Section 250-RICR-150-05-2.1 - PurposeA. In accordance with the Marine Waterways and Boating Facilities Act of 2001, R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 46-6.1, the purpose of these regulations is to: 1. Ensure that dredging in the marine environment and management of the associated dredged material is conducted in a manner which is protective of groundwater and surface water quality so as to ensure the continued viability and integrity of drinking water and fish and wildlife resources.2. Balance the need to prevent environmental degradation with the need to prevent undue delay in the planning, permitting and implementation of dredging projects.3. Enhance and streamline the permitting process by treating dredging and management of dredged material as a distinct class of activities to be regulated on the basis of the nature and characteristics of the material to be dredged.4. Encourage the beneficial use of dredged material for brownfields redevelopment, beach nourishment, landscaping, habitat restoration and/or creation, construction projects, landfill cover and other useful purposes.5. Identify and list sites suitable for beneficial use and/or disposal of dredged material, and establish criteria for identifying other suitable sites.6. Establish standards and criteria governing the dewatering of dredged material for beneficial use or disposal.7. Ensure timely and coordinated review of applications for dredging and/or management of dredged material, consistent with timeliness and procedures set forth in statute, including internal coordination within the Department and the issuance of a single regulatory decision by the Director, as well as external coordination with the Coastal Resources Management Council and with federal agencies to the extent they have to act on a proposed project.8. Ensure that project planning and management of dredged materials follow the ranking of priorities as set forth in statute and listed below, taking into account the nature and characteristics of the dredged material, as well as reasonable cost: a. Beneficial use, including but not limited to beach nourishment, restoration and/or creation of habitat in the coastal zone;250 R.I. Code R. 250-RICR-150-05-2.1