Minutes

Semi-Monthly Meeting — Full Council — Tuesday, June 22, 2021; 6:00 p.m.
Administration Building, Conference Room A, One Capitol Hill, Providence, RI

 

In accordance with notice to member of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, a virtual meeting was held on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. utilizing Zoom Meeting, and Council members participating remotely.

Members Present
Raymond Coia, Vice Chair
Donald Gomez
Jerry Sahagian
Ronald Gagnon, RIDEM
Trish Reynolds
Joy Montanaro
Lindsay McGovern

Excused
Jennifer Cervenka, Chair

Staff Present
Jeffrey Willis, Executive Director
James Boyd, Deputy Director
Danni Goulet, Marine Infrastructure Coordinator
Anthony DeSisto, Legal Counsel
Ryan Moore, Moderator
Laura Dwyer, Public Information and Education Coordinator
Cindy Tangney, Court Reporter

1. CALL TO ORDER

Chair Cervenka is excused from this meeting. Vice Chair Coia will Chair.

Chair Coia called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. and identified the participants of the meeting, Council Members, Staff members, and applicants. The Chair stated that the meeting would be recorded.

2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

Chair Coia called for a motion regarding the minutes for the June 8, 2021 Semi-monthly Meeting.

• Chair Coia asked for an amendment to the minutes of June 8, 2021 to reflect that Council Member Lindsay McGovern was present at the meeting.

Motion: Mr. Sahagian
Second: Mr. Reynolds

Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Gomez Aye
Mr. Sahagian Aye
Mr. Gagnon Aye
Ms. Reynolds Aye
Ms. Montanaro Aye
Ms. McGovern Aye
Chair Coia Aye

Motion carried to approved minutes from June 8, 2021 meeting as amended.

3. Ryan Moore, Meeting Moderator, briefed participants on the meeting housekeeping items.

4. Subcommittee Reports

Mr. Boyd:

• ROW Subcommittee scheduled to meet on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 at 5:30 via Zoom Meeting Platform to review evidence of the Public Street proposed ROW in Providence.

5. Staff Reports

Mr. Willis addressed the Council on the following matters:

• Meeting of the Working Group for the aquaculture element of the Bay SAMP will be tomorrow night at

5. EXTENSION OF COMPLIANCE ORDER REGARDING CRMC ASSENT B2012-09-065 (“BITS & “BIWF”) INCLUDING SUBSEQUENT MODIFICATIONS AND CRMC ORDERS FOR:

• The Narragansett Electric Company d/b/a National Grid
• Orsted Wind Power North America, LLC & Deepwater Wind Block Island, LLC (“Orsted”)

Mr. Willis briefed the Council regarding the Compliance Order events:

• Compliance Order required cable burial completion by May 31, 2021
• Horizontal drilling of bed – due May 31, 2021
• Orsted completed the project by May 31, 2021
• National Grid was unable to complete
• The Town of New Shoreham uses beach as bathing beach. Work cannot be accomplished during summer but will continue in the Fall of 2021
• Because CRMC Staff was fishing up with Southfork, it was decided to wait beyond May to bring in front of the Council
• Narragansett Electric is asking for an extension by the Council to the CRMC Order so that work can begin/continue with an expected completion in the Fall of 2021.

Robin Main, Esq. – Hinckley Allen representing National Grid

• Requesting Extension of Compliance Order to May 31, 2022 to accomplish reburial of the cable
• Not able to do so due to obstructions when horizontally drilling

Sworn in and Identified for the record:

• Erin Whoriskey, Lead Environmental Scientist with National Grid
• David Campilii, Underground

Erin Whoriskey, Narragansett Electric gave a presentation on the Block Island Cable Shore Landing Rebuild Project explaining:

• Submarine cable laid in June 2016 – Narragansett to Crescent Beach Block Island – electrical service from mainland to BI
• Periodic exposure of cable due to dynamic seabed
• Started burial of cable through horizontal directional drill (HDD)
• Sediment was found inside the pipe causing pause of operation to remove obstructions
• Provided notification to all agencies, State and Federal, and are seeking extension of Compliance
• Order from May 31, 2021 to May 31, 2022 to complete remaining tasks of approved project

Dave Campilii, Underground

• Added to National Grid presentation by explaining the full project
• Explained timeframe of fixing conduit pipe by flushing the pipe
• Tried to fix by May 31, 2021 but without being able to clear the piping needed to return Crescent beach over to the Town for summer season.

Erin Whoriskey

• Will provide frequent updates to the Council of ongoing investigation
• Asking for extension through May 22, 2022.

At the request of Mr. Sahagian, Mr. Willis confirmed that no objections had been received on this extension request and that if the request was denied, CRMC enforcement action would be required.

Mr. DeSisto added that National Grid was forthcoming, appropriately asked for additional time, an informative presentation was given to provide details on the reasons for extension request as well as providing justification to timeframe asking.

Robin Main, Esq added that National Grid did not cause the hardship and that they acted with due diligence to rectify the situation and are now doing everything they can to prepare for the next work season.

Mr. Sahagian motioned to approve National Grid’s request for extension to May 22, 2022 Seconded by Mr. Gagnon.
With no further questions heard from the Council, Chair Coia called for a vote.

Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Gomez Aye
Mr. Sahagian Aye
Mr. Gagnon Aye
Ms. Reynolds Aye
Ms. Montanaro Aye
Ms. McGovern Aye
Chair Coia Aye

Approved unanimously
Good luck to applicant.

Ms. Main stated that National Grid would keep CRMC updated.

6. APPLICATIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN OUT-TO-NOTICE AND ARE BEFORE THE FULL COUNCIL FOR DECISION:

2021-03-008 MAXINE & MICHAEL CLARK -- Reconstruct a 48’x60’ portion of the existing boathouse structure in the same footprint but with 3 floors. There will be a 15’x20’ expansion to accommodate the required stairway. The remaining portion of the building will be remain the same. The project has been granted zoning approval by the Town of Jamestown and RIDEM has approved the septic alteration. There are no changes to the in-water structures at the facility. Located at plat 9, lot 328; 110 Racquet Road, Jamestown, RI.

Mr. Goulet gave a brief project explanation stating that the applicant was proposing to raze an existing boat shed and replace with three story building using the same footprint.

• Vessel repair boat shed will remain on the bottom floor
• Upper floors will become flood elevated restrooms and marina administrative areas
• Minor 15’ x 20’ expansion to allow for required upper floor emergency egress stairway
• Applicant relied on Coastal Hazards Analysis form and the design considers the flooding at the site by elevating the office and other amenities while leaving the lower boat shed area able to be impacted by storm surge;
• No comments were received during a 30-day public notice period.
• SHIPO office determined no effects to historic or cultural resources
• Jamestown Zoning board approval received
• RIDEM OWTS approval received
• Staff recommends approval with standard stipulations

Jim Clark, owner of boatyard and John Lawless sworn in and identified themselves for the record

• Jim stated agreed with what Danni Goulet informed the Council – not going any further seaward
• John Lawless explained his work on the process of application.

No comments heard during public comment period.

No questions from Council

Mr. Sahagian motioned approval
Ms. Reynolds seconded.

Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Gomez Aye
Mr. Sahagian Aye
Mr. Gagnon Aye
Ms. Reynolds Aye
Ms. Montanaro Aye
Ms. McGovern Aye
Chair Coia Aye

Approved unanimously.
Good Luck with project.

Mr. Sahagian asked for minutes of the Executive Session of ......

7. ADJOURN

Motion: Mr. Gagnon
Second: Mr. McGovern
Motion carried on unanimous vote

Meeting adjourned at 6:51 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Lisa A. Turner
Recording Secretary