Bureau of Land Management Logo
Position Title
Natural Resources Specialist
Agency
Bureau of Land Management
Announcement Number
OR-24-DE/MP-12441366-WDS Opens in new window
Open Period
Thursday, June 27, 2024 to Friday, July 12, 2024
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
Select the appropriate eligibility item(s) based on the below recruitment considerations.

Category Rating: All applicants will receive consideration for Category Rating, eligibility selections are not required.

Merit Promotion: You will only receive consideration (if eligible) under competitive merit promotion procedures if you select any of the following eligibilities: I/CTAP, Competitive Merit Promotion, VEOA or Land Management Eligible under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act.

Non-Competitive: You will only receive consideration (if eligible) under non-competitive and/or Special Hiring Authority if you select any of the following eligibilities: 30% or More Disabled Veteran, Certain Military Spouses, Certain Former Overseas Employees, Foreign Service Employees, Interchange Agreement and Special Authorities, Peace Corps and VISTA, Non-Competitive Merit Promotion, Persons with Schedule A disability, or Veterans Recruitment Appointment (up to GS-11 equivalent positions).


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1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
2. 30% or More Disabled Veteran

To claim eligibility as a 30% or more disabled veteran, please confirm that you are a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions and:
  • You have a rating by the Department of Veterans Affairs showing a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more; OR
  • You are retired from active military service with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation with your application to include:
 
  • A copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service; AND
  • A copy of your disability letter which includes the combined service connected disability percentage rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service; AND
  • The Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, SF-15.
Additional supporting documentation requirements are listed in the Required Documents section of this announcement. For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources

Are you a Veteran eligible to apply under the 30% disabled veterans hiring authority?
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3. Appointment of Certain Military Spouses (5 CFR 315.612)

To claim Military Spouse eligibility under 5 CFR 315.612, please confirm you wish to be considered under this authority and you are one of the following: 

(1) Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who is serving on active duty?
-OR-
(2) Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired with a disability rating of 100 percent at the time of retirement or the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired or separated from the Armed Forces and has a disability rating of 100 percent from the Department of Veterans Affairs?
-OR-
(3) Are you the un-remarried widow or widower of a member of the Armed Forces killed while in active duty status?
For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.

To verify your eligibility for option 1 identified above, you must submit a copy of your spouse's active military orders and a copy of the marriage certificate. To verify your eligibility for options 2 and 3 identified above, you must submit the Standard Form 15 and all supporting documentation identified on that document (e.g., Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of service which includes character of service; death certificate and documentation identifying marital status at the time of death; disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service, etc.).

Do you wish to be considered for appointment as a Military Spouse?
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4. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)

Are you a current federal employee who is considered surplus or displaced from the agency hiring for this position?   If yes, confirm:
 
  • you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
  • you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of your current position; AND,
  • you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than your current position; AND,
  • your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
 
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
 
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.

Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in the agency posting this job announcement with CTAP eligibility?
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5. Certain Former Overseas Employees

To claim Family of Overseas Employees eligibility, please confirm you wish to be considered under this authority and you are one of the following: 

Were you employed overseas as an Appropriated Fund employee AND did you: 
• complete 52 weeks of creditable overseas service in an appropriated fund position(s) as a family member during the time you accompanied a sponsor officially assigned to an overseas area; AND, 
• receive a fully successful or better (or equivalent) performance rating; AND, 
• return to the United States to resume residence less than 3 years ago? 


For more information, review: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/family-of-overseas-employees/

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50, performance appraisal, and Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Orders. 

Do you wish to be considered for appointment as a Certain Former Overseas Employees?
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6. Competitive Promotion/Reassignment/Transfer/Reinstatement

Are you currently employed as a Federal civilian employee with a career or career-conditional appointment (Tenure 1 or 2 in block 24 of the SF-50) in the competitive service (Position Occupied is 1 in block 34 of the SF-50) who holds/has held the same or lower grade level with lower promotion potential than the position being announced?
OR
Were you formerly employed as a Federal civilian employee on a permanent competitive appointment or did you obtain career-conditional status (and are within 3 years of the date of separation or are a preference eligible) AND you held the same or lower grade level with lower promotion potential than the position being announced?

If eligible, submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status.
Your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect career or career-conditional (Tenure 1 or 2 in block 24) AND status in the competitive service (Position Occupied is 1 in block 34).

Do you wish to be considered for appointment as a Competitive Reinstatement/Reassignment/Transfer/Promotion?
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7. Foreign Service Employees

To claim eligibility under Foreign Service Employees eligibility please confirm:

Have you completed at least 1 year of continuous service immediately before separation from one or more nontemporary Foreign Service appointments  ; AND, your separation from a Foreign Service career-type appointment occurred in the last 3 years (individuals entitled to veteran's preference do not need to meet this 3-year requirement)?

-OR

Have you completed at least 3 years of substantially continuous service under one or more nontemporary appointments in the Foreign Service immediately before separation from an unlimited, career-type appointment in that Service?

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF- 50) reflecting your nontemporary status. If you are outside of the 3-year requirement but are entitled to veteran's preference, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service.

For more information please go to:Appointment ForeignService Employees

Do you wish to be considered for appointment as a Foreign Service Employee?
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8. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)

Are you a current or former federal employee considered displaced from a position in a Federal agency other than the agency hiring for this position?  If yes, confirm:
  • you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
  • you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
  • you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
  • your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
 
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.  
 
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.

Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a federal agency other than the agency posting this job announcement?
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9. OPM Interchange Agreement and Special Authorities

Are you a current Excepted Service employee of a Federal Agency that has a valid interchange agreement with the Office of Personnel Management and current with?
 
  • Tennessee Valley Authority
  • Nuclear Regulatory Commission
  • Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs-Employees who occupy medical or medical-related positions and were appointed under 38 U.S.C. 7401(1) or (3) [formerly 38 U.S.C. 4104(1) and (3)].
  • Nonappropriated Fund (NAF) employees of the Department of Defense
  • Federal Aviation Administration
  • Corporation for National and Community Service
  • Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration
  • The Department of Defense (The Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System) Agreement
 
OR
 
Are you an Employee under Miscellaneous Authorities Not Regulated By U.S. Office of Personnel Management; or, another authority which grants non-competitive eligibility?
 
  • Postal Career Service Employees
  • Postal Rate Commission Employees
  • Government Accountability Office (GAO) Employees
  • Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Employees
 
For more information please review: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=InterchangeAgreementsWithOtherMeritSystems
 
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form (SF-50) reflecting your status.

Do you wish to be considered for appointment under the OPM Interchange Agreement and Special Authorities?
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10. Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA)

Are you a current or former term or temporary employee of a Land Management Agency (The Department of Agriculture's Forest Service, the Department of Interior's Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Reclamation) and are serving or served under a time-limited competitive service appointment? You may be eligible to compete under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act, P.L. 114-47. For more information review, https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/land-management-workforce-flexibility-act.htm

Current land management agency appointees must have initially been hired under competitive procedures for a time-limited appointment; must have served under one or more time-limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two or more years; and must have performed at an acceptable level during each period of service.

Former land management agency employees must have initially been hired under competitive procedures for a time-limited appointment; must have served under one or more time-limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two or more years; and must have performed at an acceptable level during each period of service; must have been separated (with respect to their most recent separation) for reasons other than misconduct or performance, and must apply for a position covered by these provisions within two years of their most recent date of separation.

You must provide documentation showing all required periods of service which includes ALL Appointment AND Termination SF-50s for EACH appointment as well as ALL performance evaluations or references from supervisors (if employed for periods of time too short to require an appraisal) for each qualifying period of temporary employment claimed.

Are you a current or former employee of a Land Management Agency with LMWFA eligibility?
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11. National Service (Peace Corps and VISTA)

Are you a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who has completed your service within the past twelve months? 

-OR

Are you a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who has completed your service within the past 36 months and are requesting an extension of your non-competitive eligibility due to your military service, status as a full-time student or other experience related to this position? 

-OR

Are you a current or former Peace Corps employee who has completed at least 36 months of continuous service and has been separated from the Peace Corps for less than three years? 

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your description of service or other proof of non-competitive eligibility. If you are a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who is requesting an extension of your non-competitive eligibility, please also provide the necessary documentation to support your request.

Do you wish to be considered for appointment under National Service (Peace Corps and VISTA) eligibility?
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12. Non-competitive Reassignment/Transfer/Re-Promotion/Reinstatement

Are you a current Federal employee who holds or has previously held a non-temporary career or career-conditional position in the competitive service with equal or higher promotion potential as the position being announced?

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status. 
Your SF-50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect:
• career or career-conditional (Tenure field is 1 or 2); AND,
• your status is in the competitive service (Position Occupied field is 1).

-OR-

Are you a former Federal employee who previously held a non-temporary career or career-conditional position in the competitive service with equal or higher promotion potential as the position being announced?

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your separation Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status. 
Your SF-50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect:
• career status (Tenure 1) or career-conditional status (Tenure 2.  If you have career-conditional status you must have separated within the last three years OR have veteran's preference.
• your status is in the competitive service (Position Occupied field is 1). 

-OR-

Are you a former Federal employee who previously held a career or career-conditional position in the competitive service, separated from the Federal Government over a year ago, and your last performance rating on record as a Federal employee was at least Fully Successful (or equivalent)?

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your separation Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status AND your last Federal performance appraisal plan.
Your SF-50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect:
• career status (Tenure 1) or career-conditional status (Tenure 2). If you have career-conditional status you must have separated within the last three years OR have veteran's preference.
• your status is in the competitive service (Position Occupied field is 1). 
Your last Federal performance appraisal plan must reflect: 
• Rating of Fully Successful (or equivalent)

Do you wish to be considered for appointment as a Non-competitive Reinstatement/Reassignment/Transfer/Re-Promotion?
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13. Individuals with Disabilities (Schedule A)

To claim eligibility under the Schedule A hiring authority for Individuals with Disabilities, please confirm you have a qualifying severe physical, psychiatric or mental disability.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit appropriate medical documentation (such as a letter signed by a licensed medical professional or licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist) specifying that you are eligible to apply using the Schedule A hiring authority.  Additional supporting documentation requirements are listed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.  For more information on hiring Individuals with Disabilities, review the resources in the USAJOBS Individuals with Disabilities resources.

Are you eligible under the Schedule A, Individuals with Disabilities hiring authority?
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14. Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA)

To claim VEOA eligibility, please confirm you a veteran whose latest discharge was under honorable conditions,  AND:

• You served three or more years of continuous active duty service in the military (Note: if released shortly before completing a 3-year tour, you are considered to meet the eligibility); OR,
• You are entitled to veterans' preference.

Additional supporting documentation requirements are listed in the Required Documents section of this announcement. For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources. 

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of service which includes character of service, and/or other documentation which shows you are entitled to veterans' preference.

Are you a Veteran eligible to apply under the VEOA?
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15. Veterans Recruitment Authority (VRA)

To claim eligibility under the Veterans Recruitment Authority (VRA), please confirm you are a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions AND:

• You recently separated (within the past 3 years); OR
• You are a disabled veteran; OR
• You served on active duty during a war, campaign or expedition; OR,
• You received an Armed Forces Service Medal?

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. If claiming disability preference, you must also submit the disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service and the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15.

Are you eligible for appointment under the VRA?
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Preferences
1. Select the location(s) you want to be considered for. You must choose at least one location. (limit characters)
2. Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position. (limit characters)
3. In the last five years, based on the closing date of this announcement, have you served or are you currently serving as an Executive Branch political, Schedule C, or Non-career SES appointee? You can find out if you have held one of these appointment types by looking at your Standard Form 50s in your Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF), in Section 5 where the legal authorities are listed.
  • A political appointee is an appointment made by the President without confirmation by the Senate (5 CFR 213.3102(c)) OR an assistant position to a top-level federal official if filled by a person designated by the President as a White House Fellow (5 CFR 213.3102(z)).
  • A Schedule C appointee occupies a position excepted from the competitive service by the President, or by the Director of OPM, because of the confidential or policy-determining nature of the position duties (5 CFR 213.3301 and 5 CFR 213.3302).
  • A Non-career SES appointee is approved by the White House and serves at the pleasure of the appointing official without time limitations (5 CFR 317 Subpart F).
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4. I have a satisfactory or better rating on my last performance appraisal. I will provide a copy of my performance appraisal, if requested. (limit characters)
5. I have received recruitment incentive awards during the last two years and have listed them on my resume. (limit characters)
Assessment 1
Your responses to this questionnaire, in conjunction with the other portions of your completed application, will be evaluated in determining your eligibility and qualifications for this position. Do not overstate or understate your level of experience and capability. Please note that your answers will be verified against the information you provided in your resume or other application materials. (limit characters)
1. From the description below, select the best response that best describes how you meet the Basic Requirements for the Natural Resources Specialist, GS-0401 position.
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2. From the descriptions below, please select the response that best describes your specialized experience and/or education to perform the duties of Natural Resources Specialist, GS-0401-09 in order to meet the Additional Qualification Requirement for this position.
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3. From the descriptions below, please select the response that best describes your specialized experience and/or education to perform the duties of Natural Resources Specialist, GS-0401-11 in order to meet the Additional Qualification Requirement for this position. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
4. Perform quality checks on project files to estimate materials, supplies, and work-months, as well as leading the creation of administrative record for litigation needs.
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5. Review potential impact of proposed land use plans on natural resources to recommend alternative improvements.
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6. Direct the collection, entering, updates, or maintenance of natural resources data according to prescribed program standards.
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7. Plan and/or carry out intensive investigations to resolve natural resources concerns.
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8. Use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and/or database management systems in fulfillment of monitoring duties, data analysis, and report preparation.
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9. Prepare natural resource plans to assess, improve, or expand natural resources.
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10. Oversee natural resources monitoring plans to alleviate or eliminate detrimental management impacts created by other resource uses upon the landscape.
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11. Review land use plans or environmental compliance documents for consistency with agency policies and/or regulatory requirements.
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12. Perform habitat field inventories by setting objectives and goals, developing monitoring plans, and/or analyzing data for inclusion in planning documents.
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13. Coordinate the development of grant proposals with conservation organizations, external agencies, and/or private individuals to implement habitat improvements or monitoring on public lands.
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14. Assess large development projects on public lands to determine impacts/conflicts with natural resources.
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15. Implement natural resource plans by developing specific land improvement projects.
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16. Review natural resource data to identify risks impacting program activities on public lands.
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17. Analyze proposed natural resources management actions for consistency with agency direction, appropriate laws, and/or regulations.
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18. Evaluate inspection activities for compliance with established standards and/or regulatory requirements.
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19. Provide professional expertise related to natural resources in the management of agency administered lands.
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20. Provide technical assistance and/or training on matters pertaining to natural resource management program operations.
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21. Confer with interdisciplinary team of specialists to incorporate considerations from their field into related natural resources program management.
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22. Collaborate with stakeholders to promote and/or sustain cooperative national resources conservation interests and volunteerism.
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23. Participate in public meetings to discuss natural resource management program goals and/or requirements.
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24. Work with other resource specialists to prepare appropriate enforcement documents, including Notices on Noncompliance.
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25. Prepare inspection/enforcement reports to document compliance or non compliance with multiple use land actions.
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26. Assist in the preparation of land use plans to ensure consistency with governing laws and/or regulations.
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27. Prepare technical reports to convey natural resources program status, issues, and/or recommendations to management.
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28. Draft correspondence for management to report on potential impact of projects with natural resources.
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As previously explained, your ratings in this Occupational Questionnaire are subject to evaluation and verification based on the resume and documents you submit. Later steps in the selection process are specifically designed to verify your ratings. Deliberate attempts to falsify information may be grounds for not selecting you or for dismissing you from the position/agency during the probationary period, or other disciplinary action, including termination. Please take this opportunity to review your ratings to ensure their accuracy. By agreeing to the statement below, you are confirming that you: Understand this warning; have reviewed your responses to this questionnaire for accuracy; and verified that your responses accurately describe your current level of experience and capability. (limit characters)
29. Failure to agree or respond to the statement below will disqualify you from further consideration for the position. Select the most appropriate response below.
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