2016 -- S 2183

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LC003256

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS - BIG RIVER RESERVOIR

MORATORIUM

     

     Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, and Kettle

     Date Introduced: January 27, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 37-20-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 37-20 entitled "Big River

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Reservoir Moratorium" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     37-20-1. Big River Reservoir -- Development prohibited. -- (a) All land acquired by

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the state or any subdivision thereof for the development of the "Big River Reservoir" so-called,

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including any land acquired by the Big River -- Wood River Reservoir Site Acquisition Act, P.L.

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1964, ch. 133, shall not be sold nor shall the land be developed in any way. The state shall not

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allow any future development or continued development on that property, and the property shall

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be designated "open space" as defined in § 45-36-1(1) -- (7).

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      Provided, however, that the foregoing shall not be construed to prohibit the use of the

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said property as a water reservoir, or for the development of wells and well sites together with

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any infrastructure necessary for the treatment, transmission, storage and distribution of drinking

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water if the water resources board determines that exploration or development of groundwater is

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appropriate, then it shall not require legislative action to remove the property from the "open

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space" for the purposes of groundwater development as defined in § 45-36-1(1) -- (8).

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      (b) Non-motorized bicycles are permitted upon and along land designated as the "Big

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River Management Area". The water resources board, in consultation with the department of

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environmental management shall within thirty (30) days of the passage of this act adopt rules and

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regulations that include but are not limited to the appropriate designated areas and defined hours

 

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for said uses in the management area.

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     (c) Notwithstanding the prohibitions contained in subsection §37-20-1(a), the Rhode

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Island water resources board is authorized and directed to enter into a land lease agreement with

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the town of Coventry. The lease agreement shall provide that the town of Coventry may

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implement a compost facility and an emergency debris collection area in the Big River reservoir

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property located on Phillips Road in Coventry until such time as the Big River reservoir water

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supply is developed. Any compost facility implemented would be subject to all Rhode Island

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department of environment and Rhode Island water resource board requirements for the

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placement and management of a compost facility.

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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 PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS - BIG RIVER RESERVOIR

MORATORIUM

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     This act would authorize a lease agreement between the water resources board and the

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town of Coventry for a portion of the Big River reservoir property to be used as a compost facility

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by the town.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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