RI Coastal Resources Management Council
...to preserve, protect, develop, and restore coastal resources for all Rhode Islanders
...to preserve, protect, develop, and restore coastal resources for all Rhode Islanders
In accordance with notice to members of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, a meeting was held on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. in Conference Room A, Administration Building, One Capitol Hill, Providence, RI.
Members Present
Anne Maxwell Livingston, Chair
Raymond Coia
Ron Gagnon, DEM Rep
Don Gomez
Tony Affigne
Joy Montanaro
Patricia Reynolds
Members Excused
Jerry Sahagian
Paul Beaudette
Mike Hudner
Staff Present
Grover J. Fugate, Executive Director
Jeffrey M. Willis, Deputy Director
Dave Beutel, Aquaculture Coordinator
Anthony DeSisto, Legal Counsel
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Livingston called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
Chair Livingston called for approval of the minutes from the previous meeting.
Mr. Coia motioned for the approval of the minutes from the July 26, 2016 Semimonthly meeting; seconded by Mr. Gomez asking for one correction to have the record reflect that he was excused from the July 26th, 2016 Semimonthly meeting. The motion to approve with correction was carried on unanimous voice vote.
3. STAFF REPORTS
Mr. Fugate reported on the following:
4. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
None were heard.
5. EDUCATION SERIES
Jason Gramitt, Staff Attorney at the RI Ethics Commission – Code of Ethics and how it impacts CRMC staff and Council.
6. PRESENTATION
Ted Hofbauer, CVA, ABS and Chris vanBeek, DWW gave an update on the Block Island Wind farm stating that the project was extremely productive over the past month and that there were many positive steps forward with very good results.
Chair Livingston asked is the diesel generators would be a permanent structure on Block Island? Mr. vanBeek stated that he was not sure what BIPCO would decide for the generators but that theoretically all energy for Block Island will come from the wind turbines.
Mr. Affigne asked if they could narrow down a date to visit the turbines. It was determined that late in September would be a good time.
Mr. Gomez asked what would remain in terms of service equipment after the wind farm is up and running. Mr. Hoffbauer stated that only the service vessel would remain and will work out of Quonset.
Chair Livingston asked if employees of DWW would stay on Block Island for years into the future. Mr. vanBeek confirmed that first responders would remain on the island, one or two people in an on-call contract. Mr. Hoffbauer added the GE Alstom would be handling the maintenance through a service contract.
7. APPLICATIONS FOR MODIFICATION WHICH HAVE BEEN OUT-TO-NOTICE AND ARE BEFORE THE FULL COUNCIL FOR DECISION:
2002-05-034 PERRY RASO – Modification -- Add forty-nine rows of floating oyster and bay scallop racks (cages) to the previously permitted eleven rows of floating gear on the 6.9 acre aquaculture site. Each row has 27 floating cages. Located in Potters Pond, South Kingstown, RI.
Mr. Beutel gave over view of the application to the Council stating that the applicant was requesting to add 49 more rows to his site for a total of 60 rows which will float at the top of the water. Mr. Beutel stated that there would be an insignificant visual impact. Mr. Beutel stated that he had received correspondence about the application: one was about anti-leasing of submerged land and a complaint about the restaurant which would not be relevant to CRMC regulations; and another from the South Kingstown Conservation Commission which resembled a form letter.
Chair Livingston asked for clarification on the 5% capacity for aquaculture in a body of water. Mr. Beutel stated that the regulation stated that no more that 5% of the area of any given coastal pond can be used for aquaculture. Discussion on percentage limit based on regulations for other states and countries.
Mr. Beutel stated that water quality was questioned in one of the letters received. Mr. Beutel explained that the DEM Office of Water Resources monitored water quality in all the coastal ponds and that they test on a regular basis to make sure that RI shellfish meet the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Commission Standards for selling in and out of state.
Mr. Beutel stated that two more letters were received from DEM Fish and Wildlife and Office of Water Resources reflecting no objection to the proposed expansion.
Mr. Beutel asked the Council to consider increasing the bond amount to $10,000.
Ms. Reynolds asked about the DEM stipulations in their letter. Mr. Beutel stated that CRMC did not stipulate requiring temperature data but that the aquaculturists do it for their own benefit.
Mr. Gomez motioned approval of the application with a stipulation to increase the bond. Mr. Affigne seconded the motion with the stipulation.
Motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.
8. ADJOURN
Mr. Affigne motioned, seconded by Mr. Coia, to adjourn.
Motion to adjourn carried on unanimous voice vote. Meeting adjourned at 7:11 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lisa A. Turner
Recording Secretary
Stedman Government Center
Suite 116, 4808 Tower Hill Road, Wakefield, RI 02879-1900
Voice 401-783-3370 • Fax 401-783-2069 • E-Mail cstaff1@crmc.ri.gov
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