R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-4-1
The director of the department of environmental management may mark out harbor lines suitable to be established in any of the public tidewaters of the state, where the harbor lines have not already been established, and after the harbor lines shall have been platted may report that to the governor and senate for their approval; and when the harbor lines shall have been approved by the governor and senate or as the harbor lines shall be modified and approved thereby, the harbor lines shall be confirmed and established; but before any harbor line shall be marked out or platted by the director of the department of environmental management, the director shall appoint a time and place for hearing all persons interested therein, and shall give notice of the hearing by publishing the notice for at least thirty (30) days in the newspaper which the director may determine will probably give the most publicity of the notice among the persons most likely to be interested therein, and at the time and place appointed, or at such adjournment of the hearing as the director shall make, the director shall hear all persons interested for or against the establishment of the harbor line, who may appear to be heard therein before the department shall proceed to mark out the harbor line.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-4-1