May 2025 Enforcement Action Summary
This report includes formal enforcement actions issued or resolved by the Office of Compliance & Inspection (OC&I) for May 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 the 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, the 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. The OC&I often resolve formal enforcement actions through negotiated settlement agreements prior to hearing before the AAD.
May 15, 2025 – Onsite Wastewater Treatment System File No. OCI-OWTS-24-86 re: Jennifer L. Hyland, Living Trust and Jennifer L. Hyland, Trustee for property located at 660 Knotty Oak Road, Assessor’s Plat 86, Lot 7 in Coventry, Rhode Island. Respondent owns the property. OC&I alleges that Respondents violated Rhode Island’s Rules Establishing Minimum Standards Relating to Location, Design, Construction and Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (250-RICR-150-10-6). View the NOV.
May 15, 2025 – Freshwater Wetlands File No. OCI-FW-22-34 re: Jordan E. Carlson, Jordan E Carlson d/b/a Buttonwoods MX, Jordan E. Carlson d/b/a RIMX LLC, and Jordan E. Carlson d/b/a Buttonwoods Motocoss for properties locates approximately 670 feet southeast of Buttonwoods Road, and approximately 1,300 feet east of the intersection with Silson Road, Assessor’s Plat 4C, Lot 28 and Lot 29-1; Assessor’s Plat 4B, Lot 61; and Assessor’s Plat 4C, Lot 29 in Richmond, Rhode Island. Respondent Jordan E. Carlson owns Lot 28 and Lot 29-1; Richmond 208 Realty LLC owns Lot 61; and the Town of Richmond owns Lot 29. OC&I alleges that Respondents violated Rhode Island’s Freshwater Wetlands Act, and the Regulations Governing the Administration and Enforcement of the Freshwater Wetlands Act (250-RICR-150-15-3). View the NOV.
May 12, 2025 – Freshwater Wetland File No. OCI-FW-20-244 re: Jennifer Cosgrove for property located approximately 185 feet south of Middle Road, generally west of the dwelling at 160 Middle Road, approximately 300 feet southwest of the intersection of Middle Road and Ridgefield Drive, Assessor’s Plat 8, Lot 68 in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Respondent formerly owned the property. On January 19, 2023, OC&I issued a NOV to Respondent alleging that Respondent violated Rhode Island's Freshwater Wetlands Act and Rules and Regulations Governing the Administration and Enforcement of the Freshwater Wetlands Act. View the NOV. Respondent filed an appeal of the NOV with AAD. Prior to an administrative hearing on the NOV, OC&I and Respondent executed a Consent Agreement to resolve the NOV. View the Agreement.
May 12, 2025 – Underground Storage Tank File No. UST-21-2-00641 re: Cowesett Sun Service, LLC and Bayco Enterprises, Inc. for property located at 128 Cowesett Avenue, Assessor’s Plat 13, Lot 552 in West Warwick, Rhode Island. The property includes a service station and a motor fuel storage and dispensing system (facility). Cowesett Sun Service, LLC owns the property. Bayco Enterprises, Inc. operates the facility. On May 12, 2022, OC&I issued a NOV to Respondents alleging Respondents violated Rhode Island’s Rules and Regulations for Underground Storage Facilities Used for Regulated Substances and Hazardous Materials. View the NOV. Respondents did not file an Appeal of the NOV with AAD. OC&I and Respondents executed a Consent Agreement to resolve the NOV. View the Agreement.
May 8, 2025 – Multi Media – Freshwater Wetland Files Nos. OCI-FW-14-9, C14-0008; Solid Wase File No. OCI-SW-13-88, and Superior Court Case File No. PC-2025-02674 re: Plaintiff Terrance Gray, Director, RIDEM v. Mike’s Professional Tree Service Inc. for property located approximately 600 feet southeast of the intersection of Airport Road and Milton Lane in the Town of Coventry, Rhode Island. On April 22, 2014, OC&I issued a NOV to Defendant alleging that Defendant violated Rhode Island's Freshwater Wetlands Act, RIDEM's Rules and Regulations Governing the Administration and Enforcement of the Freshwater Wetlands Act, and Rhode Island's Refuse Disposal Act.View the NOV. The Defendant filed an appeal of the NOV with the AAD. On October 6, 2015, and October 27, 2015, a hearing was held on the NOV. On April 25, 2016, the hearing officer issued a Decision and Order upholding the NOV in its entirety. View the Decision. Defendant appealed the AAD Decision and Order to Superior Court. On June 23, 2017, the Superior Court upheld the AAD Decision and Order. On May 8, 2025, RIDEM filed a complaint in Superior Court against Defendant asking the Court to order Defendant to comply with the NOV. View the Complaint.
None settled or resolved this month.