amendments to approved plans; authorizing the

23  revocation of certain plans; authorizing Department

    to make certain determination; requiring Department

24  maintain certain plans and plan information on its

    Req. No. 11185                                         Page 1
1   website; requiring Department promote certain public

    participation; stating certain information shall not

2   be made public; allowing for certain information to

    be summarized or redacted; making certain exception;

3   requiring each county have certain facility;

    providing certain alternatives; requiring Department

4   provide certain report; stating report requirements;

    authorizing the promulgation of rules; authorizing

5   certain reimbursement; allowing reimbursement after

    certain occurrences; allowing request of certain

6   independent audit; requiring payment of certain costs

    and requested reimbursement; authorizing certain

7   cause of action if certain conditions are met;

    establishing fine for violations; providing for

8   codification; and providing an effective date.

9

10

11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

12  SECTION 1.        NEW LAW  A new section of law to be codified

13 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2120 of Title 27A, unless there

14 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

15  This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Battery

16 Stewardship Act".

17  SECTION 2.        NEW LAW  A new section of law to be codified

18 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2121 of Title 27A, unless there

19 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

20  As used in the Battery Stewardship Act:

21  1. "Department" means the Oklahoma Department of Environmental

22 Quality or its successor agency;

23  2. "Collection rate" means the total weight of covered

24 batteries collected in this state by a producer in a calendar year

    Req. No. 11185                                            Page 2
1 divided by the average annual weight of covered batteries estimated

2 to have been sold in this state by that producer during the same

3 calendar year and the previous two (2) calendar years;

4   3. "Covered battery" means a portable battery or a medium

5 format battery, regardless of the end user, sold for:

6   a. residential purposes,

7   b. commercial, industrial, institutional purposes,

8   hereinafter referred to as "B2B batteries" or

9   "Business-to-Business batteries".

10  4. "Covered battery" does not include any of the following:

11  a. a battery, contained in a medical device that is

12  regulated under the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic

13  Act, 21 U.S.C., Sections 301 to 394, that is not

14  designed or marketed for sale or resale at retail

15  locations for personal use,

16  b. a battery that contains an electrolyte as a free

17  liquid,

18  c. a lead acid battery,

19  d. a vehicle battery, or

20  e. a battery in a battery-containing product that is not

21  intended or designed to be easily removable from the

22  battery-containing product;

23  5. "Covered Entities" means:

24

    Req. No. 11185                                             Page 3
1   a. producers who are manufacturers, importers, or

2   distributors of covered batteries sold in Oklahoma,

3   b. retailers who are entities selling covered batteries

4   directly to consumers or businesses in Oklahoma, and

5   c. end users who are:

6   (1) residential consumers, or

7   (2) businesses that are organizations purchasing

8                   batteries for commercial, industrial, or

9                   institutional purposes.

10  6. "Medium-format battery" means the following primary or

11 rechargeable covered batteries:

12  a. for rechargeable batteries, a battery weighing more

13  than 11 pounds or having a rating of more than 300

14  watt-hours, or both, and no more than 25 pounds and

15  having a rating of no more than 2,000 watt-hours, or

16  b. for primary batteries, a battery weighing at least 4.4

17  pounds, but not more than 25 pounds.

18  7. "Portable battery" means the following primary or

19 rechargeable covered batteries:

20  a. for rechargeable batteries, a battery weighing no more

21  than 11 pounds and having a rating of no more than 300

22  watt-hours, or

23  b. for primary batteries, a battery weighing no more than

24  4.4 pounds.

    Req. No. 11185                                             Page 4
1   8. "Primary battery" means a battery that is not capable of

2 being recharged.

3   9. "Producer" means a person that sells, offers for sale, or

4 distributes for sale a covered battery in or into this state and

5 that qualifies as any of the following:

6   a. if the covered battery is sold under a brand of the

7   battery's manufacturer, the person that manufactures

8   the battery,

9   b. if the covered battery is sold under a retail brand or

10  under a brand owned by a person other than the

11  battery's manufacturer, the person that owns the

12  brand,

13  c. if subparagraphs a and b of this paragraph do not

14  apply, the person that is the licensee of a brand or

15  trademark under which the covered battery is sold,

16  offered for sale, or distributed for sale in or into

17  this state, regardless of whether the trademark is

18  registered in this state,

19  d. if subparagraphs a, b, or c of this paragraph do not

20  apply to any person within the United States, the

21  person that is the importer of record for the covered

22  battery into the United States for the purpose of

23  selling, offering for sale, or distributing for sale

24  the battery in or into this state, and

    Req. No. 11185                                        Page 5
1   e. if subparagraphs a, b, c, or d of this paragraph do

2               not apply to any person with a commercial presence in

3               this state, the person who first sells, offers for

4               sale, or distributes for sale the covered battery in

5               or into this state;

6   10. "Rechargeable battery" means a battery that contains one or

7 more voltaic or galvanic cells electrically connected to produce

8 electric energy and that is designed to be recharged;

9   11 "Recycling" means preparing covered batteries for use in

10 manufacturing processes or for recovery of usable materials and

11 delivering the materials for use. Recycling does not include

12 destruction by incineration or other processes or land disposal of

13 recyclable materials and does not include reuse, repair, or any

14 other process through which batteries are returned in their original

15 form; and

16  12. "Retailer" means a person who offers a battery for sale in

17 this state by any means, including via online sales.

18  SECTION 3.      NEW LAW   A new section of law to be codified

19 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2122 of Title 27A, unless there

20 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

21  A. Beginning on January 1, 2027, no producer may sell, offer

22 for sale, or distribute for sale in or into this state any covered

23 battery unless the producer is in compliance with the requirements

24 of Section 4 of this act.

    Req. No. 11185                                                  Page 6
1   B. Beginning on January 1, 2027, no retailer may sell or offer

2 for sale in this state any covered battery unless the producer of

3 the battery is in compliance with the requirements of Section 4 of

4 this act. This paragraph does not apply to covered batteries for

5 which any of the following apply:

6   1. The retailer purchases the covered battery before January 1,

7 2027, and sells the battery on or before January 1, 2028; or

8   2. If the producer's battery stewardship plan under Section 4

9 of this act is expired or has been revoked, the retailer purchased

10 the covered battery before the producer's battery stewardship plan

11 expired or was revoked.

12  SECTION 4.      NEW LAW   A new section of law to be codified

13 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2123 of Title 27A, unless there

14 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

15  A. No later than June 1, 2026, each producer shall submit a

16 battery stewardship plan to the Department of Environmental Quality

17 for review. No later than January 1, 2027, each producer shall

18 operate under an approved battery stewardship plan. A battery

19 stewardship plan submitted to the Department shall have a term of no

20 more than five (5) years and shall include all of the following:

21  1. If the producer is a member of a battery stewardship

22 organization pursuant to Section 5 of this act, the names and

23 contact information for each of the producers in the battery

24 stewardship organization;

    Req. No. 11185                                                 Page 7
1   2. The brands of all of the covered batteries that the producer

2 sells, offers for sale, or distributes for sale in or into this

3 state. All such brands shall be covered by the battery stewardship

4 plan;

5   3. Provisions for collecting covered batteries at no cost to

6 the end user, regardless of the brand or producer of the covered

7 battery and provisions for collecting damaged, defective, or

8 recalled batteries considering storage container requirements or

9 other safety measures;

10  4. A process for providing packaging, consistent with any state

11 and federal requirements related to transporting hazardous

12 materials, for the safe collection and transportation of covered

13 batteries. Such packaging shall be provided at no cost if the

14 purpose of the packaging will be to collect and transport damaged,

15 defective, or recalled covered batteries;

16  5. A process for allowing retailers, municipalities, and solid

17 waste facilities to opt in to being a collection facility under the

18 plan;

19  6. The name, address, and contact information of at least one

20 (1) collection facility in each county in this state that will

21 provide covered battery collection throughout the calendar year;

22  7. The name, address, and contact information of any

23 transporter or contractor that will collect covered batteries from

24 collection facilities and a statement as to whether such

    Req. No. 11185                                                 Page 8
1 transporters or contractors have obtained the necessary state and

2 federal licenses for transporting batteries; and the name, address,

3 and contact information of any recycling facility that will process

4 the collected batteries;

5   8. A provision that ensures that each collection facility will

6 accept up to one hundred covered batteries per person per visit. A

7 collection facility may agree to accept more covered batteries per

8 person per visit;

9   9. A method for responsibly managing collected covered

10 batteries to ensure that all of the components of collected

11 batteries are recycled, to the extent economically and technically

12 feasible, and that any components or batteries that cannot be

13 recycled are properly disposed of;

14  10. A description of an education and outreach program that the

15 producer will undertake to provide notice of the producer's covered

16 battery collection program to businesses, municipalities, solid

17 waste facilities, retailers, and transporters; to provide

18 information about available safety training for collection

19 facilities; and to notify the public that there is a free covered

20 battery collection program and the location of collection

21 facilities. If more than one producer has an approved battery

22 stewardship plan, all producers with an approved battery stewardship

23 plan shall coordinate in carrying out their education and outreach

24 programs;

    Req. No. 11185                                                  Page 9
1   11. A description of how the producer will develop strategies,

2 in consultation with the Department and other relevant parties, for

3 collecting covered batteries in areas and communities that face

4 environmental justice challenges associated with waste management;

5   12. A procedure for collecting and providing reimbursement

6 pursuant to Section 7 of this act;

7   13. a. each battery stewardship plan shall include

8   performance goals that measure, on an annual basis,

9   the achievements of the program. Performance goals

10  must take into consideration technical feasibility and

11  economic practicality in achieving continuous,

12  meaningful progress in improving:

13  (1) the rate of battery collection for recycling in

14                  Oklahoma,

15  (2) the recycling efficiency of the program, and

16  (3) public awareness of the program;

17  b. the performance goals established in each battery

18  stewardship plan shall include, but are not limited

19  to:

20  (1) target collection rates,

21  (2) target recycling efficiency rates of at least

22                  sixty percent (60%) for rechargeable batteries

23                  and at least seventy percent (70%) for primary

24                  batteries, and

    Req. No. 11185                                      Page 10
1      (3) goals for public awareness, convenience, and

2                   accessibility that meet or exceed the minimum

3                   requirements established in Oklahoma Statute.

4      15. A description of how the producer and the collection

5 facilities identified in the plan will implement the program

6 described in the plan, including providing products and equipment to

7 collection facilities to set up a collection site and providing for

8 the management and transportation of collected covered batteries;

9 and

10     16. Methods for safe recycling or disposal that adhere to

11 environmental, transportation, and Occupational Safety and Health

12 Administration (OSHA) standards and regulations.

13     B. The Department of Environmental Quality shall calculate the

14 total cost of administering and implementing the battery stewardship

15 program on an annual basis. This cost may include, but not be

16 limited to, public education and outreach efforts, administrative

17 expenses incurred by the Department, and compliance monitoring and

18 enforcement activities. A producer operating under an approved

19 battery stewardship plan shall pay an annual fee determined by the

20 Department based on market share of covered batteries sold in the

21 state during the preceding calendar year. Fees paid under this

22 subsection shall be deposited into the Department of Environmental

23 Quality Revolving Fund established pursuant to Section 2-3-401 of

24 Title 27A of the Oklahoma Statutes. The Department may adjust the

    Req. No. 11185                                                Page 11
1 amount of this fee as necessary to maintain the program under this

2 section.

3   C. No later than March 1, 2028, and annually thereafter, a

4 producer shall submit to the Department a report that contains all

5 of the following:

6   1. The total weight of covered batteries collected by the

7 producer in the previous calendar year;

8   2. The estimated percentage of the total weight under paragraph

9 1 of this subsection that is attributable to rechargeable batteries;

10  3. The estimated percentage of the total weight under paragraph

11 1 of this subsection that is attributable to producers that are not

12 operating under an approved battery stewardship plan under this

13 section;

14  4. The collection rate achieved by the producer in the previous

15 calendar year;

16  5. The estimated total weight of covered batteries sold,

17 offered for sale, or distributed for sale in or into this state by

18 the producer in the previous three (3) calendar years;

19  6. The location and contact information for each collection

20 facility and collection site that collected covered batteries under

21 the producer's approved battery stewardship plan in the previous

22 calendar year;

23  7. Examples and descriptions of educational materials provided

24 and outreach activities conducted by the producer in the previous

    Req. No. 11185                                             Page 12
1 calendar year to increase covered battery collection, and a

2 description of how the producer coordinated with other producers

3 with approved battery stewardship plans in carrying out its

4 education and outreach program;

5   8. A description of how collected covered batteries were

6 managed in the previous calendar year;

7   9. Any material amendment to the producer's battery stewardship

8 plan approved by the Department under Section 6 of this act in the

9 previous calendar year;

10  10. The producer's cost of implementing its battery stewardship

11 plan in the previous calendar year, including the costs of

12 collection, recycling, education, and outreach; and

13  11. Any information deemed necessary by the Department to

14 measure the program's progress toward environmental and operational

15 goals, identify areas for improvement, and ensure that producers and

16 the battery stewardship organization are fulfilling their

17 obligations under the stewardship plan.

18  D. During the first year of implementing an approved battery

19 stewardship plan, and two (2) years thereafter, a producer shall

20 conduct a statistically significant survey of public awareness of

21 the battery stewardship plan and its implementation. The results of

22 the survey shall identify communities that have disparities in

23 awareness and that need additional education and outreach.

24

    Req. No. 11185                                                 Page 13
1   E. After five (5) years of implementing an approved battery

2 stewardship plan, a producer shall contract with an independent

3 third party to conduct a one-time audit of the battery stewardship

4 plan and its implementation. The audit shall examine the financial

5 self-sufficiency and effectiveness of the battery stewardship plan

6 in collecting and recycling covered batteries; examine the cost-

7 effectiveness of the battery stewardship plan; and compare the

8 battery stewardship plan to other covered battery collection plans

9 in other jurisdictions. The auditor shall submit the results of the

10 audit directly to the Department and provide a copy to the producer.

11  F. A producer that supplies covered batteries to a retailer

12 shall provide the retailer with educational materials describing

13 collection opportunities for those batteries.

14  G. 1. Producers shall ensure the collection and recycling of

15 all covered batteries sold, including Business-to-Business (B2B)

16 batteries under the stewardship plan. Producers may establish

17 separate collection systems tailored to B2B batteries, provided

18 these systems ensure accessible recycling options for businesses,

19 comply with recycling efficiency and environmental standards as

20 specified by the program, and include options for direct collection

21 or scheduled pickup for large-volume battery users.

22  2. Producers shall provide convenient collection points for

23 residential and B2B batteries, including drop-off locations

24 accessible to businesses and direct collection options for

    Req. No. 11185                                                Page 14
1 businesses generating large volumes of battery waste. All collected

2 batteries, including B2B batteries, shall meet the program's

3 recycling efficiency targets.

4   3. Producers shall include the following details regarding B2B

5 batteries in their annual reports:

6   a. total weight of B2B batteries collected and recycled,

7   b. industries or sectors served under the B2B battery

8   program,

9   c. performance metrics, including recycling efficiency

10  rates for B2B batteries,

11  d. challenges encountered in managing B2B battery waste

12  and steps taken to address them, and

13  e. a summary of B2B battery recycling performance to

14  ensure transparency and accountability.

15  4. Failure to include B2B batteries in the program or meet

16 established performance targets may result in financial penalties

17 proportional to the uncollected or unrecycled volume of B2B

18 batteries or suspension of sales privileges within the state until

19 compliance is achieved, or both.

20  5. Businesses shall utilize the designated collection systems

21 for B2B batteries.

22  6. Improper disposal of B2B batteries shall be subject to

23 penalties under existing hazardous waste regulations.

24

    Req. No. 11185                                              Page 15
1   SECTION 5.        NEW LAW  A new section of law to be codified

2 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2124 of Title 27A, unless there

3 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

4   A producer may meet the requirements under Section 4 of this act

5 by participating in a battery stewardship organization, made up of

6 at least five producers, that complies with the requirements of

7 Section 4 of this act on behalf of the producer. A battery

8 stewardship organization may exercise the rights under Sections 7

9 and 8 of this act on behalf of any of the producers participating in

10 the organization.

11  SECTION 6.        NEW LAW  A new section of law to be codified

12 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2125 of Title 27A, unless there

13 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

14  A. Within ninety (90) days after receiving a complete proposed

15 battery stewardship plan under subsection A of Section 4 of this

16 act, not including any time required for public comment and hearing

17 under subsection D of this section, the Department of Environmental

18 Quality shall determine whether the proposed plan complies with the

19 requirements under subsection A of Section 4 of this act. If the

20 proposed plan complies with the requirements under subsection A of

21 Section 4 of this act, the Department may approve the plan and shall

22 notify the producer of the approval in writing. If the proposed

23 plan does not comply with the requirements under subsection A of

24 Section 4 of this act, the Department shall deny the plan and notify

    Req. No. 11185                                            Page 16
1 the producer of the denial in writing; the producer shall have

2 forty-five (45) days after receiving a denial to submit a revised

3 plan to the Department for approval. A proposed plan that is not

4 approved or denied by the Department within ninety (90) days shall

5 be deemed approved.

6   B. A producer may not amend an approved battery stewardship

7 plan unless the proposed amendments are approved by the Department

8 in writing. The Department may require a producer to amend an

9 approved plan.

10  C. The Department may revoke an approved battery stewardship

11 plan if the Department determines that the producer is not complying

12 with the approved plan and the producer fails to comply with or

13 amend the plan within a reasonable time after receiving a request to

14 do so from the Department.

15  D. The Department shall determine whether public comment is

16 necessary for battery stewardship plans.

17  E. Subject to subsection G of this section, the Department

18 shall maintain on its website all of the following:

19  1. A copy of all approved battery stewardship plans;

20  2. The names of producers with approved battery stewardship

21 plans; and

22  3. A list of brands of covered batteries listed in approved

23 battery stewardship plans under subsection A of Section 4 of this

24 act.

    Req. No. 11185                                               Page 17
1   F. The Department shall promote public participation in the

2 collection and recycling of covered batteries through education and

3 outreach activities which shall include, but shall not be limited

4 to, safe battery recycling practices, handling techniques,

5 collection locations, available services, and the importance and

6 impact of battery recycling.

7   G. Information submitted to the Department under this section

8 that is a protected trade secret shall not be open to public

9 inspection and copying. The Department may publish such information

10 in a summary or aggregated form that does not identify individual

11 producers or retailers. The Department may require a producer, as

12 part of a report submitted under subsection C of Section 4 of this

13 act, to omit or redact trade secret information. The total weight

14 of covered batteries collected under an approved battery stewardship

15 plan is not a protected trade secret.

16  H. Each county shall have at least one year-round collection

17 facility. Additional facilities may be required based upon review

18 of population density, geographic distribution, and estimated waste

19 volume, as determined by the Department of Environmental Quality.

20 For counties with low population density or minimal waste volume,

21 alternative collection methods, such as mobile collection events,

22 partnerships with retailers, or mail-back programs, may fulfill

23 collection facility requirements.

24

    Req. No. 11185                                              Page 18
1   I. No later than July 1, 2028, and every two (2) years

2 thereafter, the Department shall provide a report on the program

3 under this section to the Legislature and to the Governor. The

4 Department shall include in the report a summary of annual reports

5 received under subsection C of Section 4 of this act and any

6 recommendations for changes to the program under this section.

7   J. The Department may promulgate rules to implement and

8 administer this section.

9   SECTION 7.      NEW LAW  A new section of law to be codified

10 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2126 of Title 27A, unless there

11 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

12  A. A producer operating under an approved battery stewardship

13 plan that collects covered batteries that are not included under the

14 producer's approved plan is entitled to reimbursement from the

15 producer of the collected batteries for reasonable costs incurred in

16 collecting, handling, recycling, or properly disposing of such

17 batteries. A producer may request reimbursement only after the

18 producer has met the collection rate performance goal included in

19 the producer's approved battery stewardship plan. Reimbursement may

20 be requested only for costs actually incurred in the collection,

21 transport, recycling, and other methods proper of disposal of

22 covered batteries identified in the producer's approved battery

23 stewardship plan, and reasonable administrative costs.

24

    Req. No. 11185                                                 Page 19
1   B. A producer that receives a request for reimbursement under

2 this subsection may, prior to payment and within thirty (30) days of

3 receiving the request for reimbursement, request an independent

4 audit of the requested reimbursement costs. If the independent

5 audit confirms that the requested reimbursement costs are

6 reasonable, the producer requesting the audit shall pay the cost of

7 the audit and the amount of the reimbursement requested. If the

8 independent audit finds that the reimbursement request, or any

9 portion thereof, was not reasonable, the producer that submitted the

10 reimbursement request shall pay the cost of the audit. The producer

11 requesting the audit shall only be required to pay the portion of

12 the reimbursement costs that the independent audit determines to be

13 reasonable.

14  SECTION 8.       NEW LAW  A new section of law to be codified

15 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2127 of Title 27A, unless there

16 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

17  A producer operating under an approved battery stewardship plan

18 that is in compliance with the requirements under Section 4 of this

19 act may bring a civil action against another producer for costs

20 incurred in collecting, handling, recycling, or properly disposing

21 of covered batteries produced by the other producer, if all of the

22 following apply:

23

24

    Req. No. 11185                                           Page 20
1   1. The producer bringing the action has incurred more than One

2 Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) in actual costs that are reimbursable

3 under Section 7 of this act;

4   2. The producer against whom the action is brought can be

5 identified as the producer of the collected covered batteries, from

6 a brand or marking on the collected batteries or from other

7 information available; and

8   3. The producer bringing the action submitted a request for

9 reimbursement under Section 7 of this act and did not receive

10 reimbursement within ninety (90) days if no independent audit was

11 requested or within sixty (60) days after completion of an

12 independent audit if an audit was requested and the independent

13 audit confirmed that the requested reimbursement costs are

14 reasonable.

15  SECTION 9.      NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified

16 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2128 of Title 27A, unless there

17 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

18  Any producer or retailer that violates the provisions of this

19 act may be fined by the Department of Environmental Quality up to

20 Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) for each violation.

21  SECTION 10. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.

22

23  60-1-11185      JBH       03/25/26

24

    Req. No. 11185                                               Page 21
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