Section 250-RICR-150-05-2.17 - Appendix B Impact Avoidance and MinimizationA. Impact Avoidance 1. The applicant must consider and address, at a minimum, the following issues in order to satisfactorily demonstrate to the Department that all impacts to the wetlands functions and values have been avoided to the maximum extent possible, and that all alternatives to the proposed alterations which would not alter the natural character of any freshwater wetlands were considered and cannot be accomplished:2. Description of the primary purpose of the proposed project;3. Whether the primary proposed activity is water-dependent, or if it requires access to freshwater wetlands as a central element of its primary purpose (e.g. a pier);4. Whether there are any areas within the same property or other property owned or controlled by the applicant that could be used to achieve the same project purpose without altering the natural character of any freshwater wetlands;5. Whether there are any other properties not currently owned or controlled by the applicant but which are reasonably available to the applicant that would not involve wetland alterations and could be used to achieve the same project purpose;6. Whether there are alternative designs, layouts, or technologies that could be used to avoid freshwater wetlands or impacts on wetland functions and values on the subject property or reasonably available properties which would achieve the same project purpose, and whether these design alternatives are feasible;7. Description of all attempts applicant has made to overcome or remove such constraints as zoning, infrastructure, parcel size, or other similar constraints in order to avoid wetland alterations; and,8. Whether the available alternatives which would not alter the natural character of any freshwater wetlands on the subject property or reasonably available properties, if incorporated in the proposed project, would result in significant adverse consequences to the public health and safety, and/or the environment.B. Impact Minimization 1. The applicant must consider and address, at a minimum, the following issues in order to satisfactorily demonstrate to the Department that all impacts to the wetland functions and values cannot be avoided, and therefore have been reduced to the maximum extent possible: a. Whether the proposed project is necessary at the proposed scale and whether the scale of the alteration could be reduced and still achieve the same primary project purpose;b. Whether the proposed project is necessary at the proposed location or whether another location within the site could achieve the same primary project purpose while resulting in less impact to the wetland;c. Whether there are alternative designs, layouts, densities, or technologies that are feasible, and which would result in less impact to the wetland while still achieving the same project purpose; and,d. Whether reduction in the scale of the proposed project or relocation to minimize impact to the wetland would result in significant adverse consequences to public health and safety and/or the environment.250 R.I. Code R. 250-RICR-150-05-2.17