2021 -- H 5060

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LC000416

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- BRISTOL COUNTY WATER SUPPLY

     

     Introduced By: Representative Jason Knight

     Date Introduced: January 22, 2021

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 46-15.5-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 46-15.5 entitled "Bristol

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County Water Supply" is hereby repealed.

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     46-15.5-6. Existing facilities of the Bristol County water authority.

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     (a) The Bristol County water authority will continue to maintain its reservoirs, wells and

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well sites, transmission lines and water treatment plants in good, sound and safe condition in

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accordance with its past practices. The Bristol County water authority shall continue to take all

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steps necessary to protect its legal right to withdraw water from its existing reservoirs, wells and

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well sites, and shall protect the watershed surrounding said reservoirs to the extent it has legal

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authority to do so and shall maintain its transmission lines from its existing reservoirs, wells, well

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sites and water treatment facilities; provided, however, that if in order to protect its legal authority

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to withdraw water from the existing reservoirs, the Bristol County water authority shall be required

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to maintain all or part of its facilities in accordance with federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards,

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42 U.S.C. § 300f et seq., the capital cost thereof shall be paid for by the state water resources board.

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     (b) The Bristol County water authority in co-operation with the water resources board shall

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prepare a plan to protect, enhance and improve its existing reservoirs, wells, well sites, transmission

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lines and treatment plants. Upon approval of such plan, the authority shall cause to be prepared

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definitive construction plans and drawings and shall apply for and prosecute to completion all

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federal, state and local permits necessary to permit such construction to be lawfully undertaken;

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provided, however, if at any time, the Bristol County water authority shall have satisfied the

 

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limitation on its financial commitment as set forth in § 46-15.5-6.1, then it shall no longer be

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required to undertake such planning, design and permitting unless the water resources board shall

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lawfully provide one hundred percent (100%) of the cost thereof.

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     (c) Upon completion of the construction authorized by such plan, the Bristol County water

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authority shall utilize the existing system as so improved in the overall management of its water

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supply and distribution system in compliance with its water supply management plan approved

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pursuant to chapter 15.4 of this title. If, after all permits for such improvements and enhancements

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have been received the water resources board shall determine to purchase such existing reservoirs,

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wells, well sites, transmission lines, and distribution of water treatment facilities, the Bristol County

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water authority is authorized to sell or lease any one or more of such reservoirs, wells, well sites,

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transmission lines, or treatment facilities to the board pursuant to the provision of § 46-15.1-7 and

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the board is authorized to the extent not otherwise permitted by law to acquire such facilities and

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improve such facilities under the provisions of chapter 15.3 of this title except as specifically

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provided for in this section. From and after the date of the activation of the additional and

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emergency connection, the Bristol County water authority shall have no further obligation to

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expend funds for improvements to its reservoirs, pipelines connecting any one or more of such

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reservoirs and water treatment facilities unless and to the extent that such funds shall be provided

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by the water resources board pursuant to existing provisions of the general laws or such provisions

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as may be hereinafter enacted.

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     (d) The state water resources board shall provide funding necessary to maintain the

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reservoirs, wells and well sites and pipelines connecting any one or more of such reservoirs, wells

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and well sites, and water treatment facilities of the Bristol County water authority system so as to

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meet all federal standards related to safe drinking water. Notwithstanding any other provision of

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law, any amounts so expended by the state water resources board shall be deemed eligible

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expenditures within the meaning of § 46-15.3-4(4).

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- BRISTOL COUNTY WATER SUPPLY

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     This act would repeal the provisions of the general laws which requires the Bristol County

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water authority to continue to maintain its reservoirs, wells and well sites, transmission lines and

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water treatment plants in good, sound and safe condition in accordance with its past practices, and

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to prepare a plan to protect, enhance and improve its existing reservoirs, wells, well sites,

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transmission lines and treatment plants within its jurisdiction.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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