Ruggiero Files Bill To Study CRMC Reorganization

PROVIDENCE, RI – Following two high-profile development decisions that landed in court and drew criticism from the state's attorney general, Rep. Deborah Ruggiero on Thursday submitted legislation to explore the possibility of reorganizing the Coastal Resources Management Council.

In a media release, she said the CRMC is a citizen zoning board made up of political appointees with no necessary technical expertise, but that they make pivotal environmental decisions that impact future generations. She said members are often absent from meetings, and added that some of the council's action's "have been questionable, to say the least."

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"We should take a deep, honest look at whether this is a responsible form of environmental stewardship for the Ocean State,” said Rep. Ruggiero (D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown).

The bill would create a special House commission to study the CRMC and provide recommendations for its reorganization. The commission would have 15 members and include lawmakers, municipal leaders from coastal communities, members of the public, and representatives from Save the Bay, the Rhode Island Shellfisherman’s Association, the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association, the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, and the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography.

The legislation calls for the commission to issue its findings and recommendations by April 1, 2022.

Last month the Rhode Island Supreme Court rejected a quietly-drawn development deal between CRMC and the owners of Champlin’s Marina in New Shoreham, and in recent days Attorney General Peter Neronha intervened in a CRMC decision that would allow expansion and dredging by a boatyard in Jamestown.

The CRMC is a 10-person council, so if three or four members are absent it gives greater influence to those who do attend. For instance, the vote was 4-2 on the marina expansion in Jamestown, with four members absent. That decision has been appealed by local residents and it is now pending before the Rhode Island Superior Court.

Ruggiero said the CRMC should prioritize preserve the environmental integrity of the Rhode Island coast.

“The mission of CRMC includes developing coastal resources, but the primary guiding principle upon which environmental alterations of coastal resources shall be measured, judged, and regulated is required to be the ‘preservation of ecological systems,’” she said.

She said she looks forward to a "deep dive into policy issues" and "robust conversations with our state’s environmental experts as well as administrators and planners from Jamestown, Newport, Warwick, and members of the public as this commission studies ways we could improve CRMC.”