2013 -- S 0602

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LC01948

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL SELECT COMMISSION TO DETERMINE THE FUTURE OF

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, Walaska, Nesselbush, and Bates

     Date Introduced: March 06, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

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     WHEREAS, It is vital to the public interest to properly manage solid waste generated

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within the territorial borders of the State of Rhode Island in order to protect the public health and

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welfare of the inhabitants of the state and to protect and preserve a healthy and natural

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environment; and

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     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation is charged with the

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proper management of the state’s solid waste through necessary, cost efficient, and

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environmentally sound systems, facilities, technology, and services for solid waste management

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and resource recovery; and

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     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation enjoys a special

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relationship with the state’s thirty-nine municipalities in that the central landfill is a public

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resource of limited and finite capacity which the state, as guardian and trustee for its people, has

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the right and the obligation to preserve for the use of its people; and

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     WHEREAS, Providing long range price stability and predictability for municipal solid

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waste disposal and recycling should continue to be a primary goal; and

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     WHEREAS, The state, by creating the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation and

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through it operating the central landfill and materials recycling facility, is a participant in the

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landfill services market and has entered that market for the purpose of serving citizens, residents,

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and municipalities of this state; and

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     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, through proper

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organizational restructuring, fiscally sound reduction of operating costs, increased educational

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and outreach activity, and sound management practices has added ten years of life to the central

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landfill, providing capacity through 2034; and

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     WHEREAS, Recent changes in the law, improvements and innovations in processing

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technology, global economic influences, and development of local opportunities to grow the

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green economy in the state, necessitate a re-examination of the future of solid waste management

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in Rhode Island; and

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     WHEREAS, The task of creating a blueprint for the future of solid waste management in

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the state beyond 2034 requires an historic effort and unprecedented cooperation among diverse

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interest groups; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That the “Select Commission to Determine the Future of Solid Waste

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Management in Rhode Island,” be, and the same is hereby created consisting of eleven (11)

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members: the Director of the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation; the Director of the

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Department of Environmental Management, or his or her designee; the Director of the

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Department of Administration, or his or her designee; the Director of the League of Cities and

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Towns; the Director of Statewide Planning, or his or her designee; the Director of the Rhode

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Island Economic Development Corporation, or his or her designee; a designee of the Greater

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Providence Chamber of Commerce; a designee of the Environment Council of Rhode Island; a

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designee of the solid waste industry; and two (2) public members from the Town of Johnston, one

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appointed by the Senate President and one appointed by the Speaker of the House.

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     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study of all technical,

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environmental, policy, and financial issues concerning the future of solid waste management in

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the state of Rhode Island. The commission will specifically examine the following, as well as any

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other relevant issues:

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     a. The state’s proper role in solid waste management.

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     b. The mix of private and public finance, operation, and ownership of solid waste

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facilities which is most appropriate.

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     c. The steps necessary to maximize source reduction, reuse, and recycling of solid waste.

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     d. The appropriate methods to ensure that affordable, safe, and environmentally

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protective solid waste disposal is available for the remaining waste.

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     e. The appropriate funding mechanism for these facilities and activities.

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     f. Policies which enable a system of solid waste management to remain viable and

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consistent for the ongoing benefit of the citizens of Rhode Island.

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     The commission shall submit to the General Assembly a report that evaluates and

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recommends solid waste disposal option(s) and sets forth an action plan that establishes the

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timeline necessary to implementing an economically sound disposal option to manage the state’s

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solid waste once the central landfill’s capacity is fully exhausted.

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     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

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the call of the Senate President and the Speaker of the House, and organize and shall select a

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chairperson from among the group. The chairperson shall not be the Director of Rhode Island

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Resource Recovery Corporation. The commission shall meet regularly, and vacancies in said

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commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

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     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

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     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

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documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

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desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

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General Assembly no later than December 31, 2013, and said commission shall expire on June

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30, 2014.

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LC01948

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL SELECT COMMISSION TO DETERMINE THE FUTURE OF

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN RHODE ISLAND

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     This resolution would create an eleven (11) member special select commission to make a

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comprehensive study of all technical, environmental, policy, and financial issues concerning the

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future of solid waste management in the state of Rhode Island, and who would report back to the

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General Assembly no later than December 31, 2013, and whose life would expire on June 30,

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2014.

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LC01948

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