em eed ae CUT ee em Eom ne oe ee In This Edition Protecting the Rhode tsland Freshwater Wellands through Permitting ‘© DEM's Office of Water Resources and RI.gov Collaborate: Municipalities and Citizens Applaud Welland Plans Online RI DEM recognized for 195-LINK at the 10th Annual Transportation Innovators Award ‘+ TIF. Green Airport Commends Office of Wetlands for ‘Invaluable’ Staff Assistance * Office of Water Resources: Streamlines Service to Help Home Sellers ‘wwrw.cem r.gov Protecting the Rhode Island Freshwater Wetlands through Permitting The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), Office of Water Resources isthe authoriy overseeing EEREPNWETILANDS any alterations of Rhode llan’s freshwater welands, The DEM regulates via an application process and permitting ™ — program. helping o determine the presence of wetlands, verifying delineated wetland edges, and reviewing proposed projects in and adjacent to freshwater welands “The DEM protects freshwater wetlands for several reasons namely, flood protection, surface and groundwater protection, water quality protection wildlife and wildife habitat protection, and for citizen recreation and pure aesthetics. Flood Protection Wetlands help control flooding by storing water during heavy periods of rain or snowmelt. This helps prevent flooded basements, parking lots and roads. Wellands keep streams flowing during times of drought by slomly releasing water they have stored during times of heavy rainfall “This can help to recharge groundwater reservoirs used for drinking water and protect fisheries resources. Wetland plants and soils can store, fiter and naturally treat nutrients and other storm water pollutants to keep rivers, streams and lakes cleaner. Many mammals, amphibians, reptiles and birds depend on wetlands for feeding, nesting, migration and wintering habitat. More than one third ofthe threatened ‘and endangered wife species i the U.S. live only in wetlands Wetlands provide area for hiking, photography, bird watching, nature study, fishing, and ice-skating. The DEM will continue to preserve and protect Rhode Island's freshwater wettand against any unnecessary alteration. DEM's Office of Water Resources and RI.gov Collaborate: Municipalities and Citizens Applaud Wetland Plans Online Before the onine service, cizens reviewed plans retrieved om archives. Citizens may now search and view plans onine witha simple search tool DEN's Office of Water Resources in collaboration with the State's Official website, www.RI.gov, have launched a new online service available by the URL, hitps:/iwwwri. gov/DEM wetlands. ‘The service searches applications received by DEM under the state's Freshwater Wetlands Regulations Applications include wetland edge verifications, presence of wetlands, and applications proposing work CF alterations in or adjacent to wetlands. Where a permit or a decision has been issued, ‘The online search contains information on applications submitted post April 1994 to present and is, updated daily. Plans and determination letters are available on most decisions made after January 2007. ‘The fles are usually posted after a final decision is made. For questions, please contact the DEM Office (of Water Resources at waterresources@dem.ri.gov or (401) 222-4700. Cities and towns are very pleased, as citizens may now know what was builtin their own city or town. Ri gov isthe official government Web portal fr the State of Rhode Island. Ateam dedicated to developing online services to enable citizens or businesses to complete tasks online. The Wetlands permitting application search was built at no cost to the State or its citizens. ‘To learn more about Rl.gov, please visit, www.ri.gov/about Or contact Nicole Scaramuzzi, Director of Marketing at (401) 831-8099 x230. Office of Water Resources Contact: Assistant Director Office of Water Resources (401) 222.3961 Alicia Good, PE 235 Promenade Street FAX 222-3564 Chief, Surface Water Protection Providence, RI 02908 waterresources@demrrigov Angelo Libert, PEem eed ae CUT ee em Eom ne oe ee RI DEM recognized for 195-LINK at the 10th Annual Transportation Innovators Award DEM Office of Water Resources, Colin Kane and Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) received the Innovators Award from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (DOT) in April. The award was ‘ven for cresting a unique, one-of-a-kind permit launched in November 2013, The online service is a one-stop storm water authorization with no requirements for public notice. Once RIDEM receives a storm water plan that follows the specified requirements, the permit is authorized within 30 days. The stakeholders of the 195-Redevelopment District, RIDOT, Office of Water Resources, CRMC, the Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC), Waste Management, Rhode Isiand Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (RIPDES), Water Quality Certification Program and Underground Water Injection Certification Program all coordinated for the work to be done. The permits already in the hands of the 195-Link and any future developer, who signs on, submits a consistent design, and their project will be authorized within 30 days, ‘The challenge came from Colin Kane, the former commissioner of the 195 Redevelopment District, and the Office of Business Regulations. “We kept hearing, ‘Clear, Predictable, and Reliable”, says Alisa Richardson, the creator of Be meee the Master Permit func hings one in 2014 = Colin Kane, “This has been a two-year labor,” said Kane, “To take what would have been an 18-24-month period and condense Dif Ofice of that [is an accomplishment] We're here to recognize the professionals at CRMC, and also our partners at DEM Water Resources and NBC. This will be the first joint master permit issued in the state by CRMC and DEM. | think we serve collectively ‘as a model for cooperation, and it willbe a model as we ring things online in 2014, We have a profoundly valuable offering to an international marketplace. Quonset really set the bar with this.” ‘LF. Green Airport Commends Office of Wetlands for ‘Invaluable’ Staff Assistance Kelly J, Fredericks, president and CEO of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC), congratulated the timely efforts and invaluable service provided by the DEM's Office of Water Resources staff. Because of DEM's cooperation, the permiting process was convenient for RIAC to meet their grant deadlines. As of Apri, TF. Green Airport is permitted to alter freshwater wetlands so they may improve runway and further safety improvements ‘issuance of the permit represents @ major milestone in our airport capital improvement program and will allow RIAC to move forward with necessary safety improvements for airline passengers in a manner that 's protective of the environment." said RIAG President/CEO Kelly Fredericks. Not only will the airport ‘expand but there will also be environmental improvements in water quality, wildlife quality, fish migration and reduced flooding 1 would ke to recognize the invaluable and timely assistance provided by your staff. “kelly J. Fredericks, President, CEO, RIAC Office of Water Resources Streamlines Service to Help Home Sellers DEM has made it easier for citizens to complete the necessary research when selling a home. Previous to spring, the process was a tedious ordeal involving a ‘tip to the Providence Office tofip through binders in order to determine if a property had a septic system that would limit the number of bedrooms and effect pricing ‘As many as six to 12 people were in the office daily researching archives in books and on microfilm. Now, a citizen can visi http:/lwww.dem.¢l.gov/programe/benviraniwateripermitsisds/oldisds.htm to easily find the information critical to listing Rhode Island real estate, “Great improvement! Thanks for acing the Ttal Flow o the OWTS permit search ‘Saves me time and ati to the ofce!™ = Darlene Gardner ‘Superior Septic Service Inc