2024 -- S 2412

========

LC003407

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- DAM PERMITS

     

     Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, Rogers, DiMario, F. Lombardi, LaMountain, Murray,
Valverde, and McKenney

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1

     SECTION 1. The title of Chapter 46-19.1 of the General Laws entitled "Dam Permits" is

2

hereby amended to read as follows:

3

CHAPTER 46-19.1

4

Dam Permits

5

CHAPTER 46-19.1

6

MAINTENANCE OF PONDS, DAMS AND DOCKS

7

     SECTION 2. Chapter 46-19.1 of the General Laws entitled "Dam Permits" is hereby

8

amended by adding thereto the following section:

9

     46-19.1-2. Pond maintenance in the town of Coventry.

10

     (a) In the event that a property owner of property on littoral land or land adjacent to a pond

11

with a capacity greater than one thousand four hundred (1,400) normal storage acre feet of water

12

in the town of Coventry seeks to alter, repair, modify or replace a dock on a pond, the property

13

owner shall only need approval from the department of environmental management ("department").

14

All docks existing within a pond with a capacity greater than one thousand four hundred (1,400)

15

normal storage acre feet of water in the town of Coventry, as of the date of the enactment of this

16

section are deemed to be acceptable as "existing docks" by the department. For purposes of this

17

subsection "pond" has the same meaning as defined in § 2-1-20. Ponds owned by the State of Rhode

18

Island and its governmental subdivisions in the town of Coventry, and their governmental

19

subdivisions or by any quasi-public entity or utility shall not be subject to this section.

 

1

     (b) A property owner that owns property subject to the provisions of subsection (a) of this

2

section that extends beyond the water line into Johnson’s pond, by virtue of the legal description

3

or other conveyancing language contained in the property owner's deed, then the property owner

4

does not need to get authorization from the owner of Johnson’s pond before commencing

5

waterfront improvements to include docks.

6

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC003407

========

 

LC003407 - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- DAM PERMITS

***

1

     This act would rename chapter 46-19.1 as "Maintenance of Ponds, Dams and Docks."

2

Additionally, this act would permit property owners on ponds in Coventry with a capacity in excess

3

of one thousand four hundred (1,400) normal storage acre feet of water, to alter, repair, modify, or

4

replace a dock on the pond by seeking approval only from the department of environmental

5

management. Also, this act would allow a property owner that owns property that extends beyond

6

the water line on Johnson’s pond in the town of Coventry, to commence water front work without

7

authorization from the owner of Johnson's pond.

8

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC003407

========

 

LC003407 - Page 3 of 3