For those who haven’t noticed, dark clouds are rolling in from the south. The Trump administration is threatening to gut the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and rollback enforcement of environmental regulations.
But when it comes to enforcing environmental laws, Rhode Island’s political establishment has little to be proud of. Over the last decade, our own elected leaders have whittled away the capacity of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) to prevent damage to the environment and care for Rhode Island’s most cherished natural resources. It appears that environmental protection, once again, will not be a priority for our elected representatives.
Gov. Gina Raimondo’s fiscal 2018 budget takes a small step in the right direction by proposing two new positions at the DEM, focused on preventing polluted runoff from degrading water quality. While these new positions are very important, it is unfortunate that the governor proposed no new positions in enforcement roles. A year ago, the governor’s request for two urgently needed enforcement positions was summarily shot down by the General Assembly.
Gone are the days when the DEM touted its enforcement achievements. The Office of Compliance and Inspection has not updated its online Annual Enforcement Report since 2013. The fact is that the DEM remains understaffed in many of its core functions. The Coastal Resources Management Council also lacks the resources it needs to fulfill its duties, with only two enforcement staff assigned to preserving public access and protecting Rhode Island’s entire, spectacular 384-mile coastline from environmental damage.
We are puzzled by the General Assembly’s failure to make enforcement of environmental laws a priority, because protecting the Bay from pollution and investing in natural resources are extraordinarily popular with voters. Every time voters are given a chance to approve investments in water quality, outdoor recreation, and natural resources, they do so in overwhelming numbers. In just the latest example, 67.6 percent of voters supported a $35 million environmental bond this past November, an astounding 35 percent margin of approval.
Why our political leaders find it so difficult to provide support for two relatively small agencies whose roles are central to protecting the very character and quality of life in Rhode Island is difficult to comprehend. And yet these same leaders seem to have no difficulty granting millions of dollars in tax breaks to private companies, spending $20 million to buy land along the Providence waterfront and hiring scores of new personnel at the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation.
A clean environment and strong economy go hand in hand. Fair and timely enforcement of environmental laws is not anti-business; it is pro-business because it ensures a level playing field for all businesses, no matter their size or political connections. Strong enforcement is also pro-taxpayer, by deterring violations, saving money on cleaning up environmental damage, protecting public health and preventing ongoing damage to our natural resources. And let’s not forget that a clean environment is good for recreational activities and public health. It also sustains major industries like tourism, marine trades, real estate, and fisheries, and it is one of the primary reasons businesses — and employees — are drawn to the Ocean State.
The specter of sharp cutbacks in federal spending for environmental protection demands local leadership by the governor and General Assembly. We urge our elected leaders to step up, take pride in our state’s natural resources, and make a bold statement: Rhode Island will marshal the resources necessary to protect Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island’s natural beauty, whatever the winds of change bring from Washington. Voters deserve at least this much.
— Jonathan Stone is executive director of Save The Bay.