2009 Rhode Island Code
Title 46 - Waters and Navigation
CHAPTER 46-31 - The Rhode Island Bays, Rivers, and Watersheds Coordination Team
§ 46-31-9 - Committees.

SECTION 46-31-9

   § 46-31-9  Committees. – (a) The coordination team may appoint such subcommittees, task forces or advisory committees to make recommendations to the team as it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter. The coordination team shall annually review the work done by, and the need for, any such subcommittees, task forces, and/or advisory committees, and shall terminate the existence of such entities that are deemed to have fulfilled their purpose and/or are no longer deemed necessary by the team.

   (b) A "scientific advisory committee" shall be established to advise the coordination team on research priorities, technical matters, and best management practices. The members of the scientific advisory committee shall be appointed by the governor to serve for terms of two (2) years. The members of said committee shall consist of members of the academic community as well as non-government organizations. The members of the scientific advisory committee shall receive no additional compensation for their services on the committee. The scientific advisory committee shall assist the coordination team in:

   (1) Ensuring that peer review is employed in the development of an environmental monitoring strategy;

   (2) Providing the team with unbiased reviews of current validated scientific knowledge relevant to their work; and

   (3) Assisting with the review of existing or future plans.

   The scientific advisory committee shall elect annually from among their members a chair and a vice-chair.

   (c) A "public advisory committee" shall be established to advise the coordination team on the development and implementation of the systems-level plan, and the preparation of annual work plans and annual work plan budgets. The members of the public advisory committee shall be appointed by the governor for terms of two (2) years each. The members of said public advisory committee shall include, but not be limited to, representatives from the following groups: commercial fishers, recreational fishers, environmental advocacy organizations, and economic advocacy organizations. The members of the public advisory committee shall receive no additional compensation for their services to the committee. The public advisory committee shall elect annually from among their members a chair and a vice-chair.

   (d) An "economic monitoring collaborative" shall be established for the purpose of developing and implementing a strategy for an economic monitoring program as specified by this section. The members of the economic monitoring collaborative shall be appointed by the governor to serve for two (2) years and shall include, but not be limited to, a representative from the Rhode Island economic policy council and a representative from the Department of Environment and Natural Resource Economics at the University of Rhode Island. From among the members, the governor shall appoint a chair. Members of the economic monitoring collaborative shall serve without additional salary but may be paid expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The strategy for the economic monitoring program shall include baselines, protocols, guidelines, and quantifiable indicators for assessing the economic health and performance of the water cluster. Economic indicators shall include, but not be limited to, the following aspects where or when appropriate and/or available:

   (1) Total gross state product originating in the water cluster;

   (2) Direct and indirect employment in the water cluster; and

   (3) Public expenditures for infrastructure to support the water cluster. The strategy for said economic monitoring program shall be developed by the economic monitoring collaborative and adopted by the coordination team within six (6) months of passage of this act; and shall be reviewed and updated every four (4) years, and included in the reports described in § 46-31-6( l )

   (e) An "environmental monitoring collaborative" shall be established for the purpose of developing and implementing a strategy for an environmental monitoring program as specified by this section or as otherwise provided for by statute. The environmental monitoring collaborative shall include, but not be limited to, one representative from each of the following: Coastal Institute at the University of Rhode Island (URI) Bay Campus (Chair); coastal resources management council; department of environmental management; department of health; URI Watershed Watch; URI Graduate School of Oceanography; Narragansett Bay commission; statewide planning program (RIGIS) division; and URI Environmental Data Center. Members of the environmental monitoring collaborative shall serve without additional salary but may be paid expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The strategy for the environmental monitoring program shall be developed in consultation with the scientific advisory committee and shall include baselines, protocols, guidelines, and quantifiable environmental indicators. Environmental indicators shall include, but not be limited to, the following aspects where appropriate for rivers and bays:

   (1) Land cover or uses within the shoreline buffers;

   (2) Water temperature, salinity, and pH;

   (3) Concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorous, dissolved oxygen, and bacteria;

   (4) Water flows and circulation;

   (5) Species assemblages and relative abundances of finfish, shellfish, and benthic macroinvertebrates; and

   (6) Presence of aquatic nuisance species. The strategy for said monitoring program shall be developed by the environmental monitoring collaborative and adopted by the coordination team within six (6) months of passage of this act; and shall be reviewed and updated every four (4) years, and included in the reports described in § 46-31-6( l ).

   (f) The data collected as part of the economic and environmental monitoring programs shall be analyzed, synthesized, and made accessible to the governor, the general assembly, and the general public.

   (g) The committees and collaboratives established pursuant to this chapter shall remain in existence so long as the coordination team is in existence. All committees shall expire and dissolve upon the expiration and/or dissolution of the coordination team.

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