(a) Recognizing the importance of the development of readiness and response programs, the legislature may allocate not more than two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) per annum of the amount then currently in the fund to be devoted to research and development in the causes, effects and removal of pollution caused by oil, petroleum products and their by-products on the marine environment and the monitoring of baseline environmental and economic conditions.
(b) The two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) per annum allocated for research, development, and monitoring shall be allocated to the Department of Environmental Management and expended consistent with the purposes of § 46-23.2-3 entitled "The Comprehensive Watershed and Marine Monitoring Act of 2004."
(c) The remaining moneys in the fund which the legislature may allocate to research, development, and monitoring shall be used for purposes approved by the director. Such purpose may include, but shall not be limited to:
(1) Sensitive area data management and mapping;
(2) Scientific research and monitoring which is directly relevant to state legislation; and
(3) Development of more effective removal and containment technologies, appropriate for the cleanup and containment of refined fuel oils.
History of Section.
P.L. 1996, ch. 289, § 4; P.L. 2006, ch. 555, § 1; P.L. 2015, ch. 141, art. 16, § 3.