By Nancy Lavin — Says coastal regulators violated their own rules when they approved scaled-down scallop farm… The 48-page order from Associate Justice Joseph Montalbano reopens the longstanding battle between acclaimed restaurateur and oyster farmer Perry Raso and nearby property owners, remanding the case back to the council for additional public hearings and consideration. 

By Rob Smith — New legislation (H7996/S3082) proposes to merge the two entities, with CRMC — as the smaller of the two agencies — becoming a bureau within DEM. CRMC’s director would become a deputy director within DEM, and the politically appointed board that oversees the coastal agency would be transformed into an advisory body with little decision-making power.

By Nancy Lavin — Frustrated coastal advocates renew calls to nix politically appointed council

By Antonia Noori Farzan — The advocacy group Save The Bay is pushing the Coastal Resources Management Council to take action against Quidnessett Country Club's illegal seawall, and is questioning why the council hasn't done so already. The CRMC voted to pursue enforcement actions on Sept. 23, but to date no further action has been taken, according to Save The Bay.

By Alex Kuffner — Quidnessett Country Club has been granted a 30-day extension to submit a plan for removing an illegal seawall. The country club's proposed plan involves using potentially non-compliant plastic fiber bags for shoreline stabilization. Disagreements persist between the club and the Coastal Resources Management Council regarding the extent of restoration required. Environmental advocates express frustration over the ongoing delays and lack of action.

By Nancy Lavin — Extension comes after North Kingstown country club appeals decision in Superior Court

By Nancy Lavin — A dispute between state coastal regulators and Quidnessett Country Club has finally landed in court, with the North Kingstown country club filing an appeal in Rhode Island Superior Court on July 9 — one day before it was due to turn in a restoration plan for its coastline.

By Nancy Lavin — 2 high-profile environmental bills get taken down a notch, or two, or three

By Alex Kuffner — When Catherine Robinson Hall was appointed to a seat on the Coastal Resources Management Council in 2022, she represented something different for the powerful state agency that controls development along the Rhode Island shoreline…

By Rob Smith — The state’s coastal regulating agency is already starting the new year on the wrong foot. The Coastal Resources Management Council quietly announced last month that longtime council member and Little Compton resident Donald Gomez was resigning. Gomez, who prior to his professional retirement worked as an electric engineer for the Navy in Newport, had been serving in some capacity on CRMC’s executive panel since 2007.

By Antonia Noori Farzan — A blanket ban on new seawalls and rock revetments along certain parts of the coastline means that homeowners have limited ability to defend their properties against erosion. A class action lawsuit seeks to overturn that policy, which would have major implications for Rhode Island's coastline.

By Nancy Lavin — Country club restoration plans appear ‘incomplete,’ says Save the Bay

By Nancy Lavin — CRMC hearing on proposal to ease water protections pits club members against environmentalists

By Olivia Ebertz — As structures like the carousel and snack bar building are being demolished at Easton’s Beach, city officials are grappling with how to save an eroding beach.

By Alex Kuffner — Attorney General Peter Neronha and others are calling on General Assembly leaders to move forward with legislation that would reform the embattled state agency that regulates coastal development in Rhode Island. 

By Antonio Noori Farzan — The Quidnessett Country Club already went ahead and built a massive seawall near the 14th hole without getting permission from the Coastal Resources Management Council. Now, the CRMC has to decide if it's willing to rethink its regulations.

By Nancy Lavin — The state’s beleaguered coastal regulatory agency is facing new scrutiny amid allegations one of its members no longer meets the requirements of the position she was appointed to fill.

By Nancy Lavin — The state’s coastal regulatory agency is ripe for reform. But how much? This is the key question lawmakers, residents and coastal advocates are considering when it comes to the politically appointed Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council.