The Chairman of the Council shall establish standing subcommittees with varying functions as approved by the Council. In the absence of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman may establish these Subcommittees. There is hereby established a standing Ocean subcommittee.
Additionally, the Chairman in his discretion may appoint a standing Ocean Subcommittee to hear contested cases resulting from the implementation of the Council's Ocean Special Area Management Plan. However, in appropriate circumstances contested cases may be heard by the full CRMC as determined by the Chairman. The Chairman and Vice Chairman shall sit ex-officio on all subcommittees.

Hearing Subcommittees shall consist of all Council members who attend the initial Subcommittee meeting and all subsequent meetings of Subcommittee.

The purpose of this proposed change is to create and define a standing Ocean subcommittee, allow for contested cases to be heard by the full council and clarify that the chairman and vice chairman sit on all subcommittee ex-officio.

The council is proposing to revise these Freshwater Wetland Rules and Regulations pursuant to the requirements and provisions of Chapter 46-23-6 of the Rhode Island General Laws (R.I.G.L.), as amended such that their format, context and readability are easier and more readily accessible to those subject to their requirements or interested in their application. Additionally the council is proposing these revisions to better preserve, protect, and restore the purity and integrity of all freshwater wetlands located in the vicinity of the coast within the State of Rhode Island so that these freshwater wetlands shall be available for all beneficial purposes, and thus protect the health, welfare, and general well being of the people and the environment of Rhode Island and provide for consistent application of these regulations with the Department of Environmental Management.

The CRMC is responsible for the protection and management of freshwater wetlands in the vicinity of the coast as depicted on maps maintained on file at the offices the CRMC and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), and the municipal offices of each coastal city or town. These maps are also available online at: http://www.dem.ri.gov/maps/wetjuris.htm The CRMC may at any time, when necessary, consult with and/or coordinate its responsibilities and duties with the DEM.

The full version of these proposed revisions showing all proposed revisions in strikethrough and underline is available at the Council’s website www.crmc.ri.gov.

The purpose of the proposed changes is to revise entirely the format and content of the regulations for consistency with recent revisions to the RIDEM’s freshwater wetland regulations.