New England Inland Rivers Geographic Response Strategies
Blackstone & Pawtuxet Rivers
GRP Project
This project was completed in 2018. The 10 Geographic Response Plans that were developed are listed below and are available at the Regional Response Team 1 website located here.
Blackstone River
BR-01 Woonsocket West
BR-02 Woonsocket East
BR-03 Manville Dam
BR-04 Ashton Dam
BR-05 Lonsdale Marsh
BR-06 Pawtucket
Pawtuxet River
PX-01 Warwick Mall
PX-02 Pontiac Boat Ramp
PX-03 Jefferson Blvd
PX-04 Warwick Ave
Work Group Participants
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US Environmental Protection Agency
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RI Department of Environmental Management
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US Fish and Wildlife Service
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US Coast Guard
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Moran Environmental Recovery
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Rhode Island Save the Bay
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Towns of
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Attleboro, MA
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Central Falls, RI
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Coventry, RI
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Coventry, RI
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Cranston, RI
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Cumberland, RI
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East Providence, RI
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Lincoln, RI
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North Smithfield, RI
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Pawtucket, RI
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Providence, RI
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Scituate, RI
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Warwick, RI
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West Warwick, RI
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Woonsocket, RI
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Initial Work Group Meeting
Site Selection Meeting
Site Surveys
Tactics Sub-Group Meeting

November 16th, 1:30 pm-3:30 pm
235 Promenade St, Providence, Rhode Island 02908
Work Group participants were be briefed on project details including the site selection process, plan for site surveys, development of tactics for each site, and final review and approval of all GRPs.
February 12th, 1pm-4pm
235 Promenade St
Providence, Rhode Island 02908
April 23, 2018 (Blackstone River)
April 24, 2018 (Pawtuxet River)
June 18, 2018 Via Webinar
Participants reviewed the site sensitivity data compiled from Work Group members as well as the EPA, RI DEM, and Nuka Research, and identified the 10 GRP development sites. Information was presented in a site selection matrix for each of the river systems considered.
Nuka Research and work group members conducted site surveys to obtain additional information about each GRP site that informed the development of tactics and noted logistical and other issues.
The Tactics Sub-Group was comprised of select individuals from the project Work Group with direct experience and expertise in inland spill response, GRP development, and/or in-depth knowledge of the Blackstone and Pawtuxet Rivers. The Sub-Group reviewed draft GRP maps showing the tactics and strategies recommended by the site survey team. Changes to these initial tactics and strategies were made based on input from the Tactics Sub-Group, and the GRPs were updated prior to final review by the Work Group.
Final Work Group Meeting
September 12th, 2018 1pm-3pm
235 Promenade St
Providence, Rhode Island 02908
This was the final meeting of the Rhode Island GRP Work Group. During this meeting, each draft GRP was presented for review and comment prior to finalization.