New Wetlands and Septic Systems Legislation
Friday, June 21st, 2013UPDATE: Gov. Lincoln Chafee signed the legislation on June 25, 2013.
The RI General Assembly has passed legislation in an attempt to ease the burden to businesses and property owners due to varying municipal wetland and septic standards throughout the state. The goal of the legislation is to develop “clear, predictable and reliable standards and a regulated process… needed to foster a business climate that will grow our economy while ensuring the protection of our natural resources”.
The legislation requires the Division of Planning to recommend changes that will protect the state’s natural resources while balancing the need for economic development. If approved by the governor, a task force comprised of stakeholders will prepare a report by the end of the year. The RIDEM must then submit proposed legislation establishing statewide standards based on the Task Force’s report by January 31, 2015.
According to the Press Release, Senator Lynch, a sponsor of the bill, stated “The standards that will eventually be established under this legislation will be a very significant aspect of the Senate’s overall efforts to make Rhode Island a business-friendly state. Uniformity is important for businesses thinking about moving into Rhode Island and this legislation, and the work of the task force it creates, will move us toward that goal.”
2 Responses to “New Wetlands and Septic Systems Legislation”
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Always a puzzle, applying first to DEM Wetlands, then DEM OWTS, then to the Town for any wetland issues, sometimes also CRMC. Always trying to look ahead to rules and regulations of the next agency. What if we were allowed to apply to all at once? What a lovely dream …
As one of the people who worked to move this issue through the legislature, I am pleased to see the science and engineering community take interest. While we had hoped for a more direct move to a new set of standards to eliminate the multilevel approval process that now exists in too many communities, the process that this legislation puts in place should be able to bring us to the same place. That said, and as with any development of environmental standards, we will need experienced professionals to follow the process and make comment where possible along the way if we are to make it through to a new set of rational, science based standards.