Rhode Island General Laws Title 23. Health and Safety § 23-23-5.3. Advisory commission created

(a) There is created an operating permits advisory commission.  The advisory commission shall consist of the director of the department of environmental management, or his or her designee, and six (6) additional members who shall be appointed as follows:  three (3) members by the governor, two (2) of whom shall be members of the regulated community, and one of whom shall be a member of an environmental citizens group registered as a nonbusiness corporation in the state;  one by the speaker of the house;  one by the president of the senate;  and one jointly by the house minority leader and the senate minority leader, who shall be a member of the minority party.  A chairperson and vice chairperson shall be elected by the members of the commission.  The director of the department of environmental management shall be the secretary of the advisory commission.

(b) The duties of the operating permits advisory commission shall be to review, advise, and evaluate the collection of operating fees pursuant to § 23-23-5(18) and the development and administration of the operating permit program.  The commission shall conduct or commission an annual program review.  The annual program review shall, at a minimum, examine staffing and resource needs, permit program efficiency, and cost requirements.  The cost of conducting the activities of the advisory commission, including the cost of the annual program review, shall be paid from the clean air operating permit fee fund.  The commission shall meet quarterly.  The advisory commission shall have the authority to request and obtain all information from the department necessary to perform its responsibilities.