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March 13, 2008

Update: CMRC alleges DEM violated wetlands at park

On the eve of a public hearing on Governor Carcieri’s plans to merge Coastal Resources Management Council with the state Department of Environmental Management, CRMC has issued a cease-and-desist order against DEM for alleged wetlands violations at Fishermen’s Memorial State Park on the shores of Point Judith Pond in Narragansett.

CRMC inspectors, in a letter dated Tuesday, have informed DEM Director W. Michael Sullivan that approximately 7 to 8 acres in the campground were cleared recently without setting up erosion and sediment controls to protect the pond. (See a map of the area.)

CRMC also alleges work was done within 200 feet of coastal features and freshwater wetlands without obtaining the necessary permits. While CRMC does not say who actually did the work, the park is among state properties supervised by DEM.

Coincidentally, Sullivan and his aides were meeting with a class of landscape architect students at URI this morning to discuss a “conceptual redesign” of Fishermen’s state park that would provide more campsites and other amenities.

Sullivan said the clearing of former farm fields and a golf course was done last fall, and CRMC was informed.

DEM staff marked the wetlands and told their work crews to stay out of them. Sullivan said one equipment operator made a “few minor mistakes.”

Sullivan said he was embarrassed that CRMC would act against DEM this week, for work that was completed in December. He added, “In light of the timing of the Finance Committee meeting this afternoon, it is obscenely obvious what has been done here. I’ll leave it at that.”

The hearing on the proposed merger is scheduled for 1:30 today before a subcommittee of the House Finance committee.

-- Journal environmental writer Peter B. Lord

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 12:24 PM | Permalink

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