2012 -- H 7698

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LC01852

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

REQUESTING THAT THE RHODE ISLAND COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

COUNCIL UNDERTAKE A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF PERMITTING ADDITIONAL

CONFINED AREA DISPOSAL CELLS AS PART OF ITS GENERAL MAINTENANCE

DREDGING POLICY PROGRAM

     

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Ehrhardt, Ruggiero, and Costa

     Date Introduced: February 16, 2012

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

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     WHEREAS, Some of Rhode Island’s greatest resources exist in its ports, marine

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businesses, and general maritime economy; and

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     WHEREAS, The maritime economy in Rhode Island includes over 500 businesses,

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employs over 6,400 people, and pays wages in excess of $273 million, all of which are critical to

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the economic and social well-being of the state; and

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     WHEREAS, In 2009, the Rhode Island General Assembly established a Special

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Legislative Commission to Study Potential Economic Opportunities in the Development of Port

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Facilities in Rhode Island known, as the “Port Commission”; and

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     WHEREAS, The Port Commission has been charged with studying Rhode Island’s port

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related economy, with the intent of making specific recommendations to better utilize Rhode

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Island’s coastal resources and unique geographic location, in order to create employment

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opportunities for those Rhode Islanders currently unemployed or underemployed during the worst

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economic downturn since the Great Depression; and

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     WHEREAS, After completing three years of study, including 11 meetings, numerous

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visits to each and every commercial port in Rhode Island, and over 40 hours of expert testimony

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from 25 maritime witnesses, the Port Commission has learned that:

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     (1) The current confined area disposal cells (“CAD cells”) utilized for long-term disposal

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of materials unsuitable for offshore disposal are filled to approximately 75 percent of their

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capacity; and

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     (2) There are three significant maintenance dredging projects pending in the Port of

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Providence whose dredged material will fill the current CAD cells to 90 percent of their designed

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capacity; and

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     WHEREAS, It is in the best interests of the State of Rhode Island to undertake the

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permitting of additional CAD cells, with the ultimate goal of constructing new CAD cells once

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the existing ones are filled; and

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     WHEREAS, The potential decrease in the number of available slips and moorings at

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marinas, as well as the reduced draft at port facilities throughout the state due to the potential lack

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of active CAD cells, will have significant adverse environmental and economic effects on the

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state; and

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     WHEREAS, Maintenance dredging is required to remove natural silt accumulations in

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order to continue ongoing commercial and recreational maritime activity; and

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     WHEREAS, The “Marine Waterways and Boating Facilities Act 2001” (RIGL 46-6.1)

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designated The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (“CRMC”) as the lead

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state agency charged with coordinating general maintenance dredging policy and programs for

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ports, port facilities, channels, harbors, public and private marinas and boating facilities,

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recreational facilities, and habitat areas; and

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     WHEREAS, The CRMC was directed to develop, prepare, adopt pursuant to section 46-

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23-11, implement, and maintain a comprehensive plan for dredge material management

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consistent with the Marine Infrastructure Maintenance Act of 1996; and

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     WHEREAS, It is in the best interests of the state, its cities and towns, and its citizens for

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CRMC to include in its general maintenance dredging policy program an in-depth detailed

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analysis of the size, scale, scope, and funding needed to complete the permitting process for and

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the future construction of replacement CAD disposal cells, so as to not jeopardize the long-term

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economic health of the state’s maritime industry; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby requests that the Rhode Island CRMC undertakes this detailed

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study and report its findings back to the Governor and House of Representatives no later than

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May 1, 2012; and be it further

     

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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the executive director of the Coastal Resources

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Management Council.

     

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LC01852

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H7698