December 2025 Enforcement Action Summary
This report includes formal enforcement actions issued or resolved by the Office of Compliance & Inspection (OC&I) for December 2025. This report is intended to inform the public of certain compliance/enforcement activities performed in the preceding month to protect the public's health, safety, welfare, and the environment.
Formal enforcement actions are taken to achieve compliance with law/regulations; remediate environmental damage; restore natural resources to appropriate conditions; impose penalties that capture the gravity of the situation and any economic benefit gained by the alleged violator; and deter similar actions in the future. Formal enforcement is generally in the form of a Notice of Violation (NOV) that alleges certain facts and violations, contains orders to resolve the alleged violations, contains an assessed penalty with supporting documentation regarding what factors OC&I used to determine the penalty, and, by law, allows a respondent the ability to appeal or contest the NOV to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) Administrative Adjudication Division (AAD). Since most NOVs are contested cases, OC&I does not generally discuss the case with the public while the matter is awaiting hearing or pending negotiated settlement. NOVs are subject to release under the Access to Public Records law in Rhode Island. A copy of an individual NOV may be obtained through the RIDEM's Office of Customer and Technical Assistance. OC&I often resolve formal enforcement actions through negotiated settlement agreements prior to hearing before the AAD.
December 11, 2025 – Dam File No. State I.D. 160 (Hope Dam) and OCI-DAMS-23-11 re: BMP, LLC for property located approximately 800 feet south of the intersection of North Road and Main Street and 340 feet west of Main Street, Assessor’s Plat 05, Lots 58 and 69 in Scituate, Rhode Island. The dam is classified by RIDEM as Significant Hazard. Respondent owns the dam. OC&I alleges that Respondent violated Rhode Island’s Rules and Regulations for Dam Safety (250-RICR-130-05-1). View the NOV.
Decembre 16, 2025 - Onsite Wastewater Treatment System File No. OCI-OWTS-22-21 re: Dulce M. Reyes for property located at 1168 Pippin Orchard Road, Assessor’s Plat 28, Lot 43 in Cranston, Rhode Island. The property includes a dwelling. Respondent owns the property. OC&I alleges that Respondent violated Rhode Island’s Cesspool Phase Out Act and the Rules Establishing Minimum Standards Relating to Location, Design, Construction and Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (250-RICR-150-10-6). View the NOV.
None this month
December 4, 20205 – Onsite Wastewater Treatment System File No. OCI-OWTS-23-74 and Superior Court File No. PM-2025-06504 re: Plaintiff Terrence Gray, Director, RIDEM v. Defendants Christopher Paul Ferland and Sarai Ares for property located at 139 Lancaster Avenue, Assessor’s Plat 257, Lot 149 in Warwick, Rhode Island. The property includes a single-family dwelling that is served by an onsite wastewater treatment system. Defendants own the property. On February 21, 2024, OC&I issued a NOV to Defendant Ferland alleging that Defendant Ferland violated Rhode Island’s Rules Establishing Minimum Standards Relating to Location, Design, Construction, and Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (250-RICR-150-10-6). View the NOV. Defendant Ferland did not file an appeal of the NOV with AAD or comply with the NOV. On December 4, 2025, RIDEM filed a complaint in Superior Court against the Defendants asking the Court to order the Defendants to comply with the NOV. View the Complaint.
None filed this month.