WHEREAS, Airports' most serious impacts on the surrounding environment are in air, water and noise pollution; and

WHEREAS, Airports rank as high as smokestack industries in the amount of pollution they release into the environment, yet are excluded from many rules that equally polluting industries must follow; and

WHEREAS, The City of Warwick has received one of the lowest air quality ratings by the United States Environmental Protection Agency; and

WHEREAS, Residents living near the airport share similar environmental health concerns with residents who live near other facilities or sources of pollution; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Health can assist in assessing the impact of airport noise and air pollution on surrounding communities by:

-- offering technical support in the review and interpretation of data collected during noise studies, ensuring that the airport comply with federal noise requirements;

-- providing technical support, depositions and testimony in court to strengthen public nuisance suits brought by local officials and the Office of the Attorney General;

-- working with school officials on ways to evaluate impacts of airport noise/emissions on learning and health;

-- reviewing DEM air testing results and working with DEM to expand testing;

-- providing technical assistance in developing a Request for Proposals and grants for a comprehensive study of the environmental and health impacts of the airport; and

WHEREAS, According to information in the T.F. Green Airport Master Plan Update by the Study Resource Committee, current airfield passenger capacity is 9,307,900, terminal passenger capacity is 6,701,400 and landslide passenger capacity is 7,997,600. As of April 25, 2002, the current passenger demand for each is only 5,430,900; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby respectfully requests the Rhode Island Department of Health to assist the city of Warwick in interpreting health data and in developing an RFP and a grant for funding an environmental impact study on the effect of runway expansion at T.F. Green Airport on the City of Warwick and the surrounding communities; including Cranston and Providence. Said study should include, but not be limited to, the increase in air pollution and ground level aircraft emissions which are currently excluded in state plans; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Director of the Department of Health, the Chairman of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation, the Members of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation, the Director of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation, the Mayor of the City of Warwick, the Mayor of the City of Cranston, the Mayor of the City of Providence, the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation and the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.