§ 46-23.2-5. The Rhode Island environmental monitoring collaborative - Creation. (a) There is hereby authorized, created and established the "Rhode Island environmental monitoring collaborative" (also known as the "collaborative") with such powers as are set forth in this chapter, for the purposes of organizing, coordinating, maintaining and supporting the environmental monitoring systems within Narragansett Bay, its watersheds and other watersheds in Rhode Island. The collaborative shall consist of ten (10) members, one representative from each of the following: Coastal Institute at the University of Rhode Island ("URI") Bay Campus (chair); coastal resources management council; department of environmental management, water quality; department of environmental management, fisheries; department of health; URI Watershed Watch; URI Graduate School of Oceanography; Narragansett Bay commission; Statewide Planning Program (RIGIS) Division; and URI Environmental Data Center. Members of the collaborative shall serve without salary but may be paid expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

(b) The collaborative shall work with other organizations and agencies that monitor Narragansett Bay and its watersheds to perform the powers and duties established herein. These include, but are not limited to, the Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Geological Survey, Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, Narragansett Bay Estuary Program, Brown University, Roger Williams University, Rhode Island Natural History Survey, Save the Bay, Rhode Island Sea Grant, URI Cooperative Extension, and the Rhode Island Rivers Council.

History of Section. (P.L. 2004, ch. 144, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 210, § 1; P.L. 2015, ch. 141, art. 16, § 4.)