Save the Bay Blasts CRMC for Canceling Meetings

Save the Bay Blasts CRMC for Canceling Meetings

Save the Bay has issued a letter blasting the RI Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) for decided to postpone the Policies and Procedures Subcommittee’s upcoming hearing for the second month in a row regarding the proposed water type downgrade alongside Quidnessett Country Club, a move that further delays the removal of their illegally built 600-foot seawall. 

 

Save The Bay issued a letter to CRMC in response to the cancellation, urging the politically appointed Council to immediately follow through on its enforcement order requiring Quidnessett to remove the illegal sea wall, restore public access to the shore, and cease harming coastal resources without further delay. Most boards and commissions in Rhode Island are appointed by elected officials.

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When GoLocal asked which CRMC members were responsible for the failed meetings, Save the Bay spokesman Juan Espinoza said, “We hold the entire Council responsible for the delay.” 

 

”The Council’s lack of consistency and fairness undermines the integrity of Rhode Island’s coastal governance, the protection of our coastal ecosystems and the public’s ability to access the shore,” said Topher Hamblett, executive director for Save The Bay. “The Council’s actions smack of political favoritism and abuse of power.” 

 

The non-profit group said, it has been over 450 days since CRMC ordered the Club to take down the wall. CRMC’s staff of coastal scientists and engineers noted that changing the water type alongside the country club would have “potential negative impacts to coastal habitat, shoreline access and marine resources.”

 

According to Save the Bay, “The Council must immediately cease providing a blatant violator with repeated delays and opportunities to circumvent CRMC’s own regulatory process and require the removal of the illegally-built wall. The Council must meet its obligation to the citizens of this state to protect, preserve and restore our state’s coastal resources, rather than playing politics with a well-resourced violator who thinks they are above the law.”