§ 45-61-2. Legislative findings.
The general assembly hereby recognizes and declares that:
(1) The general assembly finds that stormwater, when not properly controlled and treated,
causes pollution of the waters of the state, threatens public health, and damages
property. Stormwater carries pollutants and other material from the land — such as
human and animal waste, oil, gasoline, grease, fertilizers, nutrients, and sediments
— into rivers, streams, ponds, coves, drinking water aquifers, and Narragansett Bay.
Stormwater reaches the state's waters by streets, roads, lawns, and other means. As
a result, public u
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§ 45-61-2. Legislative findings.
The general assembly hereby recognizes and declares that:
(1) The general assembly finds that stormwater, when not properly controlled and treated,
causes pollution of the waters of the state, threatens public health, and damages
property. Stormwater carries pollutants and other material from the land — such as
human and animal waste, oil, gasoline, grease, fertilizers, nutrients, and sediments
— into rivers, streams, ponds, coves, drinking water aquifers, and Narragansett Bay.
Stormwater reaches the state's waters by streets, roads, lawns, and other means. As
a result, public use of the natural resources of state for drinking water, swimming,
fishing, shellfishing, and other forms of recreation is limited and in some cases
prohibited.
(2) The general assembly further finds that inattention to stormwater management results
in erosion of soils and destruction of both public and private property, thereby putting
public safety at risk and harming property values and uses, including agriculture
and industry. Therefore, to help alleviate existing and future degradation of the
state's waters and the associated risks to public health and safety, and to comply
with state and federal stormwater management requirements, stormwater conveyance systems
must be maintained and improved. The state of Rhode Island is delegated by the United
States Environmental Protection Agency to implement "Phase II� stormwater management
regulations, which require municipalities and other persons to increase their capacity
to control stormwater. The Department of Environmental Management's Pollution Discharge
Elimination System program has promulgated these regulations.