Sec. 25-102qq. Powers and duties of the commissioner. River management and protection program.
281 words·~1 min read·
/ct/title-25/chapter-477d-river-protection/25-102qq·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
(a)The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall be responsible for state-wide river policy and comprehensive protection of rivers. The commissioner shall:
(1)Identify rivers or river segments to be protected,
(2)designate protected river corridors, and
(3)approve, reject or modify river corridor maps and management plans submitted pursuant to sections 25-205 and 25-235 .
(b)The commissioner may establish a river management and protection program designed to improve the management and protection of the state's rivers.
(c)In developing the river protection program, the commissioner may:
(1)Develop a proposal for a state-wide river management and protection program that includes, but is not limited to:
(A)The coordination of existing protective state authorities as a means of improving river management and protection;
(B)the development of any statutory modifications to provide effective regional and interstate cooperation for the development of river management plans;
(C)the development of recommendations for river protection for use in regulations of local land use agencies; and
(D)the development of any other needed protection or management of the state's rivers, as determined by the commissioner;
(2)define the river resources to be inventoried and assessed;
(3)conduct a state-wide inventory and assessment of the state's rivers;
(4)develop a state-wide data base of river resource information to facilitate environmental planning, regulatory and management decisions;
(5)develop a river classification system;
(6)develop criteria for identifying rivers or river segments for designation as protected rivers and recommended priorities for the management of the rivers or river segments; and
(7)develop a program to educate the public on river protection issues and ensure public involvement in the development and implementation of the river protection program.