§ 46-23.1-5. The Rhode Island coastal and estuarine habitat restoration program - Established. (a) The council shall develop and implement a coastal and estuarine habitat restoration program for the state of Rhode Island. The program shall consist of the following elements and perform the listed tasks:

(1) Develop a statewide coastal and estuarine habitat restoration strategy. Within one year of enactment [June 13, 2002], the program, with the assistance from the technical advisory committee, shall adopt a statewide coastal and estuarine habitat restoration plan that provide for the conservation and restoration of the state's coastal and estuarine habitats. The plan shall be developed with comprehensive public, agency, legislative and stakeholder participation, and shall include the following elements:

(i) A description of the state's coastal and estuarine habitats, including a consideration of their importance to the economy, ecology and quality of life in the state and in local communities;

(ii) Quantitative and qualitative restoration goals pertaining to coastal wetlands, eelgrass beds, and anadromous fish runs;

(iii) An inventory of coastal and estuarine restoration projects, along with criteria for prioritizing and selecting projects for implementation;

(iv) A projected comprehensive budget and timeline necessary to accomplish the goals of the plan;

(v) Identification of municipal, state, federal, private, or other funding and resources to assist in the development or implementation of the plan;

(vi) An outreach element to educate municipal officials, civic and nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and the general public about the availability of restoration grants; and

(vii) Provisions for updating the plan and project inventory periodically.

(2) Restoration grants.

(i) The program shall establish and execute an annual process for the solicitation, evaluation and award of restoration grants for projects that seek to restore coastal and estuarine habitats. The technical advisory committee or a subcommittee of it shall serve as an advisory board to the council and the program staff throughout this process. Entities qualified to apply for and receive grants for design, planning, construction or monitoring under this section include all of the following: cities and towns; any committee, board, or commission chartered by a city or town; nonprofit corporations; civic groups, educational institutions; and state agencies.

(ii) The program shall submit to the governor and the general assembly during annual budget preparations a list of restoration project proposals that have received a positive review by the technical advisory committee and require funds from the trust to proceed with design, planning, construction or monitoring during the ensuing year.

(b) Nothing contained in this section is intended to abrogate or effect the existing powers of the department of environmental management or the coastal resources management council.

History of Section. (P.L. 2002, ch. 62, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 340, § 57.)