In accordance with notice to members of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, a meeting was held on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. located at the Administration Building, Conference Room A, One Capitol Hill, Providence, RI.

Members Present
Raymond Coia, Chair
Ronald Gagnon, DEM
Patricia Reynolds
Stephen Izzi
Kevin Flynn
Joseph Russolino
Michael Reuter, DPM

Staff Present
Jeffrey M. Willis, Executive Director
Laura Miguel, Deputy Director
Richard Lucia, Environmental Engineer IV
Bruce Lofgren, Coastal Policy Analyst
Emily Hall, Coastal Geologist
Anthony DeSisto Legal Counsel
Mark Hartman, Assoc Legal Counsel
Lisa Turner, Recording Secretary
Ryan Moore, IT

 

1. CALL TO ORDER

Chair Coia called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m.

3. Review/Action of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting – March 25, 2025

Motion: Mr. Russolino
Second: Mr. Izzi
Motion carried.

4. Staff Reports

Mr. Willis updated the Council of the following:

• Washington DC meeting with NOAA with discussion on Federal Funding of State
  programs.
• RI Office of Management and Budget additional budget requirement of indirect cost.
• CRMC State budget presentation to House and Senate Finance Committees
• Washington bridge demolition
• New CRMC appointee training – Dr. Michael Reuter

5. Subcommittee Reports

Mr. Willis updated the Council on ROW Subcommittee:

• Buttonwoods – Continue matter to May 27, 2025
• Everett – complete and worthy to send to full Council.
• Spring Ave Extension – Motion to stay was denied; Subcommittee will continue to hear testimony while Superior Court hears case of ownership.

5. Confirmation of Fishermen’s Advisory Board Members:

The CRMC put out a public notice to solicit volunteers from Rhode Island fishing stakeholders regarding the reconstitution of the agency’s Fishermen’s Advisory Board (FAB). Over the course of the solicitation period, CRMC staff received several inquiries from the public, discussed the role of the FAB with each person, and provided additional information as needed. As such, the staff is putting forward the following volunteers, which staff believe are appropriate to carry out the duties of the FAB.

• John Walker
• Isaiah Alverez
• Jennifer Scappatura
• Jeff Grant
• Wayne Banks
• Steve Langley
• Patrick Dowling
• Richard Corrente
• James Riggs

Mr. Willis explained the role of the Fishermen’s Advisory Board and stated that the previous members of the board resigned en masse as they were not in agreement with CRMC staff on staff recommendations to the Council regarding the wind farms applications being reviewed by the Council. Mr. Willis stated that after not having a FAB during most of 2024, a letter of solicitation was sent out asking for volunteers for a new Fishermen’s Advisory Board.

Mr. Sloan stated that after opening solicitation for members for the Fishermen’s Advisory Board, each volunteer on the list provided to the Council are very interested and very passionate about the issues and are varied in location, experience and expertise. Mr. Sloan stated that the CRMC staff is confident in the potential members and look forward to the Council decision.

Mr. Sloan also stated that Mike McGivney will stand as an alternate of Jeff Grant from the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation.

Mr. Sloan confirmed for the Council that this board would be involved in providing feedback for the SouthCoast wind cable project.

Mr. Gagnon motioned for the approval of the list of volunteers provided as member of the Fishermen’s Advisory Board. Motion seconded by Mr. Flynn.

Mr. Hartmann clarified that Mr. Bode was no longer able to commit the time to be on the board.

Roll call vote by Chair Coia:
Mr. Flynn Aye
Mr. Izzi Aye
Mr. Russolino Aye
Dr. Reuter Aye
Mr. Gagnon Aye
Ms. Reynolds Aye
Chair Coia Aye

Motion carried unanimously for the approval of the Fishermen’s Advisory Board members.

6. Before the Council for Presentation, Consideration, and Action of Funding under the State’s Coastal and Estuary Habitat Restoration Trust Fund (CEHRTF):

The RI Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration Team’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) convened on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 to rank the five (5) full proposals submitted to CRMC for consideration of funding under the state’s Coastal and Estuary Habitat Restoration Trust Fund. Of the proposals reviewed for the 2024-2025 funding cycle, all five (5) are recommended for funding.

CRMC Staff Members Mr. Lofgren and Ms. Hall gave an information presentation to the Council explaining the role and process of the Coastal and Estuary Habitat Restoration Trust Fund.

After the presentation, Mr. Lofgren and Ms. Hall briefly explained each project, the funding awarded by CEHRT Fund as well as the granted leveraged by each project.

Mr. Russolino motion to approve funding recommendations by the CEHRTF.
Ms. Reynolds seconded the motion.

Roll call vote by Chair Coia:
Mr. Flynn Aye
Mr. Izzi Aye
Mr. Russolino Aye
Dr. Reuter Aye
Mr. Gagnon Aye
Ms. Reynolds Aye
Chair Coia Aye

Motion carried unanimously for the approval of the recommendation of funding by the Coastal and Estuary Habitat Restoration Trust Fund.

7. Applications which have been Out-To-Notice and are before the Council for Review and Action:

2025-02-016 Quonset Development Corporation (QDC) -- The proposed project consists of installing a wave attenuator system along the north side of the Pier 2 pile supported extension, known as the “Pier 2 Extension” (Assessor Plat 193, Lot 15), in the Port of Davisville, Quonset Business Park (Figure 1). The purpose of the wave attenuator system will be to minimize wave energy and decrease wave height, hereby protecting the launching, berthing, testing, and retrieval of prototype seaglider vehicles and other small commercial watercraft along the western side of the Pier 2 Extension. Located at plat 193, lot 15; 242 Terminal Way, North Kingstown, RI.

Mr. Lucia gave a brief presentation to the Council regarding the QDC project stating:

• The applicant was requesting to build a 220’ wave attenuator to be secured to piles.
• The wave attenuator would consist of three 48” plastic pipes lashed to a frame.
• The system would extend 84” into the water column allowing for circulation and
  flushing of tidal waters to protect crafts and facilities along the western side of Pier 2.
• Protection would also be provided to a start up company, Regent, that would be manufacturing and testing seagliders which are electric passenger carriers that fly low
  over the water.
• The Wave Attenuator structure was designed using guidance set forth in the RICRMP
  Marina Standards.
• No objections were received during the public notice period.
• The Town of North Kingstown provided a letter of no substantive objection.
• Staff opinion that the wave attenuator meets the standards of the policies of the RICRMP and therefore have no objections to the proposed project.

Gregory J. Coren, Director of Engineering and Construction of QDC was sworn in and identified himself for the record.

Mr. Coren addressed the Council and stated that he agreed with Mr. Lucia’s presentation.

Mr. Flynn asked if this system would benefit any other areas in the vicinity of the piers.

Mr. Coren explained that QDC would vet this system for a project previously approved for a fixed wave attenuator in the location of the Blue Economy facility which is located at the most southern part of the port.

There were no comments during the Public Comment portion of the meeting.

Mr. Flynn motioned for approval of the QDC application for wave attenuation system.
Mr. Gagnon seconded the motion.

Roll call vote by Chair Coia:
Mr. Flynn Aye
Mr. Izzi Aye
Mr. Russolino Aye
Dr. Reuter Aye
Mr. Gagnon Aye
Ms. Reynolds Aye
Chair Coia Aye

Motion carried unanimously for the approval the QDC application for wave attenuator.

8. ADJOURN

Motion to adjourn:

Motion: Mr. Flynn
Second: Mr. Gagnon

Motion to adjourn approved on a unanimous voice vote.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 pm.

 

Minutes respectfully submitted,

Lisa A. Turner
Recording Secretary

 

CALENDAR INDEX