§ 46-23.1-5. The Rhode Island coastal and estuarine habitat restoration program — Established.
(a) The council shall develop and implement a coastal and estuarine habitat restoration
program for the state of Rhode Island. The program shall consist of the following
elements and perform the listed tasks:
(1) Develop a statewide coastal and estuarine habitat restoration strategy. Within one year of enactment [June 13, 2002], the program, with the assistance from
the technical advisory committee, shall adopt a statewide coastal and estuarine habitat
restoration plan that provide for the conservation and restoration of the state's
coastal and estuarine habitats. The plan shall be developed with comprehensive public,
agency, legislative and stakeholder participation, and shall include the following
elements:
(i) A description of the state's coastal and estuarine habitats, including a consideration
of their importance to the economy, ecology and quality of life in the state and in
local communities;
(ii) Quantitative and qualitative restoration goals pertaining to coastal wetlands, eelgrass
beds, and anadromous fish runs;
(iii) An inventory of coastal and estuarine restoration projects, along with criteria for
prioritizing and selecting projects for implementation;
(iv) A projected comprehensive budget and timeline necessary to accomplish the goals of
the plan;
(v) Identification of municipal, state, federal, private, or other funding and resources
to assist in the development or implementation of the plan;
(vi) An outreach element to educate municipal officials, civic and nonprofit organizations,
educational institutions and the general public about the availability of restoration
grants; and
(vii) Provisions for updating the plan and project inventory periodically.
(2) Restoration grants.
(i) The program shall establish and execute an annual process for the solicitation, evaluation
and award of restoration grants for projects that seek to restore coastal and estuarine
habitats. The technical advisory committee or a subcommittee of it shall serve as
an advisory board to the council and the program staff throughout this process. Entities
qualified to apply for and receive grants for design, planning, construction or monitoring
under this section include all of the following: cities and towns; any committee,
board, or commission chartered by a city or town; nonprofit corporations; civic groups,
educational institutions; and state agencies.
(ii) The program shall submit to the governor and the general assembly during annual budget
preparations a list of restoration project proposals that have received a positive
review by the technical advisory committee and require funds from the trust to proceed
with design, planning, construction or monitoring during the ensuing year.
(b) Nothing contained in this section is intended to abrogate or effect the existing powers
of the department of environmental management or the coastal resources management
council.