Projo — Advocates push for reform of Rhode Island coastal council, but legislative leaders have questions

Rhode Island attorney, general Peter Neronha, and others call for reform of the state Coastal Resources Management Council on Wednesday, arguing that its structure is outdated. Alex Kuffner

May 23, 2024

By Alex Kuffner — PROVIDENCE – Attorney General Peter Neronha and others are calling on General Assembly leaders to move forward with legislation that would reform the embattled state agency that regulates coastal development in Rhode Island. 

At a news conference Wednesday, Neronha reiterated his support for bills that would do away with the group of political appointees that rule on applications before the Coastal Resources Management Council and put power in the hands of agency staff who have expertise in engineering, geology and other relevant fields. 

“What that will mean is a professional agency that could do its work without the interference of a council that frankly doesn’t know what it’s doing,” Neronha said at the event held at the Fields Point headquarters of Save The Bay, the state environmental group that for years has been calling for deep changes to the CRMC.  

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