Save The Bay Responds to Governor Raimondo’s Budget Proposal

PROVIDENCE, RI– Save The Bay applauds Governor Gina Raimondo for investments made in our environment as set forth in her FY17 budget proposal. “We are pleased that the Governor has proposed a budget that includes important investments in environmental protection and natural resources,” said Save The Bay Executive Director Jonathan Stone. “In particular, we thank the Governor for responding to our calls for greater investment in environmental enforcement to protect Narragansett Bay from polluters,” he said.

Beginning in early December, Save The Bay has been publicly urging Governor Raimondo to add staff resources at the state’s environmental agencies to strengthen enforcement of environmental laws. The organization also launched a change.org petition that has collected nearly 2,000 signatures in support of that call. In her proposed budget released yesterday, Governor Raimondo included two additional enforcement staff at the Department of Environmental Management (DEM): an attorney in the legal office and an inspector in the office of compliance and inspection. “The Governor deserves a lot of credit for reversing the tide in staffing levels at DEM. We’re pleased to see two FTEs added to the agency budget, and we hope and expect that this is the start of rebuilding the DEM after a decade of budget cuts.  We also call for strengthening enforcement capacity at the Coastal Resources Management Council,” Stone said.

Save The Bay is disappointed that no additional staff was added to assist DEM and CRMC with permitting under the revised Freshwater Wetlands Act, despite the findings of a legislative task force that additional staff was necessary to implement the enacted changes. Save The Bay looks forward to working with the Governor and the general assembly on adding staff at both agencies to ensure that permit applications are properly evaluated and processed in a timely fashion.

The Governor’s budget proposal includes a $35 million Recreation, Green Spaces and Healthy Communities Bond, which calls for important investments that align with Save The Bay’s mission to protect and improve Narragansett Bay. “There is a lot to like in the bond proposal,” said Stone. “We are especially pleased with the proposed investments in stormwater projects, brownfield remediation, public parks and open space acquisition,” Stone said.

“A proposed $3 million in stormwater pollution prevention grants will help cities and towns fund projects that reduce polluted runoff, which contributes to beach and shellfishing closures and degrades overall water quality,” Stone said. He adds that the proposed investments in state and local open space conservation will protect the Narragansett Bay watershed and improve its resilience, while cleaning up contaminated brownfields improves environmental health and encourages private investment in already developed areas. Save The Bay also lauds the proposed investment in Rhode Island’s state parks.  “Our state parks are crown jewels of our natural landscape, providing millions of Rhode Islanders and visitors access to the Ocean State’s spectacular coastline,” Stone said.

About Save The Bay: Founded in 1970, Save The Bay works to protect and improve Narragansett Bay and its watershed through advocacy, education, and restoration efforts. It envisions a fully swimmable, fishable, healthy Narragansett Bay, accessible to everyone and globally recognized as an environmental treasure.

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