R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-12-22
The attorney general, the director of the department of environmental management, and their agents, while in the performance of their duties, may at all reasonable times enter any premises, buildings, plant, or equipment, or other places belonging to, or controlled by, any person who is believed to be discharging to the waters or who is believed to be discharging to a publicly owned treatment works, and inspect the same or any part thereof, have access to and copy any records required to be maintained, inspect any monitoring equipment or monitoring method which is required, and have access to and sample any discharges. Any person obstructing, hindering, or in any way causing to be obstructed or hindered the director of the department of environmental management, the attorney general, or any of their agents in the performance of his or her duties, or who shall refuse to permit the director, the attorney general, or any of their agents entrance into any premises, buildings, plant, or equipment, or other places belonging to or controlled by the person, in the performance of his or her duties as such, shall be subject to the civil and criminal penalties set forth in §§ 46-12-13 and 46-12-14.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-12-22