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2012 -- H 7698 | |
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LC01852 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
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IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
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JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012 | |
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N | |
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REQUESTING THAT THE RHODE ISLAND COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT | |
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COUNCIL UNDERTAKE A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF PERMITTING ADDITIONAL | |
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CONFINED AREA DISPOSAL CELLS AS PART OF ITS GENERAL MAINTENANCE | |
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DREDGING POLICY PROGRAM | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Ehrhardt, Ruggiero, and Costa | |
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Date Introduced: February 16, 2012 | |
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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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