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| Coastal Resources Management Council | |
|---|---|
| Agency name | Coastal Resources Management Council |
| Formed | 1971 |
| Jurisdiction | Rhode Island |
| Headquarters | Providence, Rhode Island |
| Chief1 position | Director |
| Parent agency | State of Rhode Island |
Coastal Resources Management Council is a state-level quasi-judicial agency charged with oversight of shoreline, estuarine, and marine resources in Rhode Island. The Council develops planning documents, issues permits, and enforces policies connecting the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, United States Army Corps of Engineers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, and municipal authorities such as the City of Newport and Town of Narragansett. Its work intersects with federal statutes and regional initiatives including the Coastal Zone Management Act, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, the National Flood Insurance Program, and programs administered by the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission.
The Council traces origins to state legislative action in the early 1970s influenced by national movements including the passage of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 and advocacy by organizations like the Sierra Club and the Audubon Society of Rhode Island. Early interactions with agencies such as the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission shaped shorefront policy. Major events in its evolution include responses to storms like Hurricane Gloria and Hurricane Sandy, collaboration with the University of Rhode Island for research, and participation in regional consortia including the Northeast Regional Ocean Council.
The Council operates under state statute enacted by the Rhode Island General Assembly and coordinates with federal law including the Coastal Zone Management Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Its mandates require alignment with decisions by the Rhode Island Supreme Court and administrative rules promulgated through the Rhode Island Office of Regulatory Reform. Interagency memoranda of understanding with the United States Army Corps of Engineers and consultation protocols with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and United States Fish and Wildlife Service define permit review standards, habitat protection, and shoreline alteration guidelines.
The Council comprises appointed members representing districts established by the Rhode Island General Assembly, together with a professional staff including planners, scientists, permit reviewers, and enforcement officers. Leadership roles interface with entities such as the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the State Planning Council (Rhode Island), and academic partners like the Graduate School of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island. Committees within the Council consult with technical advisory groups from the New England Aquarium, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Brown University, and the Roger Williams University School of Law for legal and scientific guidance.
The Council administers permitting programs for shoreline projects, marsh restoration, and dredging in coordination with the United States Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA Restoration Center, and the Environmental Protection Agency. It develops coastal consistency determinations related to federal activities overseen by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Bonneville Power Administration for regional energy siting when applicable. Conservation initiatives have included salt marsh restoration with partners such as the Nature Conservancy, habitat mapping with the Rhode Island Natural History Survey, and coastal resilience planning linked to projects funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Coastal Resilience Grant Program.
Enforcement actions follow adjudicatory procedures consistent with decisions from the Rhode Island Supreme Court and administrative hearings akin to processes used by the Division of Administrative Adjudication (Rhode Island). The Council issues cease-and-desist orders and permit sanctions, often coordinating investigations with the Rhode Island State Police Environmental Crime Unit, the United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 1, and municipal code enforcement officers from towns like Westerly and South Kingstown. Compliance monitoring uses resources from the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography and technical support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The Council engages municipalities including City of Providence and Town of Middletown, tribal entities where applicable, nonprofit organizations like the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program, and industry stakeholders including the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association and commercial fishing interests represented by the Rhode Island Fishermen's Alliance. Public outreach leverages partnerships with educational institutions such as Providence College and Salve Regina University, and regional coordination occurs through bodies like the Northeast Regional Ocean Council and the Association of State Wetland Managers.
Funding for Council operations derives from state appropriations approved by the Rhode Island General Assembly, permit fees, and competitive grants from federal sources including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Budget oversight involves the Rhode Island Department of Administration and audit processes by the Rhode Island Auditor General. Supplemental project financing has come from philanthropic organizations such as the Art for Nature Foundation and cooperative agreements with the University of Rhode Island for federally funded research.
Category:Rhode Island agencies Category:Environmental protection agencies Category:Coastal management