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REGIONAL ONSHORE IMPACTS FROM OFFSHORE OIL AND NATURAL GAS DRILLING SUPPORT FACILITY DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND 0- Prepared by the Coalition of Coastal Communities May, 1982 The preparation of this guide was financed, in part, by funds from the Office of Coastal Zone Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, administered by the ENERGY OFFICE, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, STAT E OF RHOD E ISLAND Table of Contents Acknowledgments ................................................................ i Introduction ................................................................... ii Chapter One: Offshore Oil and Gas ............................................. 1 Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling ............................................... 3 Mid-Atlantic OCS Activity .................................................. 4 North Atlantic OCS Activity ................................................ 6 Deepwater Drilling ......................................................... 6 References..___.- ... ... ****, **,*****', *** 11 Chapter Two: Onshore Support Activity ......................................... 12 OCS Support Activity ....................................................... 13 Quonset Point-Davisville ................................................... 14 OCS Support Facility Estimates ............................................. 22 OCS Support Population ..................................................... 40 References ................................................................. 53 Chapter Three: Onshore Regional Issues: Land Resources ...................... 54 Population Growth .......................................................... 56 Transportation ............................................................. 64 Economic Growth ............................................................ 80 Housing .................................................................... 90 Land Use .................................................................... 116 References ................................................................. 138 Chapter Four: Onshore Regional Issues: Water Resources ....................... 140 Surface Water .............................................................. 141 On-Site Wastewater Treatment ............................................... 154 Municipal Wastewater Treatment ............................................. 164 Groundwater ................................................................ 171 Water Supply Systems ....................................................... 190 References..,,............,,....,. ... *, *'***** 200 Chapter Five: Onshore Regional Issuest Energy Resources ...................... 203 Preface .................................................................... 204 Initiatives for Community Energy Planning .................................. 205 Statewide Energy Profile ................................................... 209 South Kingstown: Townwide and In-House Energy Patterns .................... 228 Appendix: Regional Onshore Impact Issues ...................................... 258 References ................................................................. 280 List of Tables Chapter I-1 North and Mid-Atlantic OCS Leasing Schedule ................... 5 1-2 OCS Resource Estimates ........................................ 5 Chapter II-1 Service Base Employment (Exploration) ......................... 25 11-2 Service Base Employment (Development) ......................... 25 11-3 Service Base Employment (Production) .......................... 26 11-4 Service Base Capital Investment ............................... 29 11-5 Rig Fabrication at Quonset Point-Davisville ................... 31 11-6 Platform Installation Schedule ................................ 32 11-7 Platform Installation - Service Base Employment and Wages .... 32 11-8 Pipeline Installation ......................................... 34 11-9 Annual Costs: Pipeline Installation .......................... 34 II-10 Pipe Coating Yard: Employment and Wages ...................... 36 II-11 Gas Processing and Treatment Plant ............................ 37 11-12 Quonset Point-Davisville Worker Residency ..................... 43 11-13 OCS Employment Comparison ..................................... 45 11-14 Quonset Point-Davisville Total OCS Employment ................. 46 11-15 Secondary and Total Economic Impacts .......................... 47 11-16' Electric Boat/Quonset Point-Davisville Worker Residency ....... 49 11-17 Comparative Oil-Related Estimates, Total vs. Resident Employment ............................ 50 11-18 Unit Availability with Kitchen Access ......................... 52 Chapter III-1 Population Change for the West Bay Region, State, Nation ...... 58 111-2 Population Density, 1960-1980 ................................. 61 111-3 General Population Characteristics, 1970-1980 ................. 62 111-4 Distribution of Age, 1970 & 1980 .............................. 62 111-5 Employment, 1960-1980 ......................................... 82 111-6 Region as Percent of State Activity, 1960-1980 ................ 83 111-7 Land Use Changes to Residential Use in 1975 ................... 93 111-8 West Bay Housing Stock Characteristics: Age .................. 94 111-9 West Bay Housing Stock Characteristics: Dwelling Unit Structure ................................................ 97 III-10 Building Permits, New Starts .................................. 98 III-11 Housing: Tenure .............................................. 100 111-12 Seasonal Units in the West Bay Region, 1970-1980 .............. 101 111-13 Mean Sales Prices for West Bay Region, SFH .................... 104 111-14 Building Permits for First Three-Quarters of Year ............. 105 111-15 Vacancy Rates ................................................. 106 111-16 Average Number Persons/Household .............................. 106 111-17 Condominiums, January, 1982 ................................... 109 111-18 Municipal Costs and Revenues .................................. 110 111-19 Building Permits, 1971-1980 ................................... 112 111-20 Agricultural Land, 1970 & 1979 ................................ 118 111-21 Farm Activities; Region and State, 1979 ....................... 122 111-22 Prime Farmland and Land Farmed, 1979 .......................... 122 111-23 Prime Farmland by Suitability for Development ................. 124 111-24 Land Use Changes from 1970-1975 ............................... 127 111-25 Land Zoned for Industrial Use, 1978 ........................... 132 111-26 Restraints on Lands Zoned for Industrial Purposes, 1978 ....... 133 List of Tables (continued) Chapter IV-1 Water Quality Clarification and Pollution Source .............. 143 iv-2 Dredging Needs ................................................ 152 IV-3 1977 Metal Concentrations in WWTF Effluent .................... 153 IV-4 Dwelling Units with ISDS and Percent Failure/Year ............. 154 IV-5 Housing Developments Characterized by High Rate of Septic System Failure ........................................... 156 IV-6 Recommendations on Septic System Management Ordinances ........ 158 IV-7 208 Recommendations ........................................... 162 IV-8 Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facilities ..................... 165 IV-9 Cost Comparison for Sewage Faciities .......................... 167 IV-10 Pollution Loading Souces in Greenwich Cove .................... 170 IV-11 Water Supply Systems .......................................... 172 IV-12 Groundwater Resources ......................................... 173 IV-13 Drinking Water Withdrawal from Groundwater Aquifers ........... 174 IV-14 Drinking Water Use ............................................ 175 IV-15 Acreage of Highways in Groundwater Aquifers ................... 182 IV-16 Zoning of Recharge Areas ...................................... 182 IV-17 Percent Land Use in Aquifer Recharge Areas ................... 182 Chapter V-1 Total Statewide Energy Consumption ............................ 209 v-2 Table of Price Increases ...................................... 210 V-3 Total Fuel Expenditures, 1976 & 1980 .......................... 211 v-4 Residential Ene4rgy Use ....................................... 212 V-5 Residential Energy: Amount Spent, 1976 and 1980 .............. 213 V-6 Gasoline Average Cost Per Gallon .............................. 214 V-7 Commercial and Industrial Consumption ......................... 218 v-8 Commercial and Industrial Expenditures ........................ 219 V-9 R.I.'s 1985 Goals for Substituted Energy ...................... 220 V-10 Installed Solar ............................................... 220 V-11 Wood .......................................................... 223 V-12 Hydro-Electric ................................................ 224 V-13 Top Ten Hydro Sites in Rhode Island ........................... 225 V-14 1980 South Kingstown Residential Energy Usage and Cost ........ 228 V-15 1980 Town Energy Consumption as Compared to State ............. 229 V-16 South Kingstown Population .................................... 231 V-17 South Kingstown Housing: Total Units ......................... 231 V-18 Characteristics of Workers in Washington County ............... 232 V-19 South Kingstown 1970 Residential Fuel ................ o ...* .... 233 V-20 South Kingstown Residential Electric Usage as Compared to State ........................... o ........................ 234 V-21 South Kingstown Residential Sales ............................. 236 V-22 South Kingstown Natural Gas ................................... 238 V-23 Natural Gas - Prices ............................... o....... -239 V-24 Gasoline Prices ............................................... 239 V-25 Monthly Gas Expenditures ...................................... 240 V-26 Electrical Consumption in Town Facilites ...................... 243 V-27 1970-1980 Energy Expenditures in South Kingstown .............. 246 Appendix A-1 Regional Onshore Impact Issues ................................ 26-4 List of Figures Chapter I-1 North and Mid-Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf ................. 2 Chapter II-1 Quonset Point-Davisville ...................................... 15 11-2 OCS Su"pport Activities .... 24 11-3 Total Direct Employment fo;*S,;*I;C*te**d"O*C*S**Ac't*i*vi*ti*e*s*,******''*' Medium Find Scenario ..................................... 24 11-4 Total Service Base Employment ................................. 28 11-5 Pattern of Direct Employment .................................. 42 Chapter 111-1 West Bay Region ............................................... 55 111-2 Population Growth ............................................. 57 111-3 Major Highway and Bridge Projects ............................. 69 111-4 Changes In Y .car-Round Housing Units, 1970-1980 ................ 92 111-5 Seasonal Housing as a Percent of Total Housing Stock, 1970 & 1980 .............................................. 95 111-6 Municipal Zoning, 1978 ........................................ 96 111-7 Developable Areas ............................................. 115 111-8 Agricultural Land ............................................. 120 Chapter IV-1 Water Quality ................................................. 142 IV-2 Public Sewers ................................................. 168 IV-3 Public Water .............................. .................... 175 IV-4 Groundwater ....................... 181 IV-5 1963-1974 Chloride Ions, Hunt River Aquifer ................... 185 IV-6 Water Rates ................................................... 191 Chapter V-1 Consumption of Gasoline ....................................... 215 v-2 State Gallons Consumed Per Car Per Year ....................... 216 v-3 Gasoline Prices Per Gallon .................................... 217 v-4 South Kingstown Electric Consumption .......................... 235 V-5 Consumption of Fuels in the Schools ........................... 24.5 v-6 South Kingstown Prime Farm Land ............................... 251 Acknowledgments This document is intended to assist and benefit the Rhode Island coastal com- munities surrounding the proposed onshore support base for offshore oil and gas drilling. Without the assistance of the many informed local officials of these communities, as well as state officials, who have advised and provided information to the Coalition staff, this report would not have been possible. The Regional Onshore Impact Report was prepared by the staff of the Coalition of Coastal Communities. The project manager was David Strouss, Executive Director of the Coalition. Other principal authors were Coalition planners Richard Lee and Marilyn Cohen, David Valletta, and Jamie Rae Carlson. In addition, Cynthia Collins and Constance Grove of the Regional Energy Project contributed the Energy section. Technical planning assistance was provided by Clare Slade Tague and J, David Sienko, Special thanks to Carol Simmons and Jeri Mork for their patience and understanding in typing the many drafts and final report. The Coalition also wishes to thank the Coastal Energy Impact Program, admin- istered by the Governor's Energy Office and funded through the Office of Coastal Zone Management for recognizing the need and concerns of the coastal communities. Introduction The Coalition of Coastal Communities is a regional council of local governments charged with realizing the full potential of Narragansett Bay and its resources. The Coalition conducts studies on matters of mutual interest and concern to its member communities, develops policies and action recommendations, and influences local, state, and fe-deral policies to more effectively address regional concerns. In 1980, the issue of impacts on coastal communities from proposed develop- ment of support facilities at Quonset Point/Davisville for offshore oil and gas drilling was identified as an area of study by the Coalition. The coastal communities in the region surrounding Quonset were viewed as highly vulnerable to impacts from extensive support facility development due to already existing rapid development and change in these communities. A grant was awarded to the Coalition to conduct a coastal energy impact study from the Office of Coastal Zone Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, administered by the Governor's Energy Office, State of Rhode Island. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects this proposed activity would have on the surrounding coastal communities. This is accomplished by identifying and assessing characteristics and problems of the region which could be demonstrably affected by high level secondary impacts associated with offshore drilling support development in Rhode Island. Regional impacts form the limited offshore drilling support activity to date have been minimal. Future impact severity will depend upon the amountand location of offshore drilling in the eastern Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Onshore support development will coincide closely with the activity offshore. At this time there is a high level of uncertainity with regards to this activity. The report will examine the chief factors determining why offshore oil and gas drilling in the North and Mid-Atlantic has an uncertain future. Existing and planned offshore drilling support develop- ment at Quonset Point/Davisville is described. Projections on employment, wagesy and direction of the various OCS support activities are based primarily upon the New England River Basin Commission's comprehensive offshore oil study finding in 1111, Regional onshore impacts associated with OCS support facility de velopme nt are charted based upon previous experiences of other OCS support regions in North America and Great Britain. The information is intended to assist local officials interested in the unique nature of this major coastal energy development and its impacts on communities. Together with the data provided on areas that could be af- fected in the region by the onshore activity, this information will help the com- munities prepare and plan for offshore oil and gas drilling and onshore developments in Rhode Island in the 1980s and 1990s. A study region was selected which consists of the coastal communities adjacent to and including the host community, North Kingstown. These surrounding communities are East Greenwich, South Kingstown, Narragansett, and Jamestown. Referred to as the West Bay Region, these communities lie proximate to the source of potential im- pacts. The communities have exhibited important similarities such as high growth rates and pressures on services and resources. This study area allows the consid- eration of regional solutions as well as local recommendations. The information provided on OCS activity will be of use to all coastal communities and findings are applicable to most of the other communities in Washington County, Rhode Island. The Coalition study is concerned with regional problem areas which could be further affected by siginificant OCS support facility development. Identification and assessment of these problems were limited to service areas by local governments where management by local government will determin the future environmental quality of the region. These areas include water quality management, drinking water supply, population and housing controls, transportation, economic development, land-use planning, and energy. Coastal management and recreation/tourism will be service areas examined in a second year study. These are not the only areas of concern in the region which could be affected by planned offshore drilling-related development. Schools, police and fire, and medical services are other documented areas which have been affected by this development elsewhere and will require further attention. A description of each of these regional services is provided. This description includes a survey of trends to provide an historical and relative perspective. Im- portant findings and existing and/or potential problems are identified. These problems are analyzed for developing effective local, regional, state, and federal policies. Preliminary policy recommendations are set forth in each section. A second year study, entitled Community Assistance: OCS Impact Study Implementation, will further develop and attempt to implement recommended policies and plans. This study does not present any official policy position of this organization in regards to future development of offshore oil and gas drilling and the develop- ment of support facilities in Rhode Island. The Coalition was charged with address- ing potential regional effects on coastal communities surrounding the support base at Quonset Point-Davisville.- The Coalition realizes the important economic bene- fits to the state and communities from the projected employment opportunities. Again, due to the high level of uncertainty involving future OCS support development activities amid the ensuing speculative nature of any regional impact assessment, the study methodology identifies and assesses existing service problem areas affect- ing the environment which are the most vulnerable to regional impacts from this activity. The Coalition of Coastal Communities' goal is to realize the full recrea- tional, aesthetic, and economic potential of Narragansett Bay. iv I I . I I I I I I I . Chapter One I Offshore Oil and Gas I - I . I I I I I I I I Figure 1-1 NORTH AND MID-ATLANTIC OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF mr;" K 41 IS 4r 49 Xl@ L -49 C'0 GEORGES BANK B LTIMORE CANYON 29 39 rea und@r study existimg a PrAVOWD mw f4m5a lease tracts in he Norni Atlantic, and mc.. existing and pro osed leases in he a UWTM L mm - aw-g 42 Mid-Atlant ic M w4pomw W" Nmw uwm -&#AJM 4C IN a 7 tam: THIS AAP SHM" BE MW RM NAM WONX 7_1@ A! 7@f Source; United States Geological Survey Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling Offshore oil and gas drilling in the Mid-Atlantic and North Atlantic Outer Continental Shelves will determine the developme nt activity and impacts onshore. Understanding the offshore activity assists planning for onshore impacts. An ex- amination of the drilling history of the Atlantic OCS, the science of estimating OCS oil and gas resources, and economics and technology of drilling in deep water reveal how the offshore activity determines the onshore impacts. The history of offshore oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf has consisted of a relatively long-term, high-risk exploration phase. Most of the Atlantic drilling history has occurred in the outer continentai shelf off the coast of Canada. The significance of the exploration of the Canadian OCS was that it.took ten years before a major commercial discover y occurred. Yet, the patience and commitment of the offshore oil and gas industry resulted in a discov- ery estimated to contain 50% more recoverable oil and gas than the giant field in Alas*ka's Prudhoe Bay. A similar history occurred in the North Sea where 54 wells were drilled.before a major commercial disc overy occurred. Both prior to and during the exploration phase of offshore oil and gas drilling the government and industry produce estimates on the resource potentials. Impact assessments are based upon these estimates. An examination of the history of esti- mating offshore oil and natural gas resources for the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf reveals a great amount of uncertainty. The Canadian OCS Resources estimates have varied significantly during the ten- year exploratory phase. In 1964 the Canadian Petroleum Association estimated the Canadian Atlantic Shelf contained 29 billion barrels (bls.) of oil. After four years of exploratory drilling, estimates were reduced to 3.7 billion b1s. and in 1976, the large discovery occurred in the Hibernia field of the Canadian Shelf, rais- ing the total Canadian OCS resource estimates to 16 billion b1s. 3 Resource estimates for the United States Atlantic OCS have experienced similar fluctuations in the early stages. Table I-I shows the OCS schedule. The most re- cent estimates (1981) are shown in Tablel-2 following the first lease sale, five- year exploration of the Baltimore Canyon* Many experts believe recent advances in the science of computer analysis of seismic reflection data will improve the accur- acy of estimating oil and gas offshore resources. The unreliablity of OCS oil and gas resource estimates prior to commercial dis- coveries makes planning for onshore impacts difficult and often inaccurate. Onshore impacts are a direct result of offshore oil and gas exploratory development and pro- duction activity. The size and location of the offshore resources will determine the magnieude of the onshore impacts wherein local and state governments must make timely plans to achieve maximum benefits and mitigate any negative impacts. Mid-Atlantic OCS Activity Offshore oil and gas exploratory drilling in the Mid-Atlantic lease sale area, comonly known as the Baltimore Canyon, began in 1978. Twenty-eight exploratory wells have been drilled so far with five revealing some findings of oil and gas. n 1978 several major oil companies indicated that a minimum of 1 - 1.2 trillion cubic feet of gas was necessary for a commercial discovery. Estimates for natural gas in the Mid-Atlantic shelf lands leased in Sales 40 and 49 was .86 trillion cubic feet. The future course of action by the oil companies is being determined by de- tailed economic, engineering and geological analysis of all the available data. This is an extremely difficult task for a marginal find because of the variability in the geology of the region on which the all important reserve estimates are based. Currently, there are no rigs exploring for oil and gas in the Mid-Atlantic. Drilling and support activity has declined from a peak of nine rigs in the Mid- Atlantic in 1979 to one rig which completed drilling in the summer of 1981. The latest lease sale for the Mid-Atlantic was held in December, 1981. One 4 Table 1-1- North and Mid-Atlantic OCS Leasing Schedule Lease Sale Year of Sale No. Area 40 Mid-Atlantic 1976 49 Mid-Atlantic 1978 42 North Atlantic 1979 59 Mid-Atlantic 1981 52 North Atlantic 1982 76 Mid-Atlantic 1983 82 North Atlantic 1984 90 Atlantic 1985 96 Atlantic 1986 Table 1-2 OCS Resource Estimates OIL GAS (Billion Barrels) (Trillion Cu. Ft.) Shelf Slope Shelf Slope (0-200 Meters) (200-2,500 Meters) North Atlantic .4 1.0 2.5 3.2 Mid-Atlantic .8 2.3 5.8 8.6 U.S. Atlantic 1.1-12.9 5.4 9.2-42.8 23.6 Source: United States Geological Survey, 1981 5 company plans to begin exploring in approximately eighteen months. Perhaps the most important feature of this lease sale was the bidding for leases in water depths be- tween 6,000 and 7,000 feet (see p.8 for further discussion of deepwater drilling). The fourth lease sale for the Mid-Atlantic, No. 76, held a call for nominations in December, 1981. Under the proposed Department of Interior Accelerated Five-Year Oil and Gas Leasing Schedule, the lease sale is scheduled for February, 1983. Again, oil companies showed interest in the deep water tracts. Areas of medium to high in- terest to companies toalled 1,327 tracts covering 7.4 million acres over the deep water reef structure (see map p.2 North Atlantic OCS Activities Exploratory drilling began on Georges Bank on July 24, 1981. Both the Alaskan Star, leased by Exxon, and the Zapata Saratoga, leased by Shell Oil Company, began drilling within fifteen hours and forty miles of one another. A third rig leased by Mobil Oil Company began drilling in November, 1981, and a fourth rig began drilling in March, 1982. Four months after it began drilling, Exxon announced a dry hole and moved to a new location (Block 133). Shell temporarily suspended drilling on December 6th after a winter snowstorm resulting in problems with broken anchor lines. The second lease sale for Georges Bank, #52, is scheduled for August, 1982. A total of 540 tracts were nominated in water depths of 171 to 9,285 feet. Tablel-1 shows the future leasing schedule for the North and Mid-Atlantic 0 CS. Due to the greater potential for oil and gas in the deeper water of the outer con- tinental slope, the following sections provide information on factors affecting the exploration and development of the Atlantic slope. Deepwater Drilling A further indicator of a long-term exploratory phase in the North and Mid- Atlantic OCS is the growing interest in deep well drilling in an ancient reef struc- 6 ture of the Atlantic continental slope. The slope contains an ancient reef struc- ture running from Main to Georgia approximately 50 to 200 miles off the eastern seaboard. As the estimates in TableII for the U.S. Atlantic slope reveal, the most promising areas for offshore oil and natural gas discoveries are within these sig- nificantly deeper waters. The first deep water lease sale in the North and Mid-Altantic occurred in the Mid-Atlantic, sale #59, in December, 1981. Out of the $425 million the oil compan- ies bid on ninety-four tracts, $300 million was for tracts between 6,000 and 7,000 feet of water. This expenditure for deepwater tracts in the Mid-Atlantic represents a significant commitment by the oil companies (Shell, in partnership with others) to drill in deep waters in the Atlantic. A recent lease sale in the South Atlantic also revealed strong interest by lessees in deepwater tracts. Tremendous initial capital investments required for exploration and development in deep water may prevent the largest oil companies from entering more than a few of these risky capital-intensive projects. Present exploration costs for the Mid- Atlantic are betwen $10 and $25 million per well. Costs for deepwater drilling may increase to $50 million per.well. The total costs for exploration and development of oil and gas resources of the Mid-Atlantic continental slope could run as high as $10 billion. Oil companies have invested $5.4 billion in deepwater drilling without showing a profitable return yet. Drilling on the U.S. continental slope will have to compete for the same capi- tal resources with costly drilling projects in the oil-rich areas of the Grand Banks, Hudson Bay, Beaufort Sea and the North Sea. Therefore, extremely large oil fields in the deep water of the U.S. continental slope are required to offset the high de- velopment cost and out-compete other oil rich OCS areas for capital investments . Three hundred million barrels of oil have been shown to be the minimum reserve level to support deepwater oil and gas production. As of April, 1980, sixty-four OCS oil fields in the world had such reserve levels. Only fifteen were located 7 outside the Middle East and the North Sea. A low probability of discovering a com- mercial field which will be able to offset initial development investments, in con- junction with the extreme shortages of deepwater exploration rigs, frames a pesi- mistic picture for an immediate high level of deepwater OCS activity on the U.S. eastern continental slope. The current deepwater exploratory drilling capability is 6,000 feet and could be extended to 8,000 feet without any further technological developments. Two types of exploratory rigs are suitable for deep water: the drill ship and the semi-sub- mersible. Presently there are only 16 drill ships and 10 semi-submersibles capable of exploring for oil and gas in water depths of 2,000 feet. Eleven drill ships and 2 semi-submersibles can operate in waters of 3,000 feet and 3 drill ships and 2 semi-submersibles can operate in waters of 6,000 feet. Thus, 25 of the 421 explora- tory rigs in the world are available to explore for oil and gas in the deep waters of the Atlantic Continental Slope. Because of the extreme shortage o-f exploratory rigs, their use and siting by the oil companies is evaluated on a worldwide basis. The criteria used to priori- tize an area for rig siting includes: - past success of exploration; - estimates of resources and reserves; - the amount and timing of OCS available for exploration; - regulatory requirements; - distance to other promising geological formations; and, - socio-economic conflicts. Exemplifying the effect of this criteria is the low level of activity on the Canadian Atlantic OCS, one of the most promising frontier areas in the world. There are only six exploratory rigs operating in the entire 3,200 mile length of the OCS. Only four exploratory rigs are drilling in the oil-rich North Sea. This trend of low-level activity in untested frontier areas can be expected to continue for the 8 unexplored continental slope off the eastern United States. The U.S. Geological Survey and industrial experts forecast that by 1980 the oil companies will be able to produce oil and gas in water depths of 8,000 feet. To date, conventional platforms have been used to produce petroleum in water depths just over 1,000 feet. Only 15% of lease sale 59 and 50% of lease 52 will be in water depths within the industry's present capability to produce oil and gas. Two production pla.tform designs are being considered for deep waters, the guyed tower platform @nd the tension let platform. The guyed tower platform is being de- signed by Exxon for water depths of up to 3,000 feet. The tower, a trussed struc- ture with a constant cross section, is held vertical by a series of guy wires radi- ating from the top at a thirty degree angle and anchored to the sea floor. A one- fifth scale model has been successfully tested in the Gulf of Mexico. Deisgn plans show the guyed tower platform is economically preferable in water depths between 1,000 and 2,000 feet. Probably the most feasible deisng for extreme water depths is Conoco's tension leg platform (TLP). Such a platform is scheduled for operation on the Hutton Field in the North Sea by 1984. Although Conoco's design has an expected maximum depth capability of 2,000 feet, experts believe that TLPs could be operated in 6,000 feet of water. The TLP is basically a semi-submersible attached to the sea floor by twelve tethers. Once anchored, the floating platform pulls down on its sea floor anchors creating 1,000 tons of tension on each of its tethers. Thus, the legs will be in tension rather than compression like the conventional bottom supported platform. The structure will have virtually no vertical motion and very little lateral motion in heavy weather. In water depths beyond 2,000 feet a subsea production system will be required for oil field development. Such systems may consist of deep water well heads, pro- duction manifolds, pipelines, storage facilities and a maintenance system for the deepwater facilities. Such deepwater systems have only been tested in shallow 9 water. However, extensive planning has begun on a system to produce the first oil and gas from 3,000 feet of water at the Mantanzo field off the coast of Spain. In summary, deepwater drilling is a new development in the industry which may significantly determine the future of offshore oil and gas drilli ng on the Atlantic OCS. Greater potential exists in these deeper waters for commercial finds than in the shallow waters above the shelf. Outside factors such as would market supply of oil, availability of deepwater exploratory rigs, industrial prioritization for sit- ing rigs, and progress in deepwater development drilling technology, will have an effect on the rate and extent of offshore drilling in the North and Mid-Atlantic. But the most important factor determining onshore activity will be the actual amount of commercially recoverable oil and natural gas in the vast North and Mid-Atlantic Outer Continental region. 10 REFERENCES Boston Globe, Sunday, July 5, 1981, Georges Bank Oil Drilling to Begin. Environemtnal Impact Statement, Final, for OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale No. 42, 1977. Four volumes. International Report: Ocean Industry, April 1981. New England River Basins Commission, 1981. A Deepwater Oil and Gas Technology Assessment. Hudson Canyon Transportation Management Plan, May, 1981. New York Bureau of Land Management, New York OCS Office. New York Times, Sunday, March 15, 1981. Oil Drillers Off Canada Battle Nature and Politics. Oil & Gas Journla, December, 17, 1979. Area Off.Eastern Canada Shows Brighter Prospects, pgs. 19-23. Oil and Gas Journal, May, 11, 1981. Dry Hole in the Baltimore Canyon. Oil & Gas Journal, March 1, 1981. Grand Banks, Arctic Island Search Heating Up, pgs. 68-69. Oil & Gas Journal, January 5, 1981. Prospects Tremendous Off East Canada, pgs. 115-116. Schlee, J.S., J. A. Grow, 1980. Buried Carbonate Shelf Edge Beneath the Atlantic Continental Slope, oil & Gas Journal, February 25, 1980. Snyder, J. J. and J. M. McKinney, 1978. Deepwater Drilling and Production Technology. Prepared for the National OCS Advisory Board. Environmental Impact Statement for Lease Sale 59, Final. Bureau of Land Management, May, 1981. U.S. Geological Service, Outer Continental Shelf Oiland Gas Activities in the South Atlantic and their Onshore Impacts: A Summary Report. U.S. Geological Service, Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Activities and their Onshore Impacts: A Summary Report, November, 1979. U.S. Geological Service, Oil and Gas Activities in the North Atlantic and thier Onshore Impacts: A summary Report, 1981. Wall Street Journal, April 17, 1982, Advances in Oil and Gas Exploratory Techniques. Witt, Robert, Exploring the Deeper Seas Offshore, 40 (6), 54-60. 1980. I I I I I I I I I Chaper Two onshore Support Activity I I I I I I I I I 1 12 OCS Support Activity A major amount of industrial and commercial activity is required to support offshore oil and gas drilling operations. Because of its excellent location, al- most equal, distance from both Georges Bank and Baltimore Canyon, its excellent in- dustrial and port facilities, and economic attractiveness, Quonset Point-Davisville is an excellent site for offshore oil and gas support activity. The support of OCS development is a major planning priority for Davisville by the State of Rhode Island through the Rhode Island Port Authority and Economic Development COrpora- tion (RIPAEDC). Present land-use plans for future OCS support expansion at Quonset are shown in Figure 11-1. Quonset Point-Davisville has been used as a service base for exploratory drill- ing activities in the North and Mid-Atlantic. Peak activity occurred in 1979 with approximately 900 workers servicing 9 rigs in the Baltimore Canyon. In 1981, when only 1 rig was drilling, there were less than 100 OCS-related employees. Offshore rigs have come to the Quonset Pier, and Newport and Jamestown harbors for servicing. More of this activity could be expected with increased drilling activity. Future activity at Quonset Point-Davisville would include expanded service base operations, installation services for rigs and pipelines, and possibly pipe- coating and rig fabrication. The level of this activity will, again, be determined by the local and amount of offshore drilling as well as where drilling companies and major oil companies decide to locate permanent service bases on the east coast. The following section provides a description of the support base and facili- ties at Quonset Point-Davisville , the existing support activities for North and Mid-Atlantic offshore drilling operations, and potential future OCS support activities. 13 Quonset Point Davisville Physical Description Quonset Point-Davisville Industrial Park is a 3,250 acre site on Narragansett Bay developed by the U.S. Navy at the start of World War 11 as part of the North Atlantic naval/air defense system. In addition to the extensive land area, much of the former naval base is waterfront acreage with three major piers, having a total of 6,800 linear feet of docking space. Nearly all of Quonset Point and the Seabee Base at Davisville were turned over to the State of Rhode Island by the Navy in 1974. The State, in turn, formed the Rhode Island Port Authority and the Department of Economic Development (RIPADED) in 1974 to promote commercial and industrial use of the area. Of the 3,250 acres, the Navy retains 260 acres. The major non-military tenants in 1981 at Quonset Point-Davisville are the General Dynamics Division of Electric Boat, occupying 165 acres, and offshore oil drilling companies. (Fig. 11-1). Davisville is the onshore service base currently being used to support oil and gas exploration activity in the Nid-Atlantic (Georges Bank). Several oil companies currently lease approximately 100 acres of mostly waterfront land plus two piers at Davisville. Quonset Point-Davisville is characterized by level topography, direct water- front access, contiguous marshalling and storage areas, and good air, land and water transportation facilities. Utilities The entire Quonset Point Industrial Park is provided with electrical serv- ic e (overhead and underground cables), fresh water from a 4.75 million gallon gravel-packed well in the park, and gas service. There is a grid system of sepa- rate sanitary and storm drains, with sewerage being fed to a wastewater treatment facility at the southern end of Quonset Pier.. The Port Authority and Economic Development Corporation is undertaking studies on design, engineering, and construction of sewer lines to West Davisville 14 OCS SUPPORT 9 N N N OPEN OPEN STORAG AC 8 0 12 5 N N 5LWAbE TREATME OCS PLANT SUPPO GOLF COURSE 14 NA N AIR NATIONAL GUARD QUONS im STAT C@ 16 AIRP RT N 19 31 20 N ES 2 24 REC IND N TE coh 5 POR ELECTRIC im BOAT OCS PE SUPP RT REDEVELOPMENT SCENARIO II IATES (1977) IN THEIR FACILITI NOTE: NUMBERS ARE AREAS DESIGNATED BY KEYES ASSOC Source: Coastal Resources Center, 1977 to support anticipated OCS development. The plans are for construction of a sewage pumping station with discharge through gravity feed lines to an upgraded secondary treatment facility. Treated wastewater will be discharged into Narragansett Bay. According to John Dana,.Port Authority Director, a $1 million upgrading of the treatment plant is in the planning stages. This will cut the plant's capacity by half, but will upgrade treatment from primary to secondary. Transportation A. Rail Quonset Point-Davisville has 23 miles of rail service connecting with the main Conrail Boston/New York line. Rail lines are considered Class 1 and 2 under the Federal Railroad Administration Trade Safety Act. B. Highway There is direct access from the two major roads in Quonset Point/Davisville to Interstate 95 via connecting Route 403 and Devils Foot Ro ad. A $25,000 CEIP Grant has been awarded to RIPADED for engineering, design, and specifications to construct improvements at the intersection of Routes 1 and 403 with the Quonset Point-Davisville and Devil's Foot Road, to handle the traffic expected to double from an increase in OCS activities at Davisville. Improvements will include wid- ening the approaches, improved channeling of traffic, and signalization. C. Air The federal government is in the process of turning over the former Naval Air Station at Quonset Point to the State of Rhode Island. The 767-acre site, including an industrial area for airport operations, is located on the waterfront. Current users of the airport are the Rhode Island Air National Guard, Army Na- tional Guard, and Providence Air Charter Service. The airport is in the class of 4 general aviation facility with an 8,000 foot runway that can handle the largest jet aircraft. 16 D . Piers Quonset has one pier, located at the southern end of the base, directly at the end of the Quonset Access Road. It is construc ted of reinformed concrete and it is 1,400 feet long and 65'feet wide. It has 6,800 linear feet of dockage and is reached through a thirty foot shipping channel connected to the main shipping channel of Narragansett Bay. The pier is currently being used on an on-going basis by one lobster boat and a single fish wholesale/retail firm out of a small plant. For six weeks in the Spring of 1981 the pier was used by the Ocean Drilling and Exploration Company (ODECO) to overhaul its rig, the Ocean Victory. The rig was being used for oil exploration in the Baltimore Canyon and was being repaired for the North Sea. The semi-submersible rig, 300 vertical feet by 265 feet wide, unballasted, had to fold down its tower to clear the Newport Bridge in the East Passage of Narragansett Bay. The rig was in port six weeks while repairs were being made to its support structure. Iron workers and others worked day and night around the clock to get the rig ready for its next assignment. ODECO Admin- istrative ManagerJohn Hume reported that nearly $10 million was spent locally in salaries, equipment, and supplies to overhaul the rig. Pier I at Davisville is 1,200 feet long and 250 feet wide. It is constructed of reinforced concrete on wood pilings over water with solid fill support at the land end. It can withstand 1,000 pounds per square foot of weight. Pier 11 is also 1,200 feet long, but 650 feet wide. It is built on filled, interlocking steel sheets interfaced along a bulkhead and can accommodate 1,000 pounds per square foot. Altogether, there are 22 acres of pier space. Additional bulkheading is being proposed for a third pier. The piers are serviced by electricity, gas, fresh water, and storm drains. A proposed sewer line with 1211 pipes will tie@ in the Davisville piers with the rest 17 of the Quonset Point Treatment Facility. Much of the pier space is being leased by mud companies. . On the pier aprons are arrange d 15 cement and/or stainless steel mobile storage tanks containing unm ixed drilling muds to be pumped aboard supply boats for tr ips out to the Baltimore Canyon. Adjacent land area is occupied by a scat- tering of offices and warehouses.belonging to a few oil companies and suppliers, but the upland area is mostly used for outside storage of drill bits, drill cas- ings, cable, tubulars, and other parts. In January, 1981, three supply boats servicing the Alaskan Star rig in the Baltimore Canyon, owned by the North Star Drilling Company, were using Davisville Pier. They are fifty-footers with a draft of fourteen feet. Diesel fuel for the boats is brought aboard via an underground pipe from the Quonset Point Fueling Corporation. Sup plies being moved by the boats to the rig are fresh water, drilling muds, diesel fuel, steel tubulars, cement, and food. Rig workers are taken out by helicopter from Hyannis, Massachusetts, and/or New Jersey. Boat bilges are cleaned every two weeks, mostly by Peabody Clean Industries, located at Quonset Point. A company manager says the hazardous waste (mostly oil) is trucked to a recycling plant in Connecticut. In April, 1981, Peabody Clean Industries was cited by the Department of Environmental Management and the Environmental Protection Agency for non-compliance with hazardous waste disposal regulations. There are 19 berths for OCS vessels at the Davisville piers-at present. OCS interests lease the pier area and uplands for a total of 100 acres of waterfront land. There is an additional 100 acres available for lease to the offshore drill- ing industry, without interfering with the proposed uses of the industrial park. 18 In the spring of 1981 there were fourteen lessees currently renting space for no more than two-year terms for the pier area. Most "leases',are on a month- to-month basis and rents remained the same in 1981 as they were in 1976, when the oil companies first moved into Davisville Prospective lessees are required to complete a socio-economic and environ- mental review form, a condition of a lawsuit settlement involving the transfer of the Naval properties to the State of Rhode Island. According to John Dana, RIPA earns approximately $200,000 per year from renting the pier to OCS drilling com- panies. Expansion of the pier space available at Davisville has been proposed by the Rhode Island Port Authority to accomodate increased demand for port services resulting from exploratory and production drilling on the North Atlantic Continent- al Shelf. The proposed expansion involves the construction of 675 linear feet of new steel sheetpile bulkhead with a dredge depth of 25 feet, mean low water (mlw). Approximately 350,000 cubic yards of dredging is required. One hundred-ninety thousand yards will be used to fill 18 acres, 10 of which are currently at or below 0 m1w. The newly created land will be 10 to 17 feet above sea level. The remaining 160,000 cubic yards, plus an additional 550,000, will be used to create an additional 28 acres of land. Estimated cost of the project is $6.5 million. The total expanded port will include 2,400 linear feet of new berthing space. Other OCS Activities The Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics, the major industrial users of Quonset Point, has shown an interest in entering the offshore oil and gas sup- port industry. They have previously announced their intentions of diversifying from submarine construction into construction of offshore oil rigs, barges, and other equipment used for the exploration and production of OCS oil and gas. In September, 1980, Electric Boat applied to the Coastal Resources Manage- ment Council for a permit necessary'to construct a rig launcher. An application 19 was also submitted to the Army Corp of Engineers. Specifric provisions in the CRMC permit application included: 1. Construct and maintain sheet piling and backfill from material dredged from Narragansett Bay. 2. Form a channel. 3. Construct a pile-supported tilt-beam launcher and barge grounding material. 4. Extend existing railroad siding. 5. Build a fence and pave the area. 6. Construct a building and a 2,000 KVA station. In October, 1980, the town of North Kingstown requested an indefinite time extension from CRMC to allow the applicant sufficient time to provide more infor- mation, including environmental impacts on the area. Two areas of particular concern, according to the town's request, are: 1) that impacts be evaluated before any construction, and 2) the advantages and disadvantages of a new, on-go- ing industry be defined in terms of local impacts. In April, 1981, General Dynamics was reported to have bid on a contract to build an oil drilling rig. Its demensions include a 235 by 215 foot base, legs 600 feet long, and total weight of 9,000 tons. According to the company, this size rig would be the largest ever built. In a study completed in January, 1981, entitled Preliminary Engineering Davisville Port Expansion, by C. E. Maguire, Incorporated, of Providence, it was concluded that height restrictions of the Newport Bridge and landing patterns at the Quonset Airport could restrict the dimensions of certain types of rigs fabri- cated at Quonset Point-Davisville and transported via Narragansett Bay. The study points out that the vertical clearance beneath the bridge is 194 feet and the widest horizontal pass-through is 1,500 feet. There is al so a 169 foot height limit on buildings and other obstructions in the clide path of the Quonset Airport adjacent to General Dynamics. According to the study, General Dynamics 20 would be limited from building any but the smallest platform, 150 tall by 200 feet wide, as cost would preclude most alternatives including construction of the rigs in telescoping stages. This size platform, suitable for use in water depths up to 400 feet, will be-smaller than the size of most rigs needed in the future to explore and develop deeper OCS tracts. However, an offsetting factor might be that a substantial number of potentia Ily productive tracts will be in water of this depth and less, according to the report. Whether or not these factors may hinder future rig fabricatim- activity at Quonset Point will not be known immediately. In August, 1981, Electric Boat an- nounced it did not receive the contract to build the proposed offshore drilling rig. Electric Boat withdrew its permit application from the Army Corp of En- gineers but, apparently, not fromm the CRMC. Later that month, the Providence Journal Bulletin reported that Electric Boat still wanted to build oil rigs at Quonset Point. In fact, a spokesman for the company reported that Electric Boat had actually already engaged in rig fab- rication activity at Quonset, employing sixty people since May on fabricating rig legs. 21 OCS Support Facilities Estimates This section will provide estimates on the kinds of North and Mid- Atlantic OCS support activities and related employment and wage characteris- tics. These estimates-are derived from planning reports from the State of Rhode Island Department of Economic Develoment and the New England River Basins Commission (NERBC). As these estimates are based upon a medium find of oil and gas on Georges Bank, redevelopment of Quon set Point-Davisville is planned for, and is in anticipation of servicing a medium offshore find. Figure 11-2 shows the timing of development and operation of the various onshore facilities to support a medium find of oil and gas. Through the first twelve years following the initial lease-sale, construction of service bases, gas plants, and a pipe coating yard will take place onshore in New England. During years six through twelve, platforms and pipelines will be installed offshore. Oil and gas production will begin in year ten and will continue over a twenty year period under t he medium find scenario. Twenty-five platforms will be required over a six year period to devel- op the oil and gas reserves on Georges Bank under a medium find. This devel- opment will need various types of onshore support facilities. These onshore support facilities will act as a "life support system" to the oil and gas activities on the Outer Continental Shelf. Support facilities will include service bases, platform fabrication yards, platform installation support, pipeline installation support, gas processing, and an oil refinery. A. Service Base The primary purpose of a service base is to serve as the logistical link between offshore and onshore operations. The major activity carried out through the service base is the delivery of drilling materials, supplies, and crews to the offshore rigs and platforms by boats and helicopters. Tem- porary service bases are established during exploratory drilling and require 22 approximately five acres of waterfront land for each exploratory rig being serviced. Upon a commercial discovery, a permanent service base is established with the great- est amount of activity during the development phase (Figure 11-2). The New England River Basin Commission assumes six to twelve permanent service bases will be estab- lished in New England. A summary of requirements and impacts of services bases is provided below. Service bases along with platform and fabrication yards facilities are con- sidered to be the most appropriate uses of Davisville. Requirements are direct wa- terfront access, contiguous land area, and good transportation systems, and a thirty foot deep channel, all of which Davisville can supply. This would include use by boat operators, mud companies (mud is used for lubricating, cooling and cleaning the well as drilling processes), and ancillary industries which include cement companies, suppliers of down-hole equipment (piping, drilling tools) well head firms, diving services, and work-over and production services. Rhode Island firms can provide most of the required supplies and services through existing firms. Helicopter service is essential to offshore operations and a probable develop- ment will be the establishment of a small helicopter service base at the Quonset Air- port. The major helicopter service base will be located on Cape Cod which is closer to Georges Bank. Employment on service bases will occur in three phases; they are, 1) Explora- tion, 2) Development Drilling, and 3) Production and Work-over. The primary source of service base employment is on supply boats with as much as 80% of the total serv- ing as crew members. Table II-1 shows employment and percentage of Rhode Island labor and wages at service bases under a medium find during exploration. 23 Figure 11-2 OCS SUPPORT ACTIVITIES Phases of Offshore Development Development Abandonment Production Exploration Year 0 5 10 15 20 25 Source: Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1976 Figure 11-3 TOTAL DIRECT EMPLOYMENT FOR SELECTED OCS-RELATED ACTIVITIES MEDIUM FIND SCENARIO LEGEND Total 4000 Offshore Onshore 3000 2000 1000 o 5 10 15 20 25 30 YEARS AFTER FIRST LEASE SALE Source: NERBC, 1976 24 Table Service Base Employment Medium Find Scenario (Exploration) Year After First Sale 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Total Employment 237 317 386 380 401 Total Wages* $4.03 $5.39 $6.56 $6.46 $6.82 Resident Employment 119 162 205 213 241 Resident Wages* $2.02 $2.75 $3.49 $3.60 $4.10 Source: NERBC, 1976 *In Millions'76 During these five years, it is estimated an average of 344 people will be em- ployed at service bases in New England; 188 will be hired from the existing local labor force. Total wages paid could be over $29 million, 55% going to local resi- dents. Total employment will increase at an average annual rate of 15% over the five year period. Peak service base employment under a medium find will occur during the devel- opment phase. Employment will peak with just under 1,100 workers employed during years ten and eleven. Well over 700 of these workers will be hired locally. TableII-2 Service Base Employment Peak Years Me dium Find Scenario (Development) Year After Lease Sale 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th Total Employment 472 516 894 1076 1057 846 485 413 Total Wages* $8.0 $8.8 $15.2 $18.3 $18.0 $14.4 $8.2 $7.0 Resident Employment 297 341 608 753 761 626 364 314 Resident Wages* $5.1 $5.8 $10.3 $12.8 $12.9 $10.6 $6.2 $5.3 Source: NERBC, 1976 *In Millions 176 25 Table 11-3 Service Base Employment Medium Find Scenario (Production and Workover) Year After First Lease Sale 15thil6thil7thil8thil9th,20thl2lst,22nd,23rd,24th,25th,26th,27th,28th,29th Total Employment 292 307 346 335 383 483. 418 393 363 338 283 239 158 50 50 Total Wages* $5.0 $5.2 $5.9 $5.7 $6.5 $8.2 $7.1 $6.7 $6.2 $5.7 $4.8 $4.1 $2.7 $0.9 $0.9 Local Employment 225 239 274 268 306 386 334 314 290 270 226 191 126 40 40 Local Wages* $3.8 $4.1 $4.7 $4.6 $5.2 $6.6 $5.7 $5.3 $4.9 $4.6 $3.8 $3.2 $2.1 $0.7 $0.7 Source: NERBC, 1976 *In Millions '76 Twenty-nine years after the first Georges Bank lease sale, oil and gas pro- druction on Georges Bank will come to an end. Employment during the final 15 years which are the Production and workover years, will average 296 workers, 235 of whom will be local residents. Wages paid during this period will total $75 million for a yearly average of $5 million in 1976 dollars. TableII-3 shows employ- ment and wages for the final years of offshore activity. The average annual salary of service base employees is assumed to be $17,000 (in 1976 dollars). Figure 11-4 shows the trend in service base activities in New England under medium find of oil and gas, using employmen t as a representative parameter. Capital investments made in the establishment of seivice bases under a medi- um find will total $14.5 million. A large share of these expenditures will be al- located to berth and wharf construction. Table 11-4 summarizes capital investment in New England for service bases under a medium find. 27 Figure 11-4 Total Service Base Employment Medium Find Scenario 1,200- 1,100- 1,000- 900 - 800 - 700 - @600 - 500 - 400 - EXPLORATION 300 - 200 - DEVELOPMENT DRILLING 100 - @-PRODUCTION & WORKOVER 0 10 15 20 25 30 YEAR AFTER FIRST LEASE SALE 28 Table 11-4 Service Base_Capital Investment Medium Find Scenario (Summary) Year After First Lease Sale Capital Investment* 2nd $ 0.5 3rd $ 0.2 4th $ 1.0 5th $ 1.0 6th $ 6.o 8th $ 3.0 9th $ 3.0 TOTAL $14.7 Source: NERBC, 1976 *In Millions B. PI atform Fabrication Yards Platforms are used for the production of oil and gas, while an exploration rig is used for determining whether a petroleum reservoir holds enough oil or gas reserves to justify field development. While there will not be any rigs built at Quonset Point/Davisville, there may be platform fabrication, as mentioned earlier in the report 25 platforms will be needed to develop Georges Bank, but not all of them will be constructed at Quonset Point/Davisville. Platform fabrication yards are industrial construction facilities where the platforms used to drill for and produce offshore oil and gas are built. As the depth of the water increases it becomesmore economically attractive to u s e concrete platforms. 29 In the North Atlantic, for lease sale 42 & 52, water depth does not appear to be significant enough on the Continental Shelf to warrant concrete platforms. Also, the bottom conditions, which are generally rough and rocky, are not favor- able to the installation of concrete gravity platforms. For these reasons, it is assumed that the more traditional steel, fixed-pile platforms will be used on Georges Bank.- Steel platform fabrication yards are large waterfront facilities, consist- ing mostly of cleared land, buildings, shops and administrative office, all set back from the waterfront. The steel platforms are constructed close to the waterfront and wharfs. The NERB C study states that under a medium find the required development and production platforms will be built at facilities located outside of New England and transported to their installation sites on Georges Bank. Studies done by DED Port Authority include platform fabrication in their scenarios. Platform fabrication was included because of a serious interest shown by Brown & Root, Inc., which is one of the nation's major drilling and production plat- form fabricators, in locating at Quonset Point/Davisville. Although the NERBC report does not indicate a platform fabrication yard to service Georges Bank un- less there is a high find, DED has planned for a modest 100 acre yard at Davis- ville, based on the Brown & Root interest. In April, 1981, General Dynamics bid on a contract to build a 99000 ton oil production platform. Its dimensions include a 235 by 215 foot base and 600 feet long. This platform will not be used on Georges Bank, but others may fol- low that-would be used there. According to the company, this size rig would be the largest ever built. DED Port Authority reports indicate that rig fabrication will take place over a ten year period, with peak operation occuring in years 4 and 5. Tablell`@5shows the amount of rigs that may be bui It over the ten year period at Quonset Point/Davisville. 30 Table 11-5 Rig Fabrication at Quonset Point/Davisville Years After OCS Activity Begins 1st 4th 5th loth 11th Rigs Fabricated 2 6 6 4 0* *ends Fabrication yards employ large numbers of skilled laborers, as well as supervisory, administrative and engineering personnel. As much as 85% to 90% of the work force can be hired locally. DED based these employment estimates on Brown & Roots' suggested peak production of 6 platforms per peak year. Fabrication of rigs will employ at least 250 people per rig per year, which means that in a peak year 1,500 people will 'be employed in rig fabrication. This labor force will gradually decre.ase to 1,000 by year 10@ The largest group of skilled craftsmen employed in steel platform fabrica- tion are welders and shipfitters which comprise roughly 50% of the total work- force. Twenty to 25% are loftsmen, painters, electricians, and machinists. Other construction crafts and helpers total about 10%; maintenance, warehousing, and general support, about 15%. C. Platform Installation There is a certain degree of service base support for the installation of platforms. The degree of support will depend upon the find of oil. According to DED Port Authority reports, it is possible that Quonset Point bavisville could accommodate platform installation service base activity and according to DED data, only 20 to 30 acres of land and approximately 200 feet of marginal wharf space would be required. Platform delivery will be accomplished by towing the platform jackets and various deck modules by tugboats from the fabrication yard to the installation site. The jacket isthen lifted off the launch barge by one or two derrick 31 barges and secured to the ocean floor by steel pilings. Twenty-five platforms will be rquired to develop the oil and gas reserves on Georges bank under a medium find. It is assured that one 500-ton derrick barge, employing 100 work- ers and 3 tugboats, employing 18 workers, will be needed for each platform in- stalled. The average annual salary of these workers would be 18,000 in 1976 dollars and 25% of these workers would be hired locally. Table 11-6 Platform Installation Schedule Medium Find Scenario Years After First Lease Sale lst-5th* 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th Number of Platforms Installed 3 2 9 7 1 3 Source: NERCB, 1976 *exploration The service base which supports the installation of offshore plat- forms will employ only a small number of workers. In New England, peak employ- ment will be 104 workers. Average employment will be 50 workers, 34 of whom may be hired from the local labor force. For the six year period that these service bases will operate, under a medium find, a total of $5.2 million will be paid in wages, $3.4 million to local residents. Table 11-7 Platform Installation - Service Base Employment and WageE Medium Find-Scenario Years After First Lease Sale 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th l1th Total Employment 35 30 104 74 26 35 Total Wages* $0.60 $0.51 $1.77 $1.26 $0.44 $0.60 Resident Employment 21 19 69 50 18 25 Resident Wages* $0.36 $0.32 $1.17 $0.85 $0.31 $0.43 Source: NERBC, 1976 32 *In Millions Offshore employment and wages will average $600 million and $11 million, respectively. A total of $64 million wil be paid in wages, $16 million to local residents (based on 1976 dollars). Service bases established to support platform installation operations will involve $1 million dollars in capital investments. D. Pipeline installation Major pipelines will be installed during the ninth and eleventh years after the initial Georges Bank lease sale. In all, 750 miles of pipe will be installed to transport Georges Bank reserves, 450 miles of which will consist of major natural gas pipelines. Throughout the pipeline installation process, the support of service bases is required. These bases serve as centers for crew changes and shipments of supplies. For a medium find it is assumed that one of these bases will be es- tablished in New England. According to DED Port Authotity studies, the primary criteria in selecting a pipeline landfall site is proximity to the field. On this basis it would seem very likely that alternative landfill sites exist which are better situated than the Quonset Point/Davisville facility, therefore, DED studies do not indicate that a pipeline will land here. The Governor of Rhode Island, J. Joseph Garrahy, was quoted as saying, in a June 25, 1981 Journal Bulletin article, that the best place for a Georges Bank gas line to come ashore would be somewhere near the mouth of Narragansett Bay. Garrahy said he obtained this information from the New England River Basin Com- mission. Therefore, although the pipeline will not landfall at Quonset Point/ Davisville, it is likely to landfall within Rhode Island boundaries. In fact, the draft EIS for Lease--,...Sale 52 projects the prefarre-d pipeline 1-andfall to'be in Little Compton, running through Tiverton, to a gas processing facility in the Fall River area. The service base established to support pipeline installation will employ 33 a maximum of 38 workers over the five years during which pipelines will be in- stalled on Georges Bank; service base personnel working in support of these activ- ities will be paid a total of $750,000. Table 11-8 shows this employment over time. Table 11-8 Pipeline Installation Medium Find Scenario Years After First Lease Sale 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th Total Employment 25 38 25 25 25 Total Wages* .60 223 235 235 60 Local Employment 17 26 18 18 19 Local Wages* 40 153 169 169 45 Marine pipelines are very expensive. Undera medium find of gas, total capi- tal investment will exceed $850 milion. Table 11-9 shows annual Pipeline installation costs under a medium find. Table If-9 Annual Costs for Pipeline Installation Medium Find Scenario Years After First Lease Sale 8th 9th 10th l1th 12th Pipeline installation Costs* $47.5 $312.5 $177.5 $280.0 $35.0 Source: NERBC, 1976 *In Millions E. Pipe Coating Yards Prior to the laying of a pipeline offshore, it must be coated with a con- crete and asphalt sealant for underwater use. Under a medium find, while some 34 competi tion will still exist, it is assumed that only one yard will be established. It is also assumed that required coating services during the first year of pipe- line installation will be met by existing yards located elsewhere. The follow- ing year, 250 miles of'26-inch diameter pipe, generating nearly $16 million (based on 1976 figures), will lead to the establishment of a yard within New England. The availability of specialized labor is not likely to be a major factor in the siting decision. As much as 90 percent of the total work force at a yard will not require specialized skills. The Pipeline Contractors' Association in- cludes members from the Teamsters, Pipefitters, Operating Engineers, and Laborers International Union of North America. A pipe coating firm usually employs its workers through the Association which sets wage scales that vary from state to state. The amount of land required by a pipe coating yard depends upon the volume of anticipated business which, in turn, dictates the amount of storage space which might be rquired. A typical yard occupies around 100 acres, as much as 90% of which is used for pipe storage, and 750 ft. of marginal wharf space. An $8 to $10 million capital investment is assumed to be required to establish this facility. DED Port Authority reports state that assuming a pipeline is layed, Quonset Point/Davisville could accommodate pipe coating. The study also, while stating that a yard could be established, foresees problems in allocating the 750 feet of marginal wharf space that would be needed for the duration of the pipe laying activities. During the four years of pipe coating activity in New England, a total of $6.7 million will be paid in wages, $6 to members of the local labor force. Employment will peakduring year nine of OCS oil activity, at 121 jobs. Table H-10 shows employment and wages at a pipe coating yard under a medium find. 35 Table II-10 Pipe Coating Yard Employment and Wages Medium Find Scenario Years After First Lease Sale 8th 9th- 10th 11th 12th Average Total Employment 100 95 100 35 Total Wages* $2.3 $1.8 $1.9 $0.7 Average Resident Employment 109 86 90 32 Resident Wages* $2.1 $1.6 $1.7 $o.6 Source: NERBC, 1976 *In Millions 176 Pipe coating yard employment will,fluctuate considerably during each year, roughly coinciding with the pipelaying season. During peak periods, as many as 200 people may be working seven days a week in order to ensure a steady supply of coated pipe for offshore operations. During slack periods, employment may be only 20 workers. F. Gas Processing Plant Under a medium find NERBC estimates that two gas processing treatment plants will be constructed in New England.. Land requirements vary considerably ranging from 20 to 75 acres, a large percentage of which serves as a buffer zone. ConstrIuction of gas treatment facilities will take place in years nine and eleven of OCS oil and gas development. Table II-11-shows employment and wages which will result from these construction operations. 36 Table II-11 Gas Processing and Treatment Plant Construction - Employment Wages Medium Find Scenario Years After First Lease Sale 9th llth Capacity of Plang Built'@* 400 700 Average Total Employment 225 300 Total Wages* $4.5 $6.o Average Resident Employment 113 130 Resident Wages* $2.3 $3.o Source: NERBC, 1976 **In Million Cubic Feet/Day *In Millions A total of $10.5 million will be paid in wages for construction of these facilities, $5.3 to local residents. Capital investment could range between $35 mill and $55 million in 1976 dollars. This investment depends upon the size and complexity of the plant, and ultimately, the characteristics of the gas stream. Since gas processing facilities are generally highly automated, few plant operation workers will be employed. The facilities constructed under a medium find will employ between twenty-four and twenty-eight people, 60% of whom would be hired from the local labor force. The average yearly salary for gas plant workers, in 1976 dololars was $15,000. DED Port Authority reports state that it is conceivable that a gas pro- cessing plant could be located at Quonset Point/Davisville, however, they claim that there are several logistical transportation constraints as well as potential severe land use conflicts. Therefore, DED reports do not include gas processing as a viable or probable development at Quonset Point/Davisville. 37 Although, with the possibility of there being a gas pipeline landfall in Rhode Island, there is a high probability that a gas processing plant will be estab- lished wi'thin close proximity to the landfall site. G. Refinery According to DED Port Authority reports, the building of an oil refinery in Rhode Island does not seem likely t@Qtake place with a medium find of oil. DED reports state that because of the existing refining capacity in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, it is not considered likely that a new refinery would be lo- cated in New England to serve only offshore oil. Moreover, even if a new r e- finery would be located in New England, the land shortages and incompatability with other uses at Quonset Point/Davisville would likely preclude its location there. 38 Conclusion The estimates in this section are based upon a medium find of oil and gas and the development of Quonset Point/Davisville is planned for that find level. If more, or less oil and gas is found, the development of Quonset Point/ Davisville may then take on a different form. If Quonset Point/Davisville is used as a major OCS oil and gas support facility the towns surrounding this area will be impacted by a large influx of workers. The workers and their families may impose a strain upon the local municipalities,if this growth is not recognized and dealt with through a well coordinated planning effort. Estimates for total workers employed by OCS related activities, under a medium find, is between 6,300 and 6,400 people. The workers will be employed in service bases, platform fabrication yards, platform installation services, pipeline installation services, pipe coating yards, and gas processing plants. Capital investment in this OCS oil and gas activity could amount to over $900 million (1976 dollars) over a twenty-five year period. 39 OCS Suport Population The social and physical infrastructure of an area may be affected in numer- cus ways by onshore development and O.C.S. induced growth, but rapid population increases would have the greatest affect. Rapid population growth in an area mould have an ensuing impact upon housing supply, recreation, water supply, sewage treatment, solid waste disposal, and other necessary public services. O.C.S.-induced population growth within New England counties sustaining primary industrial activity will be the result of intra@regional and inter-re- gional migratory trends caused by persons seeking employment and other oppor- tunities. It is expected that there will be a large influx of persons into these New England counties between the mid-1980's and the time of peak production. Increased job opportunity, however, is likely to be greatest during the mid- 1980's as drilling activity peaks. Unfortunately, during this period the level of incre ased job opportunity can be expected to be below the number of persons seeking employment. An influx of population into New England may result from O.C.S. development for two reasons: the movement of skilled workers and their families into the area and the migration of the unemployed into the area to find jobs. The latter group may include individuals who do not have skills vital to offshore develop- ment, but who hope to benefit in some way from the overall economic activity. Population immigration would occur for up to 25 years after the first lease sale, followed by emigration thereafter. The draft E.I.S. for O.C.S. sale No. 42 in- dicates that many of the workers would be highly skilled, young, mobile, and unmarried. D.E.D. study indicates that the redevelopment of Quonset PointlDavisville will result in a large increase in North Kingstown and West Bay employment and, 40 in turn, will reflect "induced" population growth. Aggregate population generated has been estimated by D.E.D. based on the following assumptions: (1) each job represents approximately one household, and (2) average household size, in general, will be approximately 3.0 persons. Applying these indices to new employment related on--site over the long term, approximately 33,000 persons would be directly supported by Quonset employment. These statistics are based on a medium find of oil and gas and include manufac- turing and related activity that will be established at Quonset PointlDavisville under current D.E.D. plans. * Geographic distribution of this population was based on commutation patterns of future Quonset PointlDavisville employees. D.E.D. studies specifically indi- cate that between 35 and 45 percent of these employees will prefer to live in West Bay communities and that most of them will desire North Kingstown locations. Reasons for this judgment go to: (1) the unlikelihood that employee concentra- tions in North Kingstown would approach the highly concentrated pattern evidenced during the navy presence; (2) prospects that, over time, workers will seek hous- ing; and (3) that many workers already established in populated areas of Kent County and the Urban Center will choose to remain in the area,. See page 49 for for further discussion of place of residency. Employment estimates to support this activity have varied widely from a low of 900 to a high of 72,000. 41 The figures dealing with employment in Table 11-12 include the total use of Quonset PointjDavisville including manufacturing and related activities, which are not associated with O.C.S. activities. Direct Employment Direct employment is defined as workers employed by oil companies and drilling contractors who are immediately and totally involved in O.C.S. activities including operation of exploraeory and development rigs and production platforms and essential onshore functions such as'manning processing plants, generally co- inciding with direct hire or direct contract. Thus, direct employees include offshore and onshore employees. Direct employment is typically greatest during the field development phase of offshore oil and gas recovery, because facilities construction requires a large labor force (Fig..11-5). Later, when oil and gas production becomes the primary activity, employment typically declines rapidly. Figure 11-5 The general pattern of direct employment during different phases of O.C.S. development. Field Development r- Production W E >N Exploratory 0 Drilling 4J U Lease Abandonment W W Sale -4 Cz L Years Source: Environmental Planning for Offshore Oil and Gas,Fish and Wildlife Service, Vol. II 42 Table 11-12 Quonset Point/Davisville Worker Residency D.E.D. Estimates for Quonset PointjDavisville Including Place of Residence Manufacturing and Related Activity Number Percent West Bay North Kingstown 2,750-3,300 25-30 Remainder of West Bay 1,100-1,650 10-15 SUBTOTAL 3,850-4,450 35-45 Kent County 2,750-3,330 25-30 Urban Center 2,200-2,750 20-25 B@lance 2 1,100 10 TOTAL 11,000 100 1 Includes South Kingstown, Narragansett, Exeter and New Shoreham. 2 Includes Commuters from cities and towns from other sections of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. 43 The number of jobs likely to be created in response to Georges Bank oil and gas development will vary depending on the numbers and kinds of facilities and activities which may be required through time. FigureII-3 illustr ates the trend for total direct employmen"t for New England as estimated for a medium find, showing both offshore and onshore workers. The largest number of jobs will be in year nine when 2,900 people will be employed. Of this total work force, 2,551 (53 percent) will be involved in offshore plat- form and pipeline installation activitie s, while 1,006 (35 percent) will be em- ployed at service bases. Nearly all of the remaining workers will be involved in pipe coating operations or gas processing plant construction. Direct onshore emp_Io_yment in New England, will peak over a 3 year period (years nine through eleven) at an average of just under 1,400 workers, 970 (70 percent) of whom will be hired locally. The facility which contributes most (77 percent) to the peak onshore employment will be services bases supporting platform and pipeline installation and drilling activities. Total wages will average $11.2 million (in 1976 dollars) over the entire 28 year development period, with approximately 60 percent paid to members of the local labor force. D.E.D. studies indicate that petroleum support industries at Quonset PointlDavisville would result in between 6,300 and 6,400 people directly employed by year 10. Adding the average household size of 3.0 persons, approximately 18,900 to 19,200 persons would be directly supported by Petroleum support facilities at Quonset PointiDavisville by year 10. ' A study undertaken by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) concerning O.C.S. activity on Georges Bank used estimates for a medium find of oil and gas. The study directly contradicts the employment estimates made by D.E.D. Quonset Pointi Davisville reports, as relating to onshore O.C.S. oil and gas activities. The BLM report states that proposed O.C.S. activity would be expected to increase 44 the number of jobs in the New England region, at the most, from approximately 6,800 to 10,250 persons, of which approximately 1,000 to 2,100 would be directly employed by O.C.S. related activite s. Whereas the D.E.D. study estimates 6,300 to 6,400 persons directly employed by O.C.S. activites at Quonset Point- Davisville. Table 11-13 OCS Employment Comparison Increase in Employment Direct O.C.S. Overall Employment Bureau of Land Management 10,000 2,000 D.E.D. Study 2. 12,800 6,300 1. @ncludes employment forecasts for the entire New England Region; primary and secondary employment. 2. Employment at Quonset, Point-Davisville and secondary employment "spinoffs". Sources: D.E.D. Study by Gladstone; BLM Economic Study, Georges Bank 1976 The above figures exemplify the fact that no degree of exactitude can be exercised in making predictions as to the magnitude of population and infra- structure impacts or precisely where they will take place if the O.C.S. action does take place. ' Much of what may happen onshore will be determined by con- straints placed upon O.C.S.-related industry by State, county, and municipal controls. Accommodazion of th-eO.C.S.-induced population would depend upon a timely, coordinated, comprehensive effort toward intergovernmental and private sector planning. Induced Employment Induced employment is defined as generated by the intial and subsequent 45 rounds of O.C.S. spending/related wages earned by direct and indirect employees (offshore and onshore) who reside within the regionaleconomy of the study area. Induced employment is accordingly very diverse and may occur in both public and private sectors. Examples include doctors, school teachers, store clerks, and policemen. Induced employment is usually measured by applying a multiplier to the total direct employment, which will yield an estimate of what the employment "spin off" or induced employment will be. This employment will most likely con- centrate in retail trade and certain professional services which tend to follow new employment and population., growth...- . Induce.d jobs also include such categories as trans- portation, communications, utilities, insurance, real estate, construction and business services. D.E.D. studies have established "spin-off" effects of 0.8 induced jobs; under a medium find of oil and gas. Thererfore, when the "spin-off" estimates are multiplied times the D.E.D. estimates for people directly employed in oil re- lated activities by year 10 which is approximately 6,350, the amount of spin-off resulting is 5,040. Table I'L-14exemplifies the above. Table 11-14 Quonset Point/Davisville Total OCS Einployment (Year 10) Number Direct Oil kelated Employment 6,350 D.E.D. Studies Estimated "Spin-off" Employment 5,040 Total Employernent (Year 10) 13,340 The N.E.R.B.C. estimates on direct and induced or secondary employmem;t, as related to oil and gas activities in all of N.E.R.B.C. figures for year 10 do not differ much from D.E.D. study figures. Table@]I-15_includes all facilities needed for a medium find of oil and gas. 46 Table 11-15 Secondary and Total Economic Impacts Stemming From a Combination of All Facilities Year After First Employment Lease Sale Direct Secondary Total Total* 1 0 0 0 0 2 237 190 428 428 3 517 414 931 931 4 1,036 829 1,865 1,865 5 2,022 1,618 3,640 3,640 6 4,831 .3,865 8,696 8,296 7 6,311 5,049 11,360 10,861 8 7,747 6,198 13,945 12,996 9 4,942 3,954 8,896 8,799 10 5,268 4,214 9,482 8,967 11 5,174 4,139 9,313 8,716 12 5,902 4,722 10,624 9,886 13 5,495 4,397 9,891 9,242 14 2,763 2,210 4,973 4,527 15 1,968 1,574 3,542 3,472 16 1,758 1,406 3,164 3,125 17 1,389 1,111 2,500 2,500 18 1,440 1,152 2,592 2,592 19 1.434 1.147 2,581 2,581 20 1,469 1,175 2,644 2,644 21 1,472 1,178 2,650 2,650 22 1,376 1,104 2,480 2,477 23 1,287 1,030 2,317 2,299 24 1,181 945 2,126 2,126 25 1,052 842 1,894 1,894 26 924 739 1,663 1,663 27 821 657 1,478 1,478 28 692 554 1,246 1,246 29 548 438 986 986 30 494 395 889 889 31 442 354 796 796 Direct sum of individual facility impacts as shown in last section. SOURCE: NERBC-RALI Report, p. 24. 47 Housing the Future Employment from Quonset Point/Davisville Development At issue will be the residential location decisions of new employees of future West Bay establishments, commercial and industrial, and the possible growth impacts of unanticipated residential increase. Of particular importance to the region, especially the four towns surrounding North Kingstown, will be the potential growth impacts from development at Quonset Point/Davisville without thc: benefits of the industry's generated revenues. Based on 1970 figures that showed a predominance (65%) of employees working ir. North Kingstown also residing there and 1974 data for four major employers in Warwick and West Warwick that showed over 50% of employees living in Kent County, estimates of residential location preferences were made by Gladstone Associates for future employees working at Quonset Point/Davisville. By the 25th year of oil and gas support facilities activity at Quonset Point/Davisville, it was expected that "between 35 and 45 percent of these employees will prefer to live in West Bay communities and that most of these will desire North Kingstown locations." I The Gladstone report also assumed that many workers at QP/D would be recruited from Kent County areas and would choose to remain there. Data from 1973 at the start up of Electric Boat showed employee residential locations and was included in the Gladstone Associates projections. By 1981, the fourth year of exploratory activity in Mid-Atlantic and first in North Atlantic, Electric Boat had grown by 4000 employee s at their Quonset Point facility yet the figures failed to reflect significant movement towards expected trends. In Table 1-181975 and 1981 Electric Boat data for employee residential locations is contrasted with anticipated estimates for Quonset Point/Davisville. Gladstone Associates report p.55 48 Table 11-16 Electric Boat/Quonset Point-Davisville Worker Residency ELECTRIC BOAT 4 Estimates for 1,3 1975 1981 Quonset Point/Davisville Place of Residence Number % Number % Number % West Bay: 2 North Kingstown 26 13.3 479 11 2750-3300 25-30 Remainder of 8 4.1 304 7 1100-1650 10-15 West Bay .783 18 3850-4950 35 SUBTOTAL 34 17.4 -45- Kent County: 57 29.2 1596 37 2750-3300 25-30 Urban Center: 55 28.2 1189 27 2200-2750 20-25 4 Balance,: 49 25.1 762 18 1100 - 10 195 100.0 4330 100.0 11,000 100.0 1* Gladstone Associates. 2. South Kingstown, Narragansett, Exeter, Jamestown and New Shoreham 3. As sumes average for 3 scenarios in 25 years; estimates reflect anticipated commuter preferences of new employees and do not attempt to account for cities/towns/subareas capacities. 4. Electric Boat: General Dynamics In fact while the percent of employees living in the West Bay Region grew slightly, overall, the percent living in North Kingstown actually dropped, contrary to expectations. Kent County and the Urban Center (Cranston, Providence, East Providence, Pawtucket), the more populated areas still remained the primary residential location for Electric Boat workers, while a smaller percent of employees were living in other areas of Rhode Island or other states. The employee-residential location figures provide an opportunity to contrast commuting pattern changes between 1975 and 1981. Unfortunately the information does not indicate what portion of the 4000-odd employees added during the time 49 period were already residents of Rhode Island (in particular, the West Bay, Kent County, or the Urban Center), or whether these new employees established their em- ployment first and then made decisions about residential location. While recent studies suggest that residential location patterns are highly influenced by employ- ment center locations and that these trends are enhanced during period of increased commuting costs, the affect of housing costs and its availability has diminished the opportunity for employees to relocate with ease. New employees at Quonset Point-Davisville, as a result of the development of on- shore oil and gas drilling support facilities, or from other economic development activities, will be, undoubtedly, drawn from several categori4s: 1) those already living in the West Bay or Kent Coun ty areas; 2) those already residing in the Urban Center; 3) those who currently reside well beyond commuting distance and, upon ac- quiring employment at Quonset Point-Davisville, relocate to the area; and, 4) those employees described by oil and gas impact studies as temporary. Estimates derived by Gladstone Associates suggest that the preponderence of'oil-related employees will be drawn from existing resident Rhode Island population (Table 11-17). Table-11-17. Comparative Oil-Related Estimates ..Total.vs. Resident Employment Total Scenario I Percent Total Scenario Il Percent Selected Years Employment. Number of-:Total- ---Employment Number. of Total 4 760 540 71 885 605 68 5 1,025 755 74 1,165 815 70 6 1,635 1,230 75 1,685 1,260 75 7 2,040 1,540 75 2,000 1,515 76 8 2,410 19,830 76 2,130 1,615 76 9 .2,125 1,605 76 2,060 1,580 77 10 2,250 1,710 76 2,095 1,160 77 11 25085 1,590 76 1,845 1,430 78 12 2,075 1,605 77 1,645 1,255 76 13 2,050 1,595 78 1,350 1,035 77 14 890 680 76 270 205 76 15 660 510 77 190 145 76 20 475 380 80 315 250 79 25 305 245 80 185 145 78 SOURCE: MERBC-RALI, Onshore Facilities Related to Offshore Oil and Gas Development Estimates for New England; Gladstone Associates. 50 It can be assumed, for the most part, that resident employees will not choose to relocate their residences based upon: 1) past commuting trends in Rhode Island, even in the face of high energy costs; 2) public transportation routes from the Urban Center and Kent County to Quonset Point-Davisville; 3) high housing re-location costs (moving, higher mortgage rates, etc.); 4) programs such as ridesharing and vanpooling. Of importance, then, to a study of growth impacts, will be the housing location preferences of those employees moving to Rhode Island on a permanent or temporary basis. For both sets of employees, availability (vacancy rates) for owner-occu- P ied and rental units for permanent or semi-permanent.households, as well as of housing prices in the West Bay Region presented in Chapter 3 has already shown that existing housing would be insufficient'in the kegi on to handle a sharp, ac- celerated increase in employment at Quonset Point-Davisville. Additional research is needed to determine the existing housing resources in communities such as Warwick, Exeter and others beyond the West Bay Region boundaries within easy com- muting distance. To assess the capacity of the region to accommodate temporary employees anti- cipated during the early development stages of onshore support facilities, a survey was conducted of hotels, motels, and gu est rooming housing, considering, in particu- lar, the availability of rooms with access to kitchen facilities and a rate for longer stays. This assessment is particularly important in light of ex- ploratory activity which has been taking place since 1978 and under present leasing schedule of BLM, can continue until 1994. The results(Table 11-18) show the. availability of units with kitchen access. (A complete account of the survey results is contained in Chapter 3 .) The figures presented here and in the Chapter 3 should be considered approximate, as in some cases the seasonal nature of this type of housing in a coastal community precluded a response from every facility. 51 Table 11-18 Unit Availability with Kitchen Access Units With -Year-Round Seasonal Kitchen Access East Greenwich 35 Jamestown 30 28 4 Narragansett 217 131 9 North Kingstown 141 - 43 South Kingstown .162 105 7 Region 585 105 63' SOURCE: CCC; RCEIP, December, 1981. Less than ten percent of the units have access to kitchen facilities; almost one- third of the units are available only "in season.11 Most noticeable is the seasonal character of the region and preponderance of units for temporary housing in North Kingstown, indicative, perhaps, of the past influence of the naval base. The future influence of development at Quonset Point-Davisville and its perceived impact is evident from the fact that only the North Kingstown establishments were planning to expand the capacity of their facilities. Data about housing resources presented earlier and the results of the survey suggest the West Bay Region is not yet equipped to handle a substantial influx of either permanent or temporary employees.. The figures show the present availability of over five hundred tempoary units year-round (over e ight hundred in warm weather) and suggest a possible sufficiency in number to meet anticipated needs. However, there would be significant impact to the tourism and recreation industry in Rhode Isl and should the motel-hotel market be pre-empted by temporary employees from Quonset Point-Davisville. Future research should be directed at resources in com- munities bordering the region. In addition, the state's development of the former base shou-Id include an obligation to assist impacted communities and me-et the need for temporary and permanent affordable housing for future employees. 52 REFERENCES 1. Archibald, Gordon R., Inc. Traffic Improvements at Quonset Point/Davisville, North Kingstown, Rhode Island. Providence, R.I. August, 1975. 2. Coastal Resource Center, University of Rhode Island. The Redevelopment of Quonset/Davisville an Environmental Assessment: Executive Summary, Narragansett,. R.I., September, 1977. 3. Coastal Resource Center, University of Rhode Island, The Redevelopment of Quonset/Davisville: An Environmental Assessment. Narragansett, R.I., 1977. 4. Gladstone Associates, Socio-Economic Assessment of the Reuse Alternatives of Quonset Point/Davisville: Executive Summary. (prepared for R.I. Dept. of Economic Development), Newport, R.I., Septem3er, 1977. 5. Grigalunas, Thomas A. Offshore Petroleum and New England. University of Rhode Island. Providence, R.I., June 1974. 6. Keys Associates, Quonset Point Technical Park: Executive Summary (prepared for R.I. Dept. of Economic Development), March 1977. 7. Macpherson, George S., and Charles A. Bookman. Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Activities in the Mid-Atlantic and Their Onshore Impacts: A Summary Report, November, 1979. Reston, Virginia. U.S. Geological Survey Open- File Report 80-17, 1979. 8. Maguire, C.E., Inc. Quonset Facilities Plan for Wastewater Collection and Treatment in the Town of North Kingstown, R.I. Providence, R.I., August, 1975. 9. Maguire, C.E., Inc. Preliminary Engineering Davisville Port Expansion: Final Report. Providence, Rhode Island, January, 1981. 10. New England River Basins Commission 'Estimates for New England: Onshore Facilities Related to Offshore Oil and Gas Development. Boston, Mass., November, 1976. 11. New England River Basins Commission Factbook: Onshore Facilities Related to Offshore Oil and Gas Development, Boston, Mass., November, 1976. 12. North Kingstown, Town of, Chamber of Commerce. 1978 Summary of Oil Related Service Industries, North Kingstown, R.I., Memo, 1978. 13. Rhode Island, State of General Plan for the Reuse and Development of United States Government Surplus MIlitary Lands in Rhode Island, Providence, R.I., June, 1974. 14. U.S. Dept. of the Interior Environmental Planningofor Offshore Oil and Gas:. Regional Status Reports, Vol. 5, Part 1, Washington, D.C., 19797. 15. U.S. Dept. of the Interior Final Environmental Statement, Vol. 1, Washington, D.C., 1977. 16. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Unofficial Press Release, February 3, 1981. 17. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. -Economic Study of Possible Impacts of a Georges Bank Sale. Washington, D.C. 1076. 53 I I I I I I I I t I Chapter Three Onshore Regional Issues .Land Resources I . - I I I I I I I 54 Figure III-1 WestBay Region Falts Glocester Sn*Mdd kd sculeft II r-j Fl cmdan ton Y*nvirk Co-" iwe@-lj Usm Eca "a CVWVW" rf"rton QUONSET Em* POINT Middleaft Litft Com" Smift KbV#own, Chaleftw westoly @55 Population Growth The 1980 Census of Population and Housing figures show a continued overall population increase in the region.at the same time as the state experienced a loss in population. Strong re gional growth trends; began as early as 1940 and were ac- celerated by the Naval activities at Quonset Point-Davisville. At the height of Naval activity (1970), the entire region and the individual communities experienced growth rates well beyond the state and the nation. In spite of the Naval withdraw- al from Quonset Point-Davisville in the mid-1970s, the communities in the region continued to gain population growth and, in some cases, by 1980 had exceeded pro- jecei6ns- made as late as 1979. Substantially reduced growth rates are projected for the next decade (1980- 1990) for the entire-region except the towns of North Kingstown and Narragansett. However, plans for industrial growth and transportation improvements on a region- wide basis suggest that 4Cces-&fbility-,tD employment centers will increase for resi- dents of the West Bay Region and the region miiy@'._ exceed the projected growth rate in the next decade. (See Figure 111-2'0.) Except for the first decade of this century, the State of Rhode Island has-ex- perienced less population growth than the nationlVig. III'-1@ Moreover, in 1980 the Census figures indicate that Rhode Island V as only one of two'states in the entire nation that suffered a...population loss.- While these figures also show that over all growth-between-1970 and 1980.inthe West Bay Region-exceeded that of the state but fell short of the-nation.'s.rate,.the data fails to reveal that this sudden drop in growth in the region and the statew.-@,s the result of the federal decision!@ to close the Naval installations at Quonset Point-Davisville and on Aquidnick Island. In fact, population growth in the West Bay Region has surpassed change in both b-le-T-U-1). The 1980 information shows member com- state and nation since 1940 (TW munities in the region exceeded 1980 population.projections made as recently as 56 Figure 111-2 Population Growth 30000- 27500- NORTH KINGSTOWN 25000- SOUTH KINGSTOWN 22500 - 20000- 17500 - CD CL 15000 - jP 12500 - -.,.,.-,.,.@NARRAGANSETT 10000- EAST GREENWICH 7500 - 40 5000 JAMESTOWN 2500 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 Source: U.S. Census of Population and Housing 57 Table Population and Population Change for the West Bay Region, the State of Rhode Island, and the Nation YEARIthe Regionj %crinai.1 Gre'Michl '.@r!hel Xi'nouttowni %crel'aiel Narragansettl %"!I;.l Jamestownl %,ren.;el I I '.1"Sitnafeerl lcrlhel State %crinaie U.S.. I% In- crease 1900 14.555 2,775 4,194 4,792 1.523 1,091 414,001 428,556 76,212,168 1910 15,069 3.5 3,420 23.2 4.048 -3.5 5,176 4.11 1,250 -18.0 1,175 7.7 527,541 27.4 542,610 26.6 92,228,496 21.0 1920 14,494 -3.8 3.290 -3.8 3,397 -16.1 5,181 .1 993 -20.6 1,633 39.0 589,903 11.8 604,397 11.4 106,021.537 15.0 1930 16,812 16.0 3,666 11.4 4,279 26.0 6,010 16.0 1,258 26.7 1,599 -2.1 670,685 13.7 687,497 13.8 123,202,624 16.2 1940 19,032 13.2 3,842 4.8 4,604 7.6 7,282 21.2 1.560 24.0 1,744 9.1 694.314 3.5 713,346 3.8 132,164,569 7.3 1950 34,237 79.9 4,923 28.1 14,810 222.0 10,148 39.4 2,288 46.7 2,068 18.6 757,659 9.0 791.896 11.0 151,325.798 14.5 1960 42,730 24.8 6,100 23.9 10.977 28.1 11,942 17.7 3,444 50.5 2,267 9.6 816,758 7.7 859,488 8.5 179,323,175 18.5 1970 66,332 55.2 9.577 57.0 29,793 57.0 16,913 41.6 7,138 107.3 2.911 28.4 885,641 8.1 949,723 10.5 203,211,926 13.3 1980 68,691 3.6 10,211 6.5 21,938 -26.4 20.414 20.7 12.088 69.3 4,040 38.8 878,453 -0.6 947,154 -0.3 226,504,825 11.0 1980* 69,800 5.2 10,200 13.8 22,100 -25.8 22,000 30.0 11,000 54.1 3.800 30.0 1990* 81,600 -14.5 11,600 6.4 27,500 24.4 24,900 13.2 13,500 22.7 4,100 7.9 Source: Bureau of Census Projected in 1979 RI Statewide Planning Program 1979. Moreover, when the estimated 12,000 military personnel who were withdrawn from Quonset Point-Davisville between 1974-1975 are discounted, North Kingstown actually shows a 23% population growth rate. Town officials in East Greenwich also link the town's substantially reduced growth over the last decade to the Naval withdra wal. The shift in population from the city to the countryside began in the region in East Greenwich, that area of the West Bay Region most proximate to Providence, during the early part of this century. Succeeding population growth has reflected nationwide suburbanization trends that began after World War II with the growing popularity of the automobile. The construction of inter- and intra-state highways increased the accessibility to formerly non-urban areas. Key developments shaped the population growth in the West Bay Region. During World War 11, the Navy aquired th6 land at Quonset Point-Davisville and established a major military facility. The sudden infusion of population and civilian employ- ment opportunities is reflected in the 222% growth experienced by North Kingstown between 1940 and 1950. The effects of the injection of growth on North Kingstown are visible in the doubled (or more than doubled) growth rates that neighboring communities experienced. Growth continued region-wide.at unparalled rates. In addition to the spillover effects of the Navy Base at Quonset Point-Davis- ville, South Kingstown realized population growth from the University of Rhode Island (URI). The U.S. Census conducted in 1950 was the first to include resident college students as members of the University's host community. The growth spurt during the 1960s at URI enhanced-the growth increase in South Kingstown. Some popu- lation increase in Narragansett is attributable to the spillover of students unable to locate housing in South Kingstown. Between 1970 and 1980 the population increase rate in Narragansett exceeded that of all other cities and towns in Rhode Island. This sharp increase reflects the growing attractiveness of year-round living along the coastline; the population growth is also indicative of the increased accessi- 59 bility of the southern shore of Rhode Island. Population figures for the West Bay Region from 1960 to 1980 show growth and are reflected, as would be expected, in increased density in the Region (TablelII_3). Naturally, overall figures for the towns show increased density (except in North Kingstown). However, the breakdown by census tract reveals important character- istics and events taking place within these communities. The most urbanized area in the region is the downtown of East Greenwich (Census Tract 209.01); as has been a nationwide trend, the downtown lost population between 1970 and 1980 while the suburban areas gained. The withdrawal of the Navy is revealed in the sharp drop between 1970 and 1980 in North Kingstown's census tracts 501.02 and 502 at the same time Wickford and the outlying areas of the town increased in density. Census tract 514 in South Kingstown encompasses only the University of Rhode Island and shows both the large increase in students between 1960 and 1970 and the subsequent de- crease over the last decade. Other characteristics of the population, in addition to increase, were revealed by the census data and are presented in Tables 111-3,111-4. Between 1970 and 1980 the balance of men and women in the region remained relatively stable except in North Kingstown which increased its predominance of women due to the withdrawal of Naval forces. The communities show a high similarity in their racial balance which continued over the last decade. North Kingstown, Narragansett, and South Kingstown showed the highest percentage of black and other racial populations groups, most likely due to the influence of the Navy and URI; the drop between 1970 and 1980, then, wo uld be linked directly to the Naval withdrawal and the decrease in students. The regional population showed striking similarity in 1980 to the population char- acteristics of the state. Finally, the census showed changing patterns of age distribution not unlike national trends. Between 1970 and 1980 in the West Bay Region towns, the percent- age of the population below 18 years of age dropped at the same time that the per- 60 Table 111-2 Population Density 1960-1980 Census Land 1960 1960 1970 1970 1980 1980 Tract No. Area* Population Pop./Ac. Population Pop./Ac. Population Pop./Ac. West Bay Region 87,640 42,730 .49 66,332 .77 68,691 .78 East Greenwich (Total:) 10,540 6,100 .58 9,577 .91 10,211 .97 209.01 633 4,306 6.80 3,530 5.58 209.02 9,907 6,100 .58 5,271 .53 6,681 .67 Jamestown 413 6,105 2,267 .37 2,911 .48 4,040 .66 Narragansett 515 8,702 3,444 .40 7,138 .82 12,088 1.39 North Kingstown (Total:) 27.146 18.9,77 .70 29,793 1.10 21,938 .81 501.01 4,989 7,370 .98 7,888 1.58 9,070 1.82 501.02 2,511 3,369 1.34 1,527 .61 502 2,592 4,227 1.63 9,933 3.83 665 .26 503 5,139 4,948 .96 5,227 1.02 6,218 1.21 504 11,915 2,432 .20 3,376 .28 4,458 .37 South Kingstown (Total:) 35,147 11,942 .34 16,913 .48 20,414 .58 512 3,306 5,831 1.76 6,145 1.86 6,210 1.88 513 30,672 4,039 .13 5,773 .19 9,558 .31 514 1,169 2,072 1.77 4,995 4.27 4,646 3.97 State of Rhode Island 658,242 859,488 1.31 949,723 1.44 947,154 1.44 Remainder of State 570,602 815,498 1.43 883,391 1.55 875,911 1.54 *In Acres Source: Bureau of Census, Technical Paper *48, Statewide Planning Program Table 111-3 General Population Characteristics: West Bay Region 1970-1980 (in percent) 1970 1980 1970 1980 M F M F W B 0 W B 0 East Greenwich 48.9 51.1 48.8 51.2 99.3 .4 .3 98.7 .5 .8 Jamestown 48.5 51.5 48.8 51.2 98.6 .9 .5 98.8 .6 .6 Narragansett 51.7 48.3 50.4 49.6 97.4 1.2 1.4 97.4 .9 1.7 North Kingstown 60.4 39.6 48.5 51.5 94.6 3.2 2.2 97.6 .8 1.6 South Kingstown 47.8 52.2 48.1 51.9 94.9 2.7 2.4 94.3 1.8 3.9 M: Male, F: Female, W: White, B: Black, 0: Other SOURCE: Coalition of Coastal Communities U.S. Census of Population and Housing, 1970, 1980. General Population Characteristics: West Bay Region and State 1980 (in percent) Male Female White Black Other Region 48.9 51.1 97.4 1.7 .9 State 47.6 52.4 94.7 2.9 2.4 SOURCE: Coalition of Coastal Communities U.S. Census of Population and Hou-@ing, 1980. Table 111-4 Distribution of Age in West Bay Region 1970 and 1980 (in percent) 18 or Younger 65 or Older Median Age 1970 1985 1970 1980 1970 1980 East Greenwich 36.5 30.7 7.2 9.0 27.5 33.1 Jamestown 33.4 26.1 13.1 13.1 31.1 32.5 Narragansett 30.9 22.5 8.5 9.4 24.8 26.8 North Kingstown 32.9 30.3 3.4 9.6 22,8 30.2 South Kingstown 24.6 21.3 8.7 9.7 22.3 24.4 Region 26.2 10.2 29.4 State 25.6 13.4 31.8 62 centage of the population over the age of,65 increased. In every community, the median age for the population increased. Most noticeable is the change in North Kingstown and East Greenwich influenced by the age of military personnel. Conclusions Substantially reduced growth rates are projected over the next decade for the West Bay Region except for the towns of North Kingstown and Narragansett. However, plans for increased industrial development at Quonset Point-Davisville, Kent County and at industrial sites in the region suggest potential population levels at least at projected levels. In addition, planned highway improvements discussed on page 64, will increase accessibility to employment centers for residents of the West Bay Region. Final population growth will be determined in each community by its land-use. Town officials in East Greenwich and South Kingstown concede that new and revised- use tools have slowed growth in their communities. Jamestown has now prepared an updated comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance which will ostensibly limit the residential capacity of the island. North Kingstown, the host community for Quonset Point-Davisville development, has set a population ceiling based on public facilities and services. Thf land-use tools of one community may well dictate the growth in another. 63 Transportation Highways Overview New transportation highway projects now in the preliminary planning and design stages of development will also increase accessibility between the West Bay Region and the-State's urban center, in turn, influencing new growth in the coastal communities. Local governments are now confronted by State plans inconsistent with local comprehensive plans. Highway projects which pave the way to previously undeveloped areas and produce unanticipated growth, ulti- mately straining the capacities of local government, threaten the existing non- urban character of the coastal areas. It is expected State efforts will con- tinue to be directed at federally funded new highway projects or major up- grades. Future State proposals, plans and designs should reflec t local govern- ment concerns and plans. The extensive road network that winds southward from Providence to the West Bay communities provides accessibility for those wishing to avail them- selves of working in the city but living in the "country',' as well as those in- terested in using one of Rhode Island's unique natural resources: its coastal beaches and marinas. The bulk of this network is the product of the last three decades. By the mid-1800's East Greenwich was established as an industrial town and roads were constructed to link it with the hub of activity in Providence. By the end of the century the beaches and harbors of the coastal communities, especially Narragansett, were attracting a steady stream of sum- mertime visitors and the West Bay Region was showing the first indications of its potential as a state recreation resource area; roads were extended to ex- pedite the travel. Post Road (U.S. Route 1) was improved as part of the State Highway Act of 1902. By 1915 Boston Neck Road (U.S. Route 1A), which runs 64 along the coastline from Wickford to Narragansett, was graded to facilitate the passage of tourists from the city to the resort towns; it was paved with rein- forced concrete in the early 1930's. In 1927, Tower Hill Road (U.S. Route 1) was paved between the burgeoning communities of Wickford and Wakefield.1 Increased automobile usage and the intensive growth in the region that followed the opening of the Navy Base at Quonset Point dictated a moderniza- tion effort of the transportation system for the region. A series of trans- portation projects beginning prior to World War Il defined the amount of growth and its pattern for the West Bay communities: o The Jamestown Bridge was constructed between 1939-1940 improving access to the island and contributing to a population increase in the following decade of almost 20%. o In 1952 U.S. Route 1 was widened from its original two lanes (1927) to four lanes from Allenton to Narragansett and South Kingstown. o No primary connecting route had existed between U.S. Route 1 and Route 2 until 1953 when Colonel Rodman High- way (Route 4), a four lane road, was constructed between Route 1 at Allenton and the rotary at the intersection of Routes 2 and 102. This new road linked the coastal communities with another avenue to the urbanized employ- ment centers. o Portions of Route 95, a product of the 1956 Interstate Highway Act were completed by 1968 making Rhode Island a single labor market. Population growth between 1960 and 1970 increased 55% in the region. o Until the mid-1960's, Route 138 connected Route 1 and Route 1A via Bridgetown Road, a windy, 2-lane road. Route 138 continued northward to Bridge Road and across the Jamestown Bridge. Construction of Route 138 at a new site coincided with that of the Newport Bridge. Traffic along Route 138 now travels an improved roadway to the Jamestown Bridge via Route 1 (See map.). o Finally, the completion of the Newport Bridge in 1969 increased accessibility to Jamestown and is identified as the singlemost contributor to growth in Jamestown.2 1. R.I. Historic Preservation Society Reports 2- Draft EIS for Interstate Route 1-895 and Jamestown Bridge Replacement. 65 The correlation between growth and improved highway access and increased land values in Rhode Island is well-documented in a report completed in 1976. 3 Any new construction should be carefully examined for its potential to impact the region with unanticipated growth. While many of the projects included in the Transportation Impr ovement Program (T.I.P.) for 1982-1984 call for minor 4 upgrading of facilities, several elements are major in scope. Among these major projects are: o, The 3.5 mile extension of Route 4 that will link its pre- sent end at Route 2 in East Greenwich to Colonel Rodman Highway at Lafayette Road eliminating a dangerous stretch of road and the site of many accidents. Sections of the roadway are currently in the design stage and the Rhode Island Department of Transporation (RIDOT) sources indi- cate construction could begin as early as mid-*1982. Right-of-way will be acquired in East Greenwich and North Kingstown. The new roadway will change traffic patterns and potentially add pressure for development at intersec- tions and increase traffic on presently rural roads. For communities along the coast, this new roadway, in conjunc- tion with the planned improvements to Route 1, represents the final link in a north-south freeway system from Providence to Point Judith Pond, and will decrease commut- ing time into and out from the Region. o, The construction of a new Interstate 95 interchange in West Greenwich at the intersection with Hopkins Hill Road and Division Road that will facilitate commuting from the West Greenwich industrial park to currently undeveloped sections of the Region. The interchange will increase ac- cessibility to the western area of East Greenwich and eventually dictate the upgrading of Division Road. Plans are already under way to upgrade and widen Hoskins Hill Road (Route 102). Without proper land management controls, adjoining land in East Greenwich could fall prey to in- creased pressure for developmment. o, Davisville Corridor Study. Daily traffic volumes in 1980 exceeded 6,000 vehicles on Devil's Foot Road, a two-lane road linking Route 4 and Quonset Point-Davisville.5 The development of additional offshore oil support facilities at Quonset Point-Davisville and its concommitant employ- ment will increase the use of this roadway. The 1977 Fa- cilities Plan at Quonset Point-Davisville by Keyes Associ- ates, estimated the use of Devil's Foot Road (or an alter- native) by over 29,000 vehicles with a fully developed park. Bidding proposals for the evaluation of either an 3. Hammerschlag 4. T.I.P. 5. Traffic Improvements at Quonset Point-Davisville Preliminary Engineering Report, Gordon Archibald.... Sept., 1980. 6. Keyes Associates, 1977, Quonset Point Technical Park Facilities Study, Prov.,RI. 66 upgrading of Devil's Foot Road or a new roadway have been submitted to RIDOT. Within the next 18 months the RIDOT expects to select a consultant for this phase of the project. o Those portions of the original 1-895 highway plan still un- der consideration. Since the early1950s various transpor- tation officials have envisioned a freeway type road cross- ing South County. By the mid@1970s State transportation plans included 1-895, a new interstate, to follow or paral- lel the existing Route 138 road from its intersection with Interstate 95 in Richmond, Rhode Island, across Washington County, a new Jamestown Bridge, the lower bay and Aquidnick Island to Swansea, Massachusetts. While still titled 111-8951' the project has been downgraded, the bridge project has been separated from the road network for impact assessment pur- poses, and negotiations are underway to assure the retention of the promised funding fo use on a modified highway. Agree- ment has been reached between RIDOT and the Washington County Project Areawide Committee (PAC), a citizens group repre- senting the local communities, on eliminating the section of Route 138 from 1-95 to Heaton Orchard Road from any new up- grading plans. Plans to improve or upgrade the remaining sections of Route 138 include: the construction of a new two-lane road from Heaton Orchard Road crossing Route 2 near Waites Corner Road to a point just north of the University of Rhode Island and Kingston Village. PAC and RIDOT agree on the need for a new road from Route 2 east- ward. However, discussion centers on RIDOT's plan to cut directly from Heaton Orchard Road to Route 2, eliminating the "Usquepaug Bulge," a segment of the road (see maV Statewide Planning characterizes as substandard. The new alignment would cross an his- toric farm over wetlands that currently separate the agricultural land from forested areas. The alterna- tive, the improvement and minimal upgrading of exist- ing roadway, is favored by local officials. the construction of a four-lane road to connect the University of Rhode Island and the proposed route; this segment has been dubbed the "URI Connector." The plan has been criticized by PAC for overbuilding this segment and failing to consider the non-growth posture held by the University of Rhode Island administration.8 7. 1-895 Transportation Corridor Position Statement. 8. Conversation with Vicki White. 67 the construction of a four-lane road from the inter- section of the URI Connector and the proposed Route 138 moving eastward to the intersection of Routes 138 and 1 (see map). Traffic projections for this segment have also been the subject of scrutiny by the PAC. the widening and improvement of Route 138 from Route 1 to the Jamestown Bridge. When Route 138 was constructed from Route I to Route 1A, sufficient right- of-way was acquired by the State to permit four lanes of traffic. Improvements to the intersections of Route 1A and 138 (signalization, additions of lanes) and the roadway from 1A to the Jamestown Bridge have not been agreed upon. the widening and improvement to four lanes of Route 138 as it corsses Conanicut Island connecting the Jamestown and Newport Bridges.. While transportation officials cite the anticipated traffic volumes, local officials are concerned about the impacts of a four- lane road on water, air. environmental, social, and economic quality issues they say were ignored by the environmental impact statement for the bridge. In addition, they note that Route 138 is a local road in Jamestown with schoolbus stops and over 30 adjoin- ing driveways. The Final. Environmental Impact State- ment for the road will be distributed by August of 1982. o The construction of a four-lane bridge to replace the existing Jamestown Bridge. The existing bridge has an estimated life expectancy of only 4 or 5 Wars and there is general agreement on need for a new bridge. Plans for the replacement have been stalemated by a lack of consensus between transportation offi- cials and local officials and townspeople over the width of the bridge. Transportation planners began with an 88-foot wide span that included four 12-foot lanes, two breakdown- shoulder-bikepaths, two pedestrian sidewalks, and a median barrier. After public outcry the span size was reduced to 79 feet by narrowing the shoulders and the median. This width is incorporated in the Final Environemtnal Impact Statement recently approved by Federal Highway Administration officials. Language added to the recent Federal Highway Appropriations Act passed by Congress in December, 1981, would allow a further re-@ duction to 69 feet.. However, Jamestown, supported by other South County communities, is insisting that the new Jamestown Bridge be constructed at a width no larger than that of the Newport Bridge, 54 feet, plus the addition of a median barrier strip. A compromise needs to be struck between the State, Fed- eral, and Local concerns for the bridge construction to proceed unimpeded. The controversy over both the width of the proposed bridge and the type, size, and location of improvements to Route 138 represents the ongoing struggle local officials confront in their attempts to assure that State transportation 68 Figure 111-3 Major Highway and Bridge Projects Wo t North mint, Cumberlo -------------------- ------------ DAVISVILLE CORRIDOR L, oln entral Falls 2RT. 4 EXTENSION th Glocestv ih., RT. 138 -- --------- 4JAMESTOWN BRIDGE ScrhA te v John Fast Cron - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- -T Barrington Coventry is 'West wick ---------------- --------------- --------- L East West Greenwich Greenwich 2w.* -J N. 1% Kingst ft rtsmou Twerton -------- - - J own L leto*n Alle Campto Richm Hopkint Neimipotl Soul Kingstown N ra ft Chorl"to" Wnterly New Shorishom ftww. 69 plans are consistent with local land-use plans. While local pressure eventual- ly led to the road's downgrading from interstate status, other issues have fueled the controversy. In particular, local communities point to RIDOT '-s segmentation of the pro- ject. The construction of the Jamestown Bridge was ostensibly separated from the Route 138 improvements for environmental assessment purposes. State trans- portation officials were-then able to dismiss charges that the Jamestown Bridge EIS failed to account for impacts from an improved island roadway necessitated by,the new bridge. In addition, there is widespread concern within the region that should one segment be built at interstate dimension, other segments will be similarly developed if not now, at some time in the future. Local communities insist that their comprehensive plans do not include a change from the current rural to an urbanized character that a freeway might bring. Morever, local officials and the residents affected by the 1-895 and Jamestown Bridge proposals insist that Route 138 is a part of a regional trans- portation network and that it should remain so. State philosophy is reflected in the Interstate-95 sign which indicates Route 138 is a recognized route to Cape Cod. Within the region other improvementshave been budgeted for the 1982-1984 T.I.P. Among the most needed are the traf f ic improvements in the form of light signalization modifications and turning lanes which have,been planned to relieve congestion at the intersections of Route 1, Quonset Point-Davisville@ and Devil's Foot Road in North Kingstown. During the peak afternoon hour, almost 800 vehicles exit from the former Navy Base where current employment levels have hovered at be- tween 5,000 and 6,000 workers; a moderate find of oil and gas would at least double that number increasing the need for a coodinated transportation system. In addition, funds have been budgeted to plan improvements to: 70 - Route 1 between Westerly and Wakefield; - Route i at the intersection with Route 4; - Railroad grade crossings; - Route 1 at the Wakefield cutoff; - Succotash Road between U.S. Route I and Matunuck Beach; - Point Judith Road; - Ministerial Road; and - Several key commercial center intersections in South Kingstown. The projects described are, for the most part, the result of traffic pro- jections and plans made as early as 1960. Projects like the Davisville Corri- dor Study reflect an ability to amend plans in the face.of changing trends. Although the 1980 Census figures will be used to make travel projections for the year 2000, state planners insist that the interstate system in Rhode Island is essentially built. Based on public sentiment, planners say no new major highways are expected to be considered for the State. However, decisions about previous highway proposals like 1-895 have not been totally abandoned. Unfortunately, projects recommended and given priority have, historically, and will likely to continue to be dictated by the types of categorical funding promoted at the federal level. State planners in the future expect that federal'. support will be available for interstate highways and primary roads, those that cross the state. Thus, it can be expected then that to maximize State monies, State plans will concentrate on these roads that can attract federal matching funds, like new highways. State officials concede that next year federal funding may remain the same but the number of proposed projects is likely to increase. Recent reports 9 suggest that highway funds in Rhode Island were consumed by expensive studies at the expense of the construction and maintenance of roads. The reports also 9. Providence Journal reports. 71 indicated that Rhode Island may be one of the states hardest hit by federal cuts because of its failure to generate funds specifically for roads. Local officials already complain that the $10,000 per year per community allocated by the State for road maintenance fallsfair short of their needs. A transporta- tion bond referendum recently defeated expressed the sentiments of the public to increased tax burdens. Should projectibns for a medium-find of oil and gas be substantiated, and should accompanying facilities be developed at Quonset Point-Davisville, the road network in the-region will be subjected to accelerated usage by work-home trips and shopping trips from an increased population as well as from commer- cial carriers; maintenance and road quality willassume an added importance. While State legislation has now been introduced to siphon a small percentage of gasoline tax revenue.s into a maintenance fund for roads and highways, the funding resources of RIDOT remain uncertain in light of federal cutbacks and the decisive defeat of the recen t referendum. Now may be the appropriate moment for a coalition of local officials to engage in serious discussions with the State to ensure that future transportation planning is consistent with local plans. 72 Transportation and Transit Mass Transit At present, due to the non-urban nature of the Region, mass transit programs in the West Bay Region are primarily limited to peak commuting hours with service to major employment centers usually over circuitous routes. Proposed funding cut- backs at the federal level and state fiscal constraints may result in sharp transit fare increases as well as a reduction in the number of routes. To adequately serve more rural communities, the state will need to be more receptive to innovative programs. At issue, also, is the lack of coordination among trans- portation providers in the Region. Early mass transit systems connecting the central city with the coastal com- munities were available as early as the late nineteenth century. By the mid-1800s East Greenwich was established in Rhode Island as an industrial town. Thus, it was natural for trolley lines to be extended to the community and for the town to be the site of a railroad station for the major east coast rail line. In July, 1898, the Sea View Railroad, an electrified railway, began carrying passengers from East Greenwich to South County. However, by the 1920s, the railway was forced to cease its operations; it had been superceded by the age of the automo- bile, The continued popularity of the automobile is shown in the increased num- ber of West Bay automobile registrations. Today, several mass transit alternatives are available to commuters and residents of the West Bay Region. Amtrak trains make stops in the morning and evening at Kingston (West Kingstown) and East Greenwich as part of its regular Boston-Washington service. Kingston Station is second only to Providence in Rhode Island in the number of patrons using the station. Unfortunately, Amtrak has been forced, nationwide, to reduce service to*cut expenses, especially on non-productive routes. Stops at the Wickford Junction which, in 1980, averaged 73 less than one rider a day, have recently been eliminated. In addition, Amtrak recently announced the elimination of the Beacon Hill, a commuter local between Westerly and Boston due to a lack of riders. Ridership at the Kingston Station, except for minor fluctuations, has been relatively stable. However, ridership at the East Greenwich Station was sharply down between 1980 and 1981 RIPTA In Rhode Island the primary passenger carrier is the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA). In 1966 RIPTA assumed control over what was described as a "wretched fleet of vehicles," the United Transit Company. In operation from 1955-1966, during a period of mass transit decline nationwide, the United Transit Company watched its own patronage drop well below even national averages. The state's commitment to mass transit at about this time is best reflected by the data which show that between 1962 and 1972 less than 1% of the state transportation funds were expended on,mass transit. Over the past decade RIPTA has increased its ridership by updating its equip- ment, by increasing the number of communities served, and by providing an al- ternative to the high cost of automobile travel. Transit links now exist between the urban centers of the West Bay communities and the major employment centers (Quonset Point-Davisville and the University of Rhode Island (U.R.I.) ) in the region. There is morning and afternoon transit service to Quonset Point from Providence, from West Warwick, and from Newport. Bus ro utes joining Kingston and URI with Wakefield, Narragansett Pier, Galilee, Jamestown and Newport provide connections to routes to the Providence metropolitan area. RIPTA officials report that service between Kingston Station (Amtrak), U.R.1, Wakefield, and Galilee and between Newport and Wakefield runs six days a week with its heaviest ridership during the winter months. RIPTA has attempted to es- tablish stops at Kingston Station which coordinate with train arrivals; these ef- 74 forts have been hampered by continuous schedule changes instituted by Amtrak. On a typical weekday morning during the peak commuting period four buses de- part from Narragansett, one from Jamestown, from Wickford, and one from Post Road at Frenchtown Road in East Greenwich bound for Providence, standing room only. RIPTA has ordered new 47-seater buses scheduled for delivery in January, 1982. Several of the new vehicles will replace the 30-seaters now on these routes. While bus routes in the Region are running at capacity levels or at least within respectable levels of ridership, there are no plans to expand service by increasing the number of buses in the region or by increasing the number fo com- munities served. RIPTA already faced a decline in ridership at Quonset Point when Electric Boat purchased carpooling vans for its employees (see Ridership Program). RIPTA officials expect that federal cuts in operating monies will force the agency to take a statewide look at "non-productive"* routes. If pro- posed federal budget cuts are made, RIPTA will be faced by 1985 with the prospect of locating new funding sources to substitute for lost monies. The new funding could come in the form of increased fares or subsidy from the State, although the prospects of a state subsidy is doubtful as the state is currently facing a fis- cal crisis. RIPTA officials indicated that there was room for a more coordinated effort to bring commuter alternatives to the West Bay Region. RIPTA has little communi- cation with Bonanza Bus lines, a private interstate carrier that services Providence, Newport, and the University of Rhode Island. At least five Bonanza trips originate at the University on a daily basis bound for Providence and Wakefield. Additional buses are used on Fridays and before holidays to meet the needs of U.R.I. students. Aside from Amtrak, Bonanza service is the only direct transit route from South Kingstown to Providence. RIPTA service is circuitous and requires connecting lines to make the identical trip. Conversation with Bernie Ruble, RIPTA. 75 SCIRTS Van service is provided in South County by the South County Integrated Rural Transit Service (SCIRTS), an offshoot of a Community Action Program (CAP) demon.- stration project. Thesystem was established to provide service in rural areas where ot her public transit is unavailable. The Public Utilities Commission li- cense held by SCIRTS permits the service to follow non-fixed routes based on de- mand. Routes originate in Washington County and West Greenwich and stops can be made at points selected by patrons. At least seven persons are needed to estab- lish and maintain a route. While the CAP agency provided the seed money to begin the project, fares from patrons are used to maintain the system. In October, 1981, two of SCIRTS' four routes were cut from service due to a lack of sufficient funding. Both routes had serviced the University of Rhode Island; one from Westerly and one from Matunuck. The two remaining routes generate sufficient funds to cover their current operating expenses. SCIRTS officials feel the system is providing a necessary service in an area neglected by other public transit facilities. Surveys conducted for SCIRTS sug- gest there is a larger market in the region than is currently being serviced. SCIRTS officials indicate they have not had even the funding to advertise suffi- ciently. Equally disturbing is the reported lack of recognition and assistance ex- tended by RIDOT. As described by SCIRTS officials, RIDOT is currently sitting on federal funds that would provide monies for vehicles as well as 50% of the oper- ating expenses. SCIRTS officials also complain that RIDOT failed to inform SCIRTS of their eligibility for funding from a national ridesharing program. Finally, the SCIRTS administrator pointed to the fact that the agency had not been invited to participate in any ridesharing or mass transit commission. Rural transit systems can provide valuable service to those living beyond 76 urban areas, especially the poor, handicapped, and elderly. Van service used as a feeder system to mass transit can enlarge the population benefiting from public facilities. Local officials support the concept of rural transit but expressed concern over the possibility of publicly-funded van service usurping the private sector taxi service. A coordinated approach to mass transit service on the part of RIPTA, RIDOT, and SCIRTS would better meet the public's needs and eliminate resource inefficiency. As the West Bay Region acquires new population, some con- tinuing to locate in semi-rural areas, the need for an integrated approach becomes even more important. COMMUTER LOTS, RIDESHARING, AND CARPOOLING Over the past decade several periods of high automobile travel costs or lim- ited fuel availability spawned the carpool in Rhode Island. Carpooling is an- other alternative to the high cost of automobile maintenance (and often parking) as well as an alternative to mass transit where unavailable or impractical. While little data exists, state transportation officials point to an increase in carpooling. RIDOT currently maintains five co mmuter lots, one in the West Bay Region at the intersection of Routes 138 and 1A (see map). Based on the usage of existing lots and projected demand, four more lots are planned for the region on currently-owned state land. These lots will be used as both meeting points for carpools as well as recognized RIPTA bus stops. RIPTA and RIDOT have worked closely, monitoring the use of the commuter lots. The University of Rhode Island has made some effort to encourage carpooling to the main campus. One, sixty-five-space lot located behond the Memorial Union and central to most facilities, has been reserved for carpools of at least three persons. While the lot is identified by signs, a lack of funding for personnel to monitor the lot hampers its success. Finally, as early as 1974, RIDOT was serving as a funnel agency for federal dollars for a ridesharing program. Early activities included the computer match- 77 ing of commuters. Since 1978 RIDOT has been promoting the Rhode Island Revital- ized Ridesharing Program, a federally-funded effort designed to encourage the private sector to purchase vehicles for vanpooling by employees. Surveys are be- ing conducted to identify major employers int he state, that group most likely to partici pate in a ridesharing project. Upon request, informational meetings are conducted by RIDOT staff. RIDOT serves as the link between the employer and the federal government who will loan 75% of the cost of a van, interest free. The employer purchases the van and provides it at a nominal fee to employees for van- pooling. At Quonset Point the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics has pur- chased 25 vans as part of the program and anticipates future additions based on future levels of employment. Brown and Sharp in North Kingstown is currently conducting a pilot vanpooling program under this project. RIDOT officials point out that while the program requires both the outlay by the employer of some monies and, more importantly, company initiative, the em- ployer reaps the benefits of tax credits as well as employee-sati'sfaction. Ad- ministratrs of the program note that they are studying the feasibility of State employee involvement in the program as well as identifying other large firms as potential participants in the project. Conclusions and Recommendations The most glaring deficiency in the region's mass transit network is the lack of coordinated effort among transportation providers. While the West Bay Region does not generate the ridership levels of the metropolitan area, it is entitled to participate in the decision-making process. It should be the obligation of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation to ensure that agencies such as SCIRTS become a part of mass transit advisory groups. Efforts should be made to encourage representatives of Amtrak to participate. Current communication between RIPTA and Amtrak is limited to the announcement of rail schedule changes and is performed by the Kingston Station Stationmaster as a courtesy. RIPTA has found 78 Amtrak unresponsive to other overtures. At the very least, members of Rhode Island's congressional delegation could be tapped as a voice for these concerns. Over the next few years severe cuts are expecte d in programs such as the Urban Mass Transportation Administration which currently funds public transit in rural areas, operating assistance, and capital improvement programs.* To main- tain the level of service in the region, State subsidy and the means for financ- ing such monies must be secured. The State of Rhode Island does not currently meet air quality standards for mobile source pollutants. The Transportation element of the Statement Implementa- tion Plan for Air Quality identifications and recommends programs with air-quali- ty benefits.** Among the strategi44s selected for implementation is the encourage- ment of bus transit ridership through park-and-ride lots, token programs, and route improvements. These programs can benefit the West Bay Region and should be supported. Other measures recommended for inclusion in the State Guide Plan - commuter par king lots, employer programs, and carpooling/vanpooling programs - should be promoted actively in the region. Consumer education about the benefits of mass transit, carpooling, and ridesharing should be ongoing; however, for the residents of Rhode Island to opt for these alternatives to single-person work- trip commuting, public transit must be continued to be made available by the state. T.I.P. T.E.S.I.P. 79 Economic Growth in the Region Further extensive development of Quonset Point-Davisville, as planned by the Rhode Island Port Authority, and new industrial growth in Kent County, will produce secondary economic activity in a region that has, over the last decade, already es- tablished a measure of employment self-sufficiency. Between 1970 and 1980 regional employment in the primary sectors of the economy grew by over 13,000 jobs. Over half of the new jobs in the manufacturing sector in the state created over the last decade were located in-the West Bay Region due to development and expansion of Electric Boat at Quonset Point-Davisville. Increased employment in the services and retail-wholesale sectors indicate less dependency on commercial centers outside the region. Regional commercial activity is concentrated along Post Road in North Kingstown, the Dale Carlia area of Wakefield, and the village centers. A regionwide effort towards strengthening the historic village commercial centers and encourag- ing industry compatible with the character and resources of the region would broaden the tax base and promote economic independence of the region. The population growth presented in the preceding section (even the net decrease in North Kingstown represents growth in spite of the Navy's departure), fails to present the total picture of change in the region. Information about economic growth permi ts a more complete view of activity in the region. Employment figures for the last decade show that the number of jobs grew by 170% in the region over the last decade at the same time employment in the state increased by only 30% (Table Employment: 1960-1980). Overall, the region increased its proportion of total em- ployment at a faster rate than population increase. Employment figures at the town level were drawn from those of the Department of Employment Security (DES) and in- clude the primary classifications. (Table 111-5). The most dramatic change in employment in the region occured in the manufac- turing sector. The figures for the West Bay reflect a region-wide trend. In 80 December, 1960, North Kingstown reported only 271 workers in the manufactu ring in- dustry; twenty years later that figure was 7,853. In the region the number of work- ers in the industry has almost tripled. Over half of the new jobs in the manufac- turing sector in the state created over the last decade were located in the West Bay Region due, primarily, to the develoment in North Kingstown of Brown and Sharp and at Quonset Point-Davisville of Electric Boat. The relationship between state and regional economic activity has significant implications for residents of the West Bay Region. Had the data shown population growth but not an attendant increase in the economic activity, the figures might suggest that the region had attained a degree of suburbanization and was serving only as a "bedroom" community for a central metropolitan area. Moreover, the im- plications of such findings would also suggest that the people in the towns in the region are heavily dependent upon commutation for employment opportunities, that residents are unable to locate employment nearby their homes, On the other hand, data that shows overall growth in economic sectors comparable to population growth, would suggest that the communities had reached a degree of self-sufficiency. For the West Bay Region, the latter is the case. Regional economic activity as a percent of state activity from 1960-1980 is presented in TableIII-6 as well as regional population as a percent of the statels. From 1960 to 1980 the region steadily increased its share of the state Is population in spite of the decline caused by the Navy's departure from Quonset Point-Davisville. The economic activity shows similar increases. 1. The D.E.S. computations fail to account for the self-employed and those employed by the federal, state, or local governments or institutions. While employment for government and institutions can be acquired at the county level, county boundaries do not correspond to the study region. Other problems existed with the town level data. The information had been so disaggregated that some employment is not reported to protect disclosure. Finally, the choice of a winter month (December) to avoid the influence of the summer tour- ist activity may be slightly offset by the holiday season employment increases. 81 EMPLOYMENT 1960 1980 East Greenwich Jamestown Narragansett North Kingstown South Kingstown DEC. @EC;.j DEC. I DEC. IEC. EC DEC. EC. DEC. DEC. DEC. DEC. DEC. DEC. DEC. D CJOEC. I DECO EC. DEC DEC. DEC. EC DEC. 1 1970 1 D I I DEC 1960 26 975 1980 196@ 1975 01970 1975 1980 1960 965 1970 1975 1980 965 197 1975 1980, 1960 965 01970 1975 198; 11 1 .1 D A., F.. F.* 11 17 24 19 14 NIA NIA */A 10 17 0 N/A 10 102 152 42 31 52 80 133 27 22 13 115 173 Mining 0 0 0 a 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 0 0 0 0 25 0 0 0 N/A 0 construction 132 162 . 119 100 125 29 34 31 31 24 23 38 49 71 72 103 124 102 70 130 74 82 85 84 80 Manufacturing 1,218 1,283 1,205 1.204 1,843 13 15 9 10 47 18 11 39 10 186 271 2.871 1.121 3,134 7,853 347 361 442 432 789 I., C., F., G., S.- 13 13 12 16 216 8 7 I/A N/A 11 11 11 22 22 29 67 94 170 8 .0 180 49 59 84 129 188 wholesale 485 480 613 119 209 51 60 70 8 N/A 144 188 268 94 165 411 579 1,075 14 lie, 453 509 537 46 47 Retail 1,017 819 54 211 336 458 1.229 1,777 981 1,293 F.I.R.E. 47 65 89 114 102 13 7 7 9 13 12 7 12 21 14 83 97 174 112 112 20 45 47 51 77 Seryices 147 169 Z14 262 562 2? 37 42 18 34 26 74 87 132 282 168 275 259 339 922 125 231 490 1,016 1,563 TOTAL 2,053 2.189 2.275 2,851 3.890 142 162 162 142 357 234 .331 487 796 1,374 1,145 4,171 2,983 5.658 11,250 1,095 1,300 1,798 2,855 4,210 State of Rhode Island DEC. DEC ' DEC. I DEC; DEC. DEC DEG. DEC. I DEC. DEC. 1955 1 1970 197 1980 106@ 1 1965 1970 19 1980 A.. F., F.- 784 930 1,855 1,532 1,876 Sol 702 99, 326 489 Mining 104 148 108 135 169 0 a 0 83 41 4 Construction 10.870 14,264 14,061 11,611 12.271 361 440 386 356 5 431 6 Manufacturing 115.719 122,608 116,454 120 .467 130.137 1,857 4,541 2.816 4,790 10,718 1 1.5 7 m Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries T., C., E., G.. S.- 13.328 13.490 14,887 12,933 12,478 148 184 288 247 624 Transportation. Communication, Electricity, Gas, Sanitation wholesale 55.710 53,323 74,231 15.967 17.914 1.544 1,916 2,603 281 539 finance, Insurance, and Real Estate Retail 59.767 60.535 3,617 4,558 F.I.R.E. 12,410 13,664 15,816 17.898 20,760 175 221 329 307 318 services 17,945 22,920 28,916 61.870 83.602 493 786 1,121? It767 3,363 Source: Dppartment of Employment Security 227.070 251,547 265,528 302,180 4.668 0.158 7,76 TOTAL 3-457742 Table 111-6 The Region as a Percent of State Activity 1960 1980 DEC. DEC. DEC. DEC. DEC. 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 Population 5.0 7.0 7.3 A., F., F.* 10.2 7.5 9.4 21.3 26.1 Mining - - - 6.0 24.3 Construction 3.3 3.1 2.8 3.1 3.5 Manufacturing 1.6 3.7 2.4 4.0 8.2 T., C., I., G., S.- 1.1 1.4 1.9 1.9 5.0 Wholesale - Retail 2.7 3.0 3.6 5.2 6.0 F.I.R.E.*- 1.4 1.6 2.1 1.7 1.5 Services 2.8 3.4 3.9 2.9 4.0 TOTAL 2.1 3.2 2.9 3.9 6.1 Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries Transportation, Communication, Electricity, Gas, Sanitation Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate Source: Coalition of Coastal Communities Bureau of Census Department of Employment Security 83 Growth in the transportation, communications, electric, gas and sanitation (TCEGS), the wholesale-retail, and the service sectors reflects the increasing abil- ity of residents to acquire, goods and services locallyand of the region to attain a measure of self-sufficiency. It appears that while the wholesale sector of the economy is not as strong as the retail, economic growth influences portend an in- crease in the region as a distribution center, particularly for water-related activities. The service sector increase in conjunction with that of retail markets mirrors the demand that exists in growth communities for local trade sources. While the information about Jamestown suggests that the residents of the island community still bring their trade to other communities, overall the percent increase in em- ployees in the service sector (over 500%) exceeds the population growth (59%),that the region experienced between 1960 and 1980. Most of the increased commercial de- velopment occured in South Kingstown at the Dale Carlia intersection and along U.S. Route 1 in North Kingstown. Increased employment in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries industries reflects the region's coastal influence. It appears, with the exception of slight downturns, the construction and fi- nance, insurance and real estate sectors have remained fairly stable over the past twenty years in spite of substantial population growth. However, it is possible that the choice of a winter month may produce a distortion of yearly activity. Historically, real estate transactions and construction starts are linked to the warm weather months. Industrial Activity While nationwide the economy has experienced a downturn and the immediate fu- ture of regional economic growth may be slowed, several long-range trends can be anticipated. As described earlier, state plans envision extensive development at Quonset Point-Davisville for support facilities for offshore oil and gas drilling. 84 This developmentrelies on significant finds of oil and gas on the outer continental shelf. The state has already invested monies in the redevelopment of the former naval base and it can be expected that, should little or no energy resources be found, other economic development will be promoted at the site. Whether or not oil and gas is located, it would be presumed that the state, based on the sharp impacts of the naval withdrawal in 1974, would cultivate a mix of industries at the fomer base and prevent one industry from dominating the economy of the state and the region. Other industrial activities are expected to bring employment opportunities to the region: continued high technology industrial growth in Kent County, growth of fishing and marine activities; and development of the region as a tourist and rec- reation center. However, to maintain and, perhaps, enhance the independence of the region commercial activity will play an increasingly significant role. Commercial Activity According to the figures of the R.I.S.P.P. Environmental Inventory, between 1970 and 1975 the use of land for commercial purposes increased (9%) in the West Bay Region. During the same period employment in the wholesale, retail and service sec- tors had grown by fifty percent of 1970 levels suggesting, perhaps, that land al- ready committed to commercial use in 1970 was receiving more intensive use in 1975. Present trends over the last fifteen years in commercial development in the region have followed patterns similar to those taking place nationwide. Village commercial districts, historically the centers of retail activity in the region, suffered a decline in importance. Paralleling and intensifying (if not creating) the diminished attraction of the village cores has been development of "strip" com- mercial areas along major arterial roads and the construction of shopping centers at a distance from the downtown districts. Local officials note that the stiffest 85 competition still emanates from the Warwick malls. East Greenwich officials cite the development of the malls and the withdrawal of the'Navy as the two major fac- tors contributing to reduced sales in its commercial district in the last decade . Strip commercial areas are located along Route 1 from Wickford to East Greenwich and along segments of Route 1A in Narragansett, and Route 2 in North Kingstown and East Greenwich. In South Kingstown, Wakefield, once a primary shop- ping,district, has been superseded by the Dale Carlia Corner area, a district of eleven shopping plazas, all within a half-mile of the intersection of Routes 108 and 1A. In Jamestown most commercial activity is still located in the area near the Jamestown harbor. A few establishments, however, have located along Eldred Avenue (Route 138), the main thoroughfare crossing the island. Conversations with town officials indicate a regionwide awareness of the im- portance of planning for future commercial development. All five towns believe in- creased commercial development will expand the tax base and bring revenues to the community. The towns in the region have begun to make decisions about where, what size, and what type of additional development is appropriate for their community. Current trends towards resource and energy efficiency have led to the recognition. that new commecial activity should work toward enhancing existing commercial areas andavoiding further strip development. To that end, new zoning efforts have reflected a de-emphasis of development along major roads. However, East Greenwich and Narra- gansett officials noted disappointment that tracts newly zoned commercial failed to attract development. Several trends are anticipated for the next decade. Planned neighborhood com- mercial districts have been proposed in South Kingstown to complement and support areas of the town of substantially increased residential development. The district is intended to provide "goods and services to the residents of the area" surrounding the development. Similarly, North Kingstown's proposed comprehensive plan envisions the creation of only one new commercial district, a complement to expected residen- 86 tial development in Slocum; the pl an emphasizes support for the Wickford Village commercial area as well as several neighborhood commercial districts already in ex- istence. Jamestown's Community Guide Plan (1979) prohibits future major commercial development outside the village core. A second anticipated trend is exemplified by the revitalized economy of Wick- ford Village. The restoration of historic commercial blocks and the construction of visually compatible commercial structures coupled with intense promotion cam- paigns have attracted increased sales to the village. In East Greenwich the results of a recently released town-commissioned study of the "Hill and Harbor District" suggest the potentially increased viability of the East Greenwich downtown. The re- port indicates the importance of addressing the problems of visual discord and a lack of coordination as a first step towards recapturing a larger share of regional sales. The report stresses the importance of town government involvement in the pri- vate market process. In South Kingstown it is likely that the commercial district at Dale Carlia Corner will continue to capture the greatest share of regional sales among southern coastal communities. In spite of this growth away from the village cores, downtown Wakefield is described by local officials as "holding its own," unlike the Peacedale commercial area. Both sites are rich in history; building exteriors and revitaliza- tion through marketing efforts have been left, primarily, in the hands of the pri- vate market. A third trend is typified by the redevelopment at the Narragansett Pier area. While the development itself has not met the expectations originally described by the developer, it represents renewed interest in commercial waterfront areas. Sev- eral other proposals for the region's coastal waterfront have been received. East Greenwich is currently considering proposals for the cove waterfront including a commercial condominium project. A $1.3 million condominium-marina development has been suggested for Allen's Harbor in North Kingstown and an increased role in com- 87 mercial fishing has been recommended for Wickford Harbor. A $5 million motel-rest- aurant complex had been proposed for a three-acre land parcel across from Scar- borough Beach in Narragansett. In addition, Marina Park, the land at the heat of Point Judith Pond in South Kingstown, has been the subject of.studies and commercial proposals since 1973.; the town council has recently asked the Waterfront Advisory Committee to review plans for the area for "appropriate commercial and recreational development.11 Finally, Jamestown's commercial district, which has always been located near the harbor, has received a boost in visitors from a series of special downtown events scheduled during the spring and summer months. Conclusions and Recommendations In general, to support future anticipated growth, to meet the needs of current residents, and to increase and broaden the region's tax base, commercial develop- ment appropriate for the West Bay Region and for each community should be encouraged. The revitalization of historic commercial centers such as East Greenwich, Wakefield, Peacedale, and Wickford must incorporate the cooperation and coordination of the local government and the business community. Private market actions should be s.upported and encouraged by public sector initiatives and incentives. The re-useof waterfronting property should build not only upon current economic industrial opportunities (tourism, fishing industry, housing), but should capture and reflect the unique characteristics of the region as well as enhance the public's use of the water. However, any use of waterfront land will be influenced by the quality of the water. For example, the water quality classification in Wickford and Greenwich Coves is SC (boating - no swimming or shellfishing) but there are times when the water quality fails to meet these standards. During the summer months nuisance offenses have been reported in both coves. Any new zoning or land use changes should reflect continued support for exist- ing commercial districts and the probibition of additional strip development. Com- 88 mercial proposals should be subjected to design review standards which encourage the extensive use of landscaping buffers and discourages excessive use of paved surfaces. Transportation improvements to Dale Carlia Corner should be accompanied by landscap- Ing improvements. 89 Housing While population figures for the last decade amply demonstrate resident in- crease in the West Bay Region, and employment sector counts reflect a widening econo- my, nowhere is growth in the region more evident than in the use of land for resi- dential purposes. During a decade of increasing housing costs, the region maintained a continuing attraction for new residential population. Two contrasting trends served the region in similar ways. An expanded freeway system provided increased access from the major labor markets in the urban areas to the region's-residential communities. On the other hand, corresponding growth in the region's commercial and industrial sectors added new employment possibilities in the region; at a time of increased commuting costs, employees were selecting residential locations in prox_ imity to work. Figures from the 1980 Census of Pop ulation and Housing, where possible, show substantial changes in the housing stock in the region: POPULATION TOTAL UNITS YEAR-ROUND UNITS East Greenwich % Change % Change 1970 1980 % Change 6.6 18.7 3,046 3,612 19 Jamestown 38.8 32.0 1,106 1,631 47 Narragansett 69.3 37.9 2,844 5,089 79 North Kingstown -26.4 20.1 7,001 8,637 23 South Kingstown 20.7 35.2 4,256 6,386 50 Region 4.0 28.5 18,253 25,355 39 Region as Percent of State 7.2 7.8 The change in the total number of units exceeded, or was comparable (except in Narragansett) to, population increase. In other words, housing unit increase sur- passed the population increase and is indicative of changi ng demographic trends de- 90 scribed later. However, when non-year-round units are removed from the total hous- ing unit count, the change is even more remarkable. In a count of year-round hous- ing the region and its member communities (including Narragansett) show increases Iar in excess of population change (Figurelll-4)., To show concern for increase alone would fail to place this information into proper perspective. Indeed, the importance of the housing growth in the Region lies in its impact on the municipal services like water, sewer, roads, schools, and the use of land. Figures from the Rhode Island Statewide Planning Environmental Inven- tory indicate that approximately 2,700 acres of forested, agricultural or open space land in the region was lost to residential use between 1970 and 1975; 88% of this land was converted to light residential use. By the end of the 1970s the communities in the regionhad become increasingly aware of the costs of this type of development in terms of sprawl and its attendant energy and municipal extensions/ costs (roads, sewers, water, schools) as well as the loss of land for open space, recreation and farming. (See Table 11 1-7.) The 1980 Census of Population and Housing, in addition to other information collected about housing in the region, revealed important trends with particular significance for the future land-use patterns in the area. By far t he trends of most significant impact include the increase of single-family housing; the conver- sion of seasonal units in these coastal towns; the development along the shorefront and in coastal areas; increases in the cost of housing; low vacancy rates; and, the potential emerging of multi-family housing. A complete set of housing data is contained in this section. Single Family Housing In spite of the fact these communities represent historic settlements in Rhode Island, all predating the Revolutionary War, almost as much housing was built be- tween 1970 and 1980 as exists from pre-1939 construction (Table 111-8). Over 25% of the region's housing was constructed during the last decade In Narragansett almost Figure- 111@4 CHANGES IN YEAR-ROUND HOUSING UNITS 1970 to 1980 9,000 7,000 NUMBER YEAR-ROUND 1-10 HOUSING UNITS 52000 1980 Census 1970 Censu 3,000 1,000 EAST NORTH SOUTH GREENWICH JAMESTOWN NARRAGANSETT KINGSTOWN KINGSTOWN Source: COALITION OF COASTAL COMMUNITIES. s Table 111-7 Land Use Changes to Residential Use in 1975 Land Use in 1970 (in acres) Residential Use In 1975 Agriculture Open Space Forest Dense Light East Greenwich 20 20 420 460 Jamestown 20 30 90 140 Narragansett 110 60 310 180 300 North Kingstown 210 140 650 110 890 South Kingstown 130 190 380 50 650 490 440 1,750 340 2,440 Source: R. 1. SPP Environmental Inventory Table 111-8 West Bay Housing Stock Characteristics: Age 1980 Region East Green*ich Jamestown Narragansett North Kingstown South Kingstown Age (Year Built) % % % % % % 1970-1980 2. 6,471 26 569 16 498 31 1,809 39 1,477 17 2,118 33 1960-1970 5,787 23 1,089 30 237 15 1@, 123 24 2,553 30 785 12 Year Round 1950-1959 3,420 14 551 15 123 8 769 17 1,226 14 751 12 Units 1940-1949 2,244 9 171 5 65 4 306 7 1,283 15 419 7 Pre -1939 6,802 28 1,235 34 681 42 646 14 1,939 23 2,301 36 TOTAL 24,724L 100 3,615 1. 100 1,6041 '100 4,653 1. 100 8,478 1. 100 6,347 1. 100 Source: Coalition of Coastal Communities Bureau of Census, 1970 and 1980. 1. Assumes new stock for year-round use. 2. Difference between total units in 1980 and total units in 1970 i.e. total new construction. May be inflated by new seasonal units. Figure 111-5 Seasonal Housing as a Percent of Total Housing Stock: 1970 and 1980 9,000 7,000 5,000 Un 3,000 1,000 EAST NORTH SOUTH GREENWICH JAMESTOWN NARRAGANSETT KINGSTOWN KINGSTOWN Source: COALITION OF COASTAL COMMUNITIES CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING, 1970 and 1980 40% of its existing year-round housing was constructed over the last ten years. East Greenwich and North Kingstown experienced their largest housing boom in the 1960s at the same time the Navy bolstered its forces at Quonset Point-Davisville; by 1975 the Navy withdrawal provided housing resources within the community and dampened new housing construction. Housing growth in the West,Bay Region follows historic preferences for single- family homes. Nowhere is.this trend more evident,than the recent census figures (see Table 111-9), that reveal that single-family homes in the West Bay Region over the last decade captured an increasing share of the total housing stock growing from 73% of the housing in 1970 to 80% of the stock by 1980. Of particular importance to the region is the fact that traditional single-fami- ly housing development brings higher costs to communities in terms of roads, serv- ices, and public facilities than the revenue it generates. It is also the type of housing that consumes the most land. To decrease population density, slow growth and effect a rural visage, communities have down-zoned large areas (FigureIll-6) Municipal Zoning). The figures in TableIII-7 describe the conversion of open, agri- cultural, and forested land to light residential use. Research has shown that large lot zoning may have potential negative impacts. It raises the cost of housing ex- cluding a greater share of the population. Community expenditures grow as public services and facilities are spread over a wider area leading to inefficient and costly systems. Finally, it may actually prove more attractive and precipitate additional growth. The preference for single-family homes in the region is shown, too, in building permit data 'bble III-10 for the last decade. Between 1971 and 1980, 77% of building permits in the region were for single-family homes. In three of the five study towns single-family housing starts accounted for more than 90% of the housing. The preference for single-family homes is inexorably linked to another charac- teristic of importance: the growing predominance of owner-occupied homes. Between 96 Una V -eel i W! ..... . . . ...... ... ....... . MM . ........ ............. . .............. ..... ............ . . . . . . . . . . . .44 -*M" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . ........... lk*M0000 gi .......... . ............. ... ............ . ... ....... Jii ........ MUNICIPAL ZONING ...... .......... (1978) .......... RESIDENTIAL DENSITIES , ulf.. HIGH - over 4.0 Du\Ac MEDIUM - 1.0 3.9 Du\Ac LOW - under 0.5 Du\Ac SZk ................ COMMERCIAL . ...... ..... L INDUSTRIAL J.0/ llq tN\: P,;r/I INSTITUTIONAL OPEN SPACE AGRICULTURAL Table 111-9 West Bay Housing Stock Characteristics: Dwelling Unit Structure 6 1970 and 1980 REGION EAST GREENWICH JAMESTOWN NARRAGANSETT NORTH KINGSTOWN SOUTH KINGSTOWN % % % % % % % % % % 1970 Total 1980 Total 1970 Total 1980 Total 1970 Total 1980 Total 1970 Total 1980 Total 1970 Total 1980 Total 1970 Total 1980 Total fear-Round Units 18,253 100 25,355 100 3.045 100 3.612 100 1,106 100 1,fi3l 100 2,844 100 5.089 100 7,001 100 8,637 100 4,255 100 6.386 100 Jnits in Year-Round itructure: Single-Family 13,357 73 20,218 80 2,140 70 2,779 77 914 83 1,426 87 2.396 84 4,170 82 4,569 65 6.831 79 3,338 78 5,012 78 Two or More 4,459 24 4.776 19 854 28 775 21 192 is 204 13 448 16 916 18 2,056 29 1.528 18 .909 21 1,352 21 Mobile Home 437 2 361 1 52 2 57 2 - -3 - 376 5 278 3 9 - 22 - 3ource: Bureau of Census 1970, 1980 Table III-10 West Bay Region Housing Stock Building Permits (New Starts) 1971-1980 Single-Family Multi-Family Total % Single-Family East Greenwich 631 2 633 >99 Jamestown 479 19 498 96 Narragansett 1,150 872 2,022 57 North Kingstown 1,223 615 1,838 67 South Ki ngstown 1,722 23 1,745 1 99 Regi on 5,205 1,531 6,736 77 Source: Rhode Island Builders Association 1 Does not include recent addition df 214-ho-using unitg for'.the elde rly. 98 1970 and 1980, at the same time that the number of West Bay housing was increasing by 28%; the number owner-occupied dwellings was swelling at twice that rate. A com- parison of tenure trends is presented in TableIII-11: Tenure. In 1970, 61% of oc- cupied dwelling units in the region were owner-occupied; by 1980, that figure was 69%. Among the region's communities, sharp increases in owner-occupancy were noted in East Greenwich, Jamestown, and North Kingstown but were offset by an increase in the renter-occupied share of the unites in Narragansett. Market forces and the in- herent tax benefits of home ownership have been a primary determinant in the shape of housing markets. In the West Bay the withdrawal of the transient Naval personnel accelerated the change from an evenly split renter-owner market in North Kingstown to a predominately owner-occupied market. On the other hand, Narragansett has been, historically, the site of second or vacation homes. University of Rhode Island records indicate that in 1979 over 1,100 undergraduates listed Narragansett as their place of residence. This increase in renter-occupancy occurred over the same period of seasonal home decline described later suggesting that owners of second homes in the town are able, by renting the homes off-season, to control personal costs while preserving a rental market in an area hard-pressed for housing. As indicated by building permit data, Narragansett experienced almost an even split between the construction of multi-family units and the construction of single-family homes. Seasonal Housing-Conversion For over a century, the coastal communities, especially Narragansett, North Kingstown, South Kingstown and Jamestown, have served as a haven for seasonal resi- dents fleeing Providence or Connecticut and New York for the summer. Much of North Kingstown's seasonal housing stock lay in the path of the military base at Quonset Point-Davisville and was, consequently, eliminated in the early 1940s. Second or vacation homes still dot the coastal plain but significant changes have occurred over the last decade in the quantity of seasonal housing as well as its relative Table 111-11 West Bay Housing Stock Characteristics: Tenure 1970 and 1980 East North South Region Greenwich Jamestown Narragansett Kingstown Kingstown 1970 1980 1970 1980 1970. 1980 1970 1980 1970 1980 1970 1980 Year-Round Occupied 16,444 22,835 2,905 3,451 962 1,524 2,368 4,525 6,178 7,492 4,031 5,843 Units % Owner-Occupied 61 69 69 76 71 79 61 56 51 70 69 70 % Renter-Occupied 39 31 24 29 21 39 44 49 30 31 30 0 0 Source: Coalition of Coastal Communities Bureau of Census, 1980. share of the total housing stock. This change is reflected in figures repre- sented in FigureIII-5 and Table 111-12. Table 111-12 Seasonal Units in the West Bay Region 1970 and 1980 % Total % Total % Housing Housing 1970- Estimate 1970 Units 1980 Units 1980 for 1981 Region 4,412 20 3,850 13 -13 5,966 2 East Greenwich 3 3 NA Jamestown 450 29 421 21 - 6 595 Narragansett 1,994 40 1,498 23 -25 2,747 North Kingstown 218 5 176 2 -19 264 South Kingstown 1,747 29 1,752 22 1 2,360 1. Wilbur Smith and Associates. 2. Summary of estimates for Jamestown, Narragansett, North Kingstown and SouthKingstown. Source: Coalition of Costal Communities Overall, the region experienced a 13% decrease in the amount of housing committed solely to seasonal use. These figures represent a 25% overall drop in the share of the housing stock seasonal units captured. South Kingstown was the only com- munity that increased its stock of seasonal units but the increase failed to main- tain previous year-round-to-seaonal ratios. Estimates prepared by Wilbur Smith and Associates reflect an anticipation of continuing previous trends and are in sharp contrast to actual 1980 figures. This definitive reversal follows a decade of substantial increases in the costs associated with the housing market. Increases in mortgage rates, in land and construction costs, house values and property taxes, and housing maintenance expeditures have placed ownership of housing beyond the means of an increasing segment of the population. These same forces have operated to diminish the quantity 101 of housing units used solely on a seasonal basis and have led to a new trend: the conversion of this housing for year-round use. The impacts of conversions have not fully been assessed but the implications of this trend continuing are staggering, especially in Jamestown, Narragansett, and South Kingstown. Growth, to an extent, has been controlled by zoning controls, subdivision regulations, the permit process, and the attendant time lags associated with new housing developments, as well as the availability of vacant housing. In Narragansett, South Kingstown, and Jamestown the seasonal housing still represents almost one-quarter of the entire housing stock. A scenario where a majority of the seasonal stock is converted to year-round use is no longer implausible. Narragansett and South Kingstown already have a readily available set of rental consumers --'the University of Rhode Island students and staff. At the same time, events such as the current property revaluation process which, in Narragansett, has more than tripled property values and added to the tax assessments, could conspire to force seasonal homeowners to seek means to cover their increasing costs. Were these housing cost pressures to persist, and the demand for rentals continue, the seasonal stock represents an immediate source of housing. Admittedly, some units would require a winterization effort but time needed to accomplish these processess would be considerably less than that required by new construction. While it is unlikely that the entire seasonal stock would succumb to year-round use, a decrease similar to that between 1970 and 1980 could add (based on current regional densities) 1,400 residents. Most of this impact, naturally, would be felt in Narragansett, South Kingstown, and Jamestown. Communities already concerned with growth have little control over existing structures except in its conversion to additional units. Accelerated population growth from conversions would sorely and rapidly tax water, sewer, schools, and other municipal services and overturn current efforts in the region to co ntrol and time growth. The conversion of seasonal housing for year-round use in coastal areas such as Bonnet Shores and 102 Pettaquamscutt has shrunk the ability of the soils to absorb waste necessitating the sewering of the area. Development of Shorefront and Coastal Areas Between 1975 and September, 1979, 42% of the building permit assents for coastal develoment in the entire state were for the five towns comprising the West Bay Region. In this period Narragansett and Jamestown were the two commu- nities with the greatest amount of activity. This confirms the belief that waterfront property continues to attract development. The change is most evident in coastal areas such as Eastwood Look behind Scarborough Beach in Narragansett, along the Narrow River in South Kingstown and Narragansett, in the coastal plain in South Kingstown, and along the Bay in Jamestown. This trend is directly counter to the current recognition of the importance of preserving and protecting the shorefront for the health, welfare and benefit of the public. Moreover, much of the coastal land has historically been the site of agricultural use, wildlife habitat, or recreation areas. Housing Costs Between 1972 and 1980 the average cost of.single family housing in the region rose almost 70% as shown in Table Ili-13- By far the leader in sales price increases was the Town of Jamestown where the average price grew by 90%. Sales of seasonal and smaller homes in Narragansett and South Kingstown may have offset the sales of larger-priced homes. The sluggish housing market that occurred nationwide during the first half of the decade is exemplified by the change between 1972 and 1975. By 1980, the market in the region had recovered. In addition, East Greenwich had been identified in 1981 as the community with the highest mean sales price statewide. Unfortunately, 1980 Census figures for socio-economic indicators have not been released. Of interest would be a comparison of housing cost change and 103 change in household incomes. Such information would permit a more extensive analysis of the affordability of housing in the region. Table 111-13 Mean Sales Prices in West Bay Region For Single-Family Homes 1972 1980 Mean Number Mean Number Percent Change Price Sales Price Sales 1972-1980 East Greenwich 50,078 200 83,750 55 67 Jamestown 33,075 83 62,750 57 90 Narragansett 31,374 214 47,750 42 52 North Kingstown 32,223 568 55,750 45 73 South Kingstown 30,759 212 49,750 55 62 Region 35,502 1,277 59,950 51 69 Source: Sales Abstracts, Cities & Towns Rhode Island Department of Equalization Housing Demand The demand for housing in the region is reflected by several indicators. First, building permit applications considered in Rhode Island as a sign of actual construction show that, except for the nationwide housing slump between 1973 and 1975, the demand for new housing has been constant with a drop around 1980. By mid-1981, when mortgage rates had hit their aLl-time peaks, the towns in the region were still receiving building permit applications. Moreover, as seen in TableIII-14 figures for 1981 indicate an increase over the same period of time in 1980. This is in sharp contrast with nationwide reports of little or no activity in the housing,market. 104 Table 111-14 Building Permits for First Three Quarters of the Year January - September January - September 1980 1981 East Greenwich 22 26 Jamestown 24 26 Narragansett 44 42 North Kingstown 39 51 South Kingstown 73 77 Region 202 222 Another indicator of demand is the vacancy rate. A "normal" vacancy rate cf approximately 5.0 is desirable to allow for free movement and choice within the housing market. By those standards the region and its member communities falls short overall in the availability of housing. The difference between rental and owner-occupied vacancy rates is reflective of previously described attributes cf the housing stock. Jamestown shows itself to be exceptionally short in rental units while Narragansett, in 1980 (44% renter-occupied) had a larger vacancy rate. The preference for single-family homes is shown, too, in the low vacancy rates for oviner-occupied homes (Table 111-1.5). The owner-occupied vacancy rate in East Greenwich conforms to expectations and even falls below the region average. Finally, the demand for housing may well increase even if projected growth rates fail to materialize as nationwide trends toward smaller house@olds continue. Between 1970 and 1980 the average number of persons per household in the region dropped (TableIII-16). The changing size of households may dictate a demand for changing type of housing. 105 Table 111-15 West Bay Region Housing Characteristics Vacancy Rates 1980 Overall Rental Owner-Occupied Vacancy Rate Vacancy Rate Vacancy Rate East Greenwich 2.2 1.5 o.8 Jamestown 2.1 o.5 1.7 Narragansett 3.o 1.8 1.2 North Kingstown 2.7 1.2 1.5 South Kingstown 2.6 1.5 1.1 Region 3.3 2.o 1.3 State 3.7 3.1 o.6 Source: Census of Population andHousing, 1980. Coalition of Coastal Communities, OCS Impact Study Table 111-16 Average Number Persons/Household 1970 1980 East Greenwich 3.29 2.71 Jamestown 3.oo 2.31 Narragansett 2.99 2.35 North Kingstown 3.44 2.61 South Kingstown 3.05 2.40 106 The Trends and Recognition of Problem Areas Five of the major trends have already been demonstrated: the conversion of seasonal housing for year-round use; the consumption of rural land for large lot residential areas to meet the demand for single-family homes; the rapid growth in ye,;r-round units, in the face of escalating nationwide housing costs; the preponderance of owner-occupied dwelling units; and the continued demand for housing in the region. The results of these trends have brought a recognition in the region of the costs of development: the cost of extending sewer lines; the cost of servicing large scattered populations with water, roads, schools, police, and fire services; the loss of prime agricultural, forested, and open land; and, the loss of rural character. A lack of sewers (in parts of South Kingstown, Jamestown, East Greenwich and all of North Kingstown) prevents intensive use of the land, but at the same time the desire to preserve open space and the constraints of ISDS and the soils forced the towns to turn to large-lot zoning. At a time when agriculture, forests, and open space for recreation or green belts have regained the interest of local government, the communities are wrestling with single-family developments that burden municipal finances, and threaten these lands. In this gap, multi-family housing has emerged as potential for accommodating growth, intensifying the use of land where public facilities exist and providing housing choice and diversity. In 1980 multi-f amily housing represented only 20% of the housing stock in the West Bay Region (TableIII-2). Several trends are taking place with regard to multi-family units. One trend, already firmly entrenched nationwide in urban areas has appeared over the last decade in the region: the condominium. While some areas of the region, notably East Greenwich, report the conversion of apartmentstD condominiums, emphasis has been placed on the construction of new units. Several characteristics 1n7 of condominiums as a form of multi-family housing should be noted. First, real estate experts concede that condominiums attract a different population than single-family housing, in particular, single individuals, and young, married and older, retired couples. It is not, as some may still believe, a valve to siphon the growth pressure from rural lands. Condominiums do not take pressure off the development of single-family housing unless controls are placed on single-family growth. Secondly, condominiums tend to locate in areas of unique natural resources and.create situations of intensified land use. Finally as with any form of intensified land use, condominiums can contribute to accelerated growth. To date, communities have treated the cordominium as an urban or suburban use and tried to tailor locational decisions by requiring sewers for multi-family units. Recent condominium proposals and construction in the region are presented in TableIII-17. Except who--'re noted, the condominium proposals consist mainly of one and two bedroom units. All condcminium construction has been built on sewered land, except in North Kingstown where sewers are not available. Most projects included extensive open space.and reflectt-d a density below that permitted by current zoning. Only the proposals already denied and those for East Greenwich represent an increased intensity of land use. The non-urban nature of the region in combination with an urban-type housing like condominiums has led to a second trend in the region the clustering of units. As development costs rise, the benefits of large-lot development with its attendant extension costs, road costs, and urban sprawl plummets. The developer benefits from reduced costs which will hopefully be passed to the consumer. The community also profits as shown in TableIII-18from the reduced roads (many condominium projects retain the roads), a decreased sprawl of homes to service with fire, police and school buses, and the preservation of open space. 108 Table 111-17 Condominiums 1 in the West Bay Region January, 1982 Name (and/or location) of Construction Status of Existing Condominiums Town -Stage Units Units Acres Other Comments Heritage Gardens NK Completed 16 8 sold 8 rented Cedarhurst NK Partially 102 townh. 132 Completed 22 s.f. Pier Village (1975) N Completed 88 Shadow Farm SK 3 Units 60 2 sold 70 Retail Shops Completed Sweet Meadows N Completed N.A. N.A. RECENT PROPOSALS Jerry Brown Farm SK Proposal 360 217 Now proposal for 185 s.f. homes. Denied (83 to be left vacant) Polo Grounds N Proposal 176 178 136 acres left vacant Approved 12/81 53 three-bedroom units Pt. Judith N Proposal Under 35-40 # units reduced from 78 ; 2-bedroom construction Review linked to sewer plant expansion . Guisti-Woodland Greens NK Proposal Under 60 67 Location Possible conflict in groundwater Golf Club Review , Needs Zone Aquifer. a to m f. Commerce Oil i ProposYl. 240 200 Zone a denied in 2-acre min. district Denied 52 s.f. homes. Middle Road-Route 2 EG Under 93 47.9 In sewered land m.f. zoning would Construction permit up to 206 units Post Rd. EG N.A. Waterfront EG N.A. Barton's Corner EG N.A. Does not include condominium conversions Table 111-18 Illustrative Example of Municipal Costs and Revenues Typical Residential Product Types Town of North Kingstown Large Lot Single- I Single-Family New Garden Family Detached Unit Attached 2 Apartment Townhouse Unit Unit 3 Estimated Revenues. $ 1,470 $ 825 $ 550 Estimated Costs Schools .2,350 600 300 General Fund 290 190 180 Total $ 2,640 $ 790 $ 480 Net Balance (Deficit) $ 1,170 $ 35 $ 70 1. Assumes sales price of $80,000 for 4 bedroom house on one acre of land, with 1.6 school children and household size of 4.0 persons. 2. Assumes sales price of $45,000 for 2 bedroom unit, with 0.4 school children and average household size of 2.6 persons. 3. Assumes mothly rent of $250 for 1 bedroom unit, with 0.2 school children and average household size of 2.5 persons. Source: Gladstone Associates. While the condominium may fill the need for owner-occupied housing for a select population, the rental vacancy rate indicates a substantial need for multi- family housing, for rent. A survey conducted by the Planning Department of South Kingstown discovered waiting lists at every apartment complex. Both North Kingstown and Narragansett experienced large increases (see building permit data) in multi-family housing stock over the last decade and were subsequently forced by the end of the 1970's to declare moratoria while new guidelines were developed. At present, little land is zoned for multi-family units in the region. New zoning tied to soil constraints in North Kingstown effectively bars apartment development. 110 Several sites in the village areas of Jamestown and South Kingstown are currently zoned for multi-family units but little or no development has occurred due to tight money market conditions. Finally, compounding the shortage of multi-family rental units is the inadequate supply of low and moderate cost rental housing, in particular, housing for families (Table 111-19). Subsidized developri,ents in the region have waiting lists of a year of longer. While the need for additional housing is retognized, town officials are looking to the ptivate sector to provide it. However, resistance to wholly-subsidized projects exists; proposals to rehabilitate Navy housing into a cooperative for moderate income families met strong oppsoition in North Kingstown. South Kingstown's Housing Element of the Comprehensive Plan suggests that single-family scattered subsidized dwellings would be preferable to a project that resulted in economically segregated residential areas. Such results could be obtained through the use of Section.8 Existing Housing Certificates. However, current federal proposals indicate severe cutbacks or total elimination of funding for housing subsidies. Community Action After the residential boom (30% increase) of the 1960's, East Green@,ich adopted zoning and subdivision regulations that town officials today concede slowed the town's housing growth. Over the last decade similar actions took place regionwide. Today, the West Bay communities have adopted additional land use controls to manage and, hopefully, direct growth. East Greenwich relies on its current subdivision regulations and zoning adopted in 1975 that added 2-acre minimum-sized lots in the rural western half; a condominium ordinance is in preparation but the town is limited in the growth controls it can adopt by the existing state enabling laws. Table 111-19 West Bay Region Housing Characteristics: Building Permits (& New Starts) Total 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1971-1980 NF NF NF NF NF NF NF NF NF NF NF % SF jUnitsi I SF jUnital T SF jUnitsi T ISF jUnitsi T SF jUnitsl I SF jUnitsi T $F jUnitsi T SF jUnitsl T SF jUnitsi T SF jUnitsi T SF jUnitsl T SF East Greenwich 60 2 62 66 - 66 84 84 46 - 46 51 - 51 84 - 84 76 - 76 57 - 57 51 51 36 - 36 031 2 633 99 Jamestown 55 - 56 77 11 88 66 56 32 - 32 27 - 27 40 6 46 38 - 38 59 - 59 45 45 39 2 41 479 19 498 96 Narragansett 197 157 354 178 92 270 109 48 157 82 90 172 75 - 75 116 - 116 89 - 89 133 48 181 99 9 72 37 1:: 1,150 872 2,022 57 North Kingstown 164 182 346 157 44 201 93 9 02 62 25 - 6 105 137 115 252 214 103 317 153 122 27: 64 a 1,223 615 1,638 67 South Kingstown 135 21 156 207 - 207 181 :811126 _ 1:86 1:00 - 1:'0 2:: _ 260 153 - 153 181 2 183 194 - 194 95 _ 9511,722 23 1,745 99 612 362 974 705 147 852 533 57 5901348 116 464 423 - 4231599 12 611 493 115 6081644 153 797 542 122 6441306 47 353 5,205 1,531 5,7361 77 SF = Single-Family Dwelling Units MF = Multi-Family Dwelling Units Source: Rhode Island Builders Association I. Building permit data fails to include recent addition to elderly housing stock. Jamestown is reviewing a new zoning ordinance which complements its recently approved Comprehensive Plan. The ordinance includes two new categories: the 2-acre and the 5-acre lot, for farmland and fragile and watershed areas, respectively. In addition, intensive use of the land for residential purposes is directed to the village center. Clustering is encouraged in undeveloped areas. South Kingstown, Narragansett, and North Kingstown have in place residential cluster ordinances that are expected to encourage group residential dwellings and the preservation of open space. North Kingstown is relying on its innovative overlay system and clustering to preserve remaining open land. Conclusions and Recommendations Future housing in the West Bay Region must be tied to decisions about open, agricultural and forested land or the communities risk losing a historic rural character, recreation sites, wildlife retreats, and a tourist attraction. Local officials concur the questions then are how to accomplish this process and what time frame exists. The OCS study suggest that communities need to take immediate action. Jamestown, Narragansett, North Kingstown and South Kingstown have already begun the task with the complete updating of their Comprehensive Plans, a step that Frovides a substantive basis for making future land-use decisions. The process is facilitated by research already conducted by variocs state and federal agencies (listed in the bibliography) which identifies, among other things, natural and critical areas, historic and cultural sites, prime farmland and wetlands, as well as management options. In addition the R.I. Statewide Planning Program has developed a computer-catalogued environmental inventory capable of generating an extensive amount of information about land, its use, and existing land-use conflicts. One product of the inventory work has been a land capability analysis which identifies land most suitable for development (Figure 111-7); 113 consideration in this analysis was given to infrastructure availability (sewer and water), natural constraints (wetlands, sl'ope, flood zones) and resource and policy constraints (agTicultural soils, groundwater aquifers, natural and historic areas and water quality). The second task involves the incorporation of new and innovative tools to the arsenal of land use management techniques. The West Bay towns are now handi- capped by existing zoning enabling legislation. Land management legislation that would expand the regulatory capacity of municipalities has, to date, been defeated in the legisla-ture. The Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns has drafted and will be proposing an amended state zoning enabling Act which, if passed, will update the existing legislation originally,passed in 1923. Land use concerns, growth patterns, and pressures for development have changed considerably over the last half-century. This new Act would enable the West Bay towns and R.I.'s other communities to address these issues through the use of clustering, planned unit development, and other ordinances that take a comprehensive approach. It is encumbant upon all communities to act,for the decisions in one town may well affect the growth patterns of another. 114 all MCI a ldr, 0 r6 k z lp L 13 co a) E L cts 1 4r A I South Kin DEVELOPABLE AREAS r DEVELOPABLE LAND 00- (a 4P Land Use The growth and change that has occurred in the West Bay Region, and is docu- mented in the population and employment figures for the region are further revealed in its patterns of land use. Historically, agricultural uses, open space, and for- ests predominated during the early settlement of the West Bay Region up until World War II. Paralleling this development was the birth (and quick growth) of the tour- ist and recreation industry along the coastline. The first hotel built in Narragansett Pier was constructed in 1856. The popularity of the coastal communties has never waned. The advent of the automobile and the highway brought the coastal communities within commuting distance of centers of employment and opene4d the West Bay Region to suburbanization. Among the West Bay communities, East Greenwich felt the pressures of develo- ment first. In addi t4 on, the arrival of the Navy at Quonset Point-Davisville in the 1940s and the growth of the University of Rhode Island in South Kingstown sig- naled major changes in the face of the West Bay area. In spite of the withdrawal of the Navy in 1974 from North Kingstown, the re- gion has acquired more growth from new industry, more commercial centers, and an increased residential population. The figures presented here are part of the Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program Environmental Inventory, a computerized system for analyzing land use. As described in the Coastal Community Land Use Review the "characteristics of this system and process used to generate various computer data ... unavoidably involves some generalization of the data." the "predominant use within a cell" influenced the assignment of that cell to a land use category resulting in "specific acreage figures ... [that] may not agree exactly with empiracal measurements* While the in- ventory has some limitations in terms of preciseness, it provides a general overview of changes and is one of the few sources of data for two time periods. *Coastal Community Land Use Review 116 Figures in TableIII-7reflect trends from 1970-1975 that continue as corrobor- ated in conversations with local officials. Two trends in the West Bay Region are evident: 1) the diminution of forested, open space, and agricultural lands; and, 2) the substantial increase in the use of residential land for low-density housing. -The development of residential areas on rural land coincides with local efforts to lower the housing densities outside their village centers where the land usually lacks public services such as sewers or water or both. The five communities have taken varying land use management approaches to the current situation. Open and Agricultural Lands Between 1970 and 1975, over 2,700 acres of open, agricultural, and forested land in the West Bay Region was converted to residential use. This is the land that has, historically, defined the rural character of the region. The loss of agricul- tural land is a region-wide problem. Between 1970 and 1979, the region suffered a loss of 59% of its agriculturally-used land. Landi use management tools such as large lot zoning and use-value taxation are being used to protect and retain prime agricultural land; however, the. protection of this land from residential develop- ments may be difficult as over 70% is suitable for development with septic systems. Agriculture Between 1970 and 1979, over 9,500 acres of farmland in the West Bay Region was converted to other uses. This figure represents an average loss of about 1,100 acres per year and a 59% drop in that time period. Within the region, the towns of Narragansett and East Greenwich experienced the sharpest decline in agricultural land, 74% and 83%, respectively (Table 111-20). Atthe same time, figures recently released by the Governor's Task Force on Agricultural Preservation indicate that between 1969 and 1974 the amount of land in all of Rhode Island in agricultural use decreased 12% continuing a decline that began in 1950. However, the Census of Agriculture in 1978 shows a +9% rise in the amount of agricultural land in the state 117 between 1974 and 1978. Unfortunately, a lack of comparable data at the town level leaves open to question whether the 9,000+ acre loss of farmland between 1970 and 1979 represents a total decline in the region. Actually it shows a trend similar to the state: a decline between 1969 and 1974 and an increase between 1974 and 1979. It is known that agricultural land in Washington County increased, overall, twenty- four percent between 1974 and 1978. In any case, while state and local officials are encouraged by the 9 percent increase, historic trends would point to a continu- ing decline without a change in land use management techniques. Since the mid-1800s an increase in the amount of land farmed has been reported only three times. Table 111-20 Agricultural Land in the Region 1970 and 1979 1@ 2. Percent 1970 1979 Change East Greenwich 1,298 340 -74 Jamestown 1,744 711 -59 Narragansett 1,235 207 -83 North Kingstown 4,849 1,648 -66 South Kingstown 7,212 3,733 -48 Region 16,338 6,639 -59 1. Land & Vegetation Cover in R.I., U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, July, 1974, Bulletin #200; Preserving Open Space, 1978. 2. Governor's Task Force on Agricultural Preservation, 1981. Source: Coalition of Coastal Communities The loss of farmland in the region is representative of the land use conflicts facing these coastal communities. The land in the coastal region has been charac- terized as the most prime land in the state. Yet, today, in the face of inflation and increasing construction and land costs, the pressure for development remains constant. Considerable prime farmland still exists in the West Bay communities and is shown in Figure 111-8. In sharp contrast to the actual prime farmland in the 118 C6 vZ leo J4 .'n At, ;j"' CO) i"j "0. !,V.. 'Kin .. Nb& [)'1 .6 ffj!* e, -.17 6 p 1; s' I" 62," 07 MP 40" M d1o dip W*4 .41 T, 51, pt A:i jj Jamestown region is that amount that is actually in agricultural use (Table 111-21). A picture of agricultural activities in the West Bay Region and its relation- ship to the state is shown in Table 111-21. While the region occupies only 13 total acreage in the state, it predominates in crop or tilled land and land committed to nurseries. One-quarter of all tilled land in the state is located in the region. South Kingstown accounts for over half of the agricultural land in the region and for almost three-quarters of the land actively tilled. In 1979 11% of the land in South Kingstown and 12% in Jamestown were in active agricultural use. A comparison of prime farmland and cultivated land as shown in Table 111-22 shows that much of the prime farmland remains unused. Recognition of the social, economic, and aesthetic roles farming can add to the community welfare is the first step in the preservation of farmland. Similarly, further steps to stem the loss of agricultural land revolve around an acknowledge- ment of land-use conflicts. Some of these conflicts are readily visible in a com- parison of the previously presented figures, existing prime farmland and actual land committed to agricultural use. The first conflict concerns the use of marginal land for farming. While the region contains an abundance of uncommitted prime farmland, some farmers are conduct- ing agricultural uses on land that is less than prime. High land prices often put prime farmland beyond the reach of those interested in farming. In addition, un- committed land is often being held for speculative purposes. An overlay of prime farmland and current. zoning reveals a second conflict. While discussions with community leaders revealed a region-wide belief in the impor- tance of retaining a rural character to the area much of the prime farmland is cur- rently zoned for development. Even land currently in agricultural use is zoned for development. While exact figures are not available, most of the prime farmland in the region is currently zoned for residential use. Few land-use management options are now available to Rhode Island communities wishing to retain land for agricul- 120 tural use. The use of special agricultural districts is not authorized by the ex- isting general state zoning enabling legislation. Modification to current laws would enable communitiesto create exclusive agriculture zones. For the present, community efforts on a reduced scale have addressed the farm- land preservation issues. To impede development in agricultural areas East Greenwich in its most recent zone changes, created two farm districts where two acres is a minimum-sized lot. Similarly, South Kingstown, guided by locational factors, soil types, degree of urbanization, and potential "best use," incorporated two-acre zones in its last rezoning effort. Unfortunately, large lot zoning may not discourage growth but only serve to increase the costs of development (water lines, roads, etc.) and thus limit the amount of affordable housing. North Kingstown, in its new comprehensive plan (yet unapproved) deals with the conflict of residential uses of prime land by encouraging in prime agricultural areas the incorporation of residen- tial clustering to preserve the farmland. Jamestown, too, has incorporated large lot zoning (two-acre) in undeveloped districts on the island; however, these efforts have ostensibly been directed at reducing residential growth. Outside the region the town of Foster, Rhode Island, made a commitment to farming by zoning some land for five-acre minimum-sized lots; none of the West Bay communities have taken such steps.* None of the current efforts assures the preservation of prime farmland for ag- ricultural use. North Kingstown and Jamestown each have one farm area that is list- ed on the National Register of Historic Places assuring its protection from feder- ally or state-funded or licensed projects. The Dutra Farm, part of the Windmill Historic District, in Jamestown, and the Casey Farm in North Kingstown are actively farmed. The Sunset Farm in Narragansett has been identified as historic by the Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission but lies idle and is zoned for resi- dential development. The historic identification will notprotect the land from de- Jamestown's proposed new zoning ordinance specifies five-acre lots in the water- shed area. 121 Table III-2t Farm Activities in the Region and the State 1979 (in acres) Total Land Total Land Percent % of Acreage Tilled Pasture Nursery Orchard Open Farmed of Town State East Greenwich 10,541 20 252 0 5 63 340 3 1 Jamestown 6,106 53 512 0 0 146 711 12 2 Narragansett 8,703 31 126 0 0 50 207 2 1 North Kingstown 27,148 641 614 276 9 108 1,648 6 4 South Kingstown 35,148 1,889 1,434 95 39 276 3,733 11 10 Region 87,646 2,634 2,938 371 53 643 6,639 State 658,242 10,708 18,976 1,680 633 6,168 38,165 Region Share of State .13 .25 .15 .22 .08 .10 .17 Source: Report of Governor's Task Force on Agricultural Preservation, Office of Statewide Planning. Table 111-22 Prime Farmland and Land Farmed 1979 Total Acres Prime Farmland Land Farmed East Greenwich 10,541 1,855 340 Jamestown 6,106 4,018 711 Narragansett 8,703 4,419 207 North Kingstown 27,148 10,309 1,648 South Kingstown 35,148 11,087 3,733 Region 87,646 31,688 6,63-9 velopment. South Kingstown in conjunction with the Coastal Resources Pond Study, is investigating the use of the transfer of developments rights (TDR) for the coastal plain, an area of prime agricultural land. TDR is a land use tool that would oper- ate similarly to a land easement restriction and could serve to permanently protect designated land. Population growth and its attendant increase in housing (between 1970 and 1980 the number of housing units in East Greenwhich grew at a rate 3 times the population increase) are quickly changing the character of a region where farmland once pre- dominated. During the 1960s residential developments on agricultural land were fa- cilitated by outdated zoning and weak subdivision regulations. East Greenwich ex- perienced its largest residential boom during this decade; by the end of the decade strong subdivision regulations were in place and the residential growth spurt eased. However, subdivision and zoning regulations have not eased the pressure for de- velopment on the coastal communities. Prime farmland is not only appropriate for agriculture but it is often highly suited for residential use. In 1979, over 70% of- the existing prime farmland in the region was suitable for development and septic tank operation. Prime farmland is increasingly threatened by the acquired accept- ability of the individual septic disposal systems. Financial constraints, political realities and locational factors have prevented the communities in the region from relying on the extension of sewer and water hook-ups as a growth management tool. Almost one-quarter of the remaining prime farmland suitable for development in Rhode Island is located in these West Bay coastal communities. South Kingstown and North Kingstown (Table 111-23) together account for 18% of the state's total. This availability of prime farmland in the coastal communities coincides with several growth trends which increase pressure for development and further threatens the ex_ istence of farmland in the region and the state: - the near completion of the highway system linking employment centers with the primarily residential coastal communities; - the increasing popularity of the coastal areas for year-round and seasonal homes;* *CRC Coastal Ponds Study, CRMC assents. 123 - the establishment of West Bay regional commercial areas outside the metro- politan area; - the growth of the industrial sector in the West Bay economy; - population growth between 1960 and 1980; - continued home-building at a time of national housing slump. Table 111-23 Prime Farmland by Suitability for Development Prime Farmland Total Percent Slight Severe Total Prime Acres Prime LimitationslLimitations Farmland Acres East Greenwich 10,541 18 1,480 375 1,855 Jamestown 6,106 66 2,605 1,413 4,018 Narragansett 8,703 51 1,039 3,380 4,419 North Kingstown 27,148 38 9,037 1,272 10,309 South Kingstown 35,148 32 8,184 2,903 113087 Region 87,646 36 22,345 9,343 31,688 State 658,242 21 95,576 43,111 138,687 Regional Share of State .13 .23 .22 .23 Source: Soil Conservation Service This growth pressure has increased the value of developed farmland forcing landowners to reassess the economic returns of farming. The typical financial pressures of farming have led to several region-wide trends. In many instances subdivisions have eventually encircled farmsteads; land- owners have bowed to pressure and either developed or sold for development their entire parcel. Several agricultural parcels in the Quidnesset area of North Kingstown and the coastal areas of South Kingstown have been transformed wholly (or are currently in transit) to residential subdivisions. Pressure for development and financial incentives have led to a second region- 124 wide trend, the systematic dimunition of land at the farmland edge along public roads. The secondary impacts of such development include land-locked farmsteads, a proliferation of individual driveways along roadways, a reduction in the efficient use of land, and a diminishment in rural visage. A renewed interest in farming and a growing recognition of the economic, social and aesthetic benefits at the state level is evident in the 1981 recommendations emanating from the Governor's Task Force on Agricultural Preservation as well as the expanded and updated version of the Farm, Forest and Open Space Act. First passed in the latel960s, the bill permits the assessment of agricultural, forested, or open space land at its use-value for taxing purposes. To date, few farmers have availed themselves of the program; however, mandated re-evaluations of land recently completed in Narragansett and planned for North Kingstown and South Kings- town in the next two years will increase the importance of financial incentives for the farmer. Property value in East Greenwich was re-evaluated in 1975 and the com- munity reports that farmers have used the Farm, Forest, and Open Space to reduce their tax burden. To be effective a program of farmland presevation must be conducted on several fronts with a combination of land use tools. At the state level, agricultural pres- ervation legislation is expected to be introduced in the next General Assembly ses- sion. One bill, The Right to Farm Act, would "limit nuisance actions against prop- erly conducted agricultural operations, tracts encircled by residential develop- ments. A second bill would eliminate the sales and use tax from farm marchinery pur- chased in Rhode Island. Farmers can now avoid the sales tax by purchasing equipment in other states. Finally, an attempt to update the state enabling zoning laws will incorporate language encouraging local ordinances that preserve agricultural land. Support for this legislation must be generated at the local and regional level. The historic, social, and economic roles that agriculture has played in shaping these communities must be demonstrated to officials and townspeople. 125 Open Space and Forested Land Betwen 1970 and 1975, over 100 acres of open, agricultural, and forested land in the West Bay Region was converted to residential use (Table11124).The loss of this land is particularly significant because it is this land that has helped define the non-urban character of the region. Over 60% of the land lost to residential con- struction was forested. This is the land that has provided open space, existing recreation areas, wildlife habitat, and a diversity from urban development. Pressure for development continues on remaining open and forested land. In East Greenwich this represents the area west of Route 2. In South Kingstown housing units increased 35% overall in the town; however, housing units in the coastal plain increased 40%.* Similarly to agricultural land preservation, a combination of land use tools, such as clustering, open space zoning, use-value taxation, would be nec- essary to preserve the green areas of the region. Recommendations Information and educational presentations must be made to town councils, regiorl- al groups, local private groups (League of Women Voters) stressing the importance of preserving agricultural and open land and conveying this interest to state legisla- tors. Agricultural land should be evaluated for its economic, social and historic value to the community. With farmer consent, these farms should be highlighted in the community. At present an agricultural land evaluation and assessment procedure is under development for use by the state office of the Soil Conservation Service of the U.S.D.A. This project will provide an analytical process for determining, through a combination of land and site evaluation, those lands most viable for contin- ue-,dtand future agricultural use. Owners of large tracts of open land should be contact ed and informed of the land's community value and ways to financially offset the cost of retaining the land in its open, forested, or farmed use. South Kingstown has already begun this process. *CRC Coastal Ponds Study 126 It is unlikely that the communities in the region, given the appropriate enabl- ing legislation, would enact exclusive agricultural zones. In keeping with the regional importance of private initiative, communities can utilize techniques that encourage the use of land for agricultural pursuits. Those communities with special enabling legislation, North Kingstown and South Kingstown, already encourage residen- tial clustering to save land. Communities should mandate clustering in certain areas and encourage conserva- tion easements, land trusts, and other land use options that ensure a more efficient use of prime agricultural land. Tools such as the transfer or purchase of develop- ment rights should be adopted. Should the proposed zoning enabling legislation fail, special enabling legislation should be adopted in communities now lacking this con- trol. Finally, comprehensive plans should be updated to reflect current trends. Table 111-24 Land Use Chanoes from 1970 to 1975 from 0 Open Space to Residential Use in 1975 Land Use in 1970 (in acres) Residential Open Use in 1975 Agriculture Space Forest DenselLight East Greenwich 20 20 420 460 Jamestown 20 30 90 140 Narragansett 110 60 310 180 300 North Kingstown 210 140 650 110 890 South Kingstown 130 190 380 50 650 490 440 1,750 340 2,440 Source: R.I. SPP Environmental Inventory. 127 LAND USE CONTROLS WEST BAY COMMUNITIES Subdivision Features Zoning Ordinance Features East - Land dedication for public recreation - 4 residential, 3 farming, 4 commercial, I industrial Creenwich - Fees in lieu of land - Planned Apartment Dwelling - Multi-Family on public sewer and water - Historic District - Proposed: Planned Apartment Ordinance Jamestown - Land dedication - 4 residental, 2 commerical, I industrial, I recreation - Construction in watershed by special exception - Proposed Ordinance - 5 residential, 3 commercial, I open space - 200 ft. setback from wetland F_ 00 - development plan in RR-200 zone - multi-family by special exception - density based on bedrooms - cluster development - 5 acre minimum in watershed Narragansett - Land dedication - 4 residential, 2 industrial, 3 commercial - Flood specifications - Multi-family by special exception - Erosion control - Residential Cluster North - Land dedication - Cluster Development Kingstown - Residential Compound - Historic District - Overlay Zoning LAND USE,CONTROLS WEST BAY COMMUNITIES Subdivision Features-- Zoning Ordinance Features South - Residential Compound - 7 residential , 5 commercial, 2 industry, Kingstown - Land didication I public, high flood danger zone - Flood Zone Requirements - 150 Feet Setback from Wetlands - Residential Cluster - Multi-Family on public water and sewers - Proposed: Planned Neighborhood Commercial Zone Open Space Preservation via combination transfer of development rights, casements, tax relief Erosion Control The Use of Land for Industri al Purposes To preserve and broaden the community economic base, industry compatible with the character and resources of the region should be encouraged. To this end, all five towns have committed by zoning some portion of its land for industrial pur- poses. In 1978, 65% of industrially-zoned land in the region was still vacant, one- third of that in North Kingstown. At least half of the land zoned for industrial development over the last decade was carved from forested, open space, or agricul- tural lands. Half the industrially zoned land now vacant in North Kingstown is prime agricultural land and land use management techniques should be used to preserve it in this highest and best use. To prevent industrial sprawl, communities should en- courage infilling at sites only partially developed. The dramatic ten-fold increase in employment between 1970 and 1980 in the manu- facturing sector reported earlier is also reflected in the figures from the Rhode Island Statewide Planning Environmental Inventory showing a 225% jump between 1970 and 1975 in the amount of land in the region committed to industrial use. Of the 780 acres identified by the Inventory as in industrial use in 1975, approximately half of that was carved from previously forested, open space, or agricultural uses, indicative of the increasing development of the more rural areas in the region. Communities, historically, have shaped development patterns through the judi- cious use of zoning. Similarly, in the interest of preserving and broadening the tax base, land has been set aside by the West Bay towns for industrial use. Today, over 3,000 acres in the West Bay Region are zoned for industrial use. (FigureIII-7). 1978 Zoning Map.) These figures and the following discussion do not include the 850 acres at Quonset Point-Davisville excessed by the Navy in 1974 and now owned by the Rhode Island Port Authority. A detailed description of present and planned indus- trial growth at the former naval base is contained in Chapter I * The results of a study conducted in 1978 by the Office of Statewide Planning indicated that only 11% of this land is actually used for industrial purposes. 130 These figures reflect similar statewide trends as shown in Table 111-25. Of the 32 industrial sites in the region, 10 are totally occupied or committed. Regional im- portance, however, lies in the future of the partially vacant or empty tracts. Cen- tral to the issue are the following question: Is the use of this land for indus- trial purposes its highest and best use? Several measures of accessibility define the suitability of land for indust- rial use: proximity to transportation such as rail and airport service or highway access; availability of public utilities like electric, gas, water and sewers. In addition, the size and/or shape of the land parcel plus soil types and natural limi- tations place constraints on the use of the land. Some of the land that is current- ly vacant consists of either smaller fragmented tracts that surround existing in- dustrial uses or land that is partly swampy or ill-suited for develoment. A com- plete review of land suitability in the region for industrial use is provided in Table 111-26. The development of an industril "strip" along Route 2 in East Greenwich is an example of the conversion of farmland fringe urban uses. Along this segment Route 2 is a major state road with access to interstates. Of the 112 acres of va- cant industrially-zoned land in East Greenwich, over 90% is located along Route 2 between Frenchtown Road and Division Street While some of this land has development limitations (swampy, flood hazard, stony soils), most is suitable for industrial use. Of the six industrial sites near Route 2 only one is totally occupied; the other five sites are partially developed and it can be expected this vacant land will re- main in this use category until developed. In a recent town decision, an additional six-acre agriculturally zoned parcel along Route 2 was re-zoned, in spite of public opposition, for industrial use to accomodate a West Warwick firm seeking to relocate in East Greenwich. The town's willingness to allow the private market to dictate the shape and pattern of growth in East Greenwich suggests that other open space, agricultural, or forested land, especially along Route 2, will be subjected to the pressures of development. 131 Table 111-25 Land Zoned for Industrial Use, 1978 Acres of Industrially Land Zoned Industrially Zoned Land For Zoned Land Number In Percent of Acres In Percent of Percent of Total Land Industrial As Percent of of Industrial Industrialiy Other Industrially Acres Industrially Acreage Use Total Land Sites- use Zoned Land Use Zoned Land- Vacant -Zoned Land East Greenwich 10,540 3Q7 3.o 10 137 45.0 58 19.0 112 36.0 Jamestown 6,105 809 13.0 1 - 8 1.0 801 99.0 Narragansett 8,702 290 3.0 2 2 .7 87 30.0 2oi 69.0 North Kingstown 27,146 1,363 5.o 14 124 9.0 528 39.0 711 52.0 South Kingstown 35,147 239 1.0 5 59 25.0 63 26.0 117 49.0 Region 87,640 3,008 3.0 32 322 11.0 744 25.0 1,942 65.0 State 658,201 35,40 5.0 6,756 19.0 7,938 22.0 20,709 59.0 Source: Land Zoned for Industrial Use: Inventory and Analysis (First Update), November, 1978 Table 111-26 Restraints on Land Zoned For Industrial Purposes, 1978 Number Number five Niles From Over Five Niles Soil of of Without Water Without Sewer Without Gas Interstate Highway From Airport Without Rail Hazards Limitations Acres Sites AcreslSites AcreslSites AcreslSites AcresiSites AcresiSites AcreslSites AcreslSites AcreslSites EAST GREENWICH 307 10 2 1 265 6 - 304 9 266 7 204 3 33 1 JAMESTOWN 809 1 809 1 809 1 809 1 809 1 809 1 809 1 809 1 809 1 NARRAGANSETT 290 2 - 20 1 290 2 290 2 290 2 290 2 270 1 NORTH KINGSTOWN 1,363 14 7 1 1,363 14 546 5 1,047 10 1,363 14 334 8 45 3 577, 5 SOUTH KINGSTOWN 239 5 180 1 180 1 180 1 239 5 239 5 34 3 - 26 1 TOTAL 3.008 32 998 4(33%)* 2,617 22(87%)- 1,555 8(52%)* 2,385 18(79%)* 3,005 31(99.9%)*1,733 21(58%)* 1.348 9(45%)1.748 9 (58%)* Source, Land Zoned for Industrial Use: Inventory and Analysis (First Update), November, 1978 *Percentage of Acres The extension of the existing "strip" could diminish the rural character town officials say they wish to preserve. A small percentage (less than 1%) of the land currently zoned industrial in Jamestown has now been converted to other uses. The remaining 801 acres are vacant and highly unsuitable for industrial development. Once intended for an oil refinery, the site at the northern end of Conanicut Island is inaccessible, the soils have limitations for intensive development and portions of the tract are wetlands. The new zoning ordinance and maps currently under consideration would eliminate industrial uses from the island and change this parcel to a rural residential area more in keeping with the character of the island. Industrially zoned land in Narragansett is divided into two sites, the fishing port at Galilee and a 270-acre tract which adjoins the Narragansett Bay Campus of the University of Rhode Island. The latter parcel is owned by the Narragansett Industrial Development Corporation, a subsidiary of the State's Department of Economic Development, and has been earmarked for water-related research industries. The site has public water and services but has not been able to attract many users partly because of a weak State marketing effort in the past. As part of a five-year plan, the twenty-acre parcel at Galilee has been developed to feature Rhode Island's fishing industry. A fish processing plant was built with state subsidy at the site to capitalize on the industry's activities but is currently vacant after attempts by several different firms to receive an economic return failed. The building was recently acquired by a fish processing firm from Stonington, Connecticut. In addition, work has begun on the construction of two new 200-foot piers. The new piers will replace existing ones and will increase the capacity of the docking area from 24- to 32-foot boats and will allow the Point Judity Fishermen's Cooperative to enlarge its membership. No other parcels in Narragansett have been identified as potential industrial sites. The town expects future industrial growth to be limited to water-related technological 134 or fishing industries both to be determined primarily by the marketing practices at the state level. Three of the five industrial sites in South Kingstown are totally occupied; a fourth site is half-vacant but the remaining land is poorly drained and ill-suited for industrial purposes. Approximately 60% of the fifth site, which represents over 75% of the total industrially-zoned land in the town, remains vacant. The land at this site, formerly in agricultural use, is well-suited to development but industrial growth has been constrained by a lack of public sewers and water, as well as locational factors. A town committee is currently reviewing the status of industrially-zoned land and will be making recommendations during 1982. Sentiments expressed during recent political campaigns reflected a consensus of opinion that only a minimum of additional industrial growth was anticipated in South Kingstown. At present, among the West Bay communities, South Kingstown has allotted the smallest percentage of its land for industrial use. A research park, a compatible industrial use in many university communities, has already been located in Narragansett. In the 1978 study, 1,363 acres in roith Kingstown were identified as zoned for industrial use outside the Quonset Point/Davisville complex. At the time of the study, over half of the land was vacant and only 9% was in industrial use. One small Eite has been partially developed for residential use and it is unlikely that incompatible uses will be permitted on the remainder of the tract; thus, the parcel should be re-zoned. A second parcel of 1 a n d owned by Narragansett Electric fronts on the Bay; this tract was originally selected for the site of a nuclear plant but plans were subsequently withdrawn. Two other large parcels, one at the intersection of Po@,t Rd. and Frenchtown Rd. and the other located between Rts. 2 and 4, are only partially developed and still have extensive areas of vacant land, suitable soils, and good access to transportation, making the tracts prime for development. Future industrial growth should be directed at these tracts and at vacant land in the smaller partially 135 developed tracts. Finally, three sites have regional importance and current zoning should be re-assessed in light of new scientific findings and changing trends. Twenty-seven acres at the southern end of Belleville Pond are currently zoned for industrial use. The western half contains fragile wetlands and soils and is unlihely to be developed industrially; the eastern portion is occupied by a junkyard but could potentially be developed. Portions of this tract overlay the groundwater reservoir as well as recharge areas. By definition, these areas should be protected by the new North Kingstown overlay zoning ordinance which specifies groundwater recharge and reservoir overlay districts and defines "acceptable land use." However, the zoning on this parcel should be changed to make it consistent with the ordinance. The other two tracts consist of four hundred seventy acres located near the Exeter-North Kingstown boundary zoned for industrial use but currently in active turf farming and horticultural use. The soil is well-drained and these parcels are but a portion of a larger area that has been identified as prime agricultural land. Other sections, not designated for industrial use, have been zoned for residential use allowing this entire prime agricultural resource, important not only to the region and the state, to be the potential subject of future development. A zone change in combination with conservation easements and other land use controls would help to protect the agricultural uses. However, ptevious attempts to preserve this area through re-zoning have failed " Political realities may prevent any modification of existing regulations. Recommendations New industry brings added revenues ard broadens the community tax base. New growth consistent with current regional trends, such as the fishing industry at Galilee or boating-related activities in Jamestown, should be encouraged. Likewise, any new industrial growth that would fail to preserve the character of the region 0r would have a deleterious effect on natural resources should be prohibited. 136 In keeping with the 1981 report of the Governor's Task Force on Agricultural Preservation, lands now zoned for industrial use but identified as prime agricultural land and already ccmmitted to agricultural use should be protected by re-zoning and any other land-use controls available. In North Kingstown, the overlay zoning system should be expanded to include an overlay that identifies prime agricultural land. Similarly, land ill-suited for industrial development (location, access, soil limitations, lack of public services) should be re-assessed in terms of its bighest and best use. New industrial growth should be encouraged to infill at existing sites. This process can be facilitated by additional public sector investments in roads, sewers, water lines, et cetera, at these sites. New industrial park growth regul ations should include extensive setback and landscaping requirements to preserve the rural quality of the region. 137 REFERENCES Town of East Greenwich, R.I., Zoning Ordinance, 1980; Subdivision Regulations, 1979; Nonresidential, 1979. Hill and Harbor Plan, East Greenwich, R.I., Everett Associates, July, 1981. Community Guide Plan, Town of Jamestown, R.I., Anthony Lachowicz, Consultant, 1979. Town of Jamestown, R.I., Zoning Ordinance, 1972; Subdivision Regulations, Dec. 1978; Zoning Ordinance, Nov., 1980. Town of Narragansett, R.I.,Subdivision Regulations, 1978; Zoning Ordinance, 1974. Town of North Kingstown, R.I., Proposed Community Guide Plan. Office of Economic Adjustment, The Pentagon. Report of Economic Adjustment Program, Rhode Island, November, 1973. Regional Coastal Energy Impact Program, Imlications of a Nuclear Facility in South County, R.I., Volume 2: Regional Inventory and Growth Prospects, Wakefield, R.I., June, 1980. Rhode Island City and Town Monographs prepared by R.I. Dept. of Economic Development; North Kingstown: January, 1979; East Greenwich: October, 1976; Jamestown: April, 1977; South Kingstown: April, 1980; Narragansett: January, 1976. Governor's Office, State of Rhode Island, Re-use and Development of United States Surplus Military Lands in R.I., June, 1974, Providence. R.I. Historic Preservation Commission, Narragansett Pier Survey, East Greenwich, North Kingstown. R.I. Port Authority and Economic Development Corporation, Traffic Improvements at Quonset Point-Davisville, North Kingstown, R.I.: Preliminary Engineering Report, September, 1980, Providence. Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program, Land Zone4d for Industrial Use: Inventory and Analysis, November, 1978, Providence. R.I. Statewide Planning Program, Position Statement on the 1-895 Transportation Corridor, June, 1980, Providence. R.I. Statewide Planning Program, The Report of the Governor's Task Force on Agricultural Preservation, January, 1981, Providence. R.I. Statewide Planning Program, R.I. Population Projections by County, City, and Town, Revised, April, 1979. Providence. 138 REFERENCES (continued) R.I. Statewide Planning Program, State Housing Information System: Federally- Assisted Rental Housing, April 1981, Providence. R.I. Statewide Planning Program, State of R.I. Selected Population and area Data by Census Tract for 1960 and 1970, Providence, January, 1975. R.I. StaTEWIDE Planning Program Technical Paper, Number 58: State of Rhode Island Selected Population, Housing Unit, and Area Data by Analysis Zone for 1970, Providence, October, 1975. R.I. Statewide Planning Program, Transportation Element of the Air Quality Implementation Plan for Air Quality, Report No. 41, (Preliminary), Providence, May, 1981. R.I. Statewide Planning Program, Transportation Improvement Program for the State of R.I., October, 1, 1981 to September 30, 1984, Providence, September, 1981. R.I. Statewide Planning Program, Amtrak Ridership Reports, 1980, 1981, Providence. R.I. Dept. of Transportation, U.S. Dept. of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration, Final Environmental Impact Statement: Jamestown Bridge Re- placement Project, May, 1981. Town of South Kingston, R.I., Proposed Housing Element, 6/81; Subdivision Regu- lations, 1977; Land Use Plan, January, 1976; Preliminary Draft, Planned Commercial Developments; Residential Cluster Developments, Amend. to Zoning Ordinance, October, 1980. 139 I I I I I I I I I Chapter Four I Onshore Regional Issues I Water Resources I I I I I I I 1 140 Surface Water Surface Water in the West Bay Region includes lakEs, ponds, rivers, streams, reservoirs, and salt water bodies. The Region can be broken down into six drainage basins: the Pawcatuck River, Saugatucket River, Pettaquamscutt River, the Annaquatucket River, Hunt River and the coastal drainage area. The significance of the surface water resources lies in the recreational, aesthetic, and economic benefits it offers the Region. The value of these resources is dependent on the maintenance of its high environmental quality. The water quality classifications of the fresh and salt water todies in the West Bay Region are shown in Fig.IV-I.. The vast majority of these water resources are fishable and swimable - Table IV-1 lists the water bodies in the region and sources of pollution which threaten their water quality. Greenwich Cove, the Hunt River from Fry Brook to Forge Bridge, and Wickford Cove are the only major water bodies classified IC or C. The major point sources of pollution in the region are the six publically- owned wastewater treatment plants (WIdTP) and the one industrial WWTP (TableIV-1). The Region's non-point source pollution originates from groundwater, surface runcff, marinas, boats, and landfills. Land-use in the drainage area, for the most part, determines the major sources of pollution for a water resource. Specific pollutants or groups of pollutants are associated with each source. Nitrogen is the most corr!ffon contaminant carried in the Region's groundwater. Surface runoff transports a suite of pollutants, the concentration dependent on the land-use (TableIV-1). Petroleum hydrocarbons and human wastes enter the aquatic systems from marinas and boats. Whatever the source or transport mechanism, pollutants most often impact the regions surface waters by causing eutrophication or health hazard by high levels of pathogens. Eutrophication is a major threat to the water qualities within the Region. Eutroplication is the process of overfertilization or the stimulation of growth by 141 ~0 Figure IV-1 water Quality classification ~9 enwich ~q3 cove NARRAGANSETT LEGEND: BAY Water Use Classifications Sea Water a l~en harbor Suitable for all sea water uses including shellfish harvesting for direct human consumption (approved shellfish areas.) - - - - - - Suitable for bathing and other recreational purposes. quons~e~t Suitable fish, shellfish and point wildlife habitat; suitable for recreational purposes. w~qi~c ford Fresh Water ~c~ir~qbor~8q=~@ Suitable for water supply and ~8qA~ine~qvil~le all other water uses. Suitable for bathing and other recreational purposes. ~( -e~-~'~S Suitable for fish and wildlife habitat and recreational boating. Municipal Wastewater Treatment ja~rn~es~qto Facility. re~se ~@~qv-r ~c~- word~en pond n~(~Irr~a~qg~ans~et~qt Pier aim G~q:` point Judith Source: Coalition of Coastal Communities ~8q142 Table IV-1 State Water Quality Classification and Pollution Sources for West Bay Region State Water Water Resource Quality Pollution Source Classification East Greenwich: Greenwich Ccve SC East Greenwich WWTP Urban Runoff Leachate from East Greenwich Landfill Boat Marinas and Anchorage Maskerchugg River B Septic Systems Urban Runoff Bleachery Pond C Urban Runoff Septic Systems Fry Brook B Urban Runoff Septic Systems Hunt River C Brown & Sharpe WTATP Urban Runoff Septic Systems Jamestown: Taylor Point SC Jamestown WWTP Jamestown Harbor SB Boat Marinas and Anchorage Dutch Island Harbor SB Boat Marinas and Anchorage Narragansett: West Passage South Ferry SC U.R.I. WWTP Narragansett Pier SC South Kingstown WWTP Scarborough SC Scarborough WWTP Point Judith Pond SA Septic Systems Urban Runoff Port of Galilee SB Major Fishing Port Snug Harbor SB Boat Marinas Upper Point Judith Pond SB Septic Systems Urban Runoff Saugatucket River 143 Table IV-1 (contd.) State Water Water Resource Quality Pollution Source Classification Narragansett (cont.) Pettaquamscutt River SA* Septic Systems (Narrow River) Urban Runoff North Kingstown: Fishing Cove SA Septic Systems Mill Creek and Cove SB Septic Systems Urban Runoff Wickford Cove and Harbor SC Septic System Boat Marinas & Harbor Wickford Navy Housing WWTP Duck Cove SA Septic Systems Bissel Cove SB Septic Systems Urban Runoff Davisville Pier SB OCS Activity Quonset Point SC Quonset Point WWTP Hunt River SC Brown & Sharpe , Inc. WWTP Annaquatucket River B Septic Systems Leachate from Town Landfill Urban Runoff South Kingstown: Snug Harbor SB Boat Marinas Upper Point Judith Pond SB Boat Marinas Saugatucket River Potters Pond SA Septic Systems Stormwater Runoff Cards Pond SA Septic Systems Stormwater Runoff Green Hill Pond SA Septic Systems Stormwater Runoff Trustou Pond SA Septic Systems Stormwater Runoff Saugatucket River B Urban Runoff Septic Systems Temporarily Closed to Shellfishing in Fall of 1979 144 Table IV-1 (contd-) State Water Water Resource Quality Pollution Source Classification South Kingstown (cont.) Hundred Acre Pond A Leachate from Plains Rd. Landfill Worden Pond B Chipuxet River Septic Systems Source: 208 Water Quality Management Plan, Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program, March 1979. 145 large additions of nutrients causes over-production of algae which leads to the decomposition of the plant material in such a way that odors and low levels of 02' These conditions will cause changes in the quality of life in and around a water body. Two nutrients are mainly responsible for eutrophic conditions in the Vest Bay Region: nitrogen, in marine systems, and phosphates, in freshwater lakes and ponds. The ritrogen compounds which have been found to stimulate alga growth at low concentrations are transported by storniwater runoff and groundwater. The nitrogen enters the groundwater and surface water from a number of transport mechanisms which are listed in TableIV-1. The importance of these processes varies from water boey to water body. However, the vast majority of the coves, harbors, and coastal ponds probably receive large petcentages of nitrogen from the ground- water. For example, groundwater inputs have been found to be the largest source of nitrogen for the coastal ponds in Narragansett and South Kingstown. Septic systerr. leachate and lawn fertilizer are the major sources of nitrogen that contaminate groundwater within the coastal pond watershed. Researchers have found that the higher the housing density, the greater the groundwater contamination which relates to the density of septic systems and the amount of lawn fertilizer applied.1 The blooms of algae commort along the densely developed northern edge of Green Hill Pond have been attributed to the over-fertilization of the pond by Tlitrogen contarrinated groundwater. Eutrophic conditions in other areas of the ponds can be partially attributed to contaminated groundwater. In addition, eutrophic water quality conditions are common to Bissel's, Duck, and Mill Cove North KingStOWTI. The residential development within these watersheds certainly contribute large quantities of nitrogen to the groundwater via the septic systems or lawn fertilizer. Stormwater runoff connibutes large quantities of nitrogen to the Narrow River, WicHord Cove and Greenw-l.ch Cove. Nitrogen in lawn fertilizer, puddles of sewage 1. Deason, Ellen Non-point Pollution of Salt Pons, Waters & Adjacent Groundwater, CRC, 1981. 146 from failing septic systems, pet litter, and roadside debris are transported by stormwater to nearby water bodies. The magnitude of the impacts of stormwater runoff on Greenwich Cove has been estimated to be so great that even the elimination of WWTFdischarge effluents would not prevent the eutrophic condition of the ccve? In conclusion, the shallow, poorly flushed coves, harbors or ponds of the Region are impacted by nitrogen inputs from groundwater and stormwater runoff which cause eutrophic corditions. In contrast, ponds and lakes becarre eutrophic from over-fertilization by phosphates. Stormwater runoff transports the vast majority of phosphates to lakes and ponds. Phosphates discharged to the groundwater by septic systems or storm- water runoff are rapidly absorbed by soil particles which accounts for low levels of the nutrient in the water table. Only a few ponds, lakes or rivers in the Region exhibited eutrcphic conditions: Bleachery P(.ind in East Greenwich, Sand Hill Cove and Saw Mill Ponds in North lingstown and the Saugatucket River within Wakefield Center. The storm sewers in these areas drain large quantities of phosphate-contaminated runoff from watersheds that are densely developed and in-pact the receiving waters by causing eutrophic conditions. The other freshwater environments in the Region remain relatively undeveloped, therefore, water quality problems are rare. Septic system discbarges and stormwater runoff are the most common sources of pathogens which enter water bodies in the Region. The level of pathogens in a water body is measured by the presence of coliforms, a bacteria commonly found irt the feces of humans and other warm-blooded animals. By experience, the safe concentration of coliform bacteria for a water body has been deterrrined so that there is little chance of contracting a disease by eating raw shellfish gathered from the shore or swimming in the water. To ffeet the State's coliform standards, the feces of one person must be diluted by a large volume of water. One source estimates that it would [email protected] some eight million cubic feet of coliform-free 2. East Greenwich 201 Facilities Plan, 1980. 147 dilution water. Whatever the quantit@, small water bodies have little assimilative capacity for fecal coliform. Coliform pollution of the Narrow River is well-dccuntented. An extensive survey of the river was conducted by DEM from 1959 to 1961 which showed that 73% of the samples taken during the summer shellfishing and recreational season were polluted. However, the yearly wedian used ty DEM fcr the river's water quality classification were withii, the acceptable limits for shell-fishing. This is an interpretation that obscured the water quality prcblems of the Narrow River for 3 twerity years. In 1978-79, the NRPA conducted studies on the river which showed that 57-59% of the samples taken, year-round, and 90% of the summer samples were polluted. Upon release of these data, the DEM temporarily closed the river to shellfishing. Further studies by DEM in 1979 confirmed that these results showed the highest levels of bacteria were found at dinner time when water consumption and waste disposal was the highest and the dilution volume cf the river lowest. The VEM, NRPA, and RIPE concluded that a significant amount of the coliform pollution in the Narrow River comes from septic systems within the watershed. 4 The magnitude of coliform pollution originating from septic systems is dependent on the amount of water within the soils of the watershed. Households that contribute most to the coliform pollution have septic systems that cause ponding of sewage on lawns with sc;ils that are water saturated directly via surface runoff or indirectly via storm drains into the River.5 The drOLght conditions cf the 1980--81 summer increased the assimilative capacity of leach fields which prevented the ponding of sewage on lawns by reducing the amount of water in the soils. The result of dry weather was an acceptable level of coliform bacteria in the Narrow River for much of the period. Coliform pollution of the coastal ponds has been reported by the CRC as part of the study that focuses on the impact of the human environment on the pond ecosystems. High values of coliforms were iecorded following heavy rainfall 3. Sieburth, John, Water Quality of the Narragansett River, 1979. 4. Ibid. 5. Ibid. 148 throughout the year which indicates the importance of runoff as a source of pathogens in the coastal ponds systent. Although coliform pollution from septic tanks can occur when ponded seviage above leach fields is washed into .1 water body, septic systems c8n conlan,inato groundwater which then infiltrat es a lake, river or estuary. Such instances are presumed to occur in the coastal ponds. 6 Point Source Pollution The East Greenwich WWTF is the only point source in the region that nta@ be related to a water quality problem. The sewerage treatment plant discharges 110,000 gallons of wastewater per day into Greenwich Cove, With th e present level of r-cllutant removal from the treated effluent, 1100 lbs/day of BOI: and 775 lbs of suspended solids are discharged into Greenwich Cove a day. In addition, pollutants are transported from the urban and waterfront area of East Greenwich by stormwater ruvoff which are discharged directly iT1t0 the cove b@ storm sewer outfalls. Groundwater contaminated by leachate front the East Greenwich Landfill infiltrate the shallow headwaters of the cove. Pollutants from the boats and activities associated with the fiVE- merinas in the ccve are also a source of pollution. The pollution of Greenwich Coue can be traced. back to its industrialization in the 18301s. Two wool mills were constrLCted: the Bay Mill and Orion Mill, which were responsible for dischaiging large quantities of pollutants into Greenwich Cove. In 1928 the town constiucted a WWIP to collect sewage from the downtown area and discharge the treated effluent into the cove. The cove presently meets SC water quality characteristics. Hcwever, summer alga blooms occur and the decomposition of organic material ofter. causes low oxygen levels resulting in nuisance odors chaiLcteristic of 17,ighly polluted areas. The construction of an advanced secondary treatment facility in 1956 was in response to these nuisance water qualit@ conditions which occurred in the summer when the Cove's use is recreational avc] commercial, Even with the elimination of 6. Deason, Ellen, 1981. 149 the WWTF discharge, pollutant loading frorr. urban iLrjoff and groundwater discharge are believed to be sufficient to maintain the SC water quality classification of the cove. In response to these conclusion:-. the EPA ha@ required further sampling and analysis to assess the impacts of expanded and upgradedWVTF on the Cove.7 It is interesting to note that the five ccves of Greenwich Bay experience similar water quality problems. The shallow, poorly flushed basins provide ideal conditions for euthropication to occur. Euthrophic conditions result from an over- fertilization of the water cclumr which leads to excessive algae growth. Algae common to the coves are the species ulva and enteromorpha types of sealettuce which form dense mats and require large supplies of 02 to decompose. The resulting lack of oxygen in the water causes nuisance odor conditions and the production of H2S gas which is highly toxic to marine life. Results from t@e coastal ponds study being conducted by the U.R.I. CRC show that low level inputs of the most important nutrient in estuaries-- nitrogen, can cause nuisance water quality conditions.8 In the relatively undeveloped coastal pond area there is a sufficient concentration of nitrogen in the groundwater which feeds the ponds to cause these periodic blooms of a.Igae in the summer. In comparison, Greenwich Cove is supplied large quantities of nitrogen by a groundwater aquifier which is contaminated by leachate from the Fast Greenwich Landfill, stormwater runoff from the downtown area, inputs from the marinas, and a WWTF- The divcr.,,ity of pollutant- soLrces which discharge lalge quantities of contaminants into Greenwich Cove coupled with its small size and low flushing volume have becn the basis for a numEer of investigations to corclude that the Cov.e will always have a water quality problem.9 Cbastal Water Quality The coves and harbors ir, the region serve as a valuable recreational and fisheries resource in the arep. (Fig,.-IV-1 /'. These nutrient rich brackish waters produce an abundance of food for population,-. of ,callops, quahogs, steamers, 7. 201 Facilities Plan, 1980. 8. Deason, Ellen, 1981. 15$ 9. 208 Water QuaLity Plan, 201 Facilities Ian, 1980 oysters, and a number of fin fish species. In addition, a large fleet of recreational and commercial boats are provided dock space or anchorage. The qualities that make the coves and harbors a valuable resource also make the water bodies susceptible to pollution. The shallow, productive waters of even the unpolluted coves such as Bissel's and Duck Coves teeter on the brink of a eutrophic condition during the summer montbs. Wickford and Greenwich Coves have the most severe water quality problems. Both coves are impacted by urban runoff and pollutants originating from boating activities. Significant amounts of sewerage derived nutrients are discharged into Greenwich Cove by tl@te WWTFand into WicHord Cove by septic s@stems which leach the effluents into the groundwater which infiltiates the coves. Mill Creek and Bissel's coves have slight water quality problems (SB) Tesulting from the inputs of septic systems. The watersheds of the fishable, swimable waters of Duck Cove, Potowanlut River, Fishing Cove of North Kingstown and Sheffield's Cove of Jamestown are under considerable development pressure. Stormwater runcff and septic system effluerts from new development could affect the water quality of these coves. Because coves and harbors act as settling basins from fine particulates the water bodies need frequent dredging (Table IV-2). Two management problems frcm a dredging project are the disposal of spoils and the resuspension of polluted sediments. Table IV-21ists the dredging needs for the West Bay Region. The lack of an approved disposal site for dredge spoils have hampered cities and towrs abilit@ to revitalize or expand tLeir waterfront dependent industly. This is especially the case for projects where ocean or near.shore disposal is too expensive and land disposal is environmentally uracceptable. The present alternatives are to fill and bulkhead the spoil in t1te immediate area of the project. This solution is dependent on the characteristics of the spcil, soft liquid sediments are usually 151 Table IV-2 Dredging Needs for West Bay Region Number of Ia Number of Facilities Need Channei Slips & Moorings Dredging Dredging Point Judith Pond 10 Yes 1,057 Narrow River In Need Yes2 32 Wickford Harbor 6 Yes 581 Electric Boat WES Platform Fabrication) 240iOOO'Cubic-Yards Davisville Piers 350-.000 Cubic Yards - (Extension) Allen's Harbor 54 Greenwich Cove 4 Yes 594 1. RI Dredging Needs Survey, January, 1981, CRC, URI. Ia. Between 1980 -1985. 2. Clarkson Collins and Stephen Sedgwick Recreational Boating in RI COastal Waters - A Look Forward, CRC, URI, Marine Tech Report 75. 3. Possible Future Project. 152 not used as fill.. The creation of saltrr.arshes from spoils has been proposed for a number of sites in Narragansett Bay. Highly polluted dredge spoils can further complicate a project. The mcst highly polluted sediments in the five town region that map need dredging in the near future are found in Greerwich Cove. P031LItants ard associated with s-uspended solids discharged from the East Greenwich STP or Urban Funoff as well as sediments polluted from tle past land uses in the Cove (e.g. textAle mill effluents). Table lists the concentration of heavy metals in Fast Greenwich STP effluent as well as some levels of pollutants that have beer: measured in the ccve's sediments. Table IV-3 1977 Metal Concencralons (mg/1) In Sewage Treatment Plant Effluents 1 STP Cadmium Lead Mercury Copper Chromium Zinc Nickel Cranston .002 - - .04 .02 .08 .19 East Greenwich *081 - - *31 *10 *11 04 Providence .004 - - .98 .15 1.55 .89 South Kingstown .001 .18 - .37 .01 .23 .14 East Greenwich 3.9 150 1.6 50 to 20C 430 Cove Sediments Source: Olsen S. and Lee V. A Summary and Preliminary Evaluation of Data Pertaining to the Water Quality of Upper Narragansett Bay, Coastal Resources Center, 1977. 153 On-Site Wastewater Treatment In the five-town region 80% of the households depend on individual subsurface disposal systems (ISDS) to treat their wastewater. Generally, the ISDS is an efficient and inexpensive means of wastewater disposal. The RI 208 Water Quality Management Plan recommends the use of ISDS for residential wastewater treatment. The failure of septic systems to function correctly is the major problem with the method of wastewater treatment. This is a characteristic that most systems will exhibit after twenty to thirty years of service. Table IV-4 Dwelling Units with ISDS for Wastewater Treatment in Region Number Homes % ISDS % Failure/Year East Greenwich 3,615 2,765 76 1.9 North Kingstown 8,800 8,650 98 3.5 South Kingstown 8,138 5,587 72 NA Narragansett 6,589 4,689 71 5.0 Jamestown 2,052 1,492 72 2.5 Total 29,194 23,503 80 State 4.3 1. 1980 Census 2. Coastal Community Land-Use Review The operation and expected life of the system is dependent upon the location, design, installation and maintenance of the unit. The location and/or design of an ISDS are the factors which are responsible for many of the premature failures in the West Bay Region. The areas with a high failure rate are characterized by soils with a high or low permeability, high water tables, and older housing stock. The Narrow River watershed has gained notoriety from the septic system failures 154 associated with these traits. In areas with soils of low or high permeability and high water table leach fields easily become saturated with water and cause a back-up into the house or release untreated effluents onto a homeowner's yard causing nuisance conditions and a health hazard. An ISDS located in soils of low permeability have a high rate of failure for the first few years but a low failure rate thereafter. In soils of high permeability systems function for the first five years but are characterized by a high failure rate thereafater. In both soil types the failure rate is dependent on how well the system is designed. An undersized system will fail to function shortly after being overloaded with waste- water no matter how suitable the soil. In the Narrow River watershed as well as the rest of the West Bay region seasonal homes with small septic systems have been converted to year-round residences which makes the systems undersized. Year-round wastewater loads to these undersized systems will most often lead to a failure soon after the conversion has occurred. Although a failure of an ISDS is usual for older systems, problems only arise when house lots are small, which restricts or prevents the siting of a new leach field. The 208 Plan recommends 15,000 square feet as the minimum lot size for on- site wastewater treatment with a public water supply. Many developments subdivided for seasonal use have 5,500 square foot lots in areas poorly suited for an ISDS (i.e., high groundwater and rapid or poor drainage). Thus, new leach fields must be constructed on sites with soils that are often not able to treat the wastewater load and fail to function shortly after construction. In some cases, soil and groundwater levels are so unsuitable for an ISDS that the septic tank, which acts as a holding tank for sewage, must be pumped every day. Areas within the region that are experiencing a high rate of septic system failures are listed in Table IV-5 . The management of the on-site wastewater needs for these areas is not a simple task. Each of these sites is unique and the management goals vary from area to 155 Table IV-5 Existing Housing Developments Characterized By a High Rate of Septic System Failures Impacted Resource Soil Permeability East Greenwich: Ayrault Road Area Hunt River Aquifer Rapid River Farm Hunt River Aquifer Rapid Glenn Drive Residential Neighborhood Moderate Cindy Ann Drive Residential Neighborhood Moderate North Kingstown: 1 Wickford-Shore Acres Mill Cove, Fishing Cove, Wickford Harbor Rapid Hamilton 1,2 Duck Cove, Bissel Cove, Annaquatucket River Rapid Plum Point 1 '2 1 West Narragansett Bay Rapid Kingstown Heights Mill Creek Rapid Davisvillel Saw Mill Pond Rapid Mountainvjewl,2 West Narragansett Bay Rapid Post Road Commercial Area Rapid South Kingstown: Middlebridge 1,2 Narrow River Rapid Snug Harborl,2 Coastal Ponds Rapid East Matunuck 1,2 Coastal Ponds Rapid Green Hilll'2 Coastal Ponds Rapid West Kings i on Chipuxet River Aquifer Rapid South Road Residential Neighborhood Moderate Dock Ray Street Residential Neighborhood Moderate Narragansett: 1,2 Narrow River 1 2 Narrow River Rapid & Slow Great Island I Point Judith Pond Rapid Harbor Island'12 Point Judith Pond Rapid Jamestown; East Shores 1,2 Individual Wells Slow Jamestown Shores Individual Wells Slow 1. Identified as needing sewers in RI 208 Water Quality Management Plan 2. Seasonal Housing Stock Sources: 201 Water Quality Management Plan: East Greenwich North Kingstown Building Inspector: North Kingstown Coastal Community Land Use Review: South Kingstown, Narragansett, Jamestown .156 area or, for that matter, from town to town. In general, the problem areas are older seasonal subdivisions located within a watershed of extremely valuable water resources. With few exceptions, failure of the wastewater systems in these areas are threatening the quality of the resources which the residents come to enjoy. The Narrow River, the coastal ponds, and Wickford, Duck and Bissel's Coves are the most notable water resources being threatened. Residential development in West Kingston and Ayrault Rd. area of East Greenwich may threaten the quality of the potable groundwater supplies which underlie the subdivisions. Nuisance odor conditions resulting from overflows in the commercial or hi storic districts of North Kingstown have an impact on the shoppers or tourists who visit the town as well as the businesses they frequent. Recently, the towns and a number of interested environmental or academic groups have developed management plans for some of the problematic areas in the region. The Narrow River Preservation Association was organized in 1970 by the residents of the Pettaquamscutt River watershed to protect undeveloped areas in the watershed. Since then, the scope of the interest for the homeowners association has expanded to include the promotion of uniform and coordinated planning policies, laws, ordinances and regulations for the conservation, use, and management of the watershed. They formed The Narrow River Watershed Council consisting of officials from the three local governments which is the first step in their attempt to manage the Pettaquamscutt watershed. With the help of C.C.C., DEM, CRMC, Soil Conservation Service, and RIPE, the NRPA has identified the septic system as a major source of coliform pollution in the River. In the near future, the watershed council will vote to accept the recommendations listed in TableIV-6 in an effort to coordinate the management of septic systems within the watershed towns. Although Jamestown has no formal management plan for Jamestown shores and East Shores problem areas, the sites are similar in housing stock and soil conditions 157 Table IV-6 Recommendation on Septic System Management Ordinances to the Narrow River Watershed Council from the Narrow River Preservation Association, December 1981: A. Septic system management ordinances. 1. That land-use planning never be predicated on future sewers. Recent studies such as those by Statewide Planning, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Coastal Resources Center show that sewer line construction and sewage treatment are no longer cost effective and indirectly cause other pollution problems. 2. That the Watershed Council encourage the State to approve the use of alternative and innovative septic disposal systems, because of the unique features of the Narrow River Watershed (soil types, poor drainage, high water table, and small lot size). 3. That inspection and maintenance ordinances require periodic inspections of all individual subsurface disposal systems (ISDS) in the watershed. The costs of location and inspection of the ISDS would be borne by the land- owner, the inspection certificate monitored by existing computerized recordkeeping (e.g. Tax Assessor's office) and substandard systems brought into compliance with standards of the Department of Environmental Management (DEM). 4. That alternative IDSD suitable for the soil and water table conditions be required in all areas where the river would be affected. These alternatives. include considerations of multiple house on-site treatment, composting, mounds and other technology. Any ISDS system must be designed to take into account the pollution impact in a particular location. 5. That all new ISDS be inspected from perc test through installation by qualified state or town officials and that engineers who design systems also supervise construction. The cost of the inspection would be based on a fee system to be borne by the owner. 6. That when real estate containing ISDS changes ownership, a certificate of current inspection and compliance be filed before the deed can be recorded. 7. That whenever one applies for alteration in the use of an existing dwelling, an inspection of the ISDS be required to determine if the system will be adequate. Alterations include an increase in building size, change from summer to year-round occupancy, and any other activity which could increase hydraulic loading. 8. That there be consistent zoning in the watershed based on the South Kingstown ordinance requiring a 150 foot setback of the leach field from the river on a conventional ISDS. 9. That an environmentally safe way to effectivel@,,handle the septage from all three towns be found. Tha Appendix provides an example of how five towns in Massachusetts collaborated to establish an effective management system. (We are not necessarily endorsing the particulars of their solution to our area.) 158 to parts of the Narrow River watershed and the recommendations in TableIV-6 are applicable to Jamestown. Most soils in the problematic areas of Jamestown have low permeability with a seasonally high water table which causes wastewater disposal problems, However, the shallow bedrock and drinking water supplied by individual wells on small lots complicate the problems and make the implementation of a managament plan a matter of protecting the potable water supply. Much of the lands surrounding the coastal ponds in South County are character- ized by highly permeable soils that allow pollutants to perculate rapidly through the sediments to the groundwater reservoir. Preliminary results of a study to determine how land-use patterns affect the coastal pond ecosystem show that inputs of nitrogen (a major pollutant found in septic system effluents) transported by the groundwater are a major threat to the water quality of the salt ponds. Other major sources of nitrogen are agricultural and lawn fertilizers. The investigators are presently developing on-site wastewater management options specifically tailored to prevent the degradation of the coastal ponds. The soils, housing, and therefore, the wastewater problems of the Hamilton which lies within the watershed of Bissels and Duck Coves are similar to the coastal ponds. Nitrogen and other pollutants associated with septic system (e.g. phosphates and pathogens) are transported in the groundwater to the coves which is partially responsible for the eutrophic conditions and their SC water quality classification. A wastewater management plan to improve or preserve present water qualities of Bissel's and Duck Coves would be similar to the plan proposed for the coastal ponds, The densely populated areas of West Kingston and Ayrault Road, East Greenwich, lie within the sensitive groundwater reservoir areas which supply large amounts of drinking water to the communities. Both areas have higher than average failure rates for septic systems which has been related to the old age of the systems. Since the health, safety, and welfare of people depend on the potable groundwater supplies which underly these housing developments, a simple management plan should 159 be implemented to insure that the high groundwater quality will be maintained. A requirement to pump septic tanks every two years and inspect the system every five years would ensure a minimum level of treatment for wastewater discharge to a groundwater aquifer. In conclusion, the management of existing on-site wastewater treatment facilities is based upon the premise that the function of a septic system and its impacts on the environment is dependent on what is released into the system, and that those wastes are treated at a minimum level. Towards this end, the present study recommends the following on-site wastewater management tools. 1. 208 Recommendations for Water Conservation and ISDS. 2. Mandatory pump-out of septic tank every two years and inspection every five years for any system located in groundwater reservoir areas or other sensitive areas identified by the towns. 3. Mandatory inspection of septic system upon sale of a property . This could be statewide policy enforced by the banks or real estate firms in Rhode Island. 4. The State and Towns should plan for and use innovative and alternative methods of on-site wastewater treatment where cost-effective. 5. Towns should continue or institute a refund for one septic tank cleaning per year for private residents. 6. Rebates on purchases of water conserving fixtures should be considered on a town by town basis. These are traditional tools that the coastal communities can implement. However, officials in Rhode Island are beginning to approach on-site wastewater management on a holistic scale. Stormwater management, land-use controls, and the regulation of design are being emphasized as important to on-site wastewater treatment programs. We have learned much about on-site wastewater treatment from our previous 160 mistakes and, hopefully, new development will reflect this knowledge. The recommendations proposed by the Rhode Island 108 water 4uality plan is an important first step for the communities and the state. Additional precautions can be taken to protect sensitive areas within the region. Table IV-16 lists the sensitive areas within the region that have been identified by the Rhode Island Heritage Program, Coastal Resources Center of U.R.I. and the C.C.C. The recommendations of the U.R.I.-CRC, Narrow River Watershed Council, and the Coalition of Coastal Communities and the 208 Plan are the beginnings of specialized on-site wastewater management programs for the West Bay Region. Lastly, communities must plan their development with wastewater goals fully developed. 161 Table IV-7 Recommendations for Sewage Disposal from the 208 Water Quality Management Plan for Rhode Island The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency should provide a grant to a private environmental organization in Rhode Island to con- duct a statewide education program on water conservation. INDIVIDUAL SUBSURFACE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS � Because subsurface dis.po@,al systems are less expensive than esewer systems, and because they are an effective means of sewage treatment, individual subsurface di-sposal systems should be used wherever possible. � Chapter'45-22 of the General Laws should be amended to require communities to develop sewer plans as part of their comprehen- sive plan. The sewer plan would include the following elements: identification of areas currently sewered and non-sewered physical characteris-tics of the non-sewered areas of the community (e.g. -Soil type, location of water bodies) criteria to assess the location of future sewers (e.g. pop- ulation movement, current zoning requirements) a projection oil those areas to be sewered over the next 20 years projected costs of sewering these areas specific actions (e.g. zoning, establishment of local main- tenance program) to be taken to ensure that sewers will be required only in the designated area. As a guideline for future zoning, the following minimum lot sizes are recommended: 15,000 sq.ft. in areas that will be served by public water and on-site sewage disposal 60,000 sq.ft. in areas that will be served by private wells and on-site sewage disposal. Although groundwater sampling has not indicated many problems with nitrates from subsurface disposal systems, lot sizes of two acres in existing and potential municipal water supply water- sheds are recommended to ensure that nitrate concentrations in drinking water will be below the established standard of 10 ppm. DEM should amend the 201 facilities planning grant for the City of Warwick to include a pilot study for determining if on-site sewage disposal systems can be rehabilitated as an alternative to public sewers. 162 Table IV-7 (contd.) Local communities should review approved ISDS permits upon their receipt from DEM to ensure that they are in accorda nce with ISDS regulations. Conversion of a home from seasonal to year-round use should be brought to the attention of DEM by the local building inspector, so that a determination can be made by DEM as to whether the system will be adequate for increased loading. � In order to obtain better information on the reasons for septic tank failures in Rhode Island, DEM should initiate a system whereby septic tank failures will be recorded, with a notation of the street location, and the reason for failure. This information could be compiled in the Statewide Planning Program computer so that areas with high failure rates could be readily identified and corrective action taken. � Chemicals and acids should not be used to clear clogged systems because of the potential for polluting drinking water supplies or other water bodies. * Communities which rely upon subsurface disposal systems for sewage disposal should voluntarily institute some type of septic tank maintenance program, even if only a minimal effort aimed at providing information to homeowners. � Septic system users should avoid disposing of greases down the drain and institutions and restaurants should clean grease traps at least once a year, if not more frequently, to prevent grease buildup. 163 Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facilities There are presently six WWTF in the West Bay Region (Tableiv-8). They serve 24% of the households in the region representing 21% of the population. An average of 4 MGD of sewage per day is treated by municipal systems in the region. The South Kingstown, Scarborough, and Jamestown STPs* have adequate capacity to meet the needs within the towns for the next 20 years. The South Kingstown facility, a regional system serving Wakefield, U.R.I. and Narragansett was completed in 1979. The additional area in Narragansett, Mettatuxet, Bonnet Shores and the U.R.I.- Narragansett Bay Campus - Industrial Park complex will be served by June 1982. Jamestown completed a new WWTP in January of 1980. East Greenwich's STP, which is presently over its design capacity by 66%, plans on completing the final design and construction phases for a larger facility as soon as federal funds are available. The Scarborough STP, which serves the southern portion of Narragansett and the port of Galilee will be completed by the end of 1981. The facility will provide secondary treatment for 1.4 MGD of sewage. The existing primary system is not capable of treating the flow of sewage and seldom meets its NPDES permit levels. The Quonset Point STP serves the industrial park. It can provide 2.5 MGD of sewage with primary treatment. The Port Authority plans to upgrade the facility to secondary treatment and decrease the capcacity of the plant by 50%. A small STP serves the Wickford Navy housing and discharges its effluent into Academy Cove. Sludge from the WWTPs in the region are disposed in local landfills. South Kingstown and Narragansett are studying the feasibility of a regional composting facility which would treat the sludge from the regional and Scarborough STPs. The small amount of sludge from Jamestown could be accepted at the facility. Septage disposal facilities in the region are located at the Jamestown STP which only accepts material from its residents and South Kingstown. South Kingstown's facility treats septage from North Kingstown, Charlestown, Exeter, and East Greenwich. *Please note, STP refers to Municipal sewage treatment plants. 16.4 Table TV-8 Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facilities in the Region Number of Percent of Present Households Households Sludge Septage Capacity Flow User Fee Sewered Sewered Disposal Disposal (MGD) (MCD) East Greenwich .51 .77 34 850 25 Landfill Proposed Facility 1.24 --- 109-135 --- --- Landfill Jamestown .73 --- 1396 560 38 Landfill Have Facilities Narragansett --- --- 113 (2:55014 39 --- --- 1 900 North Kingstown Industiral Users, 3 Quonset-Point-Davisville 2.50 .50 --- Apartment Houses, and Landfill None Potters Rd. & Hoskins Industrial Park (1.25)1 Schools Scarborough WWTP .28 2 .50 --- --- SKWWTP 5 SK (1.4o) South Kingstown 4.13 2.00 78 2,281 40 Landfill 5 Have Facilities Brown & Sharp Mfg. Co. .33 --- --- Industrial WWTP Landfill --- West Warwick, Cranston, or South Kingstown WWTPs Provide Septage Disposal for Residents 1. Proposed capacity for upgraded secondary WWTP. 4. After Mettatuxet-Bonnet Shores hook-up. 2. Proposed capacity of upgraded secondary WWTP. 5. Regional composting facility being studied by 3. Total number of sewered households in Narragansett'. Narragansett and South Kingstown. 6. For average family producing 60,000 gal. of sewage per year. Septage haulers in the region also use facilities in West Warwick and Cranston. Recently, the DEM's authority has been expanded so that it can designate a STP a regional center of septage disposal when the public health and safety is in jeopardy- As a municipality, North Kingstown is the only community in the region that does not own a STP. It has recognized areas within town that have an immediate need for sewers, however, the residents have voted down a bond referendum that would have financed a wastewater treatment system. The Public Works Director and Town Planner have indicated that another bond referendum will be proposed within the next couple of years. Due to the high costs of sewerage collection and treatment facilities, only projects that candemonstrate a definitive town-wide benefit have any chance of being locally funded in the near future. A cost comparison of some sewerage facilities in the state (shown in TableIV-9) exemplify the high costs. A 1976 plan to build a WWTF and sewer 2200 homes in North Kingstown was estimated at an annual cost to a sewer user of $240 for a 20 year total of $4800. Since 1976, costs for sewerage facilities have skyrocketed. A 1979 proposal to build a WWTF and sewer 4100 homes in Portsmouth would have cost the sewer user $479 per year for a total expense of $9580 for a 20 year period. In 1982, the extension of sewers to only 650 homes of the Mettatuxet-Bonnet Shores area of Narragansett will cost the user $63 per year for a total expense of $8200 for a 20 year period. According to Town officials, conventional means of financing sewerage systems as well as the proven methods of wastewater treatment have become too costly for local governments. However, the need for centralized sewerage facilities in the West Bay region is immediate and is not only based upon environmental issues, but is important for the expansion of the commercial and industrial base of the region. TableIV-51ists the major areas within the region that have wastewater disposal problems. The continued growth within the region during the 1980's will further pressure communities to provide wastewater treatment facilities. (See Figure IV-2 for sewered areas.) 166 Table IV-9 Cost Comparisons for Sewerage Facilities in Rhode Island Sewer Assessment Cost Per Cost to User Sewer Extension Projects Total Year User Fee for 20 Years Littlebridge Plat 1 1360 138 34 4200 East Greenwich, 1975 Sand Hill Cove 2 2185 109 113 5240 c Narragansett 1979 Mettatuxet-Bonnet Shores 3500 250 113 8200 Narragansett 1982 WWTF and Sewers Portsmouth 1979 3 1500 320e 150 8600 f (9580) North Kingstown 1976 1500 190 50 3800 Sources: 1. John Cook, telephone call, November 25, 1981 2. George Allaire, telephone call, November 18, 1981 3. Portsmouth Draft Facilities Plan for wastewater treatment, December 1979, Metcalf & Eddy, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts 4. Quonset Facilities Plan for Wastewater Treatment in North Kingstown,C.E. Maguire, Inc., Providence,Rhode Island a) Total costs of local share at a project divided by number of users b) For 20 years c) $800 for sewer connection costs d) $1000 for sewer connection costs e) Includes increase in property tax for average home in town f) Updated number in Executive Summary 167 North Kin vi@2 Sgi 450 Ct -ca Jamestown industrial. WWTF Brown & Sharpe, Inc. is permitted to discharge .04 MGD of treated industrial and sanitary sewage I lbs. BOD/day and 4 lbs. suspended solids/day into the Hunt River. Because of the industrial discharge the water quality of the river from Fry Brook to the Forge Bridge is classified as Class C. The University of Rhode Island's Bay Campus sewage treatment plant discharges .04 MGD of wastewater to the West Passage of Narragansett Bay. By June of 1982, the sewerage from the Bay Campus and the associated industrial park will be pumped via the Mettatuxet- Bonnet Shores interceptor to the South Kingstown STP. Water Quality Problems crPated by WWTF acts-, the East Greenwich STP is the only Other than very localized im6, treated discharge in the region that may be causing a water quality problem. The present WWT facility is permitted by EPA to discharge 98 lbs. per day (15 MGL) of BOD and suspended solids (SS) to Greenwich Cove during the summer (May-October) and twice that amount in the winter, Since the STP does not meet EPA's standards, the average daily loadings of BOD and SS by the STP is 1100 lbs./day and 775 lbs./day respectively. The upgraded and expanded East Greenwich facility will discharge 156 lbs./day of BOD and SS which will decrease the loading of BOD and SS by 1100% and 800% respectively. The 208 water quality management plan identifies four pollution sources that degrade the water quality of Greenwich Cove by causing eutrophic conditions: urban runoff, effluent from the WWTP, groundwater and surface water contaminated by the former East Greenwich Landfill, and the boats from the five marinas in the cove. Table iv-1o'shows that urban runoff and WWTF are themajor pollutors of the cove. The 208 report states that elimination of the STP discharge would-substantially reduce the eutrophication problems in the cove. 169 Table IV-10 Pollution Loading Sources in Greenwich Cove Cove Pollution Source Loading (X 10 3 lbs./May October) BOD 5 TSS N PO 4 Greenwich Urban Runoff 15.3 207 1.8 o.5 Cove Boat Wastesi 0.68 3.66 o.5 0.2 E. Greenwich STP 13.5 16.5 11.25 2.25 Source: R.I. 208 Water Quality Management Plan, March 1979. liant concludes that there would b However, the East Greenwich 201 facilities p e no change in the present water quality classification of SC if the discharge of the STP was eliminated by establishing a regional WWTP at Quonset Point for the sewage of East Greenwich and North Kingstown. Therefore, the facilities plan recommended the construction of a 1.24 MGD secondary wastewater treatment plant at the existing site. The EPA's finding of no significant impact for the 201 facilities plan of East Greenwich stated there is a lack of data to confirm or dispute the need for a greater level of treatment than recommended in the plan to ensure SC water quality in the cove. EPA has required further sampling and analysis of Greenwich Cove before construction of the new WWTP can begin. The study will identify the sources and assess the impacts of nutrients discharged to the cove. If the sewage treatment plant is a major contributor to the existing or potential eutrophication and resultant water quality violations or is the only controllable factor that will prevent continued violations the new plant will have to remove a sufficient amount of nutrients to ameliorate the problem. The environment and water quality problems of the coves and harbors of the region is further discussed on page 170 Groundwater Drinking Water Supply A large unpolluted drinking water supply exists in the regionTable IV-12. Cur- rently, 19,553 are supplied 8.8 MDG of drinking water from six groundwater reser- voirs plus .25 MGD from th e Jamestown surface reservoirs(Table IV-11). Approximately 9,500 homes in the region draw up to 3 MGD from private wells. Two major issues in the region's public drinking water systems have been iden- tified. The five major water suppliers are at capacity or will be within the next five years which will necessitate development of part of the 7.7 MGD of groundwater reserves not presently utlized (Tables IV-12 & 13). Atrend towards higher levels of pollutants in the public water supplies is evident and there are a number of local- ized areas of aquifers in the region that are contaminated. These issues necessi- tate the following policy commitments by the towns in the region to ensure a high quality and adequate water supply in the future. First, the management of ground- water withdrawals from the six aquifers that serve the region coupled with the im- plementation of a water conservation plan; and, second, land-use controls to protect- drinking water quality. Public Water Supply Systems A description of the water supply systems is presented in this chapter. The data are summarized in Table IV-11 &FigureIV-3-Two major trends are shown by these data. First, five of the eight water suppliers in the region are at capacity or will be within the next five years; and, second, 23% of the public water services consume less than the minimum quantity the suppliers will charge for, therefore pre- venting any incentive for conservation. Private Wells The vast majority of homes using private wells in the region are located in the rural areas of the West Bay Region. FigureIV-3shows the areas of the Region with and without public water. Of these areas not served-by public water, only three un- developed areas do not meet the minimum zoning standards set by the 208 Water Quality 171 Table TV-11 Water Supply Systems in West Bay-Region Percent Growth Peak Number Under Need In Day Average Of Seasonal Minimum For New Services Capacity Use Use Services Services Charge Supplies Per Year (MGD) (MGD) Near Capa- Jamestown .47A .34 .25 1,100 150 15% city- No 15 Planned Expansion North Kingstown 4.00 4.20 2.30 6,300 200 3% Immediate 130 Near Capa- South Kingstown 1.00 .80 .3o 1,800 500 27% city; Mora- 50 South Shore torum on Ex- pansion 4,195 B Near Capa- Wakefield Water 5.80 3.60 2.00 (2,013*) (8o3) 25% city; Need 1 50 (2,182**) MGD more by late 1980s Kingston..Fire .6o .4o .26 500 --- 20% 50% Capacity 10 District URI .90 .70 .6o 12,000 --- --- 66% Capacity None (people) Indian Lake Will be Sup- Shores --- --- 52 --- plied by --- Wakefield E Water Narragansett --- --- 1.10 3,257 1,970 74% East Greenwich 4.20 1.80 2,698 --- 21% Near Capa- 33 city; (76%) A. .37 MGD is maximum substainable yield. Have contract with Wakefield Water Co. for 1.7 B. Most of seasonal services in Narragansett. MCD more in Pt. Judith System. Planned expan- C. Number for whole system. sion of N.K. system will accomodate Narragansett. D. Narragansett Water Department services. Public waterwill be provided for new develop- E. Assuming under 4,000 cu. ft. is seasonal usage and 803 seasonal ent. M seMes M WaWfteldMer @arejftm Ej=t sior s Iwo mmm M M M M M nnd 1 167 frnm Nnrrqrnn,,P1-r Warer Department. Table 1V-12 Groundwater Resources of the Region (Millions of Gallons per Day) Average Day Peak Day Substainable Undeveloped Withdrawal Withdrawal Yield Resources East Greenwich-North Kingstown Hunt River 2.5 4.3 7.0 0.0 North Kingstown Annaquatucket- Pettaquamscutt 2.0 3.0 4.0 2.0 South Kingstown Chipuxet 1.0 1.25 3.0 1.6 Mink 2.o 3.6 2.6 0.0 Usquepaug-Queen 1.1 5.2 4.1 Southshore 0.3 0.8 0.8 0.0 TOTALS 7.8 14.0 22.6 7.7 173 Table IV-13 Drinking Water Withdrawals from Groundwater Aquifers in the West Bay Region Maximum Substainable Present Yield Use* Capacity* Hunt River Aquifer K.C.W.D.1 Well Center 1.0 3.o U.S. Navy Quonset Well Centers .5 3.o North Kingstown Stony Lane Well Center 1.0 1.0 TOTAL - 7.0 2.5 7.0 Annaquatucket River Aquifer Well Center East of Colonel Rodman Highway o.5 o.5 Well Center West of Colonel Rodman Highway 1.5 1.5 TOTAL 4.o 2.o 2.o Pettaquamscutt River Aquifer Carr Pond Well Center 0.3 o.3 TOTAL 1.3 o.3 o.3 Chipuxet River Aquifer University of R.I. Well Center o.6 0.7 Kingston Fire Dist. Well Center 0.4 0.7 Wakefield Water Co. Well Center Proposed for late 1980S TOTAL 3.o 1.0 1.4 Mink Brook Aquifer Wakefield Water Co. Well Centers 2.o 5.8 TOTAL 2.6 2.o 5.8 South Shore Aquifer South Kingstown Water Department Well Center o.3 0.8 TOTAL o.8 o.3 o.8 Usquepaug-Queen Aquifer Ladd School --- 1.1 TOTAL 5.2 --- 1.1 MGD 1. Kent County Water District 174 A, North ilk lo, 40 M M cn M oeo 0 M M cn Jamestown Table IV-14 Drinking Water Use PUBLIC SUPPLIES 2 PRIVATE WELLS NUMBER 1 HOMES USING % HOMES USING HOMES USING % HOMES USING OF HOMES PUBLIC WATER PUBLIC WATER PRIVATE WELLS PRIVATE WELLS East Greenwich 3,615 2,698 75% 917 25% South Kingstown 8,138 4,034* 50% 4,104* 50% Narragansett 6,589 5,438* 83% 1,151* 17% North Kingstown 8,800 6,300 72% 2,500 28% Jamestown 2,052 1,100 53% 969 47% West Bay Region 29,914 19,553 67% 9,641 33% 1. 1980 Census 2. Numbers from Water Suppliers, in Region Numbers based on residential services. Multi-famOybousing is often counted as one residential service. Therefore number of homes using private wells may be inflated. Management Plan for areas without public water or sewers. They are located in South Kingstown one in the southwest and one in the northwest section of town, and one tract is located in the Slocum section of North Kingstown. The lack of data on the water quality from the wells in the study area prevents an overall assessment of the potable groundwater. This is a result of the absence of state or local power to monitor water quality of private wells as well as the lack of adequate methods for a thorough assessment. Historically, drinking water quality problems in the region have been related to developed areas with a seasonal housing stock on small lots. Expansion of public water service to the area of poor water quality has been the accepted policy in the region. Jamestown Shores is the only remaining developed area in the region with small lots and private wells. It is essentialfor the town to protect the water quality of wells in Jamestown Shores because the town does not have a surplus capacity in the public water supply system to accomodate the additional growth. Septic system leachate and lawn fertilizers and major sources of groundwater pollution in residential areas served by private wells. Nitrogen from septic sys- tems and lawn fertilizers, and coliform bacteria from septic systems are the sub- stances that most often pollute the private wells in the region. High nitrogen levels are dangerous to infants and high coliform levels are an indicator of patho- gens. Dug wells as opposed to drilled or driven wells are most often polluted by coliform bacteria. The coliform bacteria, in most cases, is transported by surface runoff. The runoff finds a direct pathway to the well through a crack in the tile lining or well cap. New tile lining or a tightly fitting well cap usually solves the vast majority of these problems. Nitrogen from lawn fertilizers is leached through several soil layers to the water table. Once in the water table, the nitro- gen travels with the flow where it can contaminate wells in its path. Regular maintenance of septic systems and conservative application of lawn fer- tilizers are ncessary to provide protection to potable groundwater in areas served 177 by private wells. New development with private wells and septic systems should be cited on lots larger than two acres. Ground Water Supplies There are six groundw ater aquifers in the region. The groundwater aquifer or reservoir is a geological formation that willyield water in sufficient quantity to supply a large demand. Sediments of a reservoir 20 to 120 feet thick are saturated with water and capable of producing over 100 gallons/minute to a well. The sub- stainable yeild of a reservoir is not a function of its size but is determined by the annual rate of recharge or the rate that precipitation replenishes the water in the aquifer. In order to ensure an adequate quantity and quality of ground water, the path of the recharge must be identified and protected. Protection guarantees an unob- structed, pollutant-free pathway of rainwater and runoff from the surface to the saturated sands and gravels of the aquifer. Areas of primary recharge in the region are often flat, well-drained soils with an attractive vegetational cover. These characteristics make the areas extremely desirable for many land u ses which have di- rect impact on the quality of the groundwater. Land use impacts can range from the obstruction of the recharge by a large parking lot, to the leaching of toxic sub- stances from a hazardous waste site. The high porousity and permeability of re- charge areas make the underlying aquifer susceptible to pollution. Contaminants ori- ginate from such sources as solid waste disposal facilities, industrial storage, and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous material, road salt storage and use, individu- al sewage disposal systems,-and agricultral practices. Polluted recharge from these sources is carried to the aquifer from the surface by gravitational forces. Some of the Contaminants may be absorbed, chemically degraded, or diluted by the soil layers. Once in the groundwater, dispersion of the pollutants is determined by the flow characteristics of the aquifer. The pollutants are not diluted by the total amount of groundwater but spread through a specific layer of the aquifer. The rate of dis- 178 persion and extent of groundwater pollution is related to physical and chemical properties of the contaminants, soil characteristics, and meteorological conditions. Eventually, the groundwater will discharge to a wetland, pond, lake, stream or well. Groundwater With the exception of localizedareas with elevated levels of minerals and dis- solved solids, the public drinking water of the groundwater aquifers in the region 9 is of high quality. However, there are indications that some local uses of the land may cause degradation of the water quality in the future. 10 Highways may cause a water quality problem in two groundwater reservoirs of the region. The data from TablelV-15show 1-heAnnaquatucket-Pettaquanscutt and the Hunt Aquifers having the largest acreage of major highways in the region. Within both recharge areas, localized areas with high levels of chloride in the groundwater have been attributed to road salting. Another threat to these aquifers is the potential for spills of hazardous materials, e.g., gasoline, result- ing from a traffic accident. Pollutants other than salt in stormwater runoff (ni- trogen, lead and petroleum hydrocarbons) may also impact groundwater quality in the area. The present zoning of the aquifer recharge areas within the region is a poten- tial water quality problem. Although much of the recharge area in the region re- mains undeveloped (Tab.Iv_I-h most of this land is zoned for medium or medium-low residential housing, a density higher than that (low density residential) recommend- ed by the 208 Plan to abate groundwater pollution from septic systems. The Hunt River Aquifer is the only area where elevated levels of pollutants (nitrogen) might be related to septic system recharge. Other areas within the region that have reported elevated nitrogen levels (Mink, Chipuxet and Annaquatucket-Pettaquamscutt) contain a blend of residential and agricultural land uses both of which could be responsible for the aquifer degradation. 9. Allen, William B. Unpublished Water Resources Board Data. 10. Jamestown Community Guide Plan, 1979 179 Some of the state's prime agricultural land is located within the region's groundwater recharge areas. Turf, potatoes and corn are the major crops. TableIV-17 lists the percentage of the recharge area that is being farmed. Fertilizers and pesticides may be partiall-y responsible for localized degradation of the groundwater quality in the region. The agricultural soils are highly permeable which makes the groundwater susceptible to pollution from the toxic pesticides used on potato fields or the nitrates originating from fertilizers. To date, no tests to determine levels of pesticides or fertilizers originating from agricultural sources have been conducted in Rhode Island. The contamination of groundwater by landfills in the region has been studied by the 208 program and the University of Rhode Island. Three landfills are lo- cated in the Annaquatucket-Pettaquamscutt Aquifer. Two have been found to pollute the reservoir in the immediate area of the landfill. The only remaining active landfill (Hamilton-Allenton Road) will be closed in the Summer of 1982. Their leachate will continue to contaminate the groundwater aquifer. Therefore, the land-. fills must be monitored for a number of years after closure. The Plains Road Land- fill in the Chipuxet Aquifer was found to pollute a localized area of the aquifer. The URI study group recommended measures to mitigate the impacts of the closed landfill on the water table. Finally, the inactive East Greenwich Municipal Land- fill di scharges its leachate directly into Greenwich Cove. Six groundwater aquifers are located in the five-town study area: the Hunt, Annaquatucket-Pettaquamscutt, Chipuxet, southern portion of the Usequepaug-Queen, Mink, and South Shore. Only the South Shore Aquifer which supplies coastal areas of South Kingstown, has not been mapped. (Figure IV-4). The Hunt River Aquifer begins at the head of Greenwich Cove and follows the Hunt River southwest to a point just south of the Route 102-Route 104 traffic circle. There are presently four pumping centers in the aquifer capable of producing 7 MGD. The Rhode Island Water Resources Board estimates that the reservoir is capable of 180 dMS LLJ Mi 0. o 0, oft -o U o 0. 0* .0::. ox- oo o..o, oo I .0 *o.o: o* ..:: 0 .0 00 'o-.. o oi! R.2 *... o* 0 0 'o.. -0 .*.o 0*0 0 oo 0.*.o fmt o o., * * *o*o: 0 *. ... o. -o..o.*..*.o. o 0 o lo.., 0 o o o o o. o-.-.o o 0. o .* o *o . 0 '00 0.. .: - *o. .o .o: o 0 0 o . '. : o. .0 .* -0 *0 * - 7: -.*.o 0oo 0, :: ..0 o 0. oA *** ; - i- . - , * -.0 o@ o oo 0 ..o -.0 -:0 oo o. .: *0 0 oo. .oI o o.0 00 .0 0 oo. oo 0.. 0. 0 o* . 0. 0 0 .0 0 0 :-o 'o 0:.*.o*o*,.*.'- 0::. : o 0 *0 0* *0 J, o. oo 0* *0 o 0. .0 0.. *o* o -o' 00 .0 E .0 ct% .o 0 0. .0.0 . oo.,O*. * .0. . *o o* . o o: o. o. 0* : *. ., . *. 0* : o o o.. . o* .*,0.* oooo* .0 o** oo:: 0^ . . . oo.. 0: .o 'o. o o ..o .0 oo. o o. o ol o o. 0. o o. "..0o. o .0.0 o o stown %.o-oo-.*** o ;o: o:: o* o*o o. 0 o.. . -0:0 * -*:- o - . 0 0 0 . ;.Zo ....o. o 0. "o .*o. o. GROUNDWA rER GROUNDWATER AQUIFER PRIMARY RECHARGE AREA LANDFILL LOCATED IN OR C 50- NEAR AQUIFER OR f RECHARGE AREA Table IV-15 Acreage of Highways in Groundwater Aquifers Number of Miles of Highway Interchanges Acres 2-Lane 4-Lane Super Hunt 3 53 .7 5.5 1.5 Annaquatucket- Pettaquamscutt 2 69 3.o 7.0 0.0 Chipuxet 1 io 2.5 0.0 0.0 Mink* 0 8 2.5* 0.0 0.0 Queen-Usquapaug 0 3 .75 0.0 0.0 *town-owned roads Table IV-16 Zoning of Recharge Areas in Region (percentage) Residential Open High Medium I Medium-Low I Low Commercial Industrial Space Annaquatucket- Pettaquamscutt 49 30 0 3.5 9.7 7 Chipuxet Most of Area: Low Density NA 19.0 NA West of Kingston: Medium Density Mink 0 3 97 0 0.0 0.0 0 Queen-Usquapaug 10 29 19 10.6 0.0 28 Hunt NA NA NA NA NA: Not Available *Ladd School Table IV-17 Present Land Use in Aquifer Recharge Areas (percentage) Commercial- Open Space. Agricultural Industrial Residential Hunt* NA NA NA NA Annaquatucket- Pettaquamscutt 51 9.8 1.4 17 Chipuxet 47 35 2 5 nk 64 23 0 2.4 Queen-Usquapaug 71 19 - 2 Mi *Data Not Available 182 safely producing 9.5 MGD. However, a withdrawal of 9.5 MGD from the reservoir dur- ing dry years such as 1949, 1957, 1963-65, 1980-8l,'will result in no streamflow for as many as 160 days in a sizable reach of the Hunt and Potowomut Rivers and an undetermined decrease in marsh and pond water storage in the area and little or no flows in many of the brooks and streams in the primary recharge area. The RIWRB estimates that a withdrawal of over 4.3 MGD from the KCWD and Quonset Point/Davis- ville well centers would leave much of the adjacent Hunt River dry. With additional withdrawal from North Kingstown's Stony Lane well, flow conditions in the river would be reduced. Present flow at the USGS Hunt River guaging station is 12 CFS when pumping from the KCWD wells, from the Quonset wells, and from the North Kingstown well. This low river flow during the drought is compared to an average flow of 19 CFS in October. In the 1965-66 drought the river flow was reduced to a dribble (.3 CFS) when the KCWD wells were pumping 2.21 MGD and the Quonset wells were pumping 2.75 MGD. With an increase in water demand from expansion of Quonset Point-Davisville Industrial Park, and increased pumping at the KCWD wells, the Hunt. Aquifer may be over-pumped during periods of low recharge. Therefore, it is important to have an intergrated water supply plan for the Hunt groundwater reser- voir. The plan must include fair and equitable allocations to suppliers as well as measures to protect the quality of the groundwater. The groundwater quality in the Hunt Aquifer is suitable for drinking. However, the Rhode Island Water Resources Board reports indications of increased mineraliza- tion and degradation of groundwater quality in localized areas that may result from highway salting, infiltration of pollutants through the Pawtucket Sand and Gravel Pit, septic tank discharges, and over-pumping of the aquifer. One major land-use conflict in the recharge area is the presence of major high- ways and highway exchanges. Runoff from the roads contributes to the mineralization and degradation of the aquifer in the proximity of the highways. The highways within the recharge area are Route 4 from a point just north of the Frenchtown 183 interchange, South to and including the Route 2 and the Route 102 traffic circle. The segment of Frenchtown Road east of Route 4 and a .7 mile of Davisville Road crosses the recharge area. A total of 53 acres of paved roads are in the recharge area which includes 1.5 miles of limited access, four-lane highway, 5.5 miles of four-lane highway, and .7 miles of two-lane roads. These.roads are heavily trav- elled, the Route 4-Route 2 segment being the major north-south thoroughfare in the region. The Frenchtown-Davisville Road complex distributes traffic from Route 4, Quonset Point-Davisville, Brown and Sharp, downtown East Greenwich and the industial and commercial facilities on Route 2. These high-use roads demand intensive snow removal and road salting services. The increase in the chloride levels of the pub- lic well water from the aquifer between 1963 and 1974 may be related to road salt runoff from these highways (FigureIV-5). Other pollutants carried in stormwater runoff from heavily travelled highways that may enter the aquifer are heavy metals such as lead and cadmium, nitrogen, petroleum hydrocarbons and gasoline additives. These contaminants can infiltrate the groundwater from the Hunt River, which is polluted by storm runoff. Contaminated river water willthen flow into the groundwater reservoir in the direction of a public well which is puming large quantites of water. For example, in the dry year of 1963 it was estimated from a groundwater model of the aquifer that I *I MGD of the 3 MGD pumped from KCWD and Quonset wells was withdrawn from the Hunt River. In support of the model, the U.S. Navy has analyzed the water from their wells and found that during dry years the mineral content of the drinking water and river water was very similar. Three major residential centers located in the Hunt River recharge area impact the aquifer. Possible contaminants from these residential areas which can pollute the ground water originate from the septic systems and stormwater runoff (lawn fer - tilizer, pesticides, petroleum hydrocarbons). 184 A total of 460 homes are located in three major residential areas of the Hunt River recharge. These centers are Ayrault Road area, east of the Naval Reserve Cen- ter on Route 2 in East Greenwich; the River Farm area south of the drive-in theatre in East Greenwich and the western side of Old Baptist Road in North Kingstown. Whether the occassional elevated nitrate contamination in the public well water stems from the input of wastewater from these homes cannot be determined. However, recharge from the wastewater of residential developments can represent 50% of the total input to an area of the aquifer. The Pawtucket Sand and Gravel facility on Frenchtown Road is a land-use which will impact the water quality of the aquifer recharge. The removal of the highly porous and permiable sediments in the area will decrease the soil layer above the aquifer which is responsible for the purification of the recharge. Furthermore, the removal of the overlying soils often exposes the water table to direct pollution. Commercial development of Frenchtown Road east of the sand and gravel company further impact the aquifer by the obstruction of recharge, disposal of wastewater and pollution of stormwater runoff. Much of the primary recharge of the Hunt River is undeveloped wetlands, conservation land owned by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, or undeveloped areas protected by North Kingstown groundwater reservoir pro- tection overlay zoning.- North Kingstown restricts development to single-family homes on lots larger than 3 acres with 300 feet of road frontage and where the maxi- mum development of the lot is 20% of the surface area. Figure IV-5 Increase from 1963-1974 of Chloride Ions in the Hunt River Aquifer from the Department of Health 4o - Increase in mg./I. 3o - of Chloride 2o - 00 10 - 1 t Source: 3' Kent Cty. W.D. Quonset R.I. Port Auth. Wells Wells Well 185 The Anndquatucket-Pettaquamscutt Aquifer is two distinct groundwater reservoirs interconnected by a common recharge area. It covers 19 square miles of which 51% is woodland, 11% is residential, 9.8% is agricultural, 1% is commercial and .4% is waste disposal. The safe yield of the acquifer is 5.3 million gallons per day and the current production is 2.0 MGD from three well centers located in the Anna- quatucket Aquifer. A potential of 1.3 MGD may be produced from the Pettaquamscutt and 4 MGD from the Annaquatucket. The quality of groundwater is suitable for drink- ing. Landfills, salt/sand stockpiling and septic systems may contribute to local- ized elevation in nitrate, chloride and calcium concentrations in the groundwater. Of the three landfills located in the recharge area, two are closed (R.I. Sand and Gravel and Oak Hill Road) and one is active (Hamilton-Alltenton Road Landfill). The Oak Hill and Hamilton-Allenton landfills were studied as part of the 1120811 Water Quality Management Plan. The Hamilton-Allenton Road was found to degrade the water quality by the discharge of leachate from the existing collection system which flows directly into a swamp north of the landfill and contaminates a small tribu- tary brook of the Annaquatucket River. No evidence of the pollutants entering the Annaquatucket was found. Contaminated groundwater was found up to 1,000 feet down gradient from the landfill, The leachate entering the groundwater was formed by two processes: 1) precipitation infiltrates through the landfill and discharges into the groundwater; and, 2) the groundwater mixes with that portion of the refuse which is below the top of the water table and then flows away from the landfill. The re- port concludes that the contamination of the groundwater and surface water is limit- ed to an area around the landfill. Leachate from the Oak Hill Road Landfill discharges directly into Bellview Pond as surface runoff or infiltrates into the groundwater and then discharges into Bellview Pond. The report warns that increased pollutant loadings to the pond sys- tem could cause a water quality problem. 186 Road salting and storage have been suggested as the sources for elevated levels of sodium and chlorides in localized areas of the aquifer. Three of the four sand/_ salt storage facilities within the recharge area remain uncovered which allows rain water to leach through piles and enter ponds and streams or the groundwater. Seven miles of the four-lane Colonel Rodman Highway are located within the recharge area as well as three miles of U.S. Route 1. These roads are heavily travelled and re- quire intense snow removal activities. In addition, the proposed extension of the upgraded Route 138 from its present junction with U.S. 21-Route 1 will corss the southern portion of the primary recharge area for the Pettaquamscutt Acquifer. These highways may cause the localized elevated levels of sodium and chlorides. The above land-use patterns that may have a serious negative impact on the groundater quality are not presently cited as posing potential water quality prob- lems. The town has zoned 49% of the rechargable area medium-density residential, 30.2% as medium-low density, 7% open space, 3.5% as commercial, and 10% as indus- trial. The industrial area has been sited along the railroad tracks a reasonable distance from the public wells. In an attempt to prevent the future contamination of groundwater reservoirs, North Kingstown has mapped overlay districts within the town where only designated types of land-use are allowed. Groundwater reservoirs 12 and recharge areas are identified. The Chipuxet Reservoir is just west of the University of Rhode Island. It is 15 miles square of which 46% is forest, 35% is agricultural land, 5% is residential and 2% is industrial. To the south, the Great Swamp receives the groundwater dis- charge from the aquifer and because the southern portion of the reservoir is a wet- land, the size of the aquifer fluctuates in response to the amount of recharge. The safe yield of potable water from the aquifer is 3 MGD and current withi- drawal is 1 MGD (.75 MCD from the URI water system and .25 MGD from the Kingstown Water District). The additional 2 MGD will be developed by the Wakefield Water 12 R.I. Statewide Planning Program Tech. Paper No. 98, Land Use and Groundwater Quality, South County, R.I., 1981 Company in the 180s. Because the majority of the water withdrawn from the aquifer leaves the recharge area as either sewage or public water supply, the water resources of the reservoir must be managed with extreme care. This is particularly true dur- ing drought conditions when over-pumping the aquifer could significantly impact the water levels of an extensive wetlands area which includes the northern part of the Great Swamp. With the exception of a few areas, the drinking water withdrawn from the Chipuxet Aquifer is acceptable. The West Kingstown landfill contaminates 1,200 linear feet of the aquifer from the site west to Hundred Acre Pond. The high con- centrations of manganese is the most detrimental to the groundwater quality. A study estimated that the landfill leachate took V2 years to travel from the site to the pond (1,200 feet). Agricultural use of fertilizers and pesticides in areas of the reservoir where the groundwater table is high have been coupled to high calcium and sulfate concentrations. The large turf farms in the area are Kingston Turf Farm, Washington County Turf Farm, Turf, Inc., and Tuckahoe Turf Farm, which repre- sent more than 925 acres of land. Other areas of concern are the septic systems from residential, commercial, and industrial development in the village of West Kingstown. The 208 Program identified the area as a priority for sewers because of the impacts development could have on the underlying aquifer, However, 12 the impacts of additional sewerson the ground- water yields should be assessed. The Mink Aquifer has been developed by the Wakefield Water Company to serve as the public water supply for Wakefield and Narragansett. The company withdraws 2 MCD from three pumping centers. Wakefield Water Company has the capacity to pump 5.8 MGD but the Rhode Island Water Resources Board estimates a safe yield of 2.6 MGD. The aquifer has a limited natural recharge because induced infiltration from Mink Brook, Tucker Pond and Worden Pond is limited which leaves precipitation as the 12. R.I. Statewide Planning Program, Technical Paper No. 98 188 major source of recharge. Thus, groundwater withdrawals must be closely monitored so that the aquifer is not over-pumped. The potential sources for groundwater con- tamination are limited to the use of fertilizers and pesticides on potatoe fields overlying the reservoir. Twenty-three percent of the area is agricultural land, 64% is woodland or conservation areas, and 2% is in residential use. The tests of the groundwater show slight elevated levels of calcium, chloride, sulfates, and disolved solids. The Rhode Island Water Resources.Board suggests that the degradation of water qualty may be related to agricultural particles in the recharge area. The recharge is presently zoned medium-low (97%) and medium density (3% residential). Within the year, the town plans to re-zone the area to protect the groundwater reservoir. The Usquepaug-Queen groundwater aquifer covers 36 square miles with an esti- mated yield of 5.12 MGD. Current withdrawals are from two well centers operated by the Ladd School. Only the southern part of the reservoir lies within South Kingstown. In general, the water quality of the aquifer is excellent. The only source of pollution is wastewater from the Ladd School which enters the Queen River about a half mile from the northern well center. Whether river water could infiltrate the north well center is not known. Two large potatoe farms are located within the recharge area, the Gerard Albert Farm (468 acres in Exeter) and the Vernal Tibbits Farm (106 acres in West Kingstown). It is not known whether pesticides and fertilizers are contaminating the groundwater of the aquifer. 13. R. 1. Statewide Planning Program, Tech. Paqper No. 98. 14- IBID. 18,9 water Supply Systems in the West Bay Region Jamestown Jamestown supplies water to 850 year-round and 150 seasonal services from 2 surface reservoirs, Carr Pond (52 MG storage capacity) and the much smaller Watson Pond (8 MG storage capacity). Only the village and southern portion of the town have water service. The pumping capacity of the system is presently limited to .4MGD. The average daily demand is .25MGD with a peak demand of .34 MGD. The comprehensive plan for Jamestown has projected a water supply shortage by the early 1990's. the plan projects an average daily demand of .4 MGD by 1995 which is over the safe substainable yield of .37 MGD for the water supply system. The plan proposes recommendations which would alleviate future water shortages in the town. The first recommendation was to expand the storage capacity of the reservoir by dredging or increasing the size of the ponds and replacing deteriorated pipeline between the two reservoirs. The second recommendation was to protect the 800 acre watershed from pollutants and from any action that would inhibit the collection of potable water in any way. The third recommendation was to provide the option to import water from South County via the Jamestown Bridge. The final recommendation was for the town to develop a dual approach coupling growth management of the water system to a water conservation program that would reduce demand by 10/. and extend the life of the system to the year 2000. The town administrator and the town engineer agree that there is a water shortage problem in Jamestown. The town council has appropriated money for a water supply study which will begin within the year. The study will assess the present capacity of the reservoirts, possible methods to expand the system, and improve water quality, will be explored. The rate structure presented in Figure IV-6 has not been published since 1973. 190 Figure IV-6 West Bay Region Water Rates 180 --180 - -160 160 --140 140 lu --120 '00 120 --100 ra 100 r- 80 U- 80 CD L;, 60 60 40 40 20 20 E J K N NK W SK E J K N NK W SK E J K N NK W SK 50,000 gallons of water per year 75,000 gallons per year Consumption (in gallons) at Minimum Price Level WATER USE E - East Greenwich J - Jamestown K - Kingston Fire District N - Narragnsett NK- North Kingstown W - Wakefield Water Company SK- South Kingstown Presently, the town has no plans for restructuring the water rates to provide incentive for water conservation. This sentiment stems from the recent increase in sewer use charges which average $150 per year and are assessed by a household's water consumption which is an incentive to save water in itself. South Kingstown The Town of South Kingstown is supplied water by the South Kingstown Municipal Water Department, the Wakefield Water Company, the Kingston Fire District, the Indian Lake Shore Fire District, and the University of Rhode Island. The combined capacity of the systems is 9 MGD with a peak demand of 5.2 MGD (TableIV-12)- The South Kingstown Municipal System has a capacity of I MGD from one main well and a back up well located near Factory Pond. The system supplies 1,800 services in Snug Harbor, Green Hill, and Matunuck areas of South Kingstown and the Jerusalem section of Narragansett. In addition, the town buys water from the Wakefield Water Company to supply 150 homes in the Middlebridge area. The system can supply ample water to its customers most of the year, however, during the peak demand periods of July and August the system is very near its capacity. These periods of shortages will increase in the coming years as 50 new services per year are added to the system from buildable land along the existing pipelines. There is presently a moratorium on further extensions of the water mains with the system. The town engineer has proposed a plan to expand the system connecting the southshore system with the Wakefield Water Company. The connection would originate from the water main at the eastern end of Tuckertown Road and follow the Old Post Road to a connection near the East Matunuck Water Tower. In addition to providing for the expected 50% increase in customers over the next five to ten years, the town sees the Wakefield Water connection alleviating any interruption in the water supply to the Snug Harbor area resulting from the hurricane damage to the pipeline buried under East Matunuck's barrier beach. The town engineer considers the connection to be the least expensive water supply alternative to the south shore system. 192 The Wakefield Water Company supplies water to 2,182 services in South Kingstown and 2,013 more in Narragansett. The Middlebridge section of South Kingstown and Pt. Judith section of Narragansett are also supplied by the Wakefield Water Company. Present capacity of the Howland and Tuckertown well fields is 5.7 MGD. The Company also owns the May Farm property along Plains Road which could supply an additional 3 MGD. The Company believes that by 1986 one of three planned wells of the Plains Road Center will be developed. the need for this additional supply is necessitated by the planned connections of the South Shore system, Indian Lake Shores connection and a contract agreement with the Town of Narragansett to supply the Pt. Judith area a maximum of 2.3 MGD of which the Town now only uses .6 MGD. Additional growth of the water system will occur along the planned water main between the west end of Tuckertown Road and Plains Road well field. The Company expects the number of services in the Wakefield-Narragansett area to increase by 2-3% (50 services) each year for the next five years. Water usage in the system was 731,886 MG of which 227,746 MG (31%) was distributed to the Pt. Judith System and 3,715 MG (1%) was distributed to the Middlebridge System. The remaining 500,425 MG (68%) was supplied to the Wakefield- Narragansett Pier region. Kingston Fire District supplies the village of Kingston and East Farm of U.R.I. The 500 services consumed 95 MG in 1980, one third of that was used by the URI East Farm. Less than 10% of the service was used under 4,000 cubic feet per year and 20 to 25% use over 10,000 cubic feet per year. The well is located on Plains Road in West Kingston and can supply 211 MG per year or more than double the present demand. The growth in number of services was 7% in 1978 and has since decreased to 2-3% range. U.R.I. supplies 5,000 residents on campus and a maximum of 12,000 people per day. The average use is .6 MGD with maximum capacity of .7 MGD which is supplied from 3 wells near Thirty Acre Pond. The University and the Kingston Fire District 193 are connected to provide each other with emergency services when needed. A small system services 52 houses in the Indian Lake Shores area which is supplied by one drilled well and a spring located on the southern end of the lake. The water district has received a grant and match loan from the Farmers Home Administration to connect to the Wakefield Water system via a main following Route 1. Construction will be completed before the summer of '82. East Greenwich Seventy-two percent of the homes in East Greenwich are supplied by the Kent County Water District (KCWD). The KCWD supplies an average of 1.8 MGD to 2,698 residential and 207 commercial services. The peak demand for the system is 4.2 MGD. Growth in the number of services during the last four years has been 133 or 5%. The major growth in the system will occur along Rt. 2 in the industrial and commercial area. There are no plans to provide water to the western part of the town. The Kent Country Water District owns three well centers in the Hunt River Groundwater aquifer and three in the Mishnock aquifer with a pumping capacity of 10,8 MGD. The average daily use is 9.8 MGD. The Kent County Water District estimates its maximum sustainable yield to be 14.8 MGD. Narragansett The Town of Narragansett depends on the Wakefield Water Company, the Town of North Kingstown and the Town of South Kingstown for its water supply needs because there are no resources in the town large enough to supply a public system. The Wakefield Water Company supplies water to Narragansett Pier, Scarborough, and Bonnet Shores (Figure IV-3 The 2,013 services in the area use an average of 3 MCD of water. Of these customers, 803 are seasonal residents. The Narragansett Water Department is divided into two systems, the Pt. Judith System, sup plied by the Wakefield Water Company, and the North End, supplied by 194 the Town of North Kingstown. The Water Department also purchases a small amount of water from South Kingstown for the 150 customers in Jerusalem. The Pt. Judith System supplies 2,222 services who consume an average of .6 MGD. Approximately 46% of the customers in the Pt. Judith System are seasonal homes. Seasonal Services were defined as those customers who use less than 4,000 cubic feet per year. The North End system supplies an average of .25 MGD of water to 1,053 customers, 180 of which are seasonal users. Seventy-three percent of the customers in the entire system use under 8,000 cubic feet per year, and pay $85 per year, the minimum charge. In contrast to Narragansett's water rates, Kent County Water District pays $36 for 8,000 cubic feet and North Kingstown pays $49 for the same amount. The highwater rates of Narragansett as well as South Kingstown are related in part to the high percentage of seasonal users and the low density of housing in the service areas. Thus, 39% at the Water Supply System in Narragansett and 20% of the Wakefield Water Company are only used 3 months of the year. However, 100 percent of the system must be operated on a year-round basis. Because the minimum charge is payed by 73% of the services in Narragansett, there is no price incentive in the system to conserve water. In addition, the town's sewer user fees do not promote water conservation but are a flat rate of $112 per housing unit. The town presently has no plans to include water conserving incentives into the rate structure. In summary, the 5,270 water services in the town use 3.0 MGD of water on a day of peak usage. Average use per day is 1.1 MGD. The town will continue to expand water service through the 19801s. North Kingstown The Town of North Kingstown supplies water to 90% of the population from 4 well fields in three groundwater aquifers which are shown in Figure IV-3. The Water Resources Board estimates that the maximum sustainable yield of the 195 Annaquatucket,Pettaquamscutt reservoirs is 5.3 MGD. This capacity in addition to i MGD that the Hunt River aquifer will give the town a total sustainable water supply of 6.3 MGD. Of the total sustainable water supply, only 3.0 MGD is capable of being continuously pumped, I MGD from the Hunt River reservoir wells and 2 MGD from the Annaquatucket-Pettaquamscutt reservoir wells. The sixty three hundred customers can demand up to 4.2 MGD during a hot summer day which is a consumption rate that the pumping and distribution system of the town cannot sustain for more than a few hours. To alleviate this problem, the community has passed a bond referendum for 2.3 million dollars of which $2 million will be spent for 2 or 3 new wells, 2 more storage tanks, and additional water mains. The town is presently studying the alternative for siting new wells. One alternative is the purchase of two or three Kent County Water District wells just north of the Hunt River in East Greenwich. Other wells might be drilled in the Annaquatucket-Pettaquamscut aquifers. The major reason for purchasing the KCWD wells as opposed to drilling new ones is the high cost of land acquisition required for the wells. However the town decides to solve its water supply problems it believes an additional 2 MGD of water will be neded during the next 15 to 20 years for a total capacity of 5 to 5.5 MGD. The present maximum sustainable yeild of 6.3 MGD for the groundwater reservoirs of North Kingstown could safely supply 11,800 services at an average monthly consumption rate of 535 gallons per day per service, a level only reached during the high use months of June, July and August. The purchase of the KCWD wells would supply an additional 3,700 to 5,600 customers with water. Although North Kingstown has the water resources to supply 15,000 homes it barely has the facilities to service its present customers. 196 Sensitive Areas in the West Bay Region East Greenwich: Hunt River Groundwater aquifer Managed Areas - Davis Memorial Wildlife Refuge (Audubon) Jamestown: Mackeral Cove Beach Sheffield Cove Sheffield Cover Salt Marshes Managed Areas - Beavertail State Park (D.E.M.) Foxhill Pond Saltmarsh (Audubon) Marsh Meadows Wildlife Preserve (Audubon) Racquet Road Thicket (Audubon) The Dumplings (Audubon) Fort Wether@@111 State Park (D.E.M.) Narragansett: Ram Island Pettaquamscutt River estuary Wesquage Pond East Matunuck Barrier Beach Sand Hill Cove Barrier Beach Pt. Judith Coastal Pond Escape Road Marshes Bonnet Point Cliffs and Rock Outcrops Foddering Farm Road Salt Marshes Managed ArEal a ilee Bird Sanctuary (D.E.M.) East Matunuck State Beach (D.E.M.) Fisherman's Memorial State Park (D.E.M.) 197 Narragansett (cont.): Managed Areas (cont.) Scarborough State Beach (D.E.M.) The Shadblow Preserve (Audubon) Canochet Farm (Town of Narragansett) Pettaquamscutt River Wildlife Habitat (Audubon) Wesquage Pond (Audubon) North Kingstown: Chipuxet River Groundwater aquifer Hunt River Groundwater aquifer Pettaquamscutt-Annaquatucket Groundwater aquifer Pettaquamscutt River Watershed Mill Creek Mill Cove Fishing Cove Duck Cove Bissel Cove Potowomut River estuary Carr Pond Rabbit and Cornelius Islands Managed Areas - Davis Memorial Wildlife Refuge (Audubon) Cocumcussoc State Park (D.E,M.) Central Park (Town of North Kingstown) Camp Nokema (Girl Scouts of R.I.) Saunderstown Military Reservation (U.R.I.) South Kingstown: Chipuxet River Groundwater aquifer Usquepaug-Queen Groundwater aquifer Mink Brook Groundwater aquifer South Shore Groundwater aquifer 198 South Kingstown (cont.): Coastal Ponds and Barrier Beaches Kettle Hole Pond Systems Pitch Pine Barriers Pettaquamscutt River estuary Indian Lake Worden's Pond Mixed Oak Mesophytic - Holly Plant Community Worden Pond Bog Managed Areas - East Farm (U.R.I.) Hazard Tract (U.R.I.) Indian Run Woods (Audubon) St. Dominic Savio (Greater Providence Y.M.C.A.) The Shadblow Preserve (Audubon) Camp Fuller (Greater Providence Y.W.C.A.) Matunuck Hill Woods (Audubon) Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service) Tuckertown Woods (Audubon) Aquapaug Scout Reservation (R.I. Boy Scouts) Great Swamp Management Area (D.E.M.) Camp Hoffman (Girl Scouts of R.I.) Great Swamp Addition (D.E.M.) South Kingstown Town Land South Kingstown Town Land Peckham Farm (U.R.I.) Un-named University of R.I. property Hoffman-By-The-Sea (Girl Scouts of R.I.) Eldred Wildlife Refuge (Audubon) Sherman Farm (U.R.I.) Eppley Wildlife Refuge (Audubon) 199 REFERENCES 1. Albert, Philip. Water Resources Division, Department of Environmental Manage- ment, State of Rhode Island. Interview. 2. Allaire, George R. Public Works Director, Narragansett, Rhode Island. Interview. 3. Allen, William B. Unpublished Water Resources Board Data, State of Rhode Island. 4, Bampton, Norman, Town Engineer, South Kingstown, Rhode Island. Interview * 5. Coastal Community Land Use Review. Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program, September, 1980. 6. Collins, C. A Plan to Check Residential Sprawl in the South Shore District, Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island, 1981. 7. Community Guide Plan at Jamestown, Rhode Island, 1979. 8. Cook, John K. Public Works Director, East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Interview. 9. Deason, Ellen. Nonpoint Pollution of Salt Pond Waters and Adjacent Groundwater, Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island, 1981. 10. Deason, Ellen. Sewers: Solution or Problem. Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island. 11. East Greenwhich, Rhode Island, Statewide Preservation Report, K-EG-1. Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission, 1974. 12. Everett Association. East Greenwich Hill and Harbor Plan, July, 1981. 13. Fisher, Curtis H. Public Works Director, North Kingstown. 14. Guthrie, R.C. and J. A. Stolgitis. Fisheries Investigations and Management in. Rhode Island Lakes and Ponds, Rhode Island Divison of Fish and Wildlife, Fisheries Report No. 3, 1974. 15. Implications of a Nuclear Facility in South County, Rhode Island, Regional Coastal Energy Impact Program, Wakefield, Rhode Island, Volumes I-IV. June, 1980. 16. Karlsson, J.D. A public use survey of Bissel Cove, North Kingstown, Rhode Island, June to November, 1969. Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife Department of Natural Resources. 17. Keyes, F.G. Associates, Engineering Study and Report on Additions to the Waste- water Collection, Treatment and Disposal Systems, East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Providence, 1976. 18. Krause, A.E., G. 0. Peters, Jr., and D. J. Sebian. Wastewater Facilities Plan- ning for Rural Lake Communities. Presented at Michigan Environmental Health Association's 35th Annual Conference on Environmental Health, March 28, 1979, Kalamazoo, Michigan. 19. Land Use and Groundwater Quality, South County, Rhode Island. Technical Paper Number 98. Rhode Island Statewide Planing Program., September, 1981. 20. Land, S.M. Appraisal of the Groundwater Reservoir Areas of Rhode Island, Rhode Island Geological Bulletin, No. 11, U.S.G.S., 1961. 21. Lee, V. An Elusive Compromise: Rhode Island Coastal Ponds and Their People. Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island, 1980. 200 REFERENCES (continued) 22. Lee Pare & Associates, Inc. Improvement.of Water Quality in Roger Williams Park. April, 1980. 23. Lee Pare & Associates, Inc. Water Supply Development, North Kingstown, Rhode Island, March, 1980. 24. C. E. Maguire, Inc. Quonset 112011, FAcilities Plan for Wastewater Collection and Treatment, North Kingstown, Rhode Island, October, 1976. 25. Roy Mann Associates, Inc. A Plan for the Narrow River Watershed. Cambridge, Massachusetts, June, 1976. 26. Metcalf & Eddy, Inc. Draft 1120111 Facilities Plan for Wastewater Management, Portsmouth, Rhode Island, December, 1979. 27. Narragansett Bay Basin Water Quality Management Plan, Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program, Report #26D. t977. 28. Narrow River Preservation Association, Annual Report, 1980, 1981. 29. Nixon, S.W., et al. Ecology of Small Boat Marinas, Marine Technical Report No. 5, University of Rhode Island, 1973. 30. Olsen, S, D. D. Robadue, Jr., and V. Lee. An Interpretive Atlas of Narragansett Bay. University of Rhode Island Marine Bulletin No. 40., 1980. 31. Olsen, Stephen and Virginia Lee. A Summary and Preliminary Evaluation of Data Pertaining to the Water Quality of Upper Narragansett Bay. Coastal Resources Cent,er University of Rhode Island, 1977. 32. Oviatt,, C.A., S. W. Nixon, E. Evans, and B. Wicklow. Environmental Assessment of a Plan for Improved Boating and Boating Facilites at Brush Neck Cove Greenwich Bay, Rhode Island. Report to Gordon R. Archibald, Providence: Rhode Island, 1975. 33. Pawcatuck River and Narragansett Bay Drainage Basins Water and Related Land Resources Study: Big River Reservoir Project. Department of the Army, New England Division, Corp of Engineers, July, 1980. 34. Pawcatuck River and Narragansett Bay Drainage Basins, Water and Related Land Resources Study: Water Supply Study. Technical Appendix and Water Supply Systems Data. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Waltham, Massachusetts, December, 1975. 35. Pratt, S.D. and G. L. Seavey. The Environment of Apponaug Inner Cove and the Impact of Development'on the Cove. Coastal Resources Center, Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island 1981. 36. Preliminary evaluation of Pollution Potential from Landf'ills. Areawide Water Quality Management Plan, Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program, 1978. 37. Recommendations to the Narrow River Watershed Council from the Narrow River Preservation Association, December, 1981. 38. Rhode Island Dredging Needs Survey, Coastal Resources Center-, University of Rhode Island, 1980-1985. January, 1981. 39. Robadue, D.D., Jr. and V. Lee. Upper Narragansett Bay: An Urban Estuary in Transition. Coastal. Resources Center, University of Rhode Island Marine Technical Report, 1979. 201 REFERENCES (continued) 40. Rosenshein, J. S., J. B. Gonthier, W. B. Allen. Hydrologic Characteristics and Substained Yield of Principal Groundwater Units. Potowomut-Wickford Area, Rhode Island. U.S. Geological Survey Water-supply Paper, 1975. 41. Seavey, C.L.Rhode Island Coastal Natural Areas: Priorities for Protection and Managment. Marine Technical Report 43 Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island. 42. Sieburth, J.M. Water Quality of the Narrow River 1959-79. Annual Report of Narrow River Presevation Association. 43. Soil Survey of Rhode Island, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. 44. Sutton, Robert W., Jr. Town Administrator, JaMESTOWN, Rhode Island. Interview. 45. '1208" Water Quality Management Plan for Rhode Island, March, 1979. Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program. 46. Water Pollution Control 1120111 Facilities Plan and Bond/SCI Consulting Engineers, Easthampton, Massachusetts. 47. Water Resources Development in Rhode Island, 1979. New England Divison, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 48. WestKingstown Landfill, South Kingstown, Rhode Island. W.E. Kelly, 1975. Rhode Island Water Resources Board Water Information Series Report 1. 49. Detailed Analysis of Landfill Impact on Water Quality, Roy F. Weston, Inc. 1978. 202 I I I I I I I I I Chapter Five I OCS Regional Issues I Energy Resources I I I I I I I 1 203 Preface As part of the larger coastal Energy Impact Project which has reviewed impacts related to outer continental shelf development, the Regional Energy Project (REP) has examined problems associated with the rising cost of energy at the community level. The project has concentrated most of its efforts in the Town of South Kingstown which sponsored the grant and which represents, in many ways, a "norm" for the larger study region. The Regional Energy Project has focused on three goals: 1) to collect and assess energy price and use information, 2) to suggest possible actions by the towns to initiate community-wide and in-house energy conservation policies, and 3) to work with the towns on specific energy related projects. The Regional Energy Project has prepared this report with the assistance of the Coalition of Coastal Communities and the Town of South Kingstown. Director, Cynthia Collins and staff, Connie Grove, are responsible for the one year research and writing effort result- ing in this report. Special thanks are due to Anna Prager, South Kingstown Town Planner, and many other own personnel who provided their lime and made information readily available to the project. Finally, the project benefited from the assistance of the Coastal Resource Center and, in particular, owes many thanks to Dr. Clement Griscolm and Donald Robadue, Jr., for their guidance and help. 204 Initiatives For Community Energy Planning INTRODUCTION As part of a larger Coastal.Energy impact Project, which is reviewing impacts related to Outer Continental Shelf Development, the Regional Energy Project is examining problems associated with the rising costs of energy at the community level. To varying degrees all the towns in the study region have experienced growth management problems in the past decade. No town has been immune from the costs associated with the rapid influx of population in the coastal region. Some of these costs are impossible to quantify precisely such as losses in land and water resources and diminution of the region's unique coastal amenities. Other costs, associated with the operation of town services and facilities, are more readily understood. Recent re-evaluations in the region serve to underscore the public's outcry at rising property taxes. One often neglected but ever growing pressure on Rhode Island communities is the skyrocketing cost of energy. Over the last decade the cost of all traditional forms of fuel have risen dramatically and unpredictably. Where there was once confusion and skepticism about the true magnitude of the "energy crisis" there is now overriding certainity and concern about unalleviated energy costs. Energy and its expense affect every aspect of community life. In many respects town government is the only available instrument for initiating community- wide energy policies. In past years federal grants and state assistance were available to promote energy planning at the state and community level. Planning models, energy data, and pilot projects were developed and serve as examples of community involvement. However, the withdrawal of federal assistance has left communities with the task of grappling with their own energy problems, a task made all the more difficult by long years of reliance on cheap and reliable forms of fuel. 2105 There are dual objectives to community energy management: 1) to save energy and money in-house and 2) to initiate community energy savings by educating the public and regulating land development to promote conservation. On the face of it towns do not directly spend a large portion of their budget on energy costs. Although energy represents less than 5% of a town's budget this still represents a substantial sum, approximately $400,000 in South Kingstown in 1980, for example. In a more important sense towns make decisions every day which effect energy use in the community. Development and land use patterns, building regulati ons and tax policies are major factors deciding energy patterns in the town. Promoting conservation in the community provides measurable economic benefit to the region. Every dollar not spent on imported fuels is a dollar available for better use within the community. THE CEIP STUDY - Outline of Project The Regional Energy Project has focused on three goals: 1) to collect and assess energy price and use information, 2) to suggest possible actions by the towns to initiate community-wide and in-house energy conservation policies, and 3) to work with the towns on specific energy related projects. As a practicalnecessity the project has concentrated most of its efforts in the town of South Kingstown which sponsored the grant and which represents in many ways a "norm" for the study region. 1. Energy Information - Statewide Energy Patterns Since community specific information on energy patterns was not available in many instances, a statewide perspective serves as introductory energy data for the report. This information is a useful tool for communities and individuals who are interested in determining energy goals and priorities. 1980 census information on fuel equipment use and cost and regional commuting patterns should become available in 1983 and serve as additional references. 206 The project collected and analyzed use and price data over a 10 year period on fuel oil, electricity, natural gas, gasoline and coal and reviewed the recent development of solar energy, hydropower, wind-power and solid waste systems. Although the commercial and industrial sectors are discussed briefly, the report emphasizes residential energy use and costs. 2. South Kingstown - Energy Profile As a starting point for a town energy profile, REP collected community specific information on fuel usage and cost in South Kingstown. The project also examined town accounts and energy audit material which address in-house energy consumption and expenditures. The town profile serves as a general guide for prioritizing energy policy and projects in the community. As more detailed information becomes available through the 1980 census it may be possible for the town to set specific conservation goals and institute projects with measurable results. At this juncture it is important to define and understand the nature of the problem and set governmental sites accordingly. 3. Town_Energy Initiatives Lack of a cohesive energy policy at any level of government has left a vacumn where energy information and direction could have been most helpful to the individual consumer. It is now the common experience of those involved with energy planning to encounter public confusion, frustration and apathy about an energy situation which appears out of the individual's control. In fact, just as the individual consumer bears many of the costs of rising energy prices it is the cumulative decisions and activities of these individuals which determine community and ultimately national energy usage. The possibilities for workable energy initiatives at the community level are too often thwarted by limitations inhibiting energy planning. The withdrawal of federal support from community energy planning and public malaise on energy issues ccontribute to a general lack of determination in an already difficult and confusing area. Past town practices, including land use development which were premised 207 upon presumptions of cheap energy, are now difficult to change or influence. Although literature abounds on costly, federally subsidized community energy programs, there are few examples of successful small scale local initiatives in energy management. There is aneed for positive community and individual energy saving activities. With the goal of raising energy awareness and embarking on a consumer energy- saving project, the Regional Energy Project assisted the South Kingstown Conservation Commission in organizing a Community Farmers I Market in South Kingstown. Rising costs of energy have effected the region not only in terms of heating and transportation costs but also inflated costs of such basic necessities as food which is almost entirely imported to the New England area. The farmers' market serves several community functions by providing less expensive home-grown produce to consumers, by encouraging local agricultural interests, and by providing a community forum for the exchange of information and ideas. The South Kingstown energy audit committee is in the process of reassessing its role and possibly broadening its perspective on town energy activites. To date the committee has concentrated most of its efforts on in-house audits and energy savings in town facilities. In light of lack of immediate funding opportunities REP has outlined small scale energy initiatives to engage the audit committee or other interested town boards in energy planning efforts. Areas discussed include land use review, transportation, street lighting and the promotion of r e5 idential energy audits. 208 STATEWIDE ENERGY PROFILE There has been a net decline in energy consumption in Rhode Island in the late 1970's. From 1976 to 1980 energy consumption dropped from approximately 163 trillion BTUs to 148 trillion BTUs, a decline of 9%. Substantial reductions in fuel oil and gasoline use were responsible for the overall decline. Consumption of other fuels increased during this period to varying degrees. Electricity consumption rose by only 4% while natural gas increased 33% (Tablev-1 Table v-i Total Statewide Energy Consumption 1976/1980 1976 1980 Fuel Type BTUs 10 12 % Total BTUs 10 12 % Total % Change 1976-1980 Fuel Oil 2 56. .35 44.62 .3o - 20.3% 4 1.73 .01 .81 .005 - 53 % #5 & #6 13.37 o8 9.66 .065 - 27.7% Total Fuel Oil 71.1 .44 55.09 .37 - 22 % Natural Gas 20.44 .13 27.2 .18 + 33 % Electricity 16.69 .10 17.44 .12 + 4 % Coal .05 -- .17 -- +240 % Wood 1.68 .01 2.38 o2 + 41 % Solar (34.5 x 106 Wind (8.23 x 105 Gasoline 53.28 .33 46.28 .31 - 13 % TOTAL 163.24 100 148.45 100 - 9% Sources: 1. R.I. Fuel Allocation Office, January 1982 2. GEO report June 1981. "Energy Consumption Figures for the State of R111 3. State Energy Data System: 1979 U.S. Dept. of Energy, DOE/EIA-0214 4. GEO report July 1981 "Coal Use in Rhode Island" (SEDS Report) 5. GEO report 1980 "RI Energy Picture" 209 There is a direct correlation between usage trends and price increases in the different fuel types. Fuel oil and gasoline prices have risen more steeply than other fuels in a continuation of price increases since the energy crisis in 1973. The price of residential fuel oil has risen more than 400% and gasoline prices have tripled (Table V-2 Table V-2 Table of Price Increases 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 % increase 73-80 Gal. #2 Fuel Oil .197 .388 .412 .429 .489 .501 .845 1.02 417 Gal. #4 Fuel Oil .21 .33 .3o .33 .35 .47 .79 276 Gal. #5 & #6 Fuel Oil .22 .30 .27 .32 .33 .38 .72 227 MCF Gas, Residential 2.3 2.47 2.99 3.26 4.10 4.05 3.5 5.3 130 Rate KWH Electricity 3.3 4.6 4.8 4.8 5.4 5.5 6.2 7.1 115 Residential Rate Ton Coal 39.7 43.1 46.5 59.0 71.5 83.9 89.9 94.9 139 Gal. Regular Gas .39 .50 .58 .6o .63 .64 .88 1.15 1.95 Sources: 1. RI Fuel Allocation Office 2. SEDS Report 1979 3. Providence Gas Co. 4. Peoples Coal Co., Cumberland, RI 5. RI Division of Taxation Fuel oil and gasoline still account for the lion@ share of the Rhode Island fuel mix. Together they represented 76% of the total use in 1976 and 68% in 1980. During this period, the figures indicate a switch from fuel oil use not only to natural gas but to wood and other alternate fuels as well. While energy usage has declined, the total amount spent on energy increased from approximately 720 million dollars in 1976 to 1.140 billion dollars in 1980, a 210 58% jump. Amounts spent on fuel oil and gasoline registered the greatest increases although these were the fuels most conserved. While equal amounts were once spent on fuel oil and electricity, fuel oil is now 34% of the energy budget and electricity has dropped to 24% (Table V-3 ). I Table V-3 Total Fuel Expenditures 1976 + 1980 1976 1980 Fuel Type $ 10' % Total $ 10 % Total % Change 1976-1980 Total Fuel Oil 203.1 28 363.31 32 + 78% Electricity 200.68 28 271.27 24 + 35% Natural Gas 62.27 9 83.52 7 + 34% Gasoline 255.6 35 425.5 37 + 66% TOTAL 721.65 100 1143.60 100 + 58% Gas expenditures were approximated by multiplying total gallons by price of reg. gas Sources: 1R.I. Fuel Allocation Office, January 1982 21GEO Report:1981 Energy Consumption Figures for The State of Rhode Island These figures can be better understood when broken down into residential, industrial and commercial sectors -- discussed later in the report. In Rhode Island the residential sector is by far the major energy consumer but has had a better record of conservation than the commerical and industrial sector. From 1976 to 1980 the residential sector dropped from 69% of total consumption to 65%. When gasoline is factored in, it dropped from 79% to 76% of total consumption. In 1980 Rhode Islanders paid approximately 900 million dollars on gasoline and other forms of residential energy as compared to approximately 225 million spent in the industrial and commercial sectors. 211 Residential Energy Consmption 1976-1980 In Rhode Island use of No. 2 fuel oil continues to dominate fuel consumption in the residential sector, however, natural gas, which is undergoing phased deregula- tion and has had a significant price advantage in the late 170s accounts for an in- creasing percentage of home energy use (See Table V-4). High natural gas prices in 1981 and 1982, and continued deregulation of prices, may cause a reduction of natur- al gas usage in the '80s. In the residential sector, use of No. 2 fuel oil has dropped significantly from 56 trillion BTUs in 1976 to 44.6 trillion in 1980, a reduction of more than 20%. During the same period, use of electricity rose very slightly from 6.2 trillion BTUs to 6.3 trillion. Consumption of natural gas increased 10% from 12.6 trillion BTUs to 13.9 trillion. Coal, on the other hand, is experiencing a modestcomeback as a resi- dential source of fuel. Although coal still accounts for a very small percentage of total residential fuel consumption (less than 1%), there are approximately 7,000 tons of coal in residential use today as compared to 2,000 tons in 1976. The coal currently used in Rhode Island is anthracite coal, sold either by the bag or by bulk tonnage. A 1981 G.E.O. publication, "Coal Use in Rhode Island," lists 12 bulk coal dealers in Rhode Island, nearby Massachusetts, and Connecticut, and 29 posible sup- pliers of bagged coal* The Governor's Energy Office estimated that as many as 2,129 households heated with coal in 1980 as compared to 431 households in 1978. Table V-4 Residential Energy Use 1976 1980 BTUs 10 12 % of Total BTUs 10 12 % of Total % Change No. 2 Fuel Oil* 56.00 75 44.62 69 -2o Electricity 6.21 8 6.32 10 + 1.7 Natural Gas 12.56 17 13.86 21 +10 Coal o5 17.00 +340 TOTAL 74.826 100 64.979 100 -t3 SOURCE: 1R.I. Fuel Allocation Office; 2 SEDS Report: 1979; 3G.E.O. Report: 1981, "Energy Consumption Figures for the State of Rhode Island." *Fuel oil is categorized by #2, #4, #5 and #6, and not by consuming sector. For the purposes of this report #2 fuel oil is designated as residential fuel and the heavi- er grades are designated as commercial and industrial. 212 Residential Sector Expenditures While net consumption of residential energy droped 13% from 1976-1980, energy expenditures increased in all fuel types. The total amount spent on all forms of energy in the residential sector increased 62%. Even with a 20% reduction in usage, 88% more was spent on #2 fuel oil in 1980 than in 1976. (Table V-5.) Table V-5 Residential Energy: Amount Spent 1976 and 1980 $ Spent 10 6 % Total $ Spent 10 6 % Total % Change No. 2 Fuel Oil 174.90 57 328.13 66.7 88 Electricity 87.93 29 113.78* 23 +29 Natural Gas 41.42 14 4M5* 10 +19 Coal .118 4 .66650 14 +463 TOTAL 304.368 100 491.825 99.84 62 SOURCES: 1R.I. Fuel Allocation Office; 2G.E.O. Report: 1981, "Energy Consumtpion Figures for the State of Rhode Island.113Peoples Coal Company, Cumberland, Rhode Island. *1979 figures There were approximately 298,000 year-round housing units in Rhode Island in 1980, according to 1980 census figures. Using these figures, over $1,650 per hous ing unit was spent, on the average, in Rhode Island, on heat, hot water, and elec- tricity in 1980. This figure is a conservative estimate because the total amount spent on fuel oil was calculated at $1.02 per gallon and the price was rising during the year to approximately $1.26 per gallon in 1981. Transportation Sector In 1980 use of gasoline outranked #2 fuel oil as the major source of Rhode Island residential energy, although consumption of both fuels was substantially reduced. Consumption of Gasoline and #2 Fuel Oil 1976 (BTUs 10 1980 (BTUs 10 % Change Gasoline 52.38 46.28 -13 No. 2 Fuel Oil 46.28 44.62 -20 SOURCES: IR.I. Div. of Taxation: R.I. Fuel Allocation Office 213 Gas consumption has bee'n dropping consistently since the mid-170s (See Figure V-1). During this same period car registrations in the state have increased by 12% from approximately 561,000 cars in 1973 to 628,000 in 1979. According to these figures, Rhode Islanders used approximately 760 gallons per car in 1973 and 628 gallons in 1979, a reduction of 17%. (See Figure V-2) Another indication of the conservation ethic is the rise in diesel fuel sales in the state (See FigureV-1). While gasoline declined 13%, use of diesel fuel rose 30% from approximately 20 million to 26 million gallons and has risen as a percentage of total motor fuel from only 5% to 7% During the period from 1973 to 1981 the price of gasoline quadrupled in Rhode Island; one gallon of regular gas costing 390 in 1973 cost aproximately $1.32 in 1981. (See Table V-6) Table V-6 Gasoline Average Cost Per Gallon Regular Premium No-Lead No-Lead Premium Diesel 1973 $ .39 $ .43 $ $ $ 1974 .5o .545 1975 .58 .63 1976 *102 *6467 611 1977 .6326 .6862 .625 1978 .6414 .7057 .6658 .7424 .642 1979 .88 .942 .921 .948 .861 1980 1.15 1.24 1.232 1.274 1.123 1981 1.329 1.399 1.374 1.44 1.321 SOURCE: AAA Fuel Guage Survey Prices have not risen consistently over this period but jumped suddenly in 1973 and again in 1978 as a result of worldwide and domestic oil policies (See FigureV-3). The rise in gasoline prices has thus presented the problem of sudden and dramatic increased cost at unexpected intervals. Given current uncertainties in oil supply, the eratic and unpredictable patterns of the '70s are likely to be repeated in the 80s. 214 FIGURE V-1 450. CONSUMPTION OF GASOLINE 425- 4GO. 3.75 - 350 325 300 275 250 225 20Q - 175 - 150 ' 125 - -100.1 75 - 50 - 25 - 0. 1@73 1974 1975 1976 1977 1@78 1�79 1980 DIESEL YEAR GASOLINE 215 F I GURE V-2 STATE GALLONS CONSUMED PER CAR PER YEAR 800 - 700 - 0 0 W 600 - z 0 u cn -4 500 - P-1 P4 0 400 0 300 200 100 1973 1974 1975 .1976 1977 1978 1979 YEAR FIGURE 3 Gasoline prices per gallon 120 110 100 90 80 70 - 60 - 50 . 110 - 30 - 20 - 10 - 0 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 YEAR There are no figures on the total amount spent on gasoline in Rhode Island. A conservative estimate can be arrived at by multiplying total gallons by the price for regular gasoline. According to this calculation, Rhode Islanders spent $425.5 million on gasoline in 1979 or over $1,200 per household. Commercial and Industrial Energy Consumption In the commercial and industrial sector, use of #5 and #6 fuel oils were the major sources of fuel in 1976 but comprise only 30% of the total fuel mix in 1980. Combined, natural gas and electricity provide over 60% of total fuel use as compared to only about 30% in the residential sector. Energy consumption trends in the commercial and industrial sectors resemble the trends in the residential sector. There has been a significant drop in the use of the heavier grades of fuel oil, an increase in the use of natural gas, and a very slight rise in the use of electricity. Mostly because of a 69% increase in the use of natural gas, total consumption rose by 2.6% in the commercial and industrial sec- tor from 1976 to 1980. Table V-7 Commercial and Industrial Consumption 1976 and 1980 1970 1980 % Change BTUs 10 % of Total BTUs 10 % of Total '70-'80 Fuel Oil No. 4 1.73 .808 Nos. 5 & 6 13.37 9.656 Total Fuel Oil 15.10 45 10.464 30 -30 Natural Gas Commercial 2.950 4.503 Industrial 4.928 8.840 Total Natural Gas 7.878 24 13.343 39 +69 Electricity 10.480 31 10.528 31 + .4 TOTAL 33.448 100 34.335 100 + 2.6 SOURCES: 1R.I. Fuel Allocation Office; 2SEDS 2eport: 1979; 3G.E.O. Report: 1981, "Energy Consumption Figures for the State of Rhode Island." 218 Although consumption of energy has increased less than 3% in the industrial and commercial sectors, the cost of this energy has risen 40%. Prices for industrial and commercial fuels have not risen as steeply as in the residential sector, however, where overall expenditures increased by 62%. Table V-8 Commercial and Industrial Expenditures 1976-1980 1976 6 1979 6 BTUs 10 % of Total BTUs 10 % of Total % Change Fuel Oil No. 4 3.7434 5.5902 No. 5 and 6 24.4556 29.5858 Total Fuel Oil 28.1990 17 35.1760 16 +25 Natural Gas Commercial 9.800 18.690 Industrial 11.050 15.580 Total Natural Gas 20.850 13 34.270 13 +64 Electricity 112.650 70 157.490 69 +40 TOTAL 161.699 too 226.936 100 +40 SOURCES: R.I. Fuel Allocation Office; S.E.D.S. Report: 1979; G.E.O. Report: 1981, "Energy Consumption Figures for the State of Rhode Island." Renewable Sources of Energy It is estimated that alternate sources of energy contributed approximately 4% to the energy supply in New England in the mid-1970s and can be expected to con- tribute as much as 25% by the year 2000. A recent report on Renewable Sources of_ Energy in Rho-de Isla'nd prepared for the Governor's Energy Office by Dr. Clement Griscom, described the 1980 level of development of alternate energy systems and feasible goals for 1985. The goals for substituted energy in Rhode Island for 1985 include the use of solid waste, wood, hydro-electric and solar (active and passive) and wind power for a total of 6.55 trillion BTUs of energy. 219 Table V-9 Rhode Island's 1985 Goals for Substituted Energy Energy Source BTUs 10 12 Characteristic Measurement Solid Waste 4.81 728,000 tons/year. Wood .87 61,000 cords/year. Hydro-electric .23 6.3 MW capacity. Solar (active & passive) .58 17,500 active intall. & 20% passive in 17,500 homes. Wind o6 1.9 MW capacity. 6.55 SOURCE: Renewable Sources of Energy in Rhode Island, 7/1/81, Clement Griscolm. Dr. Griscolm estimates that fulfilling these goals would result in achieving only a 3.8% substitution of our total energy consumption by 1985, a conservative goal in light of the existing 4% use of alternate fuels in New England. Dr. Griscolm's re- port, as well as recent publications by the Governor's Energy Office, provide a current picture of the status of alternate fuels in Rhode Island. Although Rhode Islanders have a good record of conservation, current utilization of many alternate sources of fuel has, so far, been disappointing. Solar The Governor's Energy Office estimates that as of mid-June, 1981, there was ap- proximately 1,919 solar hot water heaters and 230 solar heated homes in Rhode Island. Table V-10 Installed Solar Hot Water BTUs Space Heating BTUs Pre-1980 607 148 1980 600 55 Jan.-June, 1981 712 27 TOTAL 1,919 23 Million 230 11.5 Million SOURCE: G.E.O. Report, June, 1981, "Energy Consuomption Figures for the State of Rhode Island." Using these figures, solar energy contributed approximately 34.5 million BTUs of Rhode Island's energy consumption in 1980. In order to reach the .58 trillion BTU 220 goal for 1985 more than 15,000 new systems would need to be installed. Additional efforts to promote solar energy are necessary in Rhode Island for the state to achieve its solar potential. Although a solar solution to the energy problem is universally appealing, the actual market for solar systems in the state is limited by many factors including income level, housing suitability, energy consciousness and confidence level of the buying public. The potential for passive solar systems which include new housing design, attached greenhouses, sunspaces, double-glazing and south facing windows is even more difficult to assess. According to Dr. Griscolm's report, an average of 1,200 BTUs per square foot is available from the sun in Rhode Island or 438,000 BTUs annually. At 25% effi- ciency, solar collector systems deliver approximately 111,000 BTUs per square foot to the household. Taking an overall average of 100 square feet per installation, Dr. Griscolm estimates that 17,500 solar panel installations (1 out of 20 housing units) are necessary by 1985 to meet the goal of .58 trillion BTUs. The goal could also be reached by passive techniques if all new housing accomplished a 20% reduc- tion in purchased energy for heating by 1985. Federal and State solar tax credits; the state sales tax rebate and town property tax breaks combine to make investment in solar systems an attractive al- ternate energy. Unfortunately, the relatively high up-front investment is a major impediment to many. According to Rhode Island sales tax rebate figures, the average rebate for solar installation in Rhode Island was approximately $186.90 in 1981. Since the rebate is 6% of the to,:al coast, the average solar unit cost over $3,000. The current money crunch is a major deterrent to solar investment. Solar energy is available in Rhode Island in ample quantities. There are ap- proximately 30 panel distributors who can offer 20 types of commercial panels. A do-it-yourself solar workshop with a $1,000 solar kit is regularly offered at URI. Literature abounds on passive and active solar systems. Public awareness and con- 221 fidence grow slowly as more installations prove themselves. However, there is a need to distribute information and results from either a governmental or utility source and provide uniform and easily understood guarantees. As the cost of tradi- tional fuels continues to increase, solar technology will be called upon as one path to energy self-sufficiency. Wood The use of wood as a residential source of heat has nearly doubled in the last five years. An estimated 131,000 cords of wood were burned in 1980-81 as compared to 84,000 in 1976-77 (See TableV11). Rhode Islanders used 2.38 trillion BTUs from wood in 1980 compared to over 44 trillion BTUs of energy derived from No. 2 fuel oil. Each cord of wood burned displaced over a barrel of oil, saving the state a total of 172,920 barrels of oil in 1981. An estimated 23% of urban Rhode Island households and 48% of rural households burned wood as a source of fuel in 1980. There is little or no management of wood as a fuel source and the depletion of Rhode Island's forested land as well as poten- tial pollution and safety problems raise questions about unlimited exploitation of wood as an energy source. Sixty percent or 360,000*of Rhode Island is hardwood forest of which 70% or 272,000 acresare estimated to be hardwood. Since each acre yields an approximate .6 cords of wood each year, only 216,000 cords of wood are currently produced an- nually in Rhode Island. According to the forest service, 80% of Rhode Island's forest needs thinning for the benefit of the forest. A 20% cut plus removal of dead or diseased trees would yield seven cords per acre. 1.7 million cords.could thus be harvested, or 170,000 cords per year for 10 years. The annual growth would provide an additional 180,000 cords per year. Based on these numbers Griscolm estimates, in his report, that Rhode Island's forests under statewide forest management are capa- ble of yielding 350,000 cords for 10 years, dropping to a 150,000-200,000 cord har- vest for future years. *acres 222 Table V-11 Wood Wood Equals No. of Barrels of Year Burned in R.I. Trillion BTUs Oil Displaced 1976-1977 84,000 1.68 ilo,880 1977-1978 98,000 1.96 129,360 1978-1979 108,000 2.16 x 10 12 142,560 1979-1980 119,000 2.38 x 10 12 157,080 1980-1981 131,000 2.62 x 10 12 172,920 Conversion factor: at 23% efficiency one cord of wood displaces 132 barrels of oil. 1 SOURCES: G.E.O. Report, June, 1981, "Energy Consumption Figures for the State of 2Rhode Island." G.E.O. Report, 1980, "R.I. Energy Picture Use of wood as an alternate fuel source already exceeds the 1985 goals set for Rhode Island. It is the only alternate fuel which substantially fulfills its estimated potential. However, there is little state or local wood resource management. Many areas experience winter shortages of seasoned wood, implying that the state is not utilizing its dead wood surplus, but rather, its productive forest. Wind I I According to figures from the Governor's Energy Office there were 19 wind gen- erators in operation as of June, 1981, with a total capacity of 241.1 KW. The wind turbines in Rhode Island range from a 200 watt windcharger in Westerly to a 20OKW generator on Block Island. The maliority of wind turbines (nine out of nineteen) are 1.5 KW. Assuming a 30% capacity factor for Rhode Island wind generators in 1980, there were 670,403 KWH/yr. produced. There are no immediate plans for commercial wind generation in Rhode Island. Good wind sites on the megawatt scale require large tracts of land. Smaller, modu- lar units such as the 200 KW site on Block Island may require as much as fifteen acres of land. A study of potential coastal wind sites is currently in progress under the Coastal Energy Impact Program and will result in a better overall assess- ment of wind potential in Rhode Island. There are approximately 670,000 KW of wind 223 power in use. In order to meet the 1985 goal of 1.9 MW capacity, it would appear that morecamnercial applications of wind power are necessary as well as additional residential applications. Hydro-electric According to a January, 1981, report from the Governor's Energy Office, there were 13 hydro-projects in some stage of planning and 2 operational hydro-power dams in Rhode Island: The Gainer Dam on the Pawtuxet and the Tupperware Dam on the Black- stone The Gainer Dam operated at 45% capacity in 1978 resulting in almost 6 million KWH but decreasing water flow has caused a drastic decline in production, only 423,000 KW in 1981, or 3% of capacity. Partial figures for the Tupperware Dam show it operated at 70% in 1981 for an estimated 10,700,000 KwH produced per year- Assum- ming good water flow, Rhode Island has the potential of approximately 17 million KW of hydro-power. Table V-12 Dam Installed Capacity Est. KWH Gaines 1,500 (at 50%) 6,570,000 Tupperware 1,740 (at 70%) 10,700,000 TOTAL 3,240 17,270,000 The New England River Basins Commission 1980 publication, "Potential for Hy- dropower Development at Existing Dams in New England," surveyed 11,000 existing dams in New England and 900 dams in Rhode Island. The inventory identifies sites whichshouldbe considered for hydropower including a ranking for economic feasibility. According to this ranking a "top ten" list of Rhode Island dams include s five pro- jects on the Pawtuxet River, two on the Blackstone, and three on the Pawcatuck. The total power generation of just these ten dams is an estimated 4.2 MW or 25.7 million kilowatt hours per year. 224 Table V-13 Top Ten Hydro Sites in Rhode island at 70% Capacity Factor As Based on Size, Benefit-Cost Ratio and Capital Recovery Energy Cost Theoretical Rating Dam Name No. Capacity River Basin Town County (KW) 1 Albion 60 732 Blackstone Lincoln Providence 2 Arctic 148 227 Pawtuxet W. Warwick Kent 3 Horseshoe Falls 249 205 Pawcatuck Richmond- Charlestown Washington 4 Alton 247 167 Pawcatuck Hopkinton- Richmond Washington 5 Phenix 156 162 Pawtuxet W. Warwick Kent 6 Woonsocket Falls 56 1,391 Blackstone Woonsocket Providence 7 Woodville 246 98 Pawcatuck Hopkinton- Richmond Washington 8 Natick 145 702 Pawtuxet Warwick Kent 9 Arkwright 158 262 Pawtuxet Coventry Kent 10 River Point Upper 147 285 Pawtuxet W. Warwick Kent In recent years there has been renewed interest in developing small hydro plants. Turbine technology is becoming more readily available for small hydro-ap- plications. Financing difficulties are offset by beneficial tax provisions and federal and state utility regulations have established permit and rate setting pro- cedures for small hydro plants. As the cost of energy continues to rise, use of small hydro sites becomes increasingly attractive for the private and public devel- oper. While the technology and economics of hydro projects are encouraging, there are some unresolved environmental constraints on hydro development. The hydro develop- ment position paper of the Governor's Energy Office in June of 1981 discourages hy- dro power on the Pawcatuck River insofar as it threatens adromous fish runs. The state Department of Environmental Management which administers a program to restore anadromous fish is also responsible for administering the wetlands permit necessary for hydro development. This licensing process has curtailed hydro development on the Pawcatuck River which is the major river basin on Washington County. 225 Solid Waste as an Energy Source At the present time, solid waste in Rhode Island is disposed of at landfills except in Pawtucket, which has an incinerator. According to the D.E.M.'s 1980 "Inventory of Solid Waste Management Practices in Rhode Island," the total waste collected in Rhode Island was 440,000 tons per year or 1,205 tons per day in 1978- 79. This total averages to about 212 lbs per person based on 1980 census figures. Waste is an important untapped energy resource in Rhode Island. According to figures used in Dr. Griscolm's study, the 1,200 to 1,400 tons of waste collectable each day has an energy content of 10.8 to 12.6 billion BTUs. Not only do we waste this potential resource but we pay to bury it at an average of approximately $18 per ton, according to the D.E.M. report. In 1974 the Rhode Island Solid Waste Management Corporation was created by the Rhode Island legislature to develop a statewide resource recovery program. The Solid Waste Management Corporation has pursued procurement of a 1,200-tons-per-day central facility. In 1979 questions about the validity of the central resource r,e-. covery facility led to a new round of planning which included consideration of other options. In 1979 the Solid Waste Management Corporation also purchased the Silvestri Landfill in Johnston which can meet Rhode Island's disposal needs into the mid-1990s. The "System Integration Planning Report" has presented several options for re- source recovery including a central facility at the Warwick Sewage Tratment Plant or Quonset Point and modular units at the Newport Navy Base, The University Of Rhode Island and North Central Industrial Park. Decisions which individual cities and towns make concerning waste disposal will affect the development of Rhode Island's resource recovery system, In addition, better technology is becoming available for small, modular units. As other energy costs increase, large industrial and commer- cial energy users may choose to supply themselves with energy from mini-solid waste facilities. It seems certain that the future of Rhode Island will include some sort of solid 226 I waste recovery facilities. At the moment, the type, size and location of these I facilities have not yet been determined. I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 1 227 1 SOUTH KINGSTOWN --TOWN-WIDE AND IN-HOUSE ENERGY PATTERNS PART I - Town-wide Energy Profile Introduction and Overview It is possible to estimate a breakdown of energy usage and costs in the town for 1980 by combining local and where necessary state data. Local information on fuel oil is not available but can be approximated by multiplying year-round housing units utilizing fuel oil by state consumption averages. South Kingstown electrical and natural gas consumption figures are available from the state Public Utilities Commission and gasoline consumption can be estimated by multiplying registered cars by average individual gasoline consumption (see TableV-14 Table V-14 1980 South Kingstown Residential Energy Usage and Cost Usage: Fuel Customers Traditional Trillion BTUs Unit Cost Total Co 5t Units #2 Fuel Oil 4733* 5,206,300 .7221 1.02/gal 5,310,426 (75% of yr. round housing) Electricity 7737 48,570,212 KwH .1657 .07 KwH 3,440,896 Natural Gas 268 190,307 MCF .196 5.39 MCF 1,025,755 (60% of total customers) Gasoline 13,458 8,468,580 1.0592 1.15 9,738,867 (1979 figure) 2.1430 $ 19,515,944 Approximately 1100 gallons of fuel oil is utilized per average housing unit according to the GEO Source: 1. 1980 Census 2. Narragansett Electric Co. 3. Providence Gas Co. 4. SEDS 1977 5. AAA Fuel Guage Surveys 6. RI Fuel Allocation Office 228 The total cost of energy in South Kingstown in 1980 was approximately 20 million dollars which is about 2% of the state total of approximately 916 million dollars. In several respects 1980 energy patterns and costs in South Kingstown are in line with its populations and housing units. With approximately 2% of the state's population and 2.2% of the state's housing units South Kingstown used approximately 2% of total state residential consumption in 1980 (see Table V-15). In some areas such as gasoline consumption, the town used more than its proportional share of fuel whereas in others such as natural gas the town used a comparatively small percentage of total state consumption. Table V-15 1980 Town Energy Consumption as Compared to State Fuel South Kingstown State South Kingstown as Trillion BTUs Trillion BTUs % of State Fuel Oil #2 .7221 44.620 1.8% Electricity .1657 6.324 2@6% Natural Gas .196 13.865 1.4% Gasoline 1.0592 44. 2.4% TOTAL 2.143 108.807 2.o% Sources: 1. RI Fuel Allocation Office 2. Narragansett Electric Co. 3. Providence Gas Co. 4. RI Division of Taxation and Registry of Motor Vehicles Dividing total residential energy costs which include gasoline expenditures by total number of housing units in South Kingstown it appears that the average South Kingstown household spent approximately $ 2500.00 on energy. When total expenditures are divided by year round town housing this figure is substantially 229 higher -- over $ 3,000.00 per housing unit. Trends in energy consumption since 1970 closely parallel state trends. There has been movement towards conservation in all the traditional fuels. Building permit information and other local observation indicate increasing popularity of wood and solar resources. These trends reveal that the town like the state responds to price increases but does not always sustain a consistent trend towards conser- vation. Although similar to the state in its energy usage South Kingstown has particu- lar energy problems. As a rural recreational area there is marked reliance on gasoline and transportation systems. As a growing community, town services and facilities are under increasing pressure at a time when residential sprawl is particularly costly. As South Kingstown's population grows, so does its use of all forms of energy. Many of the conservationist trends at the state level are not so evident in South Kingstown. In some respects the town is in an enviable position. As a growing community the town's land use measures can still shape a more efficient energy future. New construction lends itself more readily than older housing to alternate energy installations. Over half the town is forested and coastal winds may yet prove an attractive energy resource, In sum, there is considerable potential for energy self-reliance in the town. It is beyond the scope of this report to describe detailed energy patterns in all sectors. 1970 census information as well as data from federal, state, and local agencies have been analyzed to present a rough profile of energy usage trends in the town, primarily in the residential sector. 1980 census information dealing with energy usage will soon be available to help complete this picture. Population - Housing and Transportation Characteristics In the last decade South Kingstown has experienced a substantial increase in both population and housing units. While the state as a whole lost 3% of its 230 population from 1970-1980, South Kingstown grew by approximately 20% and is estimated to grow another 28% by the year 2000. Table V-16 South Kingstown Population % Change % Change 1960 1970 1980 70-80 2000 1980-2000 South Kingstown 11,950 16,916 20,414 20.7 26,200 28.3 State 859,500 949,723 947,154 - 3.o 1,005,600 6.2 South Kingstown .013 .017 .0215 as % of State Source 1. U.S. Census of Population 1960, 1970 2. U.S. Census of Population & Housing, 1980 Advanc'e Report, Feb. 1981 3. R.I. Population Projections by County, City & Town, Technical Paper No. 83 Statewide Planning April 1979. The increase in housing units has been even more substantial and indicates considerable immigration into the town. From 1970-1980 housing units increased approximately 35%. Seasonal housing has dropped to 22% of the total housing stock. Table V-17 South Kingstown Housing.. Total Units 1960 1970 1980 % Change 1970-1980 South Kingstown 5,124 6,020 8,138 35.2 State 286,757 317,689 372,672 17.3 South Kingstown 1.8 1.9 2.2 as % of state Housing - Seasonal Units 1970 % Total 1980 % Total South Kingstown 1,747 29 1,752 22 Source: 1. U.S. Census General Housing Characteristics 1960-1970 2. U.S. Census of Housing & Population 1980 Advance Report, Feb. 1981 231 Although 1980 home energy characteristics have not yet been released by the Census Bureau, general housing characteristics are known and serve as broad indications of town energy patterns. Housing in the town is overwhelmingly single family. 78% of the year-round homes are single family according to 1980 U.S. Census figures. From 1971 to 1980 99% of new starts were single family, with the addition of only 23 multi-family units. The 1980 census characterizes South Kingstown housing as rural with a median value of approximately $56,000. 70% of the housing is owner occupied and 30% renter occupied. In many of these categories South Kingstown resembles the South County region and the five towns in the larger CEIP study area. Transportation and commuting information is as yet unavailable from the 1980 census. 1170 census information based on a 11% worker sample describes character- istics of workers by residence and place of work for part of Washington County. Only 21% appear to be employed outside the county. However, these figures include a large armed forces population which has been transferred out of state. Subtract- ing this population results in over 55% of the Washington County population working outside the county. The majority of these work in the Providence area. Table V-18 Characteristics of Workers in Washington County Work In Work In Work In Residents in Kent Providence Washington Other Washington Co. County % County % County % Counties % SMSA 11143@@ 1,015 9.1 1,317 1.8 8,772 78.7 39 .4 SMSA without 1,015 19 1,317 24.7 2,960 55.5 39 .7 armed forces 5331 includes 5812 Armed Forces SOURCE: 1970 U.S. Census of Population: Journey to Work These rough estimates serve to confirm what is generally understood. Most South County workers including those in South Kingstown have a considerable commute to their place of work. 2321 Equipment and structural characteristics of South Kingstown housing stock are reported by the 1970 census. In 1970, 75% of South Kingstown's housing used fuel oil to heat while 9% used electricity and 11% used some kind of bottled, tank or LPGas. 42% used fuel oil to heat water while 37% used electricity and 14% used bottled, tank or LPGas. Not unexpectedly electricity provided most of the cooking fuel -65%, while bottled gas also accounted for 28%. There was no reported usage of coal or alternate energy sources other than wood which represented less than 1% of home heating. Table V-19 South Kingstown 1970 Residential Fuel Use utility Home Heating Water Heating Cooking Fuel Gas 208 5% 216 5.3% 241 6% Fuel Oil, Kerosene, 3,028 75% 1,693 42.0% 46 1% etc. Electricity 343 8.5% 1,472 37% 2,605 65% Bottled, Tank, 429 10.6% 581 14% 1,139 28% LPGas Coal -- -- -- Wood 23 .4% None 69 2% 4,031 Source: 1970 Census General Housing Characteristics Electricity: Trends in South Kingstown 1970-1980 Town electrical consumption is broken down into both a residential trend and a combined commercial and industrial trend. An examination of consumption in these two sectors reveals that the commercial and industrial sectors responded to 233 price increases in 1973 to a far greater degree than did the residential sector. From 1974 to the present both sectors have maintained a very slow rate of growth in consumption (see Figure V-4 ). According to 1970 and 1980 census population figures South Kingstown has consistently used slightly more than its statewide share of electricity. With approximately 1.8% of the state's population and 1.9% of the state's housing units in 11170, South Kingstown used 2% of the state's electricity in the residential sector. In 1980, with 2.1% of the state's population and 2.1% of the housing units, South Kingstown new represents 2.6% of the state's residential usage (see Table V-20) - The 163% increase in residential electric rates from 1970 to 1980 and a 28.4% increase in usage caused the average customer's yearly bill to increase from $ 131.97 in 1970 to approximately $ 445.71 in 1980 (see TableV-21). In spite of actual reductions in usage during the mid-seventies, electric bills have consistently climbed and show no sign of abating. Table V-20 South Kingstown Residential Electric Usage as Compared to State (in trillion BTUs) Rhode Island Statewide South Kingstown Year Residential Sales Residential Sales Residential Sales as % of State 1970 4.742 .098361 2.00 % 1971 5.143 .10894 2.10 % 1972 5.475 .11892 2.10% 1973 5.876 .12878 2.20% 1974 5.691 .12972 2.20% 1975 5.747 .13452 2.30% 1976 6.214 .15489 2.40% 1977 6.061 .15100 2.49% 1978 6.210 .15403 2.48% 1979 6.249 .15858 2.50% 1980 6.324 .16572 2.60% Source 2Narragansett Electric Co. 3SEDS Report 1979 Governor's Energy Office Report 1981 234 FIGURE V-4 SMITH KINCSTOWN LHiCTRICITY CONSUMPTION (THILMON COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTtAl. .25 Ap- 20 11174 1175 JT6 19 1971 1972 uh -.I D77 147ti 19,79 1980 YEAR Table V-21 South Kingstown Residential Sales KWH Price Year KWH Sold/Monthly Cust. x That Year $ Spent Per Customer 1970 4887.75 .027 131.97 1971 5333.74 .028 149.34 1972 1119*19 .031 175.77 1973 5930.76 .033 195.72 1974 5826.74 .046 268.03 1975 5954.66 .048 285.82 1976 6635.66 .048 318.51 1977 6271.19 .054 338.64 1978 6257.05 .055 344.14 1979 6281.63 .062 389.46 1980 6277.65 .071 445.71 Source: 1. Narragansett Electric Co. 2. Edison Electric Institute #2 Fuel Oil: Trends in South Kingstown 1970 1980 The sale of fuel oil is unregulated and community specific information on price and usage is difficult to collect. In spite of repeated attempts to solicit information from local fuel oil dealers, the project succeeded in obtaining only an insignificant sampling of dealer information. The dealers who responded to the project survey agreed that the basic trend in South Kingstown was one of conserva- tion. One dealer reported substantial drops in sales to residential, commercial and industrial customers over the last five years. Another had increased sales by 12% in the last 10 years but had more than doubled the number of customers. Installation of wood and coal stoves and other conservation measures were noted by the dealers. According to census figures South Kingstown relied heavily on fuel oil as a source of heat and hot water in 1970. However the price of fuel oil has increased more than six times its 17@ a gallon price in 1970. 1980 census information should establish that South Kingstown like the state has reduced its reliance on 236 fuel oil. The Governor's Energy Office estimates that in 1980 a statewide average of 69% of housing units used approximately 1100 gallons of fuel oil per year per unit. Using these figures a total of approximately 5,600 households in South Kingstown x 1100 gallons used is 6.2 million gallons. However these figures should be reduced somewhat to reflect seasonal units. Natural Gas: Trends in South Kingstown 1970-1980 According to figures of the Providence Gas Company, use of natural gas has been increasing in South Kingstown although it still represents only about 1% of total gas usage in the state. Over the last 10 years there has been a doubling in the numberof South Kingstown customers and more than a 150% increase in usage. 1970 census figures which indicated that approximately 5% of cooking, home and water heating were provided by natural gas in South Kingstown should indicate a higher percentage today. Since Gas Company records do not separate community usage into residential, commercial and industrial sectors, it is difficult to follow specific trends. According to conversations with Gas Company officials approximately 60% of South Kingstown customers are estimated to be residential consumers. In South Kingstown combined usage has followed a familiar pattern, dropping in 1973 and again in the late seventies. there has been similar fluctuation in state usage which increased a total of 16% over the ten year period. Prices of natural gas which are regulated, have been rising steadily but not as quickly or unpredictably as other forms of fuel. In the last few years,however, these prices have risen substantially and are beginning to compare to fuel oil prices. (Table V-23) 237 Table V-22 Natural Gas South Kingstown -- Providence Cas Company South Kingstown South Kingstown South Kingstown Year MCF % increase Customers Revenues State Totals % increase % of State 1970 123,781 206 144,062.00 22769932 .5 1971 153,843. +24 258 193,109.12 22868932 +.9 .7 1972 222,219 +44 314 282,444.83 22265139 -.3 1973 165,406. -26 334 258,213.08 20311650 -9 .8 1974 134,935 -19 327 284,693.15 21713592 +7 .6 1975 140,290 + 3 342 395,379.57 22871844 +5 .6 1976 215,059 +53 374 673,370.45 19835922 -14 1 1977 237,125 +10 392 757,467.71 23460652 +18 .9 tj LO CO 1978 220,928 -7 408 682,574. 23560576 +.4 .9 1979 289,430 +3) Z. 21 888,198. 27648977 +17 1 1980 317,U9. +9 446 1,482,304. 26416741 -5 1.2 Source (1) Providence Gas Company (2) SEDS Report 1979 (3) GEO Report Table V-23 Natural Gas Prices Year Residential Commercial Industrial 1970 1.775 1.428 0.839 1971 1.872 1.569 0.928 1972 1.989 1.766 1.112 1973 2.299 1.827 1.296 1974 2.471 2.064 1.676 1975 2.989 2.661 2.063 1976 3.256 3.282 2.220 1977 4.097 3.354 2.856 1978 4.050 3.178 2.713 1979 3.554 2.993 2.586 1980 5.39 1981 6.01 1982 7.50 1 Source 2SEDS Report 1979 Providence Gas Company Gasoline: Trends in South Kingstown 1970-1980 Insofar as information is available, it is possible to distinguish South Kingstown from state averages in both gasoline price and consumption. From the AAA fuel guage survey one can compare the Narragansett and North Kingstown test station figures with state averages. It appears that southern Rhode Islanders pay consistently more for gasoline than average - by as much as .07 extra for one gallon of regular gas in 1979. Gasoline Prices Table V-24 Narragansett North Kingstown State Average Year $/gal. re.@-- $/gal.reg. $/gal.reg. 1977 65.9 64.9 63.23 1978 66.9 65.9 64.14 1979 95.22 84.92 88.0 1980 120.88 122.0 115.0 1981 135.56 138.3 132.9 Source: AAA Fuel guage surveys 239 In addition to experiencing higher gasoline prices, South Kingstown is increasing its consumption of gas at the same time that state consumption is dropping. From 1973-1979 South Kingstown increased consumption by 8% while the state consumption dropped 8%. 1973-1979 Area Gal. of Gas Car Registrations Population Consumption 1970-1980 State - 8% + 12% - 4% South Kingstown + 8% + 32% + 21% Consumption figures were obtained by using car registrationfigures. In large measure the state and local trends reflect population trends. South Kingstown with a growing population is using proportionally more gasoline each year. As a rural recreational area, commuting patterns also place South Kingstown in a particularly susceptible position with regard to gasoline pricing and policies. Taking statewide gasoline consumption and car registration figures one can calculate the average amount of fuel the Rhode Island individual has used and what it has cost him over the years. Table V-25 Monthly Gas Expenditures $ $ Monthly $ Monthly $ Year Gallons Per Month Regular Premium Regular Premium 1973 63.3 x .39 x .43 24.68 27.21 1974 59.4 x .50 x .545 29.70 32.37 1975 63.25 x .58 x .63 36.68 39.84 1976 62.0 x .6012 x .6467 37.32 40.06 1977 60.2 x .6326 x .6862 38.08 41.31 1978 55.1 x .6414 x .7057 35.34 36.68 1979 52.3 x .87 x .942 46.02 49.27 1980 50.0 x 1.15 x 1.24 57.50 62.10 1981 48.0 x 1.329 x 1.399 63.79 67.15 1980 and 1981 figures were unavailable. These are estimates based on state trends. 240 In 1979 the average Rhode Islander used 52.3 gallons of gasoline, .11 fewer gallons per month than in 1973. This drop reflects a steady yearly decline in consumption. To some extent conservation has offset price increases. From 1977 to 1978 when prices had leveled off, conservation actually caused a slight reduction in the average Rhode Islander's gas budget. However, conservation has not been able to keep pace with price increases and in 1979 the average yearly gas budget was approximately $552., almost twice the $296 spent on gas in 1973. South Kingstown: Potential for Alternate Fuels Wood, Solar, Wind and Hydropower South Kingstown is uniquely endowed with alternate energy resources. 20,000 acres or over 50% ofthe town is forested. The majority of South Kingstown's forest is hardwood. Some mixed forest is also suitable for fuel. Forested wetlands which are numerous in the town are primarily maple, a good firewood, and have the advantage of being unsuitable for residential use thus holding greater potential as long term managed wood lots. There is ample evidence that wood is becoming increasingly popular for home heating in South Kingstown. Building permit records from October 1980 to October 1981 contain 160 wood stove permits and 12 coal stove permits. In the same period the,records revealed only 4 permits for solar applications. In both cases permits reflect only a portion of actual applications in the town. Wood and solar installations in new construction for example are contained in blue prints rather than the permits reviewed by REP. Figures from the tax division on solar sales tax refunds for the same one year period show 36 refund requests from South Kingstown out of a state total of 321. Refund figures only represent one quarter of actual solar installations according to figures from the Governor's Energy Office. They do show that 11% of total state requests were from South Kingstown, a high percentage probably reflecting the amount of new construction in the town. 241 PART 11 - Town Facilities - Energy Usage and Cost Energy consumption information for town and school facilities is available in energy audit reports compiled as phase i of the Title III program by the town energy coordinator. This material provides approximately six years of consumption data. Consumption trends in town buildings are difficult to follow because of the addition of new facilities, incomplete information, and a change in the report period from a January -December year to a June-July year in 1979. An examination of usage in town facilities shows no increase in either electrical or fuel oil consumption from peak use periods in the mid-seventies (see TableV-25). Although some individual facilities show energy usage declines, there is no consistent conservationist trend. Town buildings for which audit material is available include the Town Hall built in 1877, the Town Annex converted to use in 1977, three town libraries added to the accounts in 1976, the highway and landfill garages, the all electric police station and the sewer treatment plant. Recently several small conservation measures were undertaken in the Town Hall such as storm windows and insulation on the third floor. The town energy audit committee is measuring the results of these improvements but it is too early to assess their success. Energy Patterns in South Kingstown Schools There are nine public schools serving South Kingstown: six elementary, one junior high, and one senior high school. Many of the school buildings are old, dating from,the first half of the century. The town's senior high, its largest facility, was built in 1954. The town has two new elementary schools, built in 1975, and along with South Road Elementary, built in 1964, these are only three facilities which have the potential for future expansion. The school system also includes an administration building, built in 1910, and a maintenance shop built in 1900. 242 Table V-26 Electrical Consumption KWH In Town Facilities Building 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 Town Hall 72688 60793 88560 129,840 118,560 112,440 104,400 & Annex (added in 1977) Libraries 23345 15058 41,387 41,897 20,497 19,928^ *incomplete Highway Garage 59877 64577 61395 64,800 62,640 60,670 62,880 Landfill Garage 47455 40441 42006 37,827 21,442 47,094 39,305 Police 237,012 238,246 256,345 252,624 249,353 236,429 244,189 TOTAL KWH 417,032 427,348 463,364 526,478 493,892 477,130 470,702 1980-1981 Schools 843,459 1,460,398 1,409,675 1,436,254 1,382,922 1,539,057 Fuel Oil Consumption Gallons Town Hall 4,855 4,688 5,151 4,496 4,248 3,466 4,541 Annex 2,349 2,331 2,127 2,099 2,513 Highway Garage 8,097 9,345 9,197 10,977 6,846 6,288 7,967 Libraries 3,108 10,924 10,274 9,413 3,773 8,019 (* incomplete) Sewer Treatment Plant 58,006 38,523 20,190 40,042 36,897 34,475 TOTAL 12,952 75,147 66,144 48,268 62,676 52,522 57,515 1980-1981 Schools 190,052 173,531 162,541 176,237 162,933 151,767 Source: Town Energy Audit Reports 243 Consumption of fuel in the schools increased somewhat from 1973 to 1975 but since then has actually decreased (see Figure V-5 ). Audit information reveals a significant drop in the use of electrical power in 1974. The addition of two new electric schools in 1975 accounts for increased electricity usage in recent years. Usage of fuel oil also peaked in 1975 decreasing in the following years in response to replacement of fuel oil facilities by electric-powered schools. The total consumption of energy in the schools has neither risen nor declined dramatically over the years. Audit information reveals no major conservation measures undertaken during this time so that reductions in usage such as the drop in electrical consumption in 1974 are largely due to self-imposed conservation. It is unlikely that consumption of energy will be reduced in fu ture years without more strenous conservation measures. Information on individual schools derived from energy audits conducted by the GEO prompt several general observations. Not unexpectedly, the older buildings use more energy per square foot whereas the new electric schools are the most energy efficient. With few exceptions, only minor conservation measures, such as turning down the thermostat and turning off lights, have been undertaken, However, in the one instance of additional insulation and storm windows at the Stepping Stones Kindergarten, consusmption dropped dramatically in the following years. Town Budget - Energy Expenditures As one would expect, energy expenditures have risen consistently and sometimes dramatically over the ten-year period from 1971-1980 in South Kingstown. An examination of the town accounts reveals that energy costs have risen across the board in the three categories of electricity, fuel oil and fuel and lubricants. The accounts examined include electricity and oil accounts for the town hall, police, highway and library buildings as well as the street lighting account and fuel lubricant costs for police, highway and landfill (see TableV-27 244 --- electricity FIGURE V-5 fuel oi I Consumption of fuels in the schools 30 25 20 0 Ul 15 10 5 L 1973 1974 1975 1976 1978 1;79 1980* 1981 formation H ble M M M *"' to1Mng)WrejwpeAw M M In 1980, the town spent approximately $ 35,000 on electricity, $ 38,000 on streetlighting, $ 20,000 on fuel oil and $ 117,405 on fuel and lubricants. Whereas streetlighting costs have risen slowly and consistently over the years from approximately $33,800 in 1972 to $ 38,600 in 1980* other combined electrical bills more than tripled from approximately $ 8,800 in 1971 to $ 35,000 in 1980. There are several reasons for rising expenditures including addition of the town Annex and addition of the accounts for libraries, forest fire and recreation. Fuel oil, the smallest spending category exhibited the most dramatic increases costing the town only $1,440 in 1972 and $ 20,300 in 1980. The addition of new building accounts also affected these figures. By far, the largest spending category, fuel and lubricant expenditures, have also increased substantially through the years from approximately $22,600 in 1972 to $ 117,400 in 1980. Tablve V-27 1970-1980 Energy Expenditures in South Kingstown (Dollars) Fuel Street Town Energy Year Elec. Fuel Oil & Lubs. Lights Total Schools* Total 71-72 8777 1440 22681 33885.02 66783.02 72-73 9790 1767 22380 34435. 68372. 73-74 13155 2539 32391 34937 83022. 63079 146101. 74-75 19241 6420 45138 35794 106593 94222 200815 75-76 23580 6488 55058 36876 122002 109160 231162 76-77 22579 7096 63825 38152 131652 131208 262860 77-78 27844 12569 54218 37448 104235 143193 247428 78-79 30764 8203 49829 44944 133740 145984 279724 79-80 35434 20346 117405 38659 211844 178153 389997 Source: 1. Town Accounts *Because of rate increases, streetlighting costs 2. Town Energy Audits have increased substantially in the last 2 yrs. to a projected $56,000 in 1983. See Chapter on town initiatives. 246 Town accounts do not include energy expenditures on school building or busses. School energy expenditures from energy audit material also show sharp increases in expenditures from 1974-1980. The cost of electricity and fuel oil combined have tripled from approximately $ 63,079 in 1973-1974 to $ 178,153 in 1979-1980. School energy expenditures have been rising consistently and in 1977-1978 and 1979 cost more than other town energy expenditures combined. Information on school busses and gasoline budgets was not collected fur the ten-year period. However records for 1980-1981 show a fuel expenditure of approximately $17,500 for the schools' busses and other vehicles. 247 Energy Initiatives Introduction Town departments and boards have taken several steps to conserve energy in their facilities and equipment. The Public Works Department keeps detailed equip- ment records for all departments. New vehicle purchases are determined in light of their gas mileage potential as well as other factors. School and town buildings are maintained with energy efficiency in mind. According to conversations with the Maintenance Department, attitude is a major factor in cutting energy costs in the school system. A memo urging conservation sent to all schools* had measurable impact on energy usage. Unfortunately, maintaining the conservation ethic throughout school and town buildings is not a simple task. An energy audit committee was appointed by the Town Council in 1978. Their efforts have included proposals for an energy awareness campaign in the schools and auditing of energy usage in the town buildings. Currently, they are reassessing their role. In fact, there is a-real need for coordination of town energy efforts and promotion of conservation goals. Although town departments practice good man- agement as a matter of course, there is little consideration given to potential al- ternate energy applications or large scale weatherization and conservation projects. One important function of the energy commission is that of an energy efficiency lobby which can assist long term planning for reducing town energy expenditures. In this and other efforts the town's energy committee requires good communication with and support from other town departments. Most town boards make decisions which have impact on energy usage and expenditures in the town. In addition to the energy audit committee, the planning board, conservation commission, building in- spector, tax and public works department all deal with important energy issues. With renewed commitment by the energy committee, the town could adopt an energy program to bring down energy costs in town facilities and the community at large. The Farmers Market As an important adjunct to its informational function, R E P has worked close- ly with the town's Conservation Commission to promote a community farmers market to *in 1976 248 be located at the Washington County Government Center parking lot. Although a farm- ers market serves a number of other town goals, it also promotes energy self-suf- ficiency in the region. Importattonof out-of-state food is an increasingly expen- sive proposition in Rhode Island. By providing a local center for growers to mar- ket produce and crafts, the farmers market avoids fuel and transportation costs. Farmers markets also serve as a possi ble outlet for alternate energy fuels such as wood. Perhaps most importantly, a farmers market serves as a meeting place for the community. A related community project is the possibility of an energy exposition to be located as a special event at the farmers market. Such an exposition could engage the public's attention, promote local energy businesses, and provide infor- mational services a forum to discuss energy-saving opportunities to the public. South Kingstown has the most acreage of tilled farmland in the state with 1,889 tilled acres, according to the 1979 Soil Conservation Study. Only two other Rhode Island communities have over 1,000 tilled acres; Richmond, with 1,166 acres and Portsmouth with 1,224. In addition to its tilled lands, South Kingstown has 1,434 acres of hay and pasture, 95 acres of nursery, 39 acres of orchard or vineyard and 276 acres of open land. This represents ten (10) percent of the state's total farmland acreage. South Kingstown Acreage 51% tilled farmland 7% openland 1% orchard & vineyard 2% nursery 39% hay or pasture source: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service 249 Although only 3,733 acres of South Kingstown are being farmed, according to 1979 figures there are over 11,000 acres of prime farmland in the town. Prime farmland is the land best suited for farming as well as still available for farm use. South Kingstown leads the state in area potential for prime farm use, although nearly two- thirds (2/3) of this potential area is not now cultivated (See Fig. V-7). Unfor- tunately, this same land is often the most desirable for residential development, and South Kingstown is one of the fastest developing communities in the state. Rhode Island currently have five farmers markets of varying size and success. The Department of Environmental Management has formed a direct marketing group to promote local ly-grown produce and assist in organizing and advertising markets. Other states have significantly more direct market activity. Maryland recently re- ported 454 direct farm outlets, including nineteen (19) farmers markets:*;Vermont has a reported thirteen (13) farmers markets; and Massachusetts, twelve (12). Rhode Island is just in the beginning stages of promoting state grown produce. Lack of actual market experience as well as past low priority placed on agriculture in Rhode Island combine to make the organization of farmers markets a difficult task. Good publicity and a campaign to reach the growing community has beenneces- sary to get adequate participation and commitment. As examples of successful mar- kets become more common, recruitment of growers will be more a matter of course. Farmers too busy to participate may well consider hiring people to sell; smaller part-time growers may consider combining their produce to sell at one booth. South Kingstown has both the need and potential for a good farmersmarket. At- tracting buyers in South Kingstown, particularly during the summer and fall months, presents no problem. However, getting enough growers to grow crops specifically for the market in its first year is key to the success of the operation. The Conserva- tion Commission has been successful in providing a good site for the market and an association of interested growers has been formed to pursue market operation. "Direct Marketing of Fruits and Vegetables in Maryland," James L. Cain, Professor of Agriculture and Resource Economics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, April, 1180, 250 SOUTH KING'STOWN PRIME FARM LAND FIGURE V-6 .WOO prime farm land actual farm land SOURCE: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE 251 Land Use Planning There are many examples of towns regulating development patterns and the siting of buildings to encourage energy efficiency in land use and building design. In some areas of the country such as California, financing from utilities has facili- tated the implementation of stringent conservation measures. Federal funding has also eased the transition to community energy efficiency. In Rhode Island there are few direct funding mechanisms now available to a community for promoting conserva- tion. Fortunately, simple modifications in planning and regulatory practices to in- clude energy considerations do not require large investments by either the town or the individual developer. A publication by the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, Energy Planning and Mana@ement suggests several common sense measures for a community to effect de- velopment patterns. These measures include consideration of energy as a factor in subdivision review. In South Kingstown, which is a growing community, there is am- ple opportunity to influence the future development of the town through subdivision regulation. There are two approaches to energy efficiency review. One is to provide the developer with an energy efficiency checklist, listing energy considerations he should bear in mind in planning the development. Second is to require an energy im- pact statement asking the applicant to figure and, where possible, minimize the en- ergy costs of his development. Site selection , site design and orientation all in- fluence energy usage. An energy efficient subdivision minimizes road, sewer and utility runs, maximizes the potential of solar gain, and optimizes environmental conditions. Subdivision review in South Kingstown already includes analysis of environ- mental and ecomomic factors. An energy review would require a finer analysis of the site and subdivision design. Subdivision review does not regulate building design or orientation. Suggestions regarding energy efficient design might be distributed from the building inspector's office. 252 South Kingstown's current land use practices and policies include cluster or- dinances and ongoing efforts to encourage preservation of open space. Encouraging energy efficiency factors will further these established growth management practices. Residential Weatherization In Rhode Island a free residential energy audit service, funded through utility surcharge, is available through Rhode Islanders Saving Energy (R.I.S.E.) a nonprofit corporation. R.I.S.E.auditors assess the efficiency of the home heating system, recommend needed work, suggest qualified contractors and estimate costs and benefits for the homeowner. Over the last two years, R.I.S.E. has conducted over 20,000 audits; of these approximately 300 or 1.5% have been conducted in South Kingstown. A recent survey of homes weatherized by community action agencies for the De- partment of Community Affairs found that there was an annual energy savings of 18.5% in weatherized homes. The average savings per home was $82 during the survey period from October 1980 to March 1981. The payback time for the cost of materials was 4.5 years. Weatherization programs can thus effectively reduce energy consumption and expenditures in South Kingstown homes. Like most coastal areas, South Kingstown has been evolving from a seasonal to a year-round community. Thirty percent of town residences were summer homes in 1970, dropping to 22% in 1980 according to census figures. Because a substantial number of South Kingstown homes were built for summer use and many of these are now being converted to year-round use, weatherization programs are particularly valuable in the town. Although R.I.S.E. is a well publicized service, the town could-take several steps to encourage residents to participate in the program. With 2.2% of the state's housing units, the town should target at least its representative share of audits. A U.R.I. survey of the R.I.S.E. program showed that residents taking advantage of R.I.S.E. are overwhelmingly upper income, 70% making over $20,000 and 40% over 253 $30,000 income. There is a particular need to reach the lower income families with weatherization information. There has been a dramatic drop off of audits in South Kingstown. Only 44 of 310 audits were performed in 1982 and most of these were in January. R.I.S.E. has had good success marketing audits through direct mailings and is willing to coor- dinate with town promotional efforts. Other towns have included R.I.S.E. brochures in water bill mailings. The town energy committee could also contact local lending in- stitutions and encourage their cooperation in promoting R.I.S.E. audits for home im- provement loan customers. Information on R.I.S.E. audits could also be available in the building inspector's office. One goal of town energy initiatives should be to increase the percentage of R.I.S.E. audits in the town over the next several years. Public Transportation: Carpooling & Ridesharing Today, mass transit alternatives are available to commuters and residents in South Kingstown. However, there are no plans to extend or expand these services. Amtrak makes stops in the morning and evening at West Kingstown but was recently forced to eliminate a commuter local between Westerly and Boston due to lack of riders. The primary passenger carrier in Rhode Island is the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (R.I.P.T.A.). Over the past decade, R.I.P.T.A. has increased its ridership by updating its equipment, by increasing the number of communities se rved, and by providing an alternative to the high cost of automobile travel. Bus transit links now exist between the urban centers of the West Bay communities and with the major employment centers (Quonset Point-Davisville and the University of Rhode Island (U.R.I.)) in the region. Bus routes joining Kingston and U.R.I. with Wakefield, Narragansett Pier, Galilee, Jamestown and Newport provide connections to routes to the Providence Metropolitan area. While bus routes in the region are running at capacity levels or at least with- in respectable levels of ridership, there are no plans to expand service by increas- ing the number of buses in the region or by increasing the number of communities 254 served. Expected federal cuts in operating funds makes future service cut-backs more likely than service expansion. Carpooling provides an important alternative to the high cost of automobile travel. Presently the Rhode Island Department of Transportation maintains a com- muter lot at the intersection of Routes 138 and 1A and has plans for another lot at the Washington County Government Center. The University of Rhode Island has made some effort to encourage carpooling to the main campus. One, sixty-five-space lot located behind the Memorial Union, and central to most facilities, has been reserved for carpools of at least three persons. While the lot is identified by signs, a lack of funding for additional personnel to monitor the lot hampers its success. R.I.D.O.T. serves as a funnel agency for federal dollars for ridesharing pro- grams. Early activities included the computer matching of commuters. Since 1978 R.I.D.O.T. has been promoting the Rhode Island Revitalized Ridesharing Program. Surveys are being conducted to identify major employers in the state that are most likely to participate in a ridesharing project. Informational meetings are conduct- ed by R.I.D.O.T. staff. R.I.D.O.T. serves as the link between the employer and the federal government who will loan 75% of the cost of a van, interest free. The em- ployer purchases the van and provides it at a nominal fee to employees for vanpool- ing. R.I.D.O.T. officials point out that while the program requires both the outlay by the employer of some monies and, more importantly, company initiative, the em- ployer reaps the benefits of tax credits as well as employee satisfaction. Admin- istrators of the program note that they are studying the feasibility of state em- ployee involvement in the program as well as identifying other large firms as poten- tial participants in the project. Energy projects in other communities have included efforts to promote carpool- ing. Simple measures such as maintaining a commutor information box at the town hall assist individuals in matching up rides. The town's energy committee could 25 5 also serve as a contact for R.I.D.O.T. and encourage the regions larger employers to participate in a ridesharing project. In South Kingstown reliance on automobile travel could be reduced by increased bicycle use. A study of biking in South Kingstown was done in 1981 by Brian Dixon. Safety and secure storage facilities were identified as the major concerns of bikers@, Secure bikeways would be a major boost to bicycle travel. However, the state has a policy of not encouraging biking on state roads and will not undertake Istiping" or other relatively low-cost measures. The town is now considering the opportunity of a separate bike path on the old rail bed from Kingston Station to Wakefield. In addition to an important recrea- tional bikeway, the path connects the U.R.I. area to Wakefield and connects many of the town schools. As cyclists become acclimated to recreational biking, regular use of bicycles would become more common in the town. Strategies suggested by Mr. Dixon's study include providing storage facilities conducting an educational and promotional program, and distributing bicycle suita- bility maps. The zoning ordinance could require bike facilities, in addition to parking in commercial areas. The study emphasized the need to encourage public in- volvement in biking noting that perception of dangerous biking conditions is a greater impediment than any actual danger on the roadways. Streetlighting In November, 1981, the cost of streetlighting rose dramatically when the utility was allowed to establish a streetlight fuel surcharge which is now multi- plied per KWH of consumption. At the present time, South Kinsgtown has 1,454 streetlights and a projected 1982 streetlighting budget of approximately $56,000. There are ten different categories of streetlights classified by type, lumin . out- put, yearly KW usage, and annual charges from the utility (see tableV28). The ma- jority of the town's streetlights (over 1,000) are incandescent, low lumen output Iights with a low annual utility charge and low KWHR consumption. This type of light, referred to as a "bug light," is no longer available and the town is slowly 2 5,6; converting to larger, more expensive lights. The two choices now available are mercury vapor lights and sodium vapor lights. The mercury vapor lights are more energy efficient but have a higher annual utility cost. On balance, the town has calculated that it is more economicalto install the mercury vapor light, although it uses more KWH per year to operate. Streetlighting costs are a major part of the town's energy budget and the Town Traffic Commission employs a conservative policy in determining the need for new lights. Requests for new streetlights must meet at least one of four requirements by being located 1) at a street corner, 2) in a high crime area, 3) on a major traffic artery, or 4) at a place of public gathering. Utility policy and rate setting are responsible for lack of cost effectiveness of the newer, more efficient lights. The town should encourage rate and policy changes to promote better cost-effectiveness. A new, lower lumens bulb to help re- place eventually the "bug light" would also be desirable for towns like South Kingstown in which many areas use and enjoy low intensity lights. Although the town. already has a conservative policy on streetlights, it might be possible to propose cutting back the number of streetlights. Lincoln, Rhode Island, is reducing lights substantially in response to high electric rates. Conclusion There are dozens of small energy saving projects of immediate benefit to the town which require only interest and commitment to energy saving goals. The with- drawal of federal funds hasmeant the collapse of many energy programs. We are now in a period of transition in which towns and individual consumers must determine their own priorities. Energy costs will continue to use and become increasingly burdensome. In many respects the individual consumer has already pointed the way by reducing statewide residential consumption by 13% from 1976-1980. Towns should set their sites on reducing energy consumption in the 1980s. 257 I I I I I I I I I Appendix I Regional Onshore Impact Issues I I I I I I I I 1 258 Regional Onshore Impact Issues This section consists primarily of a composit of findings of onshore impacts from other OCS support regions in North America and Great Britain, Onshore impacts and issues found in the United States in general, oil support regions of the states of Louisiana, Alaska, the Mid-Atlantic, North Atlantic, and Scotland are presented on the charts in pages 26_@@-279. This study does not attempt to quantifiably project regional impacts from OCS support facility development in Rhode Island. The reasons for this, as stated in Chapter One, are parimarily due to the numerous unknowns existing as far as future offshore oil and gas resources in the North and Mid-Atlantic OCS, unknown support base plans of the oil and gas companies and limited quantitative methods available for a regional or secondary impact assessment of this scale. A far more realistic as well as valuable approachwas to assess the region's existing problems which could be further exacerbated by large and rapid development of OCS support facilities. However, there are valuable lessons to be learned from onshore impacts which have occurred in other regions. Perhaps the broadest overview of onshore impacts is provided in the 1977 Council of Environmental Quality Report on Oil and Gas in Coastal Lands and Waters. A major conclusion of CEQ on the impacts onshore is that every place is different: Common sense, a modicum of experience with oil development in new places, and projective studies made for the Council and others agree on this point: every place where offshore drilling may occur is different -- humanly, climatically, geophysically, and ecologically -- and the planning to protect both human communities and marine ecosystems affected by offshore oil must rest upon de- tailed studies of those particular places. Further, the people who care most about those plces -- that is, the people who live there -- must be intimately involved in the planning. Furthermore, a CEQ finding on projected impacts in the Mid-Atlantic region may be uncannily applicable to Rhode Island: In contrast, the Mid-Atlantic OCS region is not only milder cli- matically than the Gulf of Alaska, but the presence of large, urban industrial centers onshore makes it possible to absorb many kinds of development without undue strain. Possible but not cer- tain. The impact of new people, additional jobs and collars, and 259 extra demands for housing and community services would be little noticed in northern New Jersey or the Delaware estuary, where there are a large economic base and extensive infrastructure al- ready in place (although, as we shall see, the cumulative im- pacts on air and water quality of clustering industrial plants together may create some problems). In southern New Jersey, however, oil-related development could distinctly affect or even transform the pastoral and recreational character of Cumberland and Cape May Counties. These findings -- that the problems and solutions differ for each particular area; that successful planning requires a detailed and intimate familiarity with the area, and that urban areas can absorb and get more early benefit from the impacts than rural areas are critically important to Rhode Island's future management of OCS impacts. The examination of other region's onsh ore impacts is provided parimarily for educational purposes. Common themes, however, are detectable and summaried on Table A-1. Small rural coastal communities, or villages, have witnessed the greatest affect from onshore support development for offshore oil and gas drilling. It must be re- membered that the chief criteria for selecting the support site is proximity to the offshore well fields as well as the availability or potential for development of the necessary facilities. Small, native fishing villages such as Yakutat, Alaska, or Peterhead, Scotland, or previously isolated communities such as Morgan City, Louisiana, or Port O'Connor, Texas, underwent rapid population and economic growth. The population centers for these regions, such as Juneau, Alaska, Corpus Christi, Texas, and Aberdeen, Scotland, received impacts but were more capable of assimilat- ing with minimum community disruption and infrastructure demand. Rhode Island can almost be considered a microcosm for these larger OCS onshore impact scenarios. Rhode Island, however, is unique in that a made-for OCS support base exists in the heart of the West Bay Region. Dense population areas exist only a few miles from the rural but already rapidly growing West Bay Region. Secondary regional impacts 260 from population and commercial development can be more easily assimilated into the more urbanized communities at the head of Narragansett Bay than the rural downstream communities. Vacancy rates in temporary, i.e. rental, units are higher in these communities and growth can stimulate urban revitalization. Yet, as the experiences in other OCS support regions and other major energy development areas of the world indicate, undeveloped land areas are more attractive for the new growth demands. Offshore oil and gas drilling is a relatively new phenomenon. The boom and bust cycle, typical of other major energy developments throughout history such as western gold or Appalachian coal mining, has not reached its duration in most frontier off- shore support areas. In the oldest OCS support region in the Country, East St. May Parish, Louisiana, the support activity is only slowly declining due to continued offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Migration to the county had dropped from a rate of 40.7% in the 1950s to 5.3% in the 1970s and population is declining in some parts of the parish as drilling support activity moves westward towards Texas and more proximate locations to the offshore well sites (P.276). In certain OCS support regions in Alaska, according to the Council on Environmental Quality, there were declines in OCS jobs by over 50% in a two year period. A boom and bust occurrence is also possible on a shorter time scale. This occurs when the activity attracts large numbers of unemployed to the region in excess of the number of jobs created. This would be especially true in areas where there is already an existing high unemployment rate. In 1978 the federal government predict- ed a slight rise in unemployment in the New England region from Georges Bank Lease Sale No. 42 and ensuing development. Other population effects on the community may be less noticeable but nonetheless important to the community character. Major new employment opportunities are creat- ed and income levels of oil and gas ancillary support jobs are high. Other communities hosting OCS support activities have witnessed varying degrees of com- 261 munity segmentation created by a large influx of new population which may differ from the traditional community demographic characteristics. The new workers tend to be young, skilled, mobile, and many single workers on offshore rigs are on 14 or 21 day on/off shifts. In more isolated communities a noticeable occurrence was a change in existing or traditional professions to new jobs created by the offshore industry. For example, fisherman in Scotland or middle class professionals such as school teachers in Morgan City, Louisiana, left their positions for the higher paying OCS industrial work. The local governments of OCS support or OCS support impacted communities have had the greatest challenge. Almost all of the federal, state and regional studies cited in the charts on pages 265-279 warn of the negative fiscal impact on the community's public services. These various problems are listed under the local economy column of these charts. In Rhode Island the local economies vary from community to community. The state did attempt to predict fiscal impacts on surrounding communities for the develop- ment of OCS support facilities at Quonset Point-Davisville.* Three factors have or will play an important role on the effect of the activity on local economies in Rhode Island. First, the federal government has provided assistance to local govern- ments to mitigate onshore impacts through the Federal Coastal Energy Impact Program. This has been especially beneficial to the host community, the town of North Kings- town, where the most impacts are expected to occur. The second factor is tax income from the infusion of jobs and OCS ancillary sup- port development. Because of the ownership of Quonset Point-Davisville by the State of Rhode Island Port Authority and Rhode Island Tax Exempt Laws for oil and gas com- panies' local revenue from property taxes if not derived directly from the industry currently, but through an agreement between the state and the town of North Kings- town. Tischler, Marcox, and Ass. Inc. Fiscal Impact Studies Prepared for the Governor State of Rhode Island, May, 1978. 262 The third factor dictating effects on local economies is an occurrence experi- enced worldwide from major energy developments. The host community willreceive most of the local revenue but surrounding communities may experience impacts on public services and insufficient revenue to meet the new demands. Regional solutions are then required. In its secondyear study entitled Outer Continental Shelves Impact Study Implementation Plan,the Coalition of Coastal Communities will address these and other local and regional policy solutions to potential negative impacts on the coastal communities from the future development of this major energy activity. 263 Table A-1 Regional Onshore Impact Issues Population Greatest Effect on Small, Rural Communities Rapid Growth Rate Greater Than 15% Causes Breakdown Community Segmentation Immigration of Unemployed End of OCS, Population Loss (especially young) Employment Increase in Jobs, Income, and Standard of Living Unemployment May Rise Workers are Young, Skilled, Mobile, many Unmarried Offshore Workers: 14 Day On/Off Shifts Changes in Professions Local Economies Communities Need 25 Years to Balance Costs and Revenues Communities Net Benefit One-Sixth of State's Negative Fiscal Impacts with a High Rate of Growth Service Demand Before Tax Revenue Strain on Public Services Neighboring Towns Receive Impacts of OCS, No Revenues Housing Lack of Housing Causes Worst Land-Use Problems Price Increases and Competition with High Paying Oil Jobs Real Need to Meet Temporary Housing Demands 264 ONSHORE IMPACT ISSUES MUNICIPAL RECREATION/ LAND TITLE FOPUL&TION JOBS t1011SING SERVICES LOCAL ECONOMIES- TOURISM USE L@DERAL STUDIES Multilier: Rapid Growth From Annual Rate of Growth 10% Strain Const. 2 Secondary Lack of housing causes worst Medical Services Cities take up to 25 Traditional out- Energy Projects it It of H 15% Break- Employment .3-9 land-use problems. heavily affect- yrs. to balance costs door rec. (1976) down Workers alone in early stages ed. E revenues from energy change to urban/ Temporary Nature- What Follows dictates kind of housing, Access and com- dev. impacts. park. Predictions vs. Actual hotels, apartments, vacant sunity roads Cities net benefit 1/6 Small and Remote Communities homes. affected of state's (33 yrs.) affected the most. Congestion Impact on housing prices I:nd Overcrowding. (doubles) and rents (double/ triple) pact hard, expecially on eld- C:rly and wives. Oper. nst. Phase U1 50-75% w/fasiles 80-90% V/ 9@ Phase fam. size: 3.5-3 Families gore Workers FEIS lease Sale 42 Rapid Pop. Increase has great- Slight Rise in Unem- Burden of Govt. Ex- Major pop- (1976) est effect. ployment. penditures in early ulation Maximum Regional Pop. Increase Nay Workers highly yrs. before tax increase 39.000-6,000 skilled, young, revenue. would re- mobile. unmarried. No impact on oil prices quire substantial impact on 19,500 gas prices. acres Drop in Annual Per Capita Income FEIS Lease Sale 59 Cumulative Pop. Increase (1981) 44.600 by 1990. Major Impact on Local Moderate Major Im- Economies. pact 35.3% for Washington County, 16,743,800. Continued... MUNICIPAL RECREATION/ LAND POPULATION JOBS HOUSING -SERVICES LOCAL ECONOMIE TOURI USE TITLE FEDERAL STUDIES (Cootd.) Coastal Effects of Net Adverse Budgetary Offshore Energy Effects Possible. Systems (1976) Facility provides rev- enus in only one com- munity but support population in other communities as well. If extraordinary expen- ditures for public facilities such as roads required to sup- port OCS. cr, a, OCS Oil and Gas Activi- OCS relieved unemploy- Adequate Housing readily OCS wastes ties in the Nid- ment caused by Navy available within commuting brought to Atlantic C their on- pull-out. distance to Quonset. Davisville shore Impacts (1979). Transient work force trucked out comprised 250 out of of state. 670. Nost signifi- Work 14-day shifts and cant: traffic stay in hotels, com- problems. mute to home state. Effects on Coastal family Size Nultiplier 3.0-3.7; Dir. Employ. greatest Existing conditions and Water: 100-180 Playground: 'Communities'. Environ- hat, 1970: 3.58; 1976: 3.39 during field dev. vacancy rate (ay. 5%). gal./day .00125 ac./person mental Planning for Offshore Oil Gas Indir. employ. job Demand is function of (1) Sewage: 100-120 Park (neighborhood): (1978) small compared to income, (2) total # of gal./day .001 ac./person Direct (supliers) units demanded, (3) price. Solid Waste: Najor Park: Few products required 3-6 lbs./person/ .0025 ac./person for OCS afgd. in day. Playground; study area. Power: 750 KWH/mo. 4,000-8,000 Induced jobs: .8 induc./ people size Dir. C Indir.; less in smaller areas. M NICIPAL RECREATI LAND TITLE POPULATION jOBS HOUS I DIG S RV CES LOCAL ECONOMIES TOURIS USE FEDERAL STUDIES (Contd.) Effects on Coastal Total Pop.. 1,000 dir 4 2,879 Multipliers smaller in: Communities' Environ- Limited ind. dev. areas. mental Planning for Limited source E skills. Offshore Oil E Gas Surrounding region of- (1978) (contd.) fers skills. New Resident Employees: Create demand for new services. New Resident Employees: % New-residents. Explor. 31-85 rQ Dev. 35-57 CY, Prod. 6-20 Regional Status Reports Immigration of skilled un- Cost well drilling Municipal Service Touris value in RI Vol.. V, New England skilled unemployed into area. 1976. New England 47% costs> property $100 1976. (1978) of jobs. (RI residents) tax revenue: Oil spill cost $100 a. Availability of skilled Year 5 laborers determines of Prop. Tax:907,000 locals hired. Serv. Cst:1,286,000 Year 10 Prop. Tax.C493,000 Sery. Cst:ZO22,000 Year 15 Prop. tax:3,006,000 Serv. Cst:Zk834,000 Uncertainty whether OCS ind. taxable either as real estate or personal property. ONSHORE IMPACT ISSUES --R_EC.fZEkf lotV Low TITLE BS HOUS I NG SERVICES LOCAL ECONOMI TOURtS USE' L POPULATI.ON @EDIRML_ STUDIES (Contd.) Economic Study of Possible Boom-Bust Phenomena Possible; Employment Multiplier 2.9 Economic impact On Early Yrs. Per Capita Impacts of a Georges Bank New Population Greater Than Jobs Sale Created. Included Effects Local And Regional Economy Income Increase $1,200 (GB qas processed in ME. Population Levels Will Also De- Not Extensive. Minor. Later Yrs Per Capita oil refined in Kid- Income Increase $200 Atlantic (1916) pend Upon Expansion Of Kid- Atlantic Refinery Capacity. Expansion of Kid-Atlantic Max. Pop.> 12,700-25,500 Refinery Capacity Would Impact More Significant In Areas Benefit NE Coastal Re- With Low Population Density And gion In Terms of output Limited Economic Base. Employ., and income. Personal Income Raise $20 Million 0% OD Govt. Expenditure Would Rise. Prod. of Goods Would In- crease 1.3% ($115 million Private Invest. E construc- tion activties, 3.5% Georges Bank Gas could stimulate new metal manu- facturing in county. Anticipating and Planning No Reliable Analysis of Impacts 30% Employment from %I out- Stress on Invest- During Bev. Phase: Potential hreat To for the Impacts of DES of OCS Development Until Dis- side of Recion for South- sent Protection Fiscal Impacts Reg. if I h ng Oil and Gas Development covery of Economic, Recover- a,,eastern Systems. Dev. Accompanied B Fis i & g k,jjwjngl.d. able Oil & Gas Resources. I e L S e Labor Pool y Tourism. Exists in NE. Start-up Costs for a High Rate of Growth Most Impacts During Early Dev- new Services During Dev. Phase. elopment phase. Greater in Small State C Local Revenues Higher Rates of Growth , Greater towns on Per Capita Do Not Cover Costs. Demand for Housing and Public Basis than Cost of favorable Fiscal Impact services. Expanding Services. Later During Production. Seventy depends on rate of growth and level of urbanization ONSHORE IMPACT ISSUES U ___r_RE'fWF_AT U64 I. TITI.E PO-PULAT I ON----[- -JO-BS F____H0_U_S_1N_G____ SERVICES LOCAL ECONOMIES T, SE, Anticipating and Planning Fiscal Impdcts: Taxes for the Impacts of OCS only ill host Community Oil and Gas Development Timing of Service De- (Contd.) mands Before Reven- ues Recede. Magnitude E Duration of New Service De- mands Depends on Ratio of Outside Employees. 01HER NEW ENGLAND STATES 0@ Offshore Oil Dev.; impli- Severity of Impact Dependent Diversification of Employ- During Construction: Neighboring Town Addition to Local Improvement in Congestion, cations for Kass. Cos- Upon Rate of Pop. Growth Ac- ment Opportunities. 15% New foployees Purchase Receives Impacts Towns Assessed Parks C Over- sunities. companying Oil Dem. homes No Revenue e.g. Valuation Taxes Recreation crowding, Smaller Com. Affected the Most. 60% Rent ferndale, Wash. & from Development Increase 25% Live in Mobile Homes or Oil Refineries p.41 May Lessen Amount in Urban Regional Impacts: Adequate trailers. Lag Time Between of State Aid. Problems Cos. No Tax Breaks. Town Should Plan for Permanent Need for Revenue Rise in Local Level of Housing Equal to and when Revenue Income t Projected Pop. for when Oil Begins can Place Standard of Dem. Activities are Completed. Cos. in Severe Living. Real Need is to Meet Temporary Financial Position Higher Land Housing Demands. New faciliti 'es Built values. Demand ,ease to Meet Peak Pop. for Housing Inc t May be Underutilized Prices: Greatest Effec On C Cause Burdensome Elderly & Poor. Carrying Charges to Communities. ONS110RE IMPACA ]-S',@!i T ITI.E POPUIATION JOBS Municipal! Local EconoInies Recreation L a n d -S e ..r..v-i-c-e. T o u r i s m U s e impacts Upon Towns Municipality Must Determine What Service Jobs Filled by Method of Alleviating Short- Municipal Service Income Leakage: Cities From Construc- Proportion will Settle in Town Local Residents age of Housing for Construc- Shortages Affect Payroll carred out tion & Operation of Factors: Distance to already tion Phase is to Convert Residents More of Host Community Major Industry established homes Single-family homes to Than Newcomers by Commuting Worker Pitt5on Oil Refinery, Travel Time Rental. Solid Waste $ spent outside host 1980 Housing Availability N(ed for Adequate Standards Towns Over 10,000- com. where services Accessibility: Work, for Conversion 4.5 lb.1 /day or goods not avail- Home, Services Mcbile Home & Rentals Less Septage Sludge p. 13 able Attitude E Ability of Wluation & Therefore Less Little net increase community to accept income, Higher Cost to from local residents new population Resident. wh;u quii job@ out- side of town to work in town paying off debts. 0 Smaller Region; Lower Multiplier Petroleum Development 5,000-12,000 from Georges Low Impacts In New England Bank Effect on Local Com. could be 1975 substantial ONSHORE IMPACT ISSUES NICIPAL RECELEA ;iIONI LAND TITLE POPUILAA ION JOBS HOUSTING RVICES LOCAL ECOW)HIES TOURISM USE California -Imported labor roughly In California, OCS impacts have Onshore Impacts is 27% of OCS employment most direct effect on local industry, (1976) in Southern California, greatest planning needs by local important for estimating industry, least direct leverage on new local employment Fed. govt. policy. and projecting housing and public service needs. Santa Barbara -Nany OCS jobs exported oil spill: 5,000- to other regions, i.e. rig 160,000 barrels fabrication at existing spilled. facilities outside of 5 barrels/day region. released currently -Exploratory OCS jobs from blowouts & estimates- 775 workerslyr. x 5 years. chronic spills. -Employment beyond exploratory phase inherently speculative Employment estimates by Fed. govt. and industry tied to unrealistically bigh resource levels; cause dissappointment and not useful for planning. Oltshore Oil Texas coastal Local employment increase OCS support base Impact on Texas communities immigrant dev. cueated Commun i L i e s population consists physical changes; (1976) of urban migrants helicopter pads, and OCS personnel; crew boats, service strong sense of docks, and 3 mud families. companies. Not significant Did not result in OCS growth significant: increase in school enrollment, crime, or environmental problems. ONSHORE IMPACT ISSUES MUNICIPAL @ATIOH/ LAM D TITLE POPULATION JOBS HOUSING SERVICES LOCAL FCDNO JRISH__ USE - Alaska 15 year OCS cycle OCS Jobs Total Jobs 1960-7050_ 84% 1960 1970 Vil lage-%.. 1957-1972 . ...i;ncrease 1960 1964 oil aod Gas in 1960 pop. l,tO0 (vfliages) L03 -1960- e homes - - - No Zoning Coastal 1,ands & u,245 (region) 3000 5000 104% increase or - Waters. 1977 1970 pop. 7,200 (villages) -1965- 2510 1971 lots price $400-900 School Pop. income Land Use Plan 14,483 (region) 2300 -1968- 5893 1975 -1 " $10,000-12,000 Native pop. decline 1000 -197o- Apt. rent increase 4-5 Overbuilt water 1960 - 13% times in a few months utility lines 1970 - 7% Unemployment rise "Natives benefitted less" after '67-'68 Public subsidies for Kept up with Lease Sales in N. Gulf of from 9% to 16-17% trailers school growth Alaska could induce pop. Non-OCS empl.oyment Native evicted who were School size growth of 40% by lq84. rose 5% after '70 also subject to rent tripled Valdez: April 1974 t,173 pop. increases July 1975 6,512 pop. 450% Pipeline growth impacts Gas jobs steady Govt ,Transportation, trade steady OCS Oil anti Gas On/Off shift of Seward disappointed Activities in 21-28 days due to that positive economic the Gulf of high trasport cost impacts not as great as Alaska & Their for workers to anticipated Onshore Impacts homes 1980 YakutaL pop. 600; 75% Entry level personnel Indians locally hired to gain goodwill and reduce Iiigh value on maintaining travel costs traditional culture Alaska residents Wanted minimum growth 33% of Exploratory impacts from OCS employment Changed land use plan to protect OCS industrial development in town Conti nued ONSHORE IMPACT ISSUES T POPULATION joBs 7_ HOUSINC MUNIC5 RECREATION/ LAN D SERVIC L ECONOMIES TOURIf USE OCS Oil and Gas Activitts in the OCS temporary dock & Gulf of Alaska & storage was 3.5 x assessed Their Onshore value of all real Impacts 1980 property in town (cont.) Confined all OCS activity to I compound Vast increase in pop. and destruction of life style did not occur due to town control Most OCS employees never entered town Support facilities in Seward supply 40 jobs Land speculation prior to lease sale caused prices to quadruple (largest impact) Homer collected dockage & wharfage fees from storing OCS exploratory rigs ($41,000/yr) Oil and Gas in Morgan City: 13,530 jobs/ Lot costs: $10,000 Service costs net $38 million (:OaSLal Lands and 40,000 flop. for 6010001 in 1972 to Louisiana; add Waters, C'EQ 1977 Fed. revenue and state Thousands of spin-off jobs 3-4 firs. commute experienced gain of $16 million Louisiana Continued ... ONSHORE IMPAC-r ISSUES L ION LOCAL RCONOMIVS TOURlr N U@, KUNICIPA RECREAT D TITLE POPULATION HOUSING SVRVICES Louisiana cont. Not enough taxes collected by Morgan City Fed. contributed 1/8 of Morgan City annual budget of $3.2 mi4lion City spent $1.7 million for recreation complex for total (inc. OCS) population PQ _J -POCS Impacts oil Major Pop. growth (25%) OCS responsible Acute shortage of Potential OCS responsible for Environmental Shift from Morgan City, for 20-35% employ. single family dwelling acute probs.* income increase Direct impact agricultural Louisiana Low out-migration of (SFD) causing people in hospitals,& twice as rapid as small & to urban, 1977 young Many jobs blue- to live outside of health care as state related to re s. , i ndus. collar town dredging & Increase in white-black Benefit from City median income filling Swampland ratio Entice migrants Town tax base increased invest- higher than parish conversion who become stabilized, ment in voc. & or state Indirect Urban pop. increase from permanent Winicipal services educ. services impacts from OCS req. 1940-1970 was 24o% residents increased Distribution of Pop. growth for land CreaL strains income more occur on Pop. growth 92% decline in farm rural Middle class Most housing SFD, on community to equitable considerable requires Pop. professionals few MFD provide scale I and (school teachers) adequate services Competition for Projections - leave essential La rge # of inobil homes dock space Should OCS Parish did 51% increase by yr. jobs for, laigher in region Time lag activities [lot loosc 2000 in host city paying OCS Decline in decline farmland industrial work 58% homes in Morgan Pop. increase importance of major 1934-70 23% increase by yr. City are owner Occupied caused water commercial disruption 2000 in partsh Parish mining system growth fisheries of social Land value sector increase 6% rental vacancy & economic increase Community becoming more during OCS 438.2%, Operating OCS support indust. life of subst.antialy segmented & diverse, '(Nationally 32%) 99% with monicipal expenses & of support to c ommu 11 i t y over 25 yrs. (raf@ional or organi water, 997, sewer revenues incr. fisheries solidarity) by factor of to over 25 yrs. ONSHORE IMPAL-T ISSUES ICIPAL REC"ATI TITLE POPULATION --- JOBS LOCAL ECONOMIE TOURV OCS Impacts on Morgan City, Lnuisi@uia, (Cont&,) Employ. advances 80% increase in Waterworks Elimination of Benefits Assessment due to region Morgan CiLy and profit increase OCS obstructions to sport va I ue spread into mfg. Berwick (exclusive of to f ishing fisheries, increase trade,finance, capital costs platforms 4 x 20 yrs. insurance, real 5 told increase in for improve- Prior to OCS as reefs estate, & business housing value 50-70 ments) net regional & naviga- growth of tion aids 66 OCS firm's [Amited sewage economy emplayed 8536 Lreatment, new negint ive City has persons, 1976 WWTP being acquired t o t a I payrol I constructed additional $94.5 million $9 ini I ) !on - recreation p.86 financing from acreage & .75% sales tax facilities Increased income OCS Impact on due to occupation $36.5 million parish is 150 acres s 11 i f t s expressway & division into inadequate bridge project 2 competitive for pop. __J spurring new areas I a c dev. west of 100 people) bridge,divert Establishment congestion Out of 2 mu I t i- Rec. funds of Morgan City f unc t ional expenditure port authori- 1970- Major local st. im- t i e s $190,917 provements through Partially economic bonds & state sever- expansion or pro- Extent o f ance tax to communi- gress became prime impact ties consideration depends on makeup & Berwick - no WWIF rec. Patterson - facilities tertiary treatment of each Bajou Vista - town no WWTF Budget surplus 21 yrs , recent I y deficit 1973 & 1975 ONSHORE IMPACT ISSUES -[-MUNICIPAL RECREATION/ LAND Change in Demand TITLE POPULATION JOBS HOUSING tirSeEctt and LOCAL ECONOMIES TOURV _ ___ LUSE _ for OCS impacts on Morgan Concurent incre- indirect how leisure a r i s e S Ciln-migration to area a,e in immediare time is industrial Louisiana (contd.) w ith increasing - of OCS. impacts spent due and employment opportunity area s t r a i n problematic for OCS Secondary & municipal to income housing impact area tertiary industry services changes land increase causes indirect l,and-use Occupational ocS impact switch('s shifts,divcrsitY i.e. parks if, life style, & h o a t Dredging loss of sense ramps and filling of' community increase in personal income - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - --- - - - - - - - - - -------- ------ Ast St. May Parish Migration rates to East 412% increase in 44.5% of housing constructed Few recent Diversified in 170s lourisa underdev. ocs planning studies somewhat, entrenchment in parish indicated development transportation. in 60s Cyfcunomic Growth St. May caused by energy communication, of energy activites aesthetically and Stabilization activity displeasing Strategies 1950-60 40.7% public utilities 35% of housing in Morgan City Commuting traffic makes diversification 1980 1960-70 23.6% jobs substandard causes problems- more difficult. 1970-77 5.3% 1940-70 OCS dev. period 37% parish renter occupied Large # of taverns & Projection fur host, oil and gas field service pool halls due to nature of male Morgan City employ decreased by 40% 3.1% vacancy rate laboring classes 170 16,586 people from 1967-1972 17.o% of housing overcrowded 080 16,122 " Half of eating estab- 190 15,687 It Trends in employ. in lishments specialize Decline 970s same as 160S 6.85% of land in Morgan City in fast foods acceleration in mining is vacant After rapid pop. growth sector and transportation Crime rate is 2 to 3x pop. is decreasing in and trade Parish total net demand of higher than for cities some parts of parish. 1,338 units in 1970 of comparable size to No employ. decline 62.3% of parish families Demand > supply Morgan City People not being made.< $10,000 2794 units in 1980 pulled into area Family problems of high employment Shift to west (Texas) of energy activity will Large income flow out he detrimental Lo of parish mining sector employment in.,-ease in ,commuter" labor ONSHORE IMPACT ISSUES TITLE POP.ULATION JOBS "OUSINC HFUNICIPAL RECREATION/ IAND SERVICES LOCAL ECONOMIES TOURISM USE Louisiana Coastal Resources OCS employment estimates State revenue from OCS Program, Impact of OCS range from 38,000 to FY73 $401 million Development on 9,604 74 566 million Louisiana 75 724 million 1976 OCS direct employ 1970 124,400 After 2 to 4 yrs. OCS Total OCS employ dev. pays its own way 390,990. Public sector costs per capita are higher for OCS than average of other economic activities Primary impacted parishes have bad higher public service operating costs per capita than other parishes Level of costs per capita dependent upon level of -J OCS operations Onshore Planning for Social assimilation difficulties Employment highest Both large city & small Offshore bases can be Land price increase (industrial) Offshore Oil: Lessons during construction, i.e. town chosen to support successfully trans- 1969 31000/acre, 1914 IOOOOO/acre for Scotland rig fabrication, pipeline OCS dev. experienced formed to other uses solelum, 1975 laying, followed by decline. housing shortage. such as marinas, sewage Land not taxes as property which treatment works, cargo aids farming Shifting in work force causing Kew house builders terminals, fishing shortage in non-OCS cannot be brought marinas, with advanced Successful rig fabrication industries and services into area because of planning utilized existing industrial site. lack of housing for Major employment increases them. Dabbling in Air Traffic: 2 other sites required nd potential for rapid expansion of airport dredging and filling of 250 acres decline from rig Other service personnel facilities of reclaimed land fabrication restricted because 0f no housing (teachers, Many speculative OCS related plans planners, etc.) New housing as high-rise Shetland's accommodation of OCS apts. and not traditional terminal due to unintimidated row house or cottage attitude of ocal planners ONSHORE IMPAL"r ISSUES MWICIPAL RECREATION/ I"D TITLE POPUtATION JOBS HOUSING SERVICES LOCAL ECO"OHI S TOURISM USE FEDERAL- STUDIES onshore Planning for Nontraditional materials being Offshore Oil: Lessons used, i.e. prefabricated houses. for Scotland 2 old ocean liners used to house Bolelus, 1975 (contd.) 800 workers at rig fabrication site. Onshore Impacts of Scottish Rig fabrication Demand for services Barrier Is. inlets 6 river Scottish Offshore Oil: employs 2500-3200 workers outstripped supplies mouths favored for pipe landings Planning Implications for 1600 unskilled workers ME Scotland: improved Spills from gas pipeline and the Mid-Atlantic States trained infrastructure and storage tank explosions poten- James Mitchell. AIP Ripple effect of OCS em- housing tial is acute Journal, 1976 ployment left areas with- North Scotland: Massive Wetland and marsh development out workers in basic low- housing and infrastruc- for OCS facilities paying jobs ture problems @1 Emerging linear pattern of 00 127,000 OCS jobs by 1980 Increased local costs coastal industrialization rather Regional multiplier of 2 to utilities and waste than concentrated growth Localized in Coastal Areas treatment Local planning often def icient Scotland CIQ 1977 Before OCS - After -Major shifts to OCS Worst crunch was in housing Larger communitee can absorb Aberdeen 180,000 185,500 -Not in fishing Shortages and price tripling more easily than smaller com. VeLerhead 14,000 16,000 -Many temporary cons!:ruc- lots 1969 300/ac Shetlands; 74 arrests 1971 Shetlands 18,500 25,5oo tion pbs followe d b) few 1994 100,000/ac 182 arrests 1974 oper. pbs 4 yr. OCS period Southern New Jersey; oil related Mid-Atlantic 10% increase (18,000) in Cape may dev. could affect or transform Cumberland C Cape 6 Cumberland counties pop. growth pastoral and recreational charac- May Counties, N.J. from mid-OCS find (includes refin-- ter of Cumberland and Cape May eries) counties Dept. of Int. 10,000 person increase loo,ooo ac of wetlands (no refineries) Substantial landuse impacts since no industrial land ONSHORE IMPACT ISSUES USE Wi-ic I PAL RECREATIO" LAND TITLE POPULATION JOBS HOUSING -FSERVICES LOCAL ECCMIONIFS TOURISM__ FEDERAL STUDIES Northampton Co. Va. 1970 Town 2,000 1970 5,200 1971 6,240 Median rent $30/mo* farm crop value $10.7 M 1970 50,000 ac. farmland County 14,442 1980 7,500 (projected OCS)houses price $7,000 Serv. value $2.5-5.2 M 28,054 wetlands (10% of st 1980 16,000 (projected) Median income $4,778 No industrial zon. ord. or Return of pop. in mi d 70s 14% unemploy. 1975 LOP Brownroot plant in Scotland Community costs service 7 projected 600 employees, revenue Rate of growth key Actual 30002 outstripping issue capacity of public services C housing Secondary Economic Secondary, or indirect em- Secondary economic impacts Impacts of Coastal ployment multiplier substantial; can be double Facilities, Field, ..... 1.60 to 1.80 initial, direct impacts. 1976 income (wage) multiplier 1.75 to 2.0 Peak onshore facilitie employment (including re- finery) 14,000, .3% total N.E. Employment REFERENCES 1. Baldwin, Pamela L. and Malcolm F. Baldwin. Onshore Planning for Offshore Oil: Lessons from Scotland. The Conservation Foundation, Washington, D.C., January, 1975. 2. California, State of. California Onshore Impacts of Offshore Oil and Gas Development. 3. Council on Environmental Quality. Coastal Effects of Offshore Energy Systems. Washington, D.C., 1976. 4. Farber, Stephen, and David B. Johnson. The Impact of Oil and Gas Exploration, Development, and Production on the Outer Continental Shelf on Louisiana: Background and Methodology. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, June, 1977. 5. Kramer, Lois S., and Veronica C. Clark, George J. Cannelos. Planning for Off- shore Oil Development Gulf of Alaska OCS Handbook. Juneau, Alaska, 1978. 6. Macpherson, George S. and Charles A. Bookman. Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Activities in the Mid-Atlantic and their Onshore Impacts: A Summary Report; November, 1979. Reston, Virginia, U.S. Geological Survey Open File @eport 80-17, 1979. 7. Massachusetts, Commonwealth of, Office of State Planning. Offshore Oil Develop- ment: Implications for Massachusetts Communities. Boston, Massachusetts. November, 1976. 8. Mitchell, James K. "Onshore Impacts of Scottish Offshore Oil: Planning Impli- cations for the Middle Atlantic States." AIP Journal, October, 1976. 9. New England Regional Commission. Petroleum Develoment in New England: Eco- nomic and Environmental Considerations. Vol. 1, Boston, Massachusetts,- November, 1975. 10. New England River Basins Commission. Onshore Facilities Related to Offshore Oil and Gas Development: Case Studies in OCS Planning. Boston, Massachusetts, July, 1978. 11. Resource Planning Associates. Identification and Analysis of Mid-Atlantic On- shore OCS Impacts. Cambridge, Massachusetts. 12. Robadue, Donald D., and Virginia K. Tippie. "Public Involvement in Offshore Oil Development: Lessons from New England." Coastal Zone Management Journal, VOI. 7, No. 2-3-4. 1980. 13. Southwestern Louisiana, University of. Outer Continental Shelf Impacts, Morgan City, Louisiana. Baton Rouge, Louisiana. June, 1977. 14. Texas, State of. Offshore Oil Impact on Texas Communities, Vol. 2. 15. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Community Planning and Development. Rapid Growth From Energy Projects: Ideas for State and Local Action. Washington, D.C., March, 1976. 16. U.S. Department of the Interior. Final Environemtnal Statement, Vol. 1, Washington, D.C., 1977. 17. U.S. Department of the Interior. Final Environemtnal Impact Statement. OCS Sale No. 59. Washington, D.C., May 1981. 18. U.S. Department of the Interior. Final Environmental Impact Statement. OCS Sale No. 52. Washington, D.C., September, 1981. 280 (continued) 19. U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. Environmental Planning for Offshore Oil and Gas: Effects on Coastal Communities; Vol. 2, shington, D.C., 1978. 20. U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. Environmental Planning for Offshore Oil and Gas: Regional Status Reports: Vol. 5, Partl, shington, D.C. March, 1978. 21. U.S. Department of the Interior, Geological Survey. Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Activities in the Gulf of Alaska (inccluding Lower Cook Inlet) and Their Onshore Impacts: A Summary Report. Washington, D.C., September, 1980. 22. U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Research and Development, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Anticipating and Planning for the Impacts pacts of OCS Oil and Gas Development. Reston, Virginia. 23. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Ma nagement. Economic Study of Possible Impacts of a Georges Bank Sale. Washington, D.C. 1976. 281 I NOAA COASTAL SERVICES CTR LIBRARY 3 6668 14110512 4