Standards must be met in the areas of wetlands disturbance, liquid discharges, air contaminants, solid wastes and the treatment, generation, storage, transportation, and disposal of hazardous materials. The Division of Air and Hazardous Materials should be contacted whenever the operations of a company will cause the emission of air contaminants such as hydrocarbons, particulate matter, oxides of nitrogen and sulfur, carbon monoxide, or lead. Approval is needed to construct, improve, or modify any equipment capable of becoming a source of air pollution, including air pollution control systems. In addition, all major sources of air pollution must possess an operating permit outlining the general emission parameters of the company. Approval by the division is required before a building permit can be issued.
Wetlands has jurisdiction over fresh water wetlands.
Generally these areas are protected from any form of distur-bance, and a permit must be obtained from DEM to conduct work in or near a fresh water wetland. Activities which alter the biological or hydrological character of a fresh water wetland normally require permit approval. These include filling, draining, running a ditch or drain, changing water flow into or out of a stream, swamp marsh, bog or any other fresh water wetland. The Division of Water Resources regulates discharges to Rhode Island's waters and issues Water Quality Certifications for projects which require other permits where water quality may be affected. The certification by DEM is a finding that the proposed activities will not affect attainment of water quality standards.