2000 -- H 6899
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LC00120
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2000
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A N A C T
RELATING TO RHODE ISLAND CLIMATE CHANGE INITIATIVE
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Title 2 of the General Laws entitled "Agriculture and Forestry" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
CHAPTER 15.1
RHODE ISLAND CLIMATE CHANGE INITIATIVE
2-15.1-1. Short title. -- This chapter shall be known as "The Rhode Island Climate Change Initiative Act".
2-15.1-2. Legislative findings. -- The general assembly finds:
(a) That it is recognized that the rate of gaseous carbon being discharged into the atmosphere has increased dramatically with the rise in urbanization throughout the United States and the world;
(b) That it is demonstrated that trees have the ability to absorb atmospheric carbon and convert it to inert biomasses at a rate which can significantly offset increases in discharges created from the rising use of carbon based fuels; and
(c) That in the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, as of the year 2000, woodland constitutes fifty-five percent (55%) of the total land area.
2-15.1-3. Declaration of policy. -- The general assembly declares that it is the policy of the state to encourage private property owners to manage and maintain woodlands for periods of time sufficient to maximize atmospheric carbon conversion throughout the state.
2-15.1-4. State conservation committee participation. -- The state conservation committee, established pursuant to the provisions of section 2-4-3, shall be responsible for monitoring public and private forest management projects designed to participate in climate change programs, including acting as a repository for any carbon offset credits which have been accumulated and independently verified by landowners in the state. The committee may establish a reasonable fee schedule for this service, and any monies collected shall be used to administer the program. Nothing in this act shall preclude a landowner from registering carbon offset credits with any other entity.
The state conservation committee shall delegate duties and responsibilities involved with the monitoring of individual forest management projects participating under this chapter to the local conservation districts. The districts shall have the authority to seek technical advice from the department of environmental management and any state university or college.
Any forest management project designed to participate in a climate control program which is registered with the state conservation committee shall, upon approval by the committee, be exempt from the permitting provisions of chapter 2-1 of the Rhode Island general laws, provided the registrant complies with all conditions imposed by the committee.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC00120
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO RHODE ISLAND CLIMATE CHANGE INITIATIVE
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This act provides for a Rhode Island Climate Change Initiative to encourage the maintenance of woodlands to help offset air pollution caused by increasing urbanization.
The act further provides that the Rhode Island state conservation committee shall be responsible for monitoring certain forest management projects participating in climate change program.
This act would take effect upon passage.
