R 170

2015 -- H 5991 Enacted 03/26/2015

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TO RESOLVE THE ALLEN’S AVENUE WATERFRONT POLLUTION COMPLAINT

Introduced By: Representatives Almeida, Carnevale, McKiernan, Williams, and

Date Introduced: March 26, 2015

WHEREAS, In 2012, two recycling companies, Rhode Island Recycled Metals and Sims

Metal Management, were ordered to stop certain activities due to allegedly operating without

proper permits; and

WHEREAS, Rhode Island Recycled Metals stands accused of not having the proper

permits to salvage automobiles or dismantle marine vessels at its waterfront site on Allen's

Avenue. It has also been accused of failing to install the required storm runoff controls and

having oil leaks on their property grounds. The company was ordered to pay a $33,750 fine, to

stop all car crushing, to stop receiving new scrap metal, derelict vessels or automobiles, and to

install a pollution containment boom in the river around the property; and

WHEREAS, Sims Metal Management was fined $25,000 and ordered to stop receiving

any new scrap metal at the site, to stop accepting any new ship repair jobs, and to remove all

scrap metal from the facility within sixty days; and

WHEREAS, Tom Kutcher, Save the Bay's baykeeper, has expressed "dismay at the

blatant and continuing violations of regulations intended to protect Narragansett Bay" and Save

the Bay has repeatedly urged the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management to

take quicker and firmer action to stop these scrap metal companies from continuing these harmful

activities; and

WHEREAS, It has now been three years since the Rhode Island DEM charged the two

scrap metal companies with committing numerous violations of Rhode Island's environmental

regulations, and these two companies are still in business and they continue to break the law and

harm the environment. The Providence waterfront and Narragansett Bay, two of Rhode Island's

most precious natural resources, continue to suffer harm on a daily basis from the activities of

these two scrap metal companies; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives hereby respectfully requests that the

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management promptly adjudicates and resolves the

Allen's Avenue waterfront pollution complaint; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Ms. Janet Coit, Director, Rhode Island

Department of Environmental Management, Gina Raimondo, Governor of the State of Rhode

Island, and the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation.

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LC002271

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