PROVIDENCE – The R.I. Department of Environmental Management today announced it is extending the public comment period on its proposed changes to freshwater wetlands rules.
The draft regulations, developed in conjunction with the DEM Wetlands Task Force, aim to clarify the existing regulations and fees. They would establish permit exemptions for certain safety-related airport and dam projects, as well as certain restoration activities, and make it easier for property owners to determine whether a permit is required. And they propose two revisions to the DEM-Coastal Resources Management Council jurisdictional boundary in Providence and Cranston.
The 87-page draft document can be viewed online by clicking on “Wetlands Rules Hearing” under What’s Happening on the DEM home page: www.dem.ri.gov. They are also available at the Office of Water Resources in the DEM Headquarters building.
A hearing on the proposals will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, March 2, in Room 300 of the DEM Headquarters, 235 Promenade St., Providence. Written comments can be sent to Carolyn Murphy at the DEM Office of Water Resources, 235 Promenade St., Providence, RI 02908, where they will be accepted until 4 p.m. on Friday, March 16.
