DEM TO HOST NOVEMBER 23RD PUBLIC WORKSHOP ON UPDATED DRAFT FRESHWATER WETLAND RULES

 

PROVIDENCE – The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) will hold a virtual public workshop next week to review updated draft Rhode Island freshwater wetland rules. DEM has been working in collaboration with the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) to develop revisions to its freshwater wetlands rules as required by changes to state law intended to strengthen wetlands protection by establishing state standards for freshwater wetland buffers and setbacks and to provide a clear and predictable regulatory framework that includes permit streamlining. 

 

A virtual public workshop will be held on Monday, November 23 on the revised draft rules which have been updated following comments and input received during and following an earlier workshop held in September 2019.  The purpose of the workshop is to present an overview of the revised draft rules and provide an opportunity for questions.  DEM expects to initiate the formal rule-making process later this month. Due to the Covid-19 emergency, which prevents the Department from holding public meetings in-person, the public workshop will be held virtually in accordance with Governor Raimondo’s Executive Order 20-05.

 

WHAT:             Virtual Public Workshop to Discuss Updated Draft Freshwater Wetland Rules

WHEN:             Monday, November 23 at 10 AM

WHERE:           Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85405401189?pwd=YkZtVzlGYlo3cWcyby9Gc2tCSWFaZz09   

Meeting ID:                 854 0540 1189 

Passcode:                    964538

Join by Telephone:      929-205-6099 

 

To join the public workshop using your phone for audio, click on "Join by Phone" and follow the information on the screen to dial in. All participants will be muted upon joining the meeting. Following a presentation on the draft revised rules, DEM will take questions with instructions provided to participants.

 

The full text of the draft rules is available on the DEM website at: http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/water/permits/pn-wetland.php

 

For questions about the workshop or more information, contact Sue Kiernan, Deputy Administrator of DEM’s Office of Water Resources at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Former President Trump is back in a New York City court for his criminal hush money trial. Jurors again heard testimony from former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker who has explained this week how he protected Trump from negative stories leading up to the 2016 presidential election. Trump faces felony charges of falsifying business records to cover up payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about an alleged affair.       The Supreme Court is considering Donald Trump's claim he has presidential immunity in his federal election subversion case. Trump's attorney argued prosecuting a president for official acts "incompatible" with Constitution. The special counsel attorney argued the Constitution does not grant a president absolute immunity.       Pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University are facing a deadline to clear out their encampment. They must leave in less than 24 hours or university administrators say they'll be forced to take action. Students want amnesty for any students who may have been arrested or suspended as a result of the protests. The president of Columbia said she hopes discussions with students are successful and calm can be restored to the campus.       Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein is having his conviction for sex crimes in New York overturned. The court found the judge in his trial made an error allowing women to testify about alleged sexual assaults committed by Weinstein that were not part of the charges against him. Weinstein was also convicted of rape in Los Angeles and that conviction still stands. The New York court has ruled a new trial must take place.       The parent company of TikTok has no plans to sell the social media platform. In a statement posted on a Chinese media platform it owns, ByteDance denied a report from website The Information that said it's looking at options for a possible sale. Earlier this week, President Biden signed a bill into law that calls for ByteDance to sell TikTok or face being banned in the U.S.       The NFL Draft kicks off in Detroit tonight. The Chicago Bears have the first pick and are widely expected to select University of Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams. Quarterbacks are also expected to be taken by the Washington Commanders and New England Patriots with the second and third picks.