Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 650 - Coastal Resources Management Council › Chapter 20 - Coastal Management Program › Subchapter 00 - N/A › Part 4 - Narrow River Special Area Management Plan (650-RICR-20-00-4) › Section 650-RICR-20-00-4.3 - Definitions

Current through June 14, 2024
A. Definitions for this Part are as follows:
1. "Cumulative effects" means the physical,
				  biological, or chemical outcome of a series of actions or activities on the
				  environment.
2. "Cumulative
				  impacts" means the total effect on the environment of development activities
				  and/or natural events taking place within a geographic area over a particular
				  period of time. They are not restricted to on-site impacts, but may include
				  off-site impacts which exist or are going to exist based on current land use
				  planning. Cumulative impacts can result from traditionally unregulated changes
				  in land and water uses. For example, actions such as incremental changes in the
				  intensity of use of a site, post-development failure to maintain septic
				  systems, or excessive use of fertilizers may have greater impact than the
				  original regulated activity.
3.
				  "Erosion and sediment control" means the prevention, control, and management of
				  soil loss due to wind and water, caused by alterations to vegetation and soil
				  surfaces within the Narrow River watershed.
4. "Lands of critical concern" means lands
				  that are presently undeveloped or developed at densities of one residential
				  unit per 120,000 square feet. These lands may be adjacent to or include one or
				  more of the following:
a. sensitive areas of
				  the salt ponds that are particularly susceptible to eutrophication and
				  bacterial contamination;
b. overlie
				  wellhead protection zones or aquifer recharge areas for existing or potential
				  water supply wells;
c. areas
				  designated as historic/archaeologic sites;
d. open space;
e. areas where there is high erosion and
				  runoff potential;
f. habitat for
				  flora and fauna as identified through the RI Natural Heritage Program, large
				  emergent wetland complexes, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife lands; and
g. fisheries habitat.
5. "Lands developed beyond carrying capacity"
				  means lands that are developed at densities of one residential or commercial
				  unit on parcels of less than 80,000 square feet, and frequently at higher
				  densities of 10,000 square feet or 20,000 square feet. Intense development
				  associated with Lands Developed Beyond Carrying Capacity is the result of poor
				  land use planning and predates the formation of the Council. High nutrient
				  loadings and contaminated runoff waters from dense development have resulted in
				  a high incidence of polluted wells and increased evidence of eutrophic
				  conditions and bacterial contamination in the salt ponds. Most of the OWTS in
				  these areas predate RIDEM regulations pertaining to design and siting
				  standards, and have exceeded their expected life span.
6. "Land suitable for development" means the
				  net total acreage of the parcel, lot or tract remaining after exclusion of the
				  areas containing, or on which occur the following protected resources: coastal
				  features as defined within R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 46-23 and in §1.2.2 of
				  this Subchapter; freshwater wetlands, as defined in §1.1.2 of this
				  Subchapter (see CRMC Rules and Regulations Governing the Protection and
				  Management of Freshwater wetlands in the Vicinity of the Coast); and lands to
				  be developed as streets and roads shall also be excluded from the calculated
				  acreage of developable land.
7.
				  "Nitrogen reducing technologies" means alternative wastewater treatment systems
				  which reduce total nitrogen concentrations by at least 50%. Total nitrogen
				  reduction is the annual mean difference by percentage between total nitrogen
				  concentrations in the effluent of the septic or primary settling tank and the
				  concentrations taken at the end of the treatment zone as defined by the
				  specific technology.
8. "Narrow
				  River watershed" means the environment within the surface watershed boundaries
				  encompassing portions of the coastal communities of Narragansett, North
				  Kingstown and South Kingstown, and as delineated on the land use classification
				  maps in §4.44 of this Part.
9.
				  "Self-sustaining lands" means lands that are undeveloped or developed at a
				  density of not more than one residential unit per 80,000 square feet. Within
				  these areas, the nutrients discharged to groundwater by septic systems,
				  fertilizers and other sources associated with residential activities may be
				  sufficiently diluted to maintain on-site potable groundwater. However, the one
				  residential unit per two acre standard is not considered sufficient to reduce
				  groundwater nitrogen concentrations to levels which will prevent
				  eutrophication, or mitigate for dense development in other portions of the
				  watershed.
10. "Tributary" means
				  any flowing body of water or watercourse which provides intermittent or
				  perennial flow to tidal waters, coastal ponds, coastal wetlands or other
				  down-gradient watercourses which eventually discharge to tidal waters, coastal
				  ponds or coastal wetlands.
11.
				  "Tributary wetlands" means freshwater wetlands within the watershed that are
				  connected via a watercourse to a coastal wetland and/or tidal waters.
12. "Underground storage tank" or "UST" means
				  any one or more underground tanks and their associated components, including
				  piping, used to contain an accumulation of petroleum product or hazardous
				  material.