Chapter 494
2016 -- H 8280
Enacted 07/15/2016

A N   A C T
RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT -- POWERS AND DUTIES OF DIRECTOR

Introduced By: Representatives Edwards, Solomon, Canario, and Blazejewski
Date Introduced: June 02, 2016

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
     SECTION 1. Section 42-17.1-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-17.1 entitled
"Department of Environmental Management" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     42-17.1-2. Powers and duties. -- The director of environmental management shall have
the following powers and duties:
      (1) To supervise and control the protection, development, planning, and utilization of the
natural resources of the state, such resources, including, but not limited to,; water, plants, trees,
soil, clay, sand, gravel, rocks and other minerals, air, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish,
shellfish, and other forms of aquatic, insect, and animal life;
      (2) To exercise all functions, powers, and duties heretofore vested in the department of
agriculture and conservation, and in each of the divisions of the department, such as the
promotion of agriculture and animal husbandry in their several branches, including the inspection
and suppression of contagious diseases among animals,; the regulation of the marketing of farm
products,; the inspection of orchards and nurseries,; the protection of trees and shrubs from
injurious insects and diseases,; protection from forest fires,; the inspection of apiaries and the
suppression of contagious diseases among bees,; the prevention of the sale of adulterated or
misbranded agricultural seeds,; promotion and encouragement of the work of farm bureaus, in
cooperation with the University of Rhode Island, farmers' institutes, and the various organizations
established for the purpose of developing an interest in agriculture,; together with such other
agencies and activities as the governor and the general assembly may, from time to time, place
under the control of the department,; and as heretofore vested by such of the following chapters
and sections of the general laws as are presently applicable to the department of environmental
management and which that were previously applicable to the department of natural resources
and the department of agriculture and conservation or to any of its divisions: chapters 1 through
22, inclusive, as amended, in title 2 entitled "Agriculture and Forestry;"; chapters 1 through 17,
inclusive, as amended, in title 4 entitled "Animals and Animal Husbandry;"; chapters 1 through
19, inclusive, as amended, in title 20 entitled "Fish and Wildlife;"; chapters 1 through 32,
inclusive, as amended, in title 21 entitled "Food and Drugs;"; chapter 7 of title 23, as amended,
entitled "Mosquito Abatement;"; and by any other general or public law relating to the
department of agriculture and conservation or to any of its divisions or bureaus;
      (3) To exercise all the functions, powers, and duties heretofore vested in the division of
parks and recreation of the department of public works by chapters 1, 2, and 5 in title 32 entitled
"Parks and Recreational Areas;"; by chapter 22.5 of title 23, as amended, entitled "Drowning
Prevention and Lifesaving;"; and by any other general or public law relating to the division of
parks and recreation;
      (4) To exercise all the functions, powers, and duties heretofore vested in the division of
harbors and rivers of the department of public works, or in the department itself by such as were
previously applicable to the division or the department, of chapters 1 through 22 and sections
thereof, as amended, in title 46 entitled "Waters and Navigation"; and by any other general or
public law relating to the division of harbors and rivers;
      (5) To exercise all the functions, powers, and duties heretofore vested in the department
of health by chapters 25, 18.9, and 19.5 of title 23, as amended, entitled "Health and Safety;"; and
by chapters 12 and 16 of title 46, as amended, entitled "Waters and Navigation"; by chapters 3, 4,
5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 18, and 19 of title 4, as amended, entitled "Animals and Animal Husbandry;";
and those functions, powers, and duties specifically vested in the director of environmental
management by the provisions of § 21-2-22, as amended, entitled "Inspection of Animals and
Milk;"; together with other powers and duties of the director of the department of health as are
incidental to, or necessary for, the performance of the functions transferred by this section;
      (6) To cooperate with the Rhode Island economic development corporation in its
planning and promotional functions, particularly in regard to those resources relating to
agriculture, fisheries, and recreation;
      (7) To cooperate with, advise, and guide conservation commissions of cities and towns
created under chapter 35 of title 45 entitled "Conservation Commissions", as enacted by chapter
203 of the Public Laws, 1960;
      (8) To assign or reassign, with the approval of the governor, any functions, duties, or
powers established by this chapter to any agency within the department, except as hereinafter
limited;
      (9) To cooperate with the water resources board and to provide to the board facilities,
administrative support, staff services, and such other services as the board shall reasonably
require for its operation and, in cooperation with the board and the statewide planning program,
to formulate and maintain a long-range guide plan and implementing program for development of
major water-sources transmissions systems needed to furnish water to regional- and local-
distribution systems;
      (10) To cooperate with the solid waste management corporation and to provide to the
corporation such facilities, administrative support, staff services, and such other services within
the department as the corporation shall reasonably require for its operation;
      (11) To provide for the maintenance of waterways and boating facilities, consistent with
chapter 6.1 of title 46, by: (i) eEstablishing minimum standards for upland beneficial use and
disposal of dredged material; (ii) pPromulgating and enforcing rules for water quality, ground
water protection, and fish and wildlife protection pursuant to § 42-17.1-24; (iii) pPlanning for the
upland beneficial use and/or disposal of dredged material in areas not under the jurisdiction of the
council pursuant to § 46-23-6(2); and (iv) cCooperating with the coastal resources management
council in the development and implementation of comprehensive programs for dredging as
provided for in §§ 46-23-6(1)(ii)(H) and 46-23-18.3; and (v) mMonitoring dredge material
management and disposal sites in accordance with the protocols established pursuant to § 46-6.1-
5(3) and the comprehensive program provided for in § 46-23-6(1)(ii)(H); no powers or duties
granted herein shall be construed to abrogate the powers or duties granted to the coastal resources
management council under chapter 23 of title 46, as amended;
      (12) To establish minimum standards, subject to the approval of the environmental
standards board, relating to the location, design, construction, and maintenance of all sewage-
disposal systems;
      (13) To enforce, by such means as provided by law, the standards for the quality of air,
and water, and the design, construction, and operation of all sewage-disposal systems; any order
or notice issued by the director relating to the location, design, construction, or maintenance of a
sewage-disposal system shall be eligible for recordation under chapter 13 of title 34. The director
shall forward the order or notice to the city or town wherein the subject property is located and
the order or notice shall be recorded in the general index by the appropriate municipal official in
the land evidence records in the city or town wherein the subject property is located. Any
subsequent transferee of that property shall be responsible for complying with the requirements of
the order or notice. Upon satisfactory completion of the requirements of the order or notice, the
director shall provide written notice of the same, which notice shall be similarly eligible for
recordation. The original written notice shall be forwarded to the city or town wherein the subject
property is located and the notice of satisfactory completion shall be recorded in the general index
by the appropriate municipal official in the land evidence records in the city or town wherein the
subject property is located. A copy of the written notice shall be forwarded to the owner of the
subject property within five (5) days of a request for it, and, in any event, shall be forwarded to
the owner of the subject property within thirty (30) days after correction;
      (14) To establish minimum standards for the establishment and maintenance of salutary
environmental conditions, including standards and methods for the assessment and the
consideration of the cumulative effects on the environment of regulatory actions and decisions,
which standards for consideration of cumulative effects shall provide for: (i) eEvaluation of
potential cumulative effects that could adversely effect public health and/or impair ecological
functioning; (ii) aAnalysis of such other matters relative to cumulative effects as the department
may deem appropriate in fulfilling its duties, functions and powers; which standards and methods
shall only be applicable to ISDS systems in the town of Jamestown in areas that are dependent for
water supply on private and public wells, unless broader use is approved by the general assembly.
The department shall report to the general assembly not later than March 15, 2008, with regard to
the development and application of such standards and methods in Jamestown.;
      (15) To establish and enforce minimum standards for permissible types of septage,
industrial-waste disposal sites, and waste-oil disposal sites;
      (16) To establish minimum standards, subject to the approval of the environmental
standards board, for permissible types of refuse disposal facilities,; the design, construction,
operation, and maintenance of disposal facilities; and the location of various types of facilities;
      (17) To exercise all functions, powers, and duties necessary for the administration of
chapter 19.1 of title 23 entitled "Rhode Island Hazardous Waste Management Act";
      (18) To designate, in writing, any person in any department of the state government or
any official of a district, county, city, town, or other governmental unit, with that official's
consent, to enforce any rule, regulation, or order promulgated and adopted by the director under
any provision of law; provided, however, that enforcement of powers of the coastal resources
management council shall be assigned only to employees of the department of environmental
management, except by mutual agreement or as otherwise provided in chapter 23 of title 46;
      (19) To issue and enforce such rules, regulations, and orders as may be necessary to
carry out the duties assigned to the director and the department by any provision of law; and to
conduct such investigations and hearings and to issue, suspend, and revoke such licenses as may
be necessary to enforce those rules, regulations, and orders. Any license suspended under such
rules, regulations, and/or orders shall be terminated and revoked if the conditions that led to the
suspension are not corrected to the satisfaction of the director within two (2) years; provided that
written notice is given by certified mail, return receipt requested, no less than sixty (60) days
prior to the date of termination.
      Notwithstanding the provisions of § 42-35-9 to the contrary, no informal disposition of a
contested licensing matter shall occur where resolution substantially deviates from the original
application unless all interested parties shall be notified of said proposed resolution and provided
with opportunity to comment upon said resolution pursuant to applicable law and any rules and
regulations established by the director.;
      (20) To enter, examine, or survey, at any reasonable time, such places as the director
deems necessary to carry out his or her responsibilities under any provision of law subject to the
following provisions:
      (i) For criminal investigations, the director shall, pursuant to chapter 5 of title 12, seek a
search warrant from an official of a court authorized to issue warrants, unless a search without a
warrant is otherwise allowed or provided by law;
      (ii) (A) All administrative inspections shall be conducted pursuant to administrative
guidelines promulgated by the department in accordance with chapter 35 of title 42.;
      (B) A warrant shall not be required for administrative inspections if conducted under the
following circumstances, in accordance with the applicable constitutional standards:
      (I) For closely regulated industries;
      (II) In situations involving open fields or conditions that are in plain view;
      (III) In emergency situations;
      (IV) In situations presenting an imminent threat to the environment or public health,
safety, or welfare;
      (V) If the owner, operator, or agent in charge of the facility, property, site, or location
consents; or
      (VI) In other situations in which a warrant is not constitutionally required.
      (C) Whenever it shall be constitutionally or otherwise required by law, or whenever the
director in his or her discretion deems it advisable, an administrative search warrant, or its
functional equivalent, may be obtained by the director from a neutral magistrate for the purpose
of conducting an administrative inspection. The warrant shall be issued in accordance with the
applicable constitutional standards for the issuance of administrative search warrants. The
administrative standard of probable cause, not the criminal standard of probable cause, shall
apply to applications for administrative search warrants.;
      (I) The need for, or reliance upon, an administrative warrant shall not be construed as
requiring the department to forfeit the element of surprise in its inspection efforts.;
      (II) An administrative warrant issued pursuant to this subsection must be executed and
returned within ten (10) days of its issuance date unless, upon a showing of need for additional
time, the court orders otherwise.;
      (III) An administrative warrant may authorize the review and copying of documents that
are relevant to the purpose of the inspection. If documents must be seized for the purpose of
copying, and the warrant authorizes such seizure, the person executing the warrant shall prepare
an inventory of the documents taken. The time, place, and manner regarding the making of the
inventory shall be set forth in the terms of the warrant itself, as dictated by the court. A copy of
the inventory shall be delivered to the person from whose possession or facility the documents
were taken. The seized documents shall be copied as soon as feasible under circumstances
preserving their authenticity, then returned to the person from whose possession or facility the
documents were taken.;
      (IV) An administrative warrant may authorize the taking of samples of air, water, or soil
or of materials generated, stored, or treated at the facility, property, site, or location. Upon
request, the department shall make split samples available to the person whose facility, property,
site, or location is being inspected.;
      (V) Service of an administrative warrant may be required only to the extent provided for
in the terms of the warrant itself, by the issuing court.
      (D) Penalties. - Any willful and unjustified refusal of right of entry and inspection to
department personnel pursuant to an administrative warrant shall constitute a contempt of court
and shall subject the refusing party to sanctions, which in the court's discretion may result in up to
six (6) months imprisonment and/or a monetary fine of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per
refusal.
      (21) To give notice of an alleged violation of law to the person responsible therefor
whenever the director determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that there is a
violation of any provision of law within his or her jurisdiction or of any rule or regulation adopted
pursuant to authority granted to him or her, unless other notice and hearing procedure is
specifically provided by that law. Nothing in this chapter shall limit the authority of the attorney
general to prosecute offenders as required by law.;
      (i) The notice shall provide for a time within which the alleged violation shall be
remedied, and shall inform the person to whom it is directed that a written request for a hearing
on the alleged violation may be filed with the director within ten (10) days after service of the
notice. The notice will be deemed properly served upon a person if a copy thereof is served him
or her personally,; or sent by registered or certified mail to his or her last known address,; or if he
or she is served with notice by any other method of service now or hereafter authorized in a civil
action under the laws of this state. If no written request for a hearing is made to the director
within ten (10) days of the service of notice, the notice shall automatically become a compliance
order.;
      (ii) (A) Whenever the director determines that there exists a violation of any law, rule, or
regulation within his or her jurisdiction which that requires immediate action to protect the
environment, he or she may, without prior notice of violation or hearing, issue an immediate-
compliance order stating the existence of the violation and the action he or she deems necessary.
The compliance order shall become effective immediately upon service or within such time as is
specified by the director in such order. No request for a hearing on an immediate-compliance
order may be made.;
      (B) Any immediate-compliance order issued under this section without notice and prior
hearing shall be effective for no longer than forty-five (45) days; provided, however, that for
good cause shown, the order may be extended one additional period not exceeding forty-five (45)
days.
      (iii) The director may, at his or her discretion and for the purposes of timely and
effective resolution and return to compliance, cite a person for alleged noncompliance through the
issuance of an expedited citation in accordance with subsection 42-17.6-3(c).;
      (iv) If a person upon whom a notice of violation has been served under the provisions of
this section or if a person aggrieved by any such notice of violation requests a hearing before the
director within ten (10) days of the service of notice of violation, the director shall set a time and
place for the hearing, and shall give the person requesting that hearing at least five (5) days
written notice thereof. After the hearing, the director may make findings of fact and shall sustain,
modify, or withdraw the notice of violation. If the director sustains or modifies the notice, that
decision shall be deemed a compliance order and shall be served upon the person responsible in
any manner provided for the service of the notice in this section.;
      (v) The compliance order shall state a time within which the violation shall be remedied,
and the original time specified in the notice of violation shall be extended to the time set in the
order.;
      (vi) Whenever a compliance order has become effective, whether automatically where
no hearing has been requested, where an immediate compliance order has been issued, or upon
decision following a hearing, the director may institute injunction proceedings in the superior
court of the state for enforcement of the compliance order and for appropriate temporary relief,
and in that proceeding, the correctness of a compliance order shall be presumed and the person
attacking the order shall bear the burden of proving error in the compliance order, except that the
director shall bear the burden of proving in the proceeding the correctness of an immediate
compliance order. The remedy provided for in this section shall be cumulative and not exclusive
and shall be in addition to remedies relating to the removal or abatement of nuisances or any
other remedies provided by law.;
      (vii) Any party aggrieved by a final judgment of the superior court may, within thirty
(30) days from the date of entry of such judgment, petition the supreme court for a writ of
certiorari to review any questions of law. The petition shall set forth the errors claimed. Upon the
filing of the petition with the clerk of the supreme court, the supreme court may, if it sees fit,
issue its writ of certiorari;.
      (22) To impose administrative penalties in accordance with the provisions of chapter
17.6 of this title and to direct that such penalties be paid into the account established by
subdivision (26); and
      (23) The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation of the provisions of this
chapter:
      (i) Director: - The term "director" shall mean the director of environmental management
of the state of Rhode Island or his or her duly authorized agent.;
      (ii) Person: - The term "person" shall include any individual, group of individuals, firm,
corporation, association, partnership, or private or public entity, including a district, county, city,
town, or other governmental unit or agent thereof, and in the case of a corporation, any individual
having active and general supervision of the properties of such corporation.;
      (iii) Service: - (A) Service upon a corporation under this section shall be deemed to
include service upon both the corporation and upon the person having active and general
supervision of the properties of such corporation.;
      (B) For purposes of calculating the time within which a claim for a hearing is made
pursuant to subdivision (21)(i) of this section heretofore, service shall be deemed to be the date
of receipt of such notice or three (3) days from the date of mailing of said notice, whichever shall
first occur.
      (24) (i) To conduct surveys of the present private and public camping and other
recreational areas available and to determine the need for and location of such other camping and
recreational areas as may be deemed necessary and in the public interest of the state of Rhode
Island and to report back its findings on an annual basis to the general assembly on or before
March 1 of every year;
      (ii) Additionally, the director of the department of environmental management shall take
such additional steps, including, but not limited to, matters related to funding as may be necessary
to establish such other additional recreational facilities and areas as are deemed to be in the public
interest.
      (25) (i) To apply for and accept grants and bequests of funds, with the approval of the
director of administration, from other states, interstate agencies, and independent authorities, and
private firms, individuals, and foundations, for the purpose of carrying out his or her lawful
responsibilities. The funds shall be deposited with the general treasurer in a restricted receipt
account created in the Nnatural Rresources Pprogram for funds made available for that program's
purposes or in a restricted receipt account created in the Eenvironmental Pprotection Pprogram
for funds made available for that program's purposes. All expenditures from the accounts shall be
subject to appropriation by the general assembly, and shall be expended in accordance with the
provisions of the grant or bequest. In the event that a donation or bequest is unspecified, or in the
event that the trust account balance shows a surplus after the project as provided for in the grant
or bequest has been completed, the director may utilize said appropriated unspecified or
appropriated surplus funds for enhanced management of the department's forest and outdoor
public recreation areas, or other projects or programs that promote the accessibility of recreational
opportunities for Rhode Island residents and visitors.;
      (ii) The director shall submit to the house fiscal advisor and the senate fiscal advisor, by
October 1 of each year, a detailed report on the amount of funds received and the uses made of
such funds.
      (26) To establish fee schedules by regulation, with the approval of the governor, for the
processing of applications and the performing of related activities in connection with the
department's responsibilities pursuant to subdivision (12) of this section,; chapter 19.1 of title 23,
as it relates to inspections performed by the department to determine compliance with chapter
19.1 and rules and regulations promulgated in accordance therewith,; chapter 18.9 of title 23, as it
relates to inspections performed by the department to determine compliance with chapter 18.9
and the rules and regulations promulgated in accordance therewith,; chapters 19.5 and 23 of title
23; chapter 12 of title 46, insofar as it relates to water-quality certifications and related reviews
performed pursuant to provisions of the federal Clean Water Act,; the regulation and
administration of underground storage tanks and all other programs administered under chapter
12 of title 46 and § 2-1-18 et seq., and chapter 13.1 of title 46 and chapter 13.2 of title 46, insofar
as they relate to any reviews and related activities performed under the provisions of the
Groundwater Protection Act,; chapter 23-24.9 of title 23 as it relates to the regulation and
administration of mercury-added products,; and chapter 17.7 of this title, insofar as it relates to
administrative appeals of all enforcement, permitting and licensing matters to the administrative
adjudication division for environmental matters. Two (2) fee ranges shall be required: for
"Appeal of enforcement actions", a range of fifty dollars ($50) to one hundred dollars ($100), and
for "Appeal of application decisions", a range of five hundred dollars ($500) to ten thousand
dollars ($10,000). The monies from the administrative adjudication fees will be deposited as
general revenues and the amounts appropriated shall be used for the costs associated with
operating the administrative adjudication division.
      There is hereby established an account within the general fund to be called the water and
air protection program. The account shall consist of sums appropriated for water and air pollution
control and waste-monitoring programs and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed
to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of such sums, or such
portions thereof, as may be required, from time to time, upon receipt by him or her of properly
authenticated vouchers. All amounts collected under the authority of this subdivision for the
sewage-disposal-system program and fresh-waters wetlands program will be deposited as general
revenues and the amounts appropriated shall be used for the purposes of administering and
operating the programs. The director shall submit to the house fiscal advisor and the senate fiscal
advisor by January 15 of each year a detailed report on the amount of funds obtained from fines
and fees and the uses made of such funds.
      (27) To establish and maintain a list or inventory of areas within the state worthy of
special designation as "scenic" to include, but not be limited to, certain state roads or highways,
scenic vistas, and scenic areas, and to make the list available to the public.;
      (28) To establish and maintain an inventory of all interests in land held by public and
private land trust and to exercise all powers vested herein to insure the preservation of all
identified lands.;
      (i) The director may promulgate and enforce rules and regulations to provide for the
orderly and consistent protection, management, continuity of ownership and purpose, and
centralized records-keeping for lands, water, and open spaces owned in fee or controlled in full or
in part through other interests, rights, or devices such as conservation easements or restrictions,
by private and public land trusts in Rhode Island. The director may charge a reasonable fee for
filing of each document submitted by a land trust.;
      (ii) The term "public land trust" means any public instrumentality created by a Rhode
Island municipality for the purposes stated herein and financed by means of public funds
collected and appropriated by the municipality. The term "private land trust" means any group of
five (5) or more private citizens of Rhode Island who shall incorporate under the laws of Rhode
Island as a nonbusiness corporation for the purposes stated herein, or a national organization such
as the nature conservancy. The main purpose of either a public or a private land trust shall be the
protection, acquisition, or control of land, water, wildlife, wildlife habitat, plants, and/or other
natural features, areas, or open space for the purpose of managing or maintaining, or causing to
be managed or maintained by others, the land, water, and other natural amenities in any
undeveloped and relatively natural state in perpetuity. A private land trust must be granted
exemption from federal income tax under Internal Revenue Code 501c(3) [26 U.S.C. §
501(c)(3)]within two (2) years of its incorporation in Rhode Island or it may not continue to
function as a land trust in Rhode Island. A private land trust may not be incorporated for the
exclusive purpose of acquiring or accepting property or rights in property from a single
individual, family, corporation, business, partnership, or other entity. Membership in any private
land trust must be open to any individual subscribing to the purposes of the land trust and
agreeing to abide by its rules and regulations including payment of reasonable dues.;
      (iii) (A) Private land trusts will, in their articles of association or their bylaws, as
appropriate, provide for the transfer to an organization, created for the same or similar purposes,
the assets, lands and land rights and interests held by the land trust in the event of termination or
dissolution of the land trust.
      (B) All land trusts, public and private, will record in the public records, of the
appropriate towns and cities in Rhode Island, all deeds, conservation easements, or restrictions or
other interests and rights acquired in land and will also file copies of all such documents and
current copies of their articles of association, their bylaws, and annual reports with the secretary
of state, and with the director of the Rhode Island department of environmental management. The
director is hereby directed to establish and maintain permanently a system for keeping records of
all private and public land trust land holdings in Rhode Island.
      (29) The director will contact in writing, not less often than once every two (2) years,
each public or private land trust to ascertain: that all lands held by the land trust are recorded with
the director; the current status and condition of each land holding; that any funds or other assets
of the land trust held as endowment for specific lands have been properly audited at least once
within the two- (2) year (2) period; the name of the successor organization named in the public or
private land trust's bylaws or articles of association; and any other information the director deems
essential to the proper and continuous protection and management of land and interests or rights
in land held by the land trust. In the event that the director determines that a public or private land
trust holding land or interest in land appears to have become inactive, he or she shall initiate
proceedings to effect the termination of the land trust and the transfer of its lands, assets, land
rights, and land interests to the successor organization named in the defaulting trust's bylaws or
articles of association or to another organization created for the same or similar purposes. Should
such a transfer not be possible, then the land trust, assets, and interest and rights in land will be
held in trust by the state of Rhode Island and managed by the director for the purposes stated at
the time of original acquisition by the trust. Any trust assets or interests other than land or rights
in land accruing to the state under such circumstances will be held and managed as a separate
fund for the benefit of the designated trust lands.;
      (30) Consistent with federal standards, issue and enforce such rules, regulations, and
orders as may be necessary to establish requirements for maintaining evidence of financial
responsibility for taking corrective action and compensating third parties for bodily injury and
property damage caused by sudden and non-sudden accidental releases arising from operating
underground storage tanks.;
      (31) To enforce, by such means as provided by law, the standards for the quality of air,
and water, and the location, design, construction, and operation of all underground storage
facilities used for storing petroleum products or hazardous materials; any order or notice issued
by the director relating to the location, design construction, operation, or maintenance of an
underground storage facility used for storing petroleum products or hazardous materials shall be
eligible for recordation under chapter 13 of title 34. The director shall forward the order or notice
to the city or town wherein the subject facility is located, and the order or notice shall be recorded
in the general index by the appropriate municipal officer in the land-evidence records in the city
or town wherein the subject facility is located. Any subsequent transferee of that facility shall be
responsible for complying with the requirements of the order or notice. Upon satisfactory
completion of the requirements of the order or notice, the director shall provide written notice of
the same, which notice shall be eligible for recordation. The original, written notice shall be
forwarded to the city or town wherein the subject facility is located, and the notice of satisfactory
completion shall be recorded in the general index by the appropriate municipal official in the
land-evidence records in the city or town wherein the subject facility is located. A copy of the
written notice shall be forwarded to the owner of the subject facility within five (5) days of a
request for it, and, in any event, shall be forwarded to the owner of the subject facility within
thirty (30) days after correction.;
      (32) To manage and disburse any and all funds collected pursuant to § 46-12.9-4, in
accordance with § 46-12.9-5, and other provisions of the Rhode Island Underground Storage
Tank Financial Responsibility Act, as amended.;
      (33) To support, facilitate, and assist the Rhode Island Natural History Survey, as
appropriate and/or as necessary, in order to accomplish the important public purposes of the
survey in gathering and maintaining data on Rhode Island natural history,; making public
presentations and reports on natural history topics,; ranking species and natural communities,;
monitoring rare species and communities,; consulting on open-space acquisitions and
management plans,; reviewing proposed federal and state actions and regulations with regard to
their potential impact on natural communities,; and seeking outside funding for wildlife
management, land management, and research.;
      (34) To promote the effective stewardship of lakes and ponds, including collaboration
with associations of lakefront property owners on planning and management actions that will
prevent and mitigate water quality degradation, the loss of native habitat due to infestation of
non-native species, and nuisance conditions that result from excessive growth of algal or non-
native plant species. By January 31, 2012, the director shall prepare and submit a report to the
governor and general assembly that, based upon available information, provides: (a) aAn
assessment of lake conditions including a description of the presence and extent of aquatic
invasive species in lakes and ponds; (b) rRecommendations for improving the control and
management of aquatic invasives species in lakes and ponds; and (c) aAn assessment of the
feasibility of instituting a boat-sticker program for the purpose of generating funds to support
implementation actions to control aquatic invasive species in the freshwaters of the state.; and
      (35) In implementing the programs established pursuant to this chapter, to identify
critical areas for improving service to customers doing business with the department, and to
develop and implement strategies to improve performance and effectiveness in those areas. Key
aspects of a customer-service program shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, the
following components:
      (a) Maintenance of an organizational unit within the department with the express
purpose of providing technical assistance to customers and helping customers comply with
environmental regulations and requirements;
      (b) Maintenance of an employee-training program to promote customer service across
the department;
      (c) Implementation of a continuous business process evaluation and improvement effort,
including process reviews to encourage development of quality proposals.; ensure timely and
predictable reviews.; and result in effective decisions and consistent follow up and
implementation throughout the department.; and publish an annual report on such efforts;
      (d) Creation of a centralized location for the acceptance of permit applications and other
submissions to the department;
      (e) Maintenance of a process to promote, organize, and facilitate meetings prior to the
submission of applications or other proposals in order to inform the applicant on options and
opportunities to minimize environmental impact.; improve the potential for sustainable
environmental compliance.; and support an effective and efficient review and decision-making
process on permit applications related to the proposed project;
      (f) Development of single permits under multiple authorities otherwise provided in state
law to support comprehensive and coordinated reviews of proposed projects. The director may
address and resolve conflicting or redundant process requirements in order to achieve an effective
and efficient review process that meets environmental objectives; and
      (g) Exploration of the use of performance-based regulations coupled with adequate
inspection and oversight, as an alternative to requiring applications or submissions for approval
prior to initiation of projects. The department shall work with the office of regulatory reform to
evaluate the potential for adopting alternative compliance approaches and provide a report to the
governor and the general assembly by May 1, 2015.
     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC006091
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