§ 46-31-1 - Legislative findings.
SECTION 46-31-1
§ 46-31-1 Legislative findings. – The general assembly hereby finds and declares as follows:
(1) The bays, rivers, and associated watersheds of RhodeIsland are unique and unparalleled natural resources that provide significantcultural, ecological, and economic benefit to the state.
(2) Pursuant to the provisions of R.I. Const., art. 1, §17, it is the duty of the general assembly to provide for the conservation ofthe air, land, water, plant, animal, mineral, and other natural resources ofthe state; and to adopt all means necessary and proper by law to protect thenatural environment of the people of the state by providing adequate resourceplanning for the control and regulation of the use of the natural resources ofthe state; and for the preservation, regeneration, and restoration of thenatural environment of the state.
(3) It is in the best interest of the state and its citizensto preserve, protect, and restore our bays, rivers, and associated watersheds.
(4) Sixty percent (60%) of the watershed of Narragansett Bayis within Massachusetts, almost all of the watershed of Mount Hope Bay iswithin Massachusetts, and five percent (5%) of the watershed of LittleNarragansett Bay is within Connecticut; further, a cluster of water-relatedeconomic interests spans the three (3) states.
(5) There are a number of separate agencies of the statedefined by statute, granted statutory authority, and appropriated stateresources for the performance of distinct functions, the development of variousprograms, and the execution of diverse regulatory powers that affect the bays,rivers, and watersheds of Rhode Island including management, preservation,restoration, and monitoring of the natural resources, and promotion ofsustainable economic development of the water cluster. It is important toretain these various agencies as separate and distinct entities. Each agencyhas essential and distinct responsibilities. However, each of these agencieshas limited responsibilities and jurisdictions. No one agency has the statutoryauthority to adequately address the full range of issues that pertain to thebays, rivers, and watersheds.
(6) The formation of an interagency group for thecoordination of the functions, programs, and regulations that affect the bays,rivers, and watersheds is the most effective way to transcend the limitedresponsibilities and jurisdictions of each agency, address complex issues usingan ecosystem-based approach, and provide for continuity over time.
(7) There is a need for coordination of the development andimplementation of policies and plans for the management, preservation,restoration, and monitoring of the bays, rivers, and watersheds; and thepromotion of sustainable economic development of businesses that rely directlyor indirectly on the bays, rivers, and watersheds.
(8) There is a need for the development of a systems-levelplan that synthesizes individual plans and coordinates separate authorities.The systems-level plan must establish overall goals and priorities, set forth astrategy for obtaining goals which delineates specific responsibilities amongagencies, identify funding sources and a timetable for obtaining goals, providean estimate of the total projected cost of implementation, and oversee amonitoring strategy to evaluate progress in implementing the plan and toprovide the necessary information to adapt the plan in response to changingconditions.
(9) The implementation of a systems-level plan needs toinclude the preparation of coordinated annual work plans, annual work planbudgets, and multi-year funding plans in order to identify areas of duplicativeor insufficient effort or funding.
(10) The development and implementation of a systems-levelplan must be coordinated with local and federal efforts and efforts inMassachusetts and Connecticut and in some cases with other states in the regionthat have connections with the ecosystem and/or the water cluster. It must beaccomplished with input from scientists, policy-makers, non-governmentalorganizations, and the general public.
(11) There is a need for a structure and process thatenhances the efficiency of the goal setting and oversight roles of thelegislature including fiscal and performance accountability.