[Owtsinfo] Fw: [Watersheds] Proposed Change in Effective Date of New Freshwater Wetland Regulations

[Onsite Wastewater Treatment System]

RI DEM Freshwater Wetlands Regulations Proposed Effective Date Change



The RI Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has proposed a change in the effective date of the new Rules and Regulations Governing the Administration and Enforcement of the Freshwater Wetlands Act.  Consistent with the attached Public Notice issued on November 23, 2021, DEM is proposing to change the effective date of the rules from January 15, 2022 to July 1, 2022. Other than the effective date, the section regarding superseded rules and rule numbering, no other substantive changes are being proposed.  The change in date is reflected in new rules referenced as 250-RICR-150-15-3.



Over the next several months, DEM will be releasing guidance documents and updated application forms as well as scheduling training workshops on the new rules.  During the transition, the current DEM freshwater wetland rules (250-RICR-150-15-1) will remain in effect. Applicants planning to file completed applications (permits, edge verifications, etc.) with the DEM before July 1, 2022 are advised to follow the current freshwater wetland rules. Updates on the rulemaking and implementation of the new rules will be posted on the DEM website at:  www.dem.ri.gov/newwetlandsrules<http://www.dem.ri.gov/newwetlandsrules>.  A new form for submittal of questions about the implementation of the new rules will be made available on the website soon.



The new rules implement changes in state law to strengthen the protection of freshwater wetland resources while streamlining the regulatory framework applicable to projects and activities proposed near wetlands. The law requires a single set of freshwater wetlands buffer and setback standards be established and administered by DEM and the RI Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) within their respective authorities. CRMC has also initiated rulemaking to adopt new freshwater wetland rules that reflect the same wetland protection standards as those adopted by DEM.



If you have any questions on the change in effective date, please feel free to contact:

Sue Kiernan, Deputy Administrator

RIDEM Office of Water Resources

401-222-4700 ex 2777600

sue.kiernan at dem.ri.gov<mailto:sue.kiernan at dem.ri.gov>






-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://listserve.ri.gov/pipermail/owtsinfo/attachments/20211130/3e2edebe/attachment-0001.html 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Public Notice - Freshwater Wetland Rules 11.23.2021.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 158744 bytes
Desc: Public Notice - Freshwater Wetland Rules 11.23.2021.pdf
Url : http://listserve.ri.gov/pipermail/owtsinfo/attachments/20211130/3e2edebe/attachment-0001.pdf 
-------------- next part --------------
An embedded and charset-unspecified text was scrubbed...
Name: ATT00001.txt
Url: http://listserve.ri.gov/pipermail/owtsinfo/attachments/20211130/3e2edebe/attachment-0001.txt