Rhode Island State Conservation Committee releases the 2014 update to the Rhode Island Soil Erosion And Sediment Control Handbook

Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402

August 26, 2014, PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island State Conservation Committee (RI SCC), under the direction of the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM), has at its regularly scheduled meeting on August 13, 2014 approved the adoption of updates to the Rhode Island Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook (Handbook). These updates are in accordance with State law and pursuant to the RI Administrative Procedures Act, which allowed for public input into these updates.  These updates to the Handbook, adopted by the SCC, will supersede the 1989 Revision.  

The Handbook, last revised in 1989, is an important guidance tool for local, state and federal agencies, the general public and the private sector in the application of appropriate soil erosion and sediment control measures in Rhode Island. The 2014 updates to the Handbook focused on using the most current information and technology on selected management measures for soil erosion and sediment control. This update also went through a format change to make its use easier and more accessible to end-users.  The update added several new sections, particularly Section Two: Site Planning and Management, Section Three: Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping and Bio-engineering measures in Section Four.

Access to the Handbook will be managed through the RI DEM website where electronic (.pdf) versions of the Handbook can be downloaded.  Hardcopies of the Handbook can be purchased via the Southern Rhode Island Conservation District (see below).  Appendix D of the Handbook contains information for persons or organizations wishing to be added to a list serve which will allow them to receive electronic notices of future additions, updates, corrections or related information on the Handbook.

Electronic copies of the 2014-updated Handbook can be viewed and downloaded from the RI DEM website at: http://www.dem.ri.gov/soilerosion2014final.pdf.

Hard copies of the 2014-updated Handbook can be obtained by contacting the Southern Rhode Island Conservation District at:

Questions about the Handbook should be directed to:

All interested parties are invited to continue to submit written comments on the updates to the
Handbook by utilizing the review form located in Appendix C of the Handbook. Completed review forms may submitted here: