2022 -- H 8244

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LC005970

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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 FISH AND WILDLIFE – AQUACULTURE

     Introduced By: Representatives Edwards, McGaw, Cortvriend, and Abney

     Date Introduced: May 12, 2022

     Referred To: House Corporations

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 20-10-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 20-10 entitled "Aquaculture"

is hereby amended to read as follows:

     20-10-6. Leases.

     (a) The CRMC, in accordance with chapter 6 of title 37, is authorized and empowered,

when it shall serve the purposes of this chapter, to lease the land submerged under the coastal waters

of the state, including any coastal ponds or estuaries to coastal rivers, and the water column above

those submerged lands, to an applicant who has been granted an aquaculture permit pursuant to the

provisions of this chapter; provided, that the CRMC finds that a lease giving the applicant exclusive

use of the submerged lands and water column, including the surface of the water, is necessary to

the effective conduct of the permitted aquaculture activities.

     (1) All leases granted under this section shall be sited not less than one thousand feet

(1,000') from the median high tide line.

     (b) Those leases shall be granted for a term concurrent with the term of the aquaculture

permit and may be renewed from time to time upon renewal of the aquaculture permits.

     (c) Those leases shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the aquaculture permit, and

any renewal of the permit, and the provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations adopted

under this chapter. Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the permit or renewal, or the

provisions of this chapter, or the rules and regulations adopted under this chapter, shall be grounds

for termination of the lease at the discretion of the CRMC.

     (d) Any assignment or sublease of the whole or any part of the area subject to lease shall

constitute a breach of the lease and constitute cause for the termination of the lease, unless that

assignment or subletting has received the prior approval of the CRMC.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE – AQUACULTURE

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     This act would require all aquaculture leases granted by the coastal resources management

council (CRMC) to be located at least one thousand feet (1,000') from the median high tide line.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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