R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-31-9: Agencies created.

(a) There is created in each community a redevelopment agency to be known as the redevelopment agency of the community.

(b) Redevelopment agencies may also be created by public law for the purposes of exercising the powers set forth in chapters 31-33 of this title, provided an ordinance of the legislative body of the community authorizes the exercise of the provisions of the public law for the purposes of these chapters. The provisions of §§ 45-31-12, 45-31-13, 45-31-14, 45-31-15, and 45-31-21 that are inconsistent with such a public law shall be deemed to be superseded by the public law and not applicable to the redevelopment agency thereby created, upon adoption ordinance putting into effect the purposes of the public law. Where authorized by such a special act, the term “blighted area and substandard area” shall be deemed to include areas where the presence of hazardous materials, as defined in § 23-19.14-2, impairs the use, reuse, or redevelopment of impacted sites.