Providence Working Waterfront Alliance Testimony In Support Of H-5707

• The Providence Working Waterfront Alliance strongly supports H-5707.

• This legislation would require that any city or town seeking to acquire a water-dependent facility by eminent domain provide an alternative water-dependent site with equal acreage, equal or deeper berth draft, equal or deeper marine channel draft, and all federal, state and local site permits and zoning necessary to operate a water-dependent marine terminal.

• Water-dependent businesses MUST have access to the water to operate and this needs to be accounted for in Uniform Relocation Payments.

• There are no suitable alternative locations for most of Rhode Island’s water-dependent oil terminals, cargo operations, and commercial repair ship yards.

• Rhode Island’s ports and water-dependent businesses are strategic state resource that must be preserved and protected.