§ 46-23.2-6 - Powers and duties.
SECTION 46-23.2-6
§ 46-23.2-6 Powers and duties. – The collaborative shall have the following powers:
(1) To effectuate and implement a state monitoring strategythat addresses critical state resource management needs, including, but notlimited to, water quality protection, water pollution control, fisheries andwildlife management, habitat restoration, coastal management, public healthprotection and emergency response and that assesses and tracks environmentalhealth and function. Within six (6) months of its enactment, the collaborativeshall adopt a statewide monitoring strategy that will provide cost-effectiveand useful policies, standards, protocols and guidelines for monitoringprograms undertaken for the waters of the state, that will support system levelplanning. This strategy shall be reviewed and updated every three (3) years.This strategy shall include the following elements:
(i) An inventory of existing monitoring programs;
(ii) An outline of additional monitoring programs the stateneeds;
(iii) A list of indicators that will be used to measure thehealth of the marine habitats of the state;
(iv) A list of data standards and protocols that will be usedon a reasonable and consistent basis by monitoring programs that contributedata to the state monitoring system;
(v) A mechanism for data sharing among all monitoringprograms that enables both monitors and users to securely access monitoringdata via the Internet and to retain the integrity of such data;
(vi) A plan to provide data from the state marine monitoringsystem for disaster prevention, preparedness, response and recovery efforts inthe marine environment; and
(vii) A communications strategy to provide for public accessto monitoring data.
(2) To assist with the development and implementation of astate water monitoring and assessment program, developed consistent withguidance issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and toaugment and implement such a program to achieve the purposes of this strategyset forth in subdivision (1).
(3) To prepare an annual report in the month of January tothe governor and general assembly on the activities for the preceding year aswell as the predicted financial needs of the system for the upcoming fiscalyear.
(4) To enter into data sharing agreements with federal andstate agencies, municipalities and nongovernmental organizations for thepurposes of coordination and management of monitoring data and programs.
(5) To accept grants, donations and contributions in money,services, materials, or otherwise, from the United States or any of itsagencies, from this state and its agencies, or from any other source, and touse or expend those moneys, services, materials or other contributions incarrying out the purposes of this chapter.
(6) To enter into agreements for staff support that it deemsnecessary for its work, and to contract with consultants for the services itmay require to the extent permitted by its financial resources.