2014 -- S 2792

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION - THE COASTAL RESOURCES

MANAGEMENT COUNCIL - FISHERIES ADMINISTRATIVE FUND FOR RENEWABLE

ENERGY PROJECTS

     

     Introduced By: Senator V. SusanSosnowski

     Date Introduced: March 25, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     (by request)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 46-23 of the General Laws entitled "Coastal Resources

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Management Council" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     46-23-18.7. Legislative findings – Public necessity. -- The general assembly finds and

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declares:

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     (1) That the people of Rhode Island have a right to and a public interest in the fisheries

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that has been recognized since the granting of the royal charter in 1663;

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     (2) That the persons participating in the fishery have been and are engaged in state and

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regional decision making processes affecting fisheries; and

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     (3) That allocation of areas in marine waters used by Rhode Island fishers, for renewable

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energy projects can impact fisheries and the access to fisheries, and that the condition of many

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fisheries and regulatory limits on fishing seriously constrain the ability of people engaged in

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fisheries to participate in administrative processes affecting the development and operation of

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renewable energy projects in marine waters.

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     (b) Purpose. The general assembly finds that it is necessary and desirable to establish a

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program enabling the representation of fisheries interests in the development and operation of

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renewable energy projects in marine waters. Accordingly it is the purpose of this section to

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provide for basic administrative and study expenses for effective fisheries involvement in

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fisheries management and the development and operation of renewable energy projects as part of

 

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project expense.

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     (c) Fisheries administrative fund. Lease fee to generate funds. There is hereby created a

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separate fund to be held by the coastal resources management council to be known as the fisheries

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administrative fund. The coastal resources management council is authorized to impose an

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annual fee through lease of marine submerged lands of the state for renewable energy projects

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with a project cost of five (5) million dollars ($5,000,000) or greater, such that the fee generates

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funds sufficient to support and maintain a fisheries administrative fund in an amount not to

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exceed annually seventy-five one thousandths percent (0.075%) of project costs approved by the

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Rhode Island public utilities commission.

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     46-23-18.8. Use of the fisheries administrative fund – Support for non-profit entity. -

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- (a) Use of the fund. The coastal resources management council shall use the fisheries

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administrative fund exclusively to support the administrative and study expenses of a non-profit

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entity representing the interests of Rhode Island commercial and recreational fishing in fisheries

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management and in the development and operation of renewable energy facilities in marine

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waters used regularly by Rhode Island fishers and fisheries. Any excess fees above the expense

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of this office shall be placed in an account for the council to use to provide long-term mitigation

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from any long-term impacts from such projects should they occur.

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     (b) Designation of the non-profit entity. The designation of the non-profit entity shall be

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made by the council, with consultation from the fisherman’s advisory board established pursuant

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to the ocean special area management plan.

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     (c) Three year plan required. The fund herein provided for shall not be expended unless a

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three (3) year general plan by the non-profit entity for its use has been approved by the council.

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Not more than two (2) years and three (3) months after the approval of a general plan, the non-

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profit entity shall submit to the council for its approval a general plan for the next ensuing three

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(3) year period.

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     (d) Annual reports. The non-profit entity shall report annually to the council and the

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developer/owner on the use of the support from the fisheries administrative fund to accomplish

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the purposes of this section in accordance with an approved general plan. The date for the

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submission of annual reports shall be set by the council and incorporated into the three year

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general plan but shall not be later than one hundred eighty (180) days after the anniversary date of

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the approval of the general plan by the council.

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     (e) Changing the designation of the non-profit entity. Within a period commencing one

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year and three (3) months prior to the conclusion of a three general plan, the council may

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designate a different non-profit entity to use the fisheries administrative fee, if the council

 

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determines, in consultation with the fisherman’s advisory board, that changing the designation

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would better serve the purposes of this section. The council may rescind its designation,

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following a hearing, at any time for cause, and if a designation is rescinded shall designate, with

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consultation from the fisherman’s advisory board, another non-profit entity to accomplish the

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purpose of this section.

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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 - THE COASTAL RESOURCES

MANAGEMENT COUNCIL - FISHERIES ADMINISTRATIVE FUND FOR RENEWABLE

ENERGY PROJECTS

***

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     This act would establish a fisheries administrative fund. The fund would be supported

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through an annual fee imposed on the lease of marine submerged lands for renewable energy

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projects. The fee would be used to create a nonprofit entity representing the interests of Rhode

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Island commercial and recreational fishing in fisheries management and in the development and

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operation of renewable energy facilities in marine waters used regularly by Rhode Islanders.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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