Rhode Island General Laws Title 11. Criminal Offenses § 11-46.1-1. Disturbing intertidal salt marshes--Penalty

(a) Whereas:

(b) Any person who dumps or deposits mud, dirt, or rubbish upon, or who excavates and disturbs the ecology of, intertidal salt marshes, or any part of one, without first obtaining a permit issued by the department of environmental management shall be fined for each offense five hundred dollars ($500), one half ( 1/2 ) to the use of the state and one half ( 1/2 ) to the use of the complainant.

(c) Any person who violates an order of the director of the department of environmental management to cease dumping or excavating shall be fined fifty dollars ($50.00) for each day he or she continues the dumping or excavating.

(d) Any person who so disturbs the ecology of an intertidal salt marsh may, upon complaint of the director of the department, filed in the superior court, be required to restore the salt marsh to the extent practical.

(e) For the purposes of this chapter an intertidal salt marsh shall be prima facie presumed to be those areas upon which grow some, but not necessarily all, of the following: salt marsh grass (Spartina alterniflora), black grass (Juncus gerardi), seaside lavender (Limonium carolinianum), saltwort (Salicornea europaea), salt meadow grass (Spartina patens), spike grass (Distichlis spicata), salt marsh bullrush (Scirpus maritima) and sand spurrey (Spergularia marina), and upon which exists salt marsh peat.

(f) The director of natural resources shall refuse to issue such permit if, in his or her judgment, the dumping or depositing of mud, dirt or rubbish or excavation would disturb the ecology of intertidal salt marshes.