Section 250-RICR-90-00-26.8 - Application Procedures and Required Information, Certification and DocumentationA. Consideration for gear allotment will only be afforded to those who meet the eligibility criteria set forth in sect; 26.7 of this Part, who apply to the Department pursuant to the application procedures set forth below, and who provide all required information, certification, and documentation.B. Application: 1. Applicants must complete the application form titled "Large Whale Gear Modification Assistance Plan - Affidavit and Application for Eligible Fishery Participants from Rhode Island," issued by the Department. The application form will be available online at the Department's Marine Fisheries website at: http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/marine-fisheries/Fisheries-CARES-Act.php.2. Applications must be completed in full. Applications not completed in full will not be considered eligible.3. Applications must be notarized prior to submission.4. Submission. Fully completed and notarized applications must be submitted in hard copy (i.e., hand delivered) or postmarked during the application period, Monday through Friday, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm, to either of the two offices set forth below. Electronic submissions of application forms will not be accepted.C. Application period: The application period is limited to the fifteen (15)-day period beginning on July 31, 2023 and ending on August 11, 2023. The application deadline is 4:00 pm on July 30, 2023. No applications will be accepted or considered if submitted after the application deadline.D. Required Information, Certification, and Documentation:1. All applicants must provide the following information as part of each application: a. Vessel and gear configuration information to confirm commercial fishing activity and amount of gear fished. This includes but is not limited to permit number, commercial fishing license/landing permit number, lobster trap allocation, and vessel registration information.b. Consent to allowing the Department to use SAFIS data, Vessel Trip Reports (VTRs), dockside sales records, and other relevant data sources to verify the information provided by the applicant to demonstrate lobster trap allocation and fishing activity; and consent to waive any and all confidentiality pertaining to this such information as it relates to the application.c. Determination as to how each applicant wishes to be notified regarding the Department's decision on each application: either via certified mail, or by picking up and signing for the decision letter at the Department's Marine Fisheries Office in Jamestown or Coastal Resources Office in Galilee (Narragansett).250 R.I. Code R. 250-RICR-90-00-26.8
Adopted effective 7/15/2023