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State of Rhode Island

Water Quality Regulations

Water Quality Regulations, PDF - open Adobe Acrobat reader before linking. STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT  Rule 1. PURPOSE It is the purpose of these regulations to establish water quality standards for the state's surface waters. These standards are intended to restore, preserve and enhance the physical, chemical and biological integrity of the waters of the State, to maintain existing water uses and to serve the purposes of the Clean Water Act and Rhode Island General Laws Chapter 46-12. These standards provide for the protection of the surface waters from pollutants so that the waters shall, where attainable, be fishable and swimmable, be available for all designated uses, taking into consideration their use and value for public water supplies, propagation of fish and wildlife, recreational purposes, and also taking into consideration their use and value for navigation, and thus assure protection of the public health, safety, welfare, a healthy economy and the environment.  Revised June 2000. (source: RIDEM website)

Water Quality Regulations, Appendix A, PDF - open Adobe Acrobat reader before linking. Water Quality Classification Descriptions. (source: RIDEM website)

Water Quality Regulations, Appendix B. PDF - open Adobe Acrobat reader before linking. RIDEM Ambient Water Quality Criteria and Guidelines for Toxic Pollutants. (source: RIDEM website)    

Water Quality Regulations, Appendix C. PDF - open Adobe Acrobat reader before linking. Policy on the Implementation of the Antidegradation Provisions of the Rhode Island Water Quality Regulations, August 6, 1997, 9 pages. (source: RIDEM website)

Water Quality Regulations, Appendix D. PDF - open Adobe Acrobat reader before linking. Special Resource Protection Waters. (source: RIDEM website)

Unified Watershed Assessment & Restoration Priorities in Rhode Island, Final, PDF - open Adobe Acrobat reader before linking.October 1, 1998. (source: RIDEM website)

State of Rhode Island 2000 303(d) List, List of Impaired Waters, August 4, 2000

State of the State's Waters, Rhode Island 2000, Section 305(b) Report. PDF - open Adobe Acrobat Reader before linking (source: RIDEM website)

  • Table of Contents
  • Chapter 1. Executive Summary
  • Chapter 2. Background
  • Chapter 3(A). Surface Water Monitoring Programs
  • Chapter 3(B). Plan for Achieving Comprehensive Assessments
  • Chapter 3(C). Assessment Methodology and Summary Data
  • Chapter 3(D). Rivers and Streams Water Quality Assessment
  • Chapter 3(E). Lake Water Quality Assessment
  • Chapter 3(F). Estuary and Coastal Assessment
  • Chapter 3(G). Wetland Assessment
  • Chapter 3(H). Public Health/Aquatic Life Concerns
  • Chapter 4. Groundwater Quality
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    Waste Water Treatment Plant Contacts.  State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, DEM Water Resources, Board of Certification of Operators of Waste Water Treatment Facilities, Wastewater Treatment Facilities/Locations and Operators in charge, September 2000 (Excel spreadsheet) (source: RIDEM website)

     

    U.S.Environmental Protection Agency

    Reinventing Environmental Regulation, President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, March 16, 1995.  Full Text, 38 pages. (source: EPA website)

    Effluent Trading Policy Statement. In response to President Clinton's Reinventing Environmental Regulation (March 1995), EPA strongly promotes the use of effluent trading to achieve water quality objectives and standards. This statement communicates EPA s policy on effluent trading in watersheds, discusses the benefits of trading, presents an explanation of   several types of effluent trading, and outlines how EPA will be encouraging trading. (source: EPA website)

    Draft Framework for Watershed Based Trading.  PDF - open Adobe Acrobat reader before linking. May 1996. 141 pages. (source: EPA website)

    Draft Summary Comments.  This is a summary of the public comments received as of December 31, 1996 on EPA's Draft Framework for Watershed-Based Trading, published last May. A total of 46 organizations and 5 individuals commented on the document, representing the following categories:  Associations (General, Municipal, Industry) - 9,   Environmental Groups (National, State, Regional) - 19, Government Agencies (Federal, State) - 13, Dischargers (Municipal, Industrial) - 4, Other - 1.  11 pages. (source: EPA website)

    Point Summary Comments.  Detailed excerpts from original public comments to Draft Framework. 35 pages (source: EPA website)

    Market Incentives: Effluent Trading in Watersheds. Watershed 96 proceedings (includes list of proposed and pilot programs.) (source: EPA website)

    Effluent Trading in Watersheds.  EPA Reinvention Activity Fact Sheets, Dec. 97. (source: EPA website)

    A Summary of U.S. Effluent Trading and Offset Projects.  Prepared for: Dr. Mahesh Podar, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, November, 1999 by Environomics, 4405 East-West Highway, Suite 307, Bethesda, MD 20814, (301) 657-7762, http://www.environomics.com