2022 -- H 7853

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LC004975

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- DAMAGES FROM MILLDAMS -- THE

JOHNSON'S POND PROTECTION ACT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Nardone, Roberts, Serpa, Noret, McNamara, P Morgan,
and Chippendale

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2022

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 46-18-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 46-18 entitled "Damages

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from Milldams" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     46-18-1. Right of owner to continue and improve dam and pond.

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     (a) Whenever any person, either upon his or her own land or upon the land of another with

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his or her consent, shall have set up any water mill or dam for the purpose of forming a pond to

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supply water to any mill or mills upon the stream whereon the dam is located, the owner of the mill

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or dam may continue and improve the pond and keep up the dam thereof on his or her own land for

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his or her advantage without molestations, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section.

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     (b) The provisions of this section shall be governed by the provisions of §§ 2-1-18 through

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2-1-28.

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     SECTION 2. Section 2-1-23 of the General Laws in Chapter 2-1 entitled "Agricultural

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Functions of Department of Environmental Management" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     2-1-23. Violations.

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     (a) In the event of a violation of § 2-1-21, the director of environmental management has

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the power to order complete restoration of the freshwater wetland, buffer, floodplain, or other

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jurisdictional area involved by the person or agent responsible for the violation. If the responsible

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person or agent does not complete the restoration within a reasonable time following the order of

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the director of the department of environmental management, the director has the authority to order

 

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the work done by an agent of the director's choosing and the person or agent responsible for the

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original violation is liable for the cost of the restoration. The violator is liable for a fine not

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exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each violation, except that if the violator knowingly

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or recklessly alters a freshwater wetland, buffer, floodplain or other jurisdictional area without a

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permit or approval from the director; knowingly or recklessly alters a freshwater wetland, buffer,

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floodplain or other jurisdictional area in violation of the rules or regulations promulgated by the

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director; or alters a freshwater wetland, buffer, floodplain or other jurisdictional area in violation

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of a permit issued by the director, then the violator is liable for a fine not exceeding ten thousand

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dollars ($10,000) for each violation six thousand dollars ($6,000) for the first offense; twelve

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thousand dollars ($12,000) for the second offense and thirty-six thousand dollars ($36,000) for all

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subsequent offenses.

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     (b) In addition, the director of the department of environmental management may enter

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upon the freshwater wetland, buffer, floodplain, or other jurisdictional area, to restore the water

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levels and flow rates of the pond to match historical norms and take into consideration the effects

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of climate change.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- DAMAGES FROM MILLDAMS -- THE

JOHNSON'S POND PROTECTION ACT

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     This act would make the Milldam Act subject to the provisions of the Freshwater Wetlands

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Act and would also grant authority to the director of the department of environmental management

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(DEM) to enter upon the freshwater wetland to restore the water levels of the pond to match historic

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norms. Additionally, this act would also increase the fines for intentionally altering wetlands,

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without the approval of the director of DEM, to six thousand dollars ($6,000) for the first offense;

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twelve thousand dollars ($12,000) for the second offense and thirty-six thousand dollars ($36,000)

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for all subsequent offenses.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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