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2012 -- H 8109 SUBSTITUTE A | |
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LC02502/SUB A | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
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IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
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JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012 | |
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A N A C T | |
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RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION - THE NARRAGANSETT BAY | |
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COMMISSION LATERAL SYSTEMS RESPONSIBILITY FEASIBILITY STUDY | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Petrarca, Ucci, Corvese, O`Neill, and Blazejewski | |
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Date Introduced: May 02, 2012 | |
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Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources | |
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It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
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SECTION 1. Title 46 of the General Laws entitled "Waters and Navigation" is hereby |
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amended by adding thereto the following chapter: |
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CHAPTER 25.3 |
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NARRAGANSETT BAY COMMISSION LATERAL SYSTEMS RESPONSIBILITY |
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FEASIBILITY STUDY |
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46-25.3-1. Legislative findings. -- It is hereby found and declared that: |
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(1) Prior to the existence of the Narragansett Bay Commission there existed water quality |
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problems generated from within the district which resulted in the discharge of pollutants, |
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conventional and unconventional, into Narragansett Bay. |
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(2) The Narragansett Bay Commission was statutorily created by the Rhode Island |
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general assembly in 1980 for the purposes of acquiring, planning, constructing, extending. |
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improving, and operating and maintaining publicly owned sewage treatment facilities in the |
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district. |
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(3) The district includes the city of Providence and the towns of Johnston, North |
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Providence, and a portion of the town of Lincoln formerly served by the city of Providence’s |
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sewage treatment system and now known as the Field’s Point Wastewater Treatment Facility. |
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Also, the cities of Pawtucket, Central Falls, and that portion of the city of East Providence known |
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as Rumford and the towns of Lincoln and Cumberland and that portion of the town of Smithfield |
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lying northeast of the Douglas Pike, also called state route no. 7 formerly served by the |
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Blackstone Valley District Commission and now known as the Bucklin Point Wastewater |
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Treatment Facility. |
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(4) Today the Narragansett Bay Commission is a nationally recognized leader in |
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wastewater treatment, specifically acknowledged for its operational excellence and fiscal |
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prudence. |
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(5) There currently exists in Providence and the surrounding cities and towns within the |
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district aging local lateral sewer systems in serious need of repair and maintenance. Limited |
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resources, in both expertise and funding, have made it difficult for Providence and the |
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surrounding cities and towns within the district to identify problems and effectuate repairs in |
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these systems. |
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(6) The environmental protection agency and the Rhode Island department of |
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environmental management have recently implemented programs and enforcement tools to ensure |
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that sewer systems of all sizes, municipal and regional, are properly operated and maintained. |
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Failure to properly operate and maintain local lateral sewer systems in Providence and the |
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surrounding cities and towns within the district ultimately impacts the Narragansett Bay |
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Commission’s sewer interceptor systems and treatment facilities which in turn can have negative |
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consequences for Narragansett Bay and may subject the Narragansett Bay Commission and |
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municipalities to fines and penalties. |
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(7) Economy and efficiency suggest an overall plan would be beneficial for dealing with |
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the operation and maintenance of local lateral sewer systems in Providence and the surrounding |
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cities and towns within the district. |
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46-25.3-2. – Lateral Systems Responsibility Feasibility Study - The Narragansett Bay |
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Commission is hereby directed to study and analyze the feasibility of the Narragansett Bay |
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Commission acquiring and accepting responsibility for the operation and maintenance of local |
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lateral sewer systems within the district, specifically including, but not limited to, the city of |
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Providence. Any municipality within the district shall, upon request, furnish such advice and |
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information, documentary or otherwise, to the Narragansett Bay Commission and its agents, as is |
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deemed necessary or desirable by the Narragansett Bay Commission to facilitate the purposes of |
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this section. Said study is to be undertaken, performed and paid for by the Narragansett Bay |
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Commission with a report and recommendation on the feasibility of such acquisitions to be |
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submitted to due to the general assembly on or before June 1, 2013. |
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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LC02502/SUB A | |
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EXPLANATION | |
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BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
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OF | |
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A N A C T | |
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RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION - THE NARRAGANSETT BAY | |
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COMMISSION LATERAL SYSTEMS RESPONSIBILITY FEASIBILITY STUDY | |
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*** | |
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This act would establish a lateral systems responsibility feasibility study to determine the |
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feasibility of the Narragansett Bay Commission acquiring, operating and maintaining local lateral |
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sewer systems in Providence and the surrounding cities and towns within its district. |
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This act would take effect upon passage. |
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LC02502/SUB A | |
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