[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 11-36]
All forms of gasoline or diesel fuel powered motors on boats, breathing apparatus or pumps or use in any other manner shall be banned on all freshwater ponds on Block Island.
[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 11-37]
No person shall dump, discharge or introduce into any pond on Block Island any sewage, petroleum products, detergents, pesticides or any other form of pollutants or contaminants.
[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 11-38]
(a) 
Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
BOG
An area of any size where at least 50% of the ground or water surface is covered by sphagnum moss.
FLOODPLAIN
Any land adjacent to the water having an elevation less than 10 feet above mean tide.
MARSH
Shall be an area of any size, characterized by grassy vegetation (e.g., cattails, sedges and reeds), where the water table is at or near the surface.
OPEN LAND
Areas that are deeded to the town or set aside by the owners thereof for purposes of recreation, wildlife sanctuary, preservation of natural and historic resources, education and scientific study.
POND
An area of any size where open standing water is present at least six months a year.
RIVER
Any body of water which flows at least six months of the year.
SHORES
Land areas adjoining the ocean and which are subject to erosion from the action of its waters.
STONE WALL
Shall be stone walls enclosing a lot of record as in existence at the date of the zoning ordinance.
SWAMP
An area of any size where the water table is at or near the surface and which is characterized by woody vegetation such as red maple, white cedar, and blueberry, as well as sphagnum moss and skunk cabbage.
TIDEWATER
Areas subject to inundation by seawater tide flow.
WELLS
Penetration of land by digging, driving, or drilling to obtain fresh water.
WETLANDS
Includes, but not be limited to, marshes, swamps, bogs, ponds, rivers, river and stream floodplains and banks, areas subject to storm flowage, and emergent and submergent plant communities in any body of water, including rivers and streams and that area within 50 feet of the edge of any bog, marsh, swamp or pond.
(b) 
Controls.
(1) 
No alteration shall be made to land, wetland, shore or inland water areas as herein defined unless authorized by the town council and the coastal resources management council, and, where applicable, the Department of the Army Corps of Engineers.
(2) 
Conservation commissioners may inspect any land areas within the boundaries of the town to evaluate conformance to this section and may recommend the issuance of cease and desist orders for suspected violations.
(c) 
Enforcement.
(1) 
Enforcement of the coastal waters act is conducted through the coastal resources management council, and enforcement of the wetlands act is conducted through the state department of environmental management. The agents of that division and department will investigate, file complaints, and/or provide forms for applications for approval for alterations. In some cases, fees will be charged for applications and the cost of conducting hearings. The coastal resources management council and the department of environmental management will provide the local conservation commission with copies of all transactions and the commission shall transmit its recommendations in the matter to the town council.
(2) 
All alterations pertaining to tidewater areas shall also require approval permits from the Army Corps of Engineers.
(3) 
The zoning board of review and the building official shall forward copies of all applications received to the conservation commission for perusal and comment relative to conformance with the coastal resources management code as established by G.L. 1956, § 46-23-1.
[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 11-51]
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this division, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
HYDROCARBON CHEMICAL
Any compound composed of carbon and hydrogen.
RESTRICTED CHEMICAL MATERIAL
Any halogenated hydrocarbon chemical (aliphatic or aromatic), including but not limited to trichloroethane, tetrachloroethylene, methylene chloride, halogenated benzenes, or carbon tetrachloride, or any aromatic hydrocarbon chemical, including but not limited to benzene, toluene, or naphthalene, or any halogenated phenol derivative in which a hydroxide group and two or more halogen atoms are substituted onto the aromatic carbons of a benzene ring, including but not limited to trichlorophenol, pentachlorophenol or acrolein, acrylonitrile, or benzidine.
SEWAGE SYSTEM
Any part of a wastewater disposal system, including but not limited to all toilets, urinals, piping, drains, sewers, septic tanks, distribution boxes, absorption fields, seepage pits, cesspools and dry wells.
SEWAGE SYSTEM CLEANER
Any solid or liquid material intended or used primarily for the purpose of cleaning, treating or unclogging any part of a sewage system, or any solid or liquid material intended or used primarily for the purpose of continuously or automatically deodorizing or disinfecting any part of a sewage system, including but not limited to solid cakes or devices placed in plumbing fixtures. Excluded from the definition are products intended or used primarily in the manual surface cleaning, scouring, treating, deodorizing or disinfecting of common household plumbing fixtures.
[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 11-52]
(a) 
The purpose and intent of this division is to minimize the potential contamination of the groundwaters and surface waters, which in the future will supply water to the residents of the town, a sole source aquifer.
(b) 
In promoting the general intent of this division, the specific intent is to:
(1) 
Minimize surface water and groundwater pollution which may affect human, animal, fish and/or plant life in and around the town.
(2) 
Control storage, use and discharge of these materials so as to avoid any possible contamination and/or pollution of the aquifer.
(3) 
Promote the general health, welfare and safety within the town.
[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 11-53]
(a) 
Because of the potentially adverse effects of certain halogenated hydrocarbon cesspool cleaners, also known as drain additives, and the lack of a demonstrated positive effect on the cesspool leaching rate, the use of these types of cleaners and/or drain additives shall be prohibited. Prior to marketing other cesspool additives, manufacturers shall be required to demonstrate to the town council that their product is effective and poses no adverse environmental impact.
(b) 
No person shall import, transfer, sell, exchange, give or dispose of to another or agree to do the same for use within the town any cleaner containing any of the following surface active agents:
(1) 
Alkyl benzene sulfonates.
(2) 
Alcohol sulfates.
(3) 
Methelene blue active substances.
(4) 
Non-ionics.
(5) 
1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane.
(6) 
Chloroform.
(7) 
1,1, 1 trichloroethane.
(8) 
Carbon tetrachloride.
(9) 
1,1,2 trichloroethylene.
(10) 
Chlorodibromomethane.
(11) 
Tetrachlororethylene.
(12) 
Bromoform.
(13) 
Bromodichloromethane.
(14) 
Methylene chloride.
(c) 
Because of the potentially adverse effects of toxic antifreeze components on domestic potable water and the potential for pollution of the aquifer, the use of the antifreeze products containing methanol, ethanol or ethylene glycol for household uses shall be prohibited. Household uses are intended to include both residential and commercial uses, but shall not include the use of such products in automobiles, boats or the like. Only antifreeze products consisting of propylene glycol-based products shall be utilized for the uses restricted herein.