CRMC to issue emergency permits in wake of Sandy

October 31, 2012, WAKEFIELD –In response to post-tropical storm Sandy, the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) will be administering emergency permits under Section 180 of its coastal program or Red Book.

Coastal Rhode Island residents with storm-related property damage should contact the CRMC offices at 783-3370 or visit to learn more. The CRMC will be conducting emergency permitting for the next 60 days, and the permits are for maintenance to allow property owners to restore what existed prior to the storm. The permits will be valid for 90 days and all work must be completed within that time.

While the CRMC does not handle permitting for restoration of interior spaces, it does oversee structural and exterior damage pertaining to storm events. Property owners should also contact their local building authority.

Any structures in Type 1 waters that were damaged in this storm will have to be assessed by CRMC staff on a case-by-case basis, as well as those with exposed septic systems. The CRMC will be coordinating with the staff at the R.I. Department of Environmental Management for OWTS determinations. All regular permitting activities will be temporarily suspended during the next two weeks, after which time the executive director will assess the permit load.

Long-term, the CRMC will monitor the southern coast of Rhode Island to determine if it will replenish itself through the natural process.