reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 42-17.4-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 42 - State Affairs and Government|Chapter 42-17.4 - Wastewater Treatment Plants|Section 42-17.4-1 - Board of certification of operators of wastewater treatment facilities.

§ 42-17.4-1. Board of certification of operators of wastewater treatment facilities.(a) (1) There is hereby created a board of certification of operators of wastewater treatment facilities to insure the proper management, operation, and maintenance of wastewater treatment facilities.(2) The board shall consist of seven (7) persons, including the director of the department of environmental management, or his or her designee; the director of the department of health, or his or her designee; and five (5) members appointed by the governor. Of the appointive members of the board, one shall be representative of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, one shall be an educator in the field of sanitary engineering, one shall be an active qualified operator of a publicly owned wastewater treatment facility who presently holds a valid voluntary certificate from the New England Water Pollution Control Association or a mandatory certificate from another state and is an active member of the Narragansett Water Pollution Control Association, one shall be a municipal director of public works who has general supervisory authority for a wastewater treatment facility, and one shall be a representative of a business, labor, industry, or governmental employees labor union.(b) Each member of the board shall serve for a term of four (4) years; provided, however, that of the initial members appointed to the board by the governor, one shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years, two (2) shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years, and two (2) shall be appointed for terms of four (4) years. As the term of office of a member of the board expires, his or her successor shall be appointed in like manner for a term of four (4) years provided that a member shall continue to serve until an appointment is made by the governor. Any vacancy shall be filled by the governor for the unexpired term.(c) Any member of the board may be removed from office by the governor for good cause.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 282, § 1.
RI Gen L § 42-17.4-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 42 - State Affairs and Government|Chapter 42-17.4 - Wastewater Treatment Plants|Section 42-17.4-2 - Compensation for board members.

§ 42-17.4-2. Compensation for board members.Each member of the board shall serve without compensation; provided, however, he or she shall be paid the necessary traveling expenses actually incurred in the discharge of his or her official duties.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 282, § 1.
RI Gen L § 42-17.4-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 42 - State Affairs and Government|Chapter 42-17.4 - Wastewater Treatment Plants|Section 42-17.4-3 - Assistance to board.

§ 42-17.4-3. Assistance to board.(a) The director of the department of environmental management shall provide assistance to the board in carrying out the provisions of this chapter. The director shall provide office space for meetings of the board, necessary record-keeping assistance, and clerical and staff assistance.(b) The division of personnel of the department of administration shall provide assistance to the board to administer, prepare, and grade any examinations, as deemed necessary by the board. The results of the examinations shall be forwarded to the board for their action.(c) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the board from hiring its own employees.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 282, § 1.
RI Gen L § 42-17.4-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 42 - State Affairs and Government|Chapter 42-17.4 - Wastewater Treatment Plants|Section 42-17.4-4 - Definitions.

§ 42-17.4-4. Definitions.As used in this chapter:(1)"Assistant superintendent". means the individual who is an operator who is assigned the direct responsibility for the management, operation and maintenance of a wastewater treatment facility in the absence of the superintendent and who shall have a certificate equal to the grade or classification of the wastewater treatment facility.(2)"Board". means the board of certification established by § 42-17.4-1 to insure the proper management, operation and maintenance of wastewater treatment facilities by certifying an individual to be qualified to be an operator.(3)"Certificate". means a certificate of competency issued by the board to an individual to operate one or more specified classes of wastewater treatment facilities.(4)"Operator". means an individual who is assigned the responsibility on one or more mechanical treatment units, processes, or other important functions at a wastewater treatment facility.(5)"Person". means any individual, partnership, firm, association, joint venture, public or private corporation, trust estate, commission, board, public or private institution, utility, cooperative, municipality or any other political subdivision of this state, any interstate body, or any other legal entity.(6)"Superintendent". means the individual who is an operator who is assigned the direct responsibility for the management, operation and maintenance of a wastewater treatment facility during all working shifts at the facility and who shall hold a certificate equal to the grade or classification of the wastewater treatment facility. It does not apply to any official who does not work at the wastewater treatment facility as an operator.(7)"Wastewater". means used water delivered to a wastewater treatment facility. From the standpoint of source, it may be a combination of the liquid and water-carried wastes from residences, commercial buildings, industrial plants, and institutions, together with any groundwater, surface water, and storm water that may be present.(8)"Wastewater treatment facility". means an arrangement of devices and structures excluding septic tanks constructed and installed for the purpose of treatment of wastewater from domestic, commercial or industrial sources or combinations thereof. Privately-owned wastewater treatment facilities which treat predominately industrial wastes shall be excluded from the provisions of this chapter by the board.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 282, § 1.
RI Gen L § 42-17.4-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 42 - State Affairs and Government|Chapter 42-17.4 - Wastewater Treatment Plants|Section 42-17.4-5 - Powers and duties of board.

§ 42-17.4-5. Powers and duties of board.The board shall:(1) Classify all wastewater treatment facilities as to their size and type and establish specifications for certification of operators of each class of wastewater treatment facilities;(2) Determine by examination, and from the applicant's training and experience, the class of certificate, if any, he or she will be issued. Examinations shall be held at least once each year at a time and place designated by the board;(3) Adopt such rules and regulations as it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter;(4) Provide for the issuance of a non-renewable provisional certificate to an individual where the board deems necessary; provided, however, that any individual receiving a provisional certificate shall pass the examinations and meet other requirements for such position within one year after issuance of the certificate;(5) Study the feasibility of requiring mandatory certification of superintendents and assistant superintendents of wastewater treatment facilities which treat predominantly industrial wastewaters and report their findings to the general assembly on or before January 1, 1980;(6) When taking action with regard to subdivisions (1) — (5) above, consider generally applicable criteria, regulations, and guidelines developed by the association of boards of certification for operating personnel in water and wastewater utilities.(7) Keep records of its proceedings and of all applications for certification.(8) Submit to the governor at the end of each fiscal year a report on its transactions of that year and transmit to him or her a complete statement of the receipts and expenditures of the board, attested by affidavits of its chairperson and secretary.(9) Encourage all operators to attend classes, seminars, and/or other educational programs periodically to keep abreast of changes and advances in the fields of wastewater treatment and management.(10) Work with the state board of governors for higher education to establish various levels of training courses, seminars and/or other educational programs.(11) Encourage all operators in addition to those required by this chapter by virtue of their responsibility as superintendents and assistant superintendents to become certified.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 282, § 1.
RI Gen L § 42-17.4-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 42 - State Affairs and Government|Chapter 42-17.4 - Wastewater Treatment Plants|Section 42-17.4-6 - Prohibitions.

§ 42-17.4-6. Prohibitions.(a) It shall be unlawful after June 30, 1979, for any person to operate or to cause to be operated a wastewater treatment facility unless the superintendent and assistant superintendent of the facility hold a certificate issued by the board. The board may waive the requirement of a certified assistant superintendent at a wastewater treatment facility designed for a flow of less than one hundred thousand (100,000) gallons per day.(b) It shall be unlawful after June 30, 1979 for any person to hire an individual as an operator unless he or she holds a certificate as required under regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter; except that the operator may be hired without the certificate provided that he or she obtains the certificate within one year of the date of employment.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 282, § 1.
RI Gen L § 42-17.4-7 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 42 - State Affairs and Government|Chapter 42-17.4 - Wastewater Treatment Plants|Section 42-17.4-7 - Applications.

§ 42-17.4-7. Applications.(a) Application for certification shall be made on forms supplied by the board.(b) The application shall be accompanied by a fee of ten dollars ($10.00). The annual renewal fee will be five dollars ($5.00).(c) The board shall review applications and supporting documents, determine the eligibility of the applicant for examination, and notify the applicant of the same.(d) The fee will not be returned upon failure to pass the examination.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 282, § 1.
RI Gen L § 42-17.4-8 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 42 - State Affairs and Government|Chapter 42-17.4 - Wastewater Treatment Plants|Section 42-17.4-8 - Certification and revocation.

§ 42-17.4-8. Certification and revocation.(a) Upon satisfactory fulfillment by an applicant of the provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations adopted by the board, the board shall issue a suitable certificate designating competency. This certificate shall expire at the end of the calendar year and may be renewed from year to year thereafter. The certificate shall indicate the class of treatment facility for which the operator is qualified. The certificates for superintendent and assistant superintendents shall be prominently displayed in the office of the wastewater treatment facility.(b) Certificates may be issued, upon application, without examination, in a comparable classification to any individual who holds a certificate issued by any state, territory or possession of the United States, any country, or the New England Water Pollution Control Association if in the judgment of the board the requirements for certification of operators under which such individual's certificate was issued do not conflict with the provisions of these regulations. A certificate issued under the provisions of this subsection is valid at any wastewater treatment facility of that grade or classification as delineated by the board.(c) Certificates will be issued, upon application, without examination, to those superintendents or assistant superintendents so employed as of the date of the passage of this chapter. However, these certificates shall be valid only in that facility at which the superintendent and assistant superintendents were employed at the time of certification.(d) The board may revoke the certificate of a superintendent or assistant superintendent or operator when it is found after such an individual has been granted a hearing that he or she performed his or her duties in a negligent manner that produced an effluent below the standards normal for the particular facility operated; or that he or she has practiced fraud or deception; or that reasonable care, judgment or the application of his or her knowledge or ability was not used in the performance of his or her duties or that an individual is incompetent or unable to perform his or her duties properly. Appeal from the decision may be made as provided under chapter 35 of this title.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 282, § 1.
RI Gen L § 42-17.4-9 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 42 - State Affairs and Government|Chapter 42-17.4 - Wastewater Treatment Plants|Section 42-17.4-9 - Equity proceedings for enforcement.

§ 42-17.4-9. Equity proceedings for enforcement.The superior court shall have jurisdiction in equity to enforce the provisions of this chapter. Proceedings under this section shall follow the course of equity and shall be instituted and prosecuted in the name of the board, by the attorney general.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 282, § 1.
RI Gen L § 42-17.4-10 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 42 - State Affairs and Government|Chapter 42-17.4 - Wastewater Treatment Plants|Section 42-17.4-10 - Penalty for violation.

§ 42-17.4-10. Penalty for violation.Any person who shall be found guilty of violation of any of the provisions of § 42-17.4-6 or any rules and regulations adopted hereunder shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or by imprisonment for not more than thirty (30) days, or by both fine or imprisonment, and every person shall be deemed guilty of a separate and distinct offense for each day during which the violation is repeated or continued.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 282, § 1.
RI Gen L § 42-17.4-11 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 42 - State Affairs and Government|Chapter 42-17.4 - Wastewater Treatment Plants|Section 42-17.4-11 - Severability.

§ 42-17.4-11. Severability.The provisions of this chapter are severable. If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this chapter which can be given effect without regard to the invalid provisions or application.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 282, § 1.
RI Gen L § 42-17.5-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 42 - State Affairs and Government|Chapter 42-17.5 - Natural Heritage Preservation Program|Section 42-17.5-1 - Short title.

§ 42-17.5-1. Short title.This chapter shall be known as the "Natural Heritage Preservation Program".History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 155, art. III, § 1.
RI Gen L § 42-17.5-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 42 - State Affairs and Government|Chapter 42-17.5 - Natural Heritage Preservation Program|Section 42-17.5-2 - Legislative findings.

§ 42-17.5-2. Legislative findings.The general assembly recognizes that open land with scenic, natural, and ecological value is important to the character of Rhode Island and provides opportunities for passive recreation. Such open land is rapidly disappearing, and it is in the best interest of the people of the state to take steps to preserve the most important of our irreplaceable open land resources. The municipalities of the state and nonprofit land trusts and other conservation organizations have expressed a willingness to act to save open land of local or regional importance and to make such land available for appropriate public use. In order to support and encourage such land preservation, to protect the scenic and natural heritage of Rhode Island, to improve our quality of life, and to enhance tourism, the general assembly hereby establishes a natural heritage revolving fund to provide zero interest loans to municipalities and to conservation organizations for projects to preserve, protect, and make available for safe use important open space and natural land throughout the state.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 155, art. III, § 1.
RI Gen L § 42-17.5-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 42 - State Affairs and Government|Chapter 42-17.5 - Natural Heritage Preservation Program|Section 42-17.5-3 - Natural heritage preservation revolving fund.

§ 42-17.5-3. Natural heritage preservation revolving fund.(a) There is hereby created as a separate fund within the treasury the "natural heritage preservation revolving fund" which shall be administered by the general treasurer in accordance with the same laws and fiscal procedures as the general funds of the state. The fund shall consist of such sums as the state may from time to time appropriate, as well as monies received from the federal government, gifts, bequests, donations, or otherwise from any public or private source, which monies are intended to implement and encourage preservation of properties which possess scenic, natural, and ecological value.(b) All monies placed in the natural heritage revolving fund shall be made available for the following purposes:(1) To make loans to nonprofit conservation foundations, cities, towns, or public or private land trusts for the purpose of acquiring property worthy of preservation.(2) To make loans or otherwise provide a source of equity capital for preservation of open land resources consistent with the purposes of this chapter.(c) Loans made under the provisions of this section may be made directly, or in cooperation with other lenders or any agency, department, or bureau of the federal government or state of Rhode Island. The proceeds received from the repayment of any loans made from this fund shall be deposited in and returned to the natural heritage revolving fund, to constitute a continuing revolving fund for the purposes listed above.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 155, art. III, § 1.
RI Gen L § 42-17.5-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 42 - State Affairs and Government|Chapter 42-17.5 - Natural Heritage Preservation Program|Section 42-17.5-4 - Natural heritage preservation commission.

§ 42-17.5-4. Natural heritage preservation commission.There is established within the department of environmental management the natural heritage preservation commission consisting of the directors of the department of environmental management (who shall be chairperson) and the governor's office of intergovernmental relations, and the chief of the division of statewide planning, department of administration.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 155, art. III, § 1; P.L. 1986, ch. 198, § 56.
RI Gen L § 42-17.5-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 42 - State Affairs and Government|Chapter 42-17.5 - Natural Heritage Preservation Program|Section 42-17.5-5 - Powers and duties of commission.

§ 42-17.5-5. Powers and duties of commission.(a) The commission shall have power to:(1) Conduct such hearings, examinations, and investigations as may be necessary and appropriate to the conduct of its operations and the fulfillment of its responsibilities;(2) Obtain access to public records and apply for the process of subpoena, if necessary, to produce books, papers, records, and other data;(3) Set policies for the disbursement and repayment of loans from the natural heritage preservation revolving fund;(4) Accept on behalf of the state, gifts, grants, or loans of funds, personal or real property, or services from any source, public or private, and comply, subject to the provisions of this chapter, with the terms and conditions thereof; and(5) Accept, from a federal agency, loans or grants for use in carrying out its purposes and enter into agreement with the agency respecting any such loans or grants.(b) The commission shall select from loan applicants those which meet all eligibility criteria and which the commission deems to be the most worthy of financing and shall make loans to such applicants.(c) The commission, consistent with the Administrative Procedures Act, chapter 35 of this title, shall:(1) Develop criteria necessary for defining eligibility for loans;(2) Prepare and adopt rules and regulating loan generation, disbursement, loan repayment, and mortgage covenants; and(3) Establish procedures consistent with the purposes of this chapter to insure the long term preservation of irreplaceable open land resources and their passive recreational use by the public.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 155, art. III, § 1.
RI Gen L § 42-17.5-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 42 - State Affairs and Government|Chapter 42-17.5 - Natural Heritage Preservation Program|Section 42-17.5-6 - Governor's advisory committee on natural heritage preservation.

§ 42-17.5-6. Governor's advisory committee on natural heritage preservation.(a) There is hereby established a governor's advisory committee on natural heritage preservation which shall: assist the natural heritage preservation commission in establishing criteria for determining which projects shall be eligible for natural heritage preservation loans, make recommendations to the commission on projects to receive loans, and advise the commission on related natural heritage matters.(b) The committee shall consist of seven (7) members to be appointed by the governor and shall include representation from the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns and from recognized conservation and natural preservation organizations.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 155, art. III, § 1.
RI Gen L § 42-17.6-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 42 - State Affairs and Government|Chapter 42-17.6 - Administrative Penalties for Environmental Violations|Section 42-17.6-1 - Definitions.

§ 42-17.6-1. Definitions.As used in this chapter, the following words, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, shall have the following meanings:(1)"Administrative penalty" means a monetary penalty not to exceed the civil penalty specified by statute or, where not specified by statute, an amount not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).(2)"Director" means the director of the department of environmental management or his or her duly authorized agent.(3)"Person" means any agency or political subdivision of the state, any state, public or private corporation or authority, individual, trust, firm, joint stock company, partnership, association, or other entity or any group thereof or any officer, employee or agent thereof.History of Section.P.L. 1987, ch. 243, § 2.
RI Gen L § 42-17.6-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 42 - State Affairs and Government|Chapter 42-17.6 - Administrative Penalties for Environmental Violations|Section 42-17.6-2 - Authority of director to assess penalty.

§ 42-17.6-2. Authority of director to assess penalty.The director may assess an administrative penalty on a person who fails to comply with any provision of any rule, regulation, order, permit, license, or approval issued or adopted by the director, or of any law which the director has the authority or responsibility to enforce. Any such penalty shall be an alternative to any other civil penalty that may be prescribed by law.History of Section.P.L. 1987, ch. 243, § 2.