2017 -- H 5872

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LC001980

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - ENERGY FACILITY SITING

ACT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives McKiernan, Almeida, Regunberg, Perez, and O'Brien

     Date Introduced: March 08, 2017

     Referred To: House Corporations

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 42-98-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-98 entitled "Energy

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Facility Siting Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     42-98-10. Agency procedures -- Advisory opinion.

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     (a) Each agency of the state or political subdivision of the state designated under § 42-98-

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9 shall proceed to consider the issue or issues consigned to it for review. Each agency shall

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conclude its consideration and issue its advisory opinion not more than six (6) months following

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its designation under § 42-98-9, or any lesser time that the board may require, or the right to

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exercise the function shall be forfeited to the board.

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     (b) Advisory opinions issued by agencies designated under § 42-98-9 shall not be

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considered as final decisions of the agencies making the opinions, and shall not be subject to

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judicial review under § 42-35-15, or any other provision of the general laws.

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     (c) Advisory opinions issued by zoning boards of review, building inspectors, or any

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other agency of a municipality designated under § 42-98-9 shall not be reviewable by the public

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utilities commission under § 39-1-30.

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     (d) Failure or refusal of the applicant to provide requested information may be considered

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as grounds for recommending denial. Advisory opinions issued by the designated agencies, being

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essential for the proper deliberations of the siting board, the siting board shall not proceed to a

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final hearing, nor issue a final decision pursuant to §42-98-11, if any one or more of the

 

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designated agencies inform the siting board, in writing, that they are unable to form such an

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advisory opinion on account of lack of cooperation or information from the applicant.

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     (e) At the request of the siting board, the director of environmental management and the

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coastal resources management council shall give priority to the review of permits for energy

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facilities.

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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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - ENERGY FACILITY SITING

ACT

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     This act would prevent the energy facility siting board from proceeding to final hearing

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or issuing a final decision if one or more of the designated agencies inform the siting board, in

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writing, that they are unable to form such an advisory opinion due to lack of cooperation or

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information from the applicant.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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