Executive Summary 



should be established to encourage towns to work cooperatively in addressing watershed 

 concerns. 



Critical areas should be statutorily defined and should fonn the basis for near-term resource 

 management efforts generally and for imposition of consistent state performance and 

 construction standards for non-point source management The technical requirements, 

 recommendations, and language of the Stormwater Management and Erosion Control 

 Committee findings should be incorporated into ail relevant state and local policy statements 

 and regulations. 



Existing legislative authorities of CRMC and OEM's Division of Groundwater and Freshwater 

 Wetlands and Division of Water Resources should be liberally interpreted to ensure protection 

 of critical resources from impacts of non-point source contamination. State stormwater 

 management legislation, and a strengthened sediment and erosion control statute are urgentiy 

 need^ The recommendations of the interagency ISDS Task Force and the 1986 Wetiands 

 Task force should be implemented. Engineering and enforcement capability sufficient to 

 maintain adequate state oversight must be provided. 



Development review procedures should be revised to improve consistency, predictability, and 

 accountability via enhanced use of analytical tools and clarified inteipretation of policy. Strict 

 interpretation of a water-dependent use criterion by CRMC, rationalization of the water quality 

 certification process, and consistent interagency interpretation of watcrbody use designations 

 are needed. Where water quality characterizations cannot be based upon direct source/quality 

 linkages, verifiable technological controls should be put in place. 



Gear standaids and policy gmdelines should be established which clarify procedures for 

 granting variances, variations, and special exceptions. The Administrative Procedures Act 

 requires revision to establish legitimate entry criteria. Provisions for issuing stop-work orders 

 and requiring habitat restoration requirements should be clarified, as should criteria regarding 

 issuance of administrative penalties to private individuals and public agencies. 



Until they are rectified, incongruities among institutional practice at federal, state and local 

 levels will continue to inhibit progress toward effective resource protection and management 

 The effects of inconsistencies are exacerbated by poor communication among and within state 

 and local agencies, insufficiently trained and/or informed local inspection and enforcement 

 authorities, and a willful disregard for environmental concerns among many contractors to 

 public agencies. Permanent interagency consultative groups should be fonned to facilitate 

 cooperation among agencies concerned with related resource problenis. Contracting 

 procedures require substantive review and revision. 



Financing 



Progress on management of non-point source impacts on Narragansett Bay will require that 

 sigmficantiy increased funding be devoted to state and local level staffing, enhanced technical 

 assistance to local governments, inspection and enforcement, public education, and assessment 

 and monitoring capability. Enhanced resource viability should return the public's investment. 



Staffing 



Staffs of Conservation Districts, the Division of Planning, CRMC, and DEM should be 

 increased to provide sufficient qualified personnel to meet agency responsibilities in technical 

 assistance, management, inspection, and enforcement. State personnel, evaluation, and 

 compensation policies must be adjusted so as to enable the state government to attract and retain 

 qualified professionals in demanding, responsible positions. 



