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News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
For Release: December 10, 2002
Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402
Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DEM TO HOLD HEARING MONDAY, DECEMBER 16 ON PROPOSED GUIDELINES GOVERNING ADMINISTRATIVE INSPECTIONS

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management will hold a public hearing on Monday, December 16 on its proposed new guidelines for administrative inspections.

The proposed guidelines, which have the full force and effect of regulations, have been promulgated by DEM pursuant to a change to its statutory authority to conduct administrative inspections enacted by the legislature earlier this year. This enactment was one that had been sought by DEM for several legislative sessions.

The proposed guidelines establish internal, departmental procedures governing DEM's civil and administrative inspections of regulated facilities and investigations of alleged or suspected environmental violations. The guidelines are a major refinement of a departmental policy adopted in September 2000 to govern the conduct of DEM personnel while conducting inspections of private property. Based on the statutory changes enacted by the legislature, the guidelines, for the first time, establish departmental procedures for inspectors to obtain administrative inspection warrants from judges within the Superior or District Courts. The guidelines also identify a limited number of exceptions, such as environmental emergencies, where DEM inspectors may enter private property to conduct an inspection without an administrative inspection warrant or the consent of the owner or occupant.

The public hearing will be held at 4:30 p.m. on December 16 in room 300 at DEM Headquarters in the Foundry Building at 235 Promenade Street in Providence. DEM encourages the submission of written comments by that date to DEM's Office of Legal Services at the above address.

The draft administrative guidelines can be found on DEM's website (no longer available), www.dem.ri.gov by clicking on "Legal Services" under "Programs."

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