H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
STRONGLY URGING THE RHODE ISLAND ATTORNEY GENERAL PURSUANT TO RIGL 42-9-3, 42-9-4, AND 10-20-1 TO INITIATE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST PG & E'S BRAYTON POINT POWER PLANT FOR POLLUTION TO MOUNT HOPE BAY
Introduced By
: Representatives Palumbo, Gallison, Malik, Anguilla and NaughtonWHEREAS, Mount Hope Bay is a valuable natural resource for the citizens of Rhode Island and Massachusetts; and
WHEREAS, Commercial and recreational fishing are a significant part of the Rhode Island economy; and
WHEREAS, Populations of marine fish in Mount Hope Bay have declined dramatically since 1986 and remain at historic low levels; and
WHEREAS, Commercial and recreational fishing in Mount Hope Bay has been adversely affected by pollutants discharged by PG & E's Brayton Point Power Plant; and
WHEREAS, The intake and discharge of cooling water and pollutants including, but not limited to, chlorine from PG & E's Brayton Point Power Plant in Somerset, Massachusetts has been implicated as a significant source of negative environmental impact to Mount Hope Bay; and
WHEREAS, The Brayton Point Power Plant is operating on an interim permit issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1993 which was intended to be temporary and to be replaced by a new permit in 1998; and
WHEREAS, Environmental impacts from the Brayton Point Power Plant have not been adequately addressed by the interim permit of 1993; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby strongly urges the Rhode Island Attorney General pursuant to RIGL 42-9-3, 42-9-4 and 10-20-1 to initiate legal action against PG & E for polluting Mount Hope Bay and through its Brayton Point Power Plant which has led to collapse and depletion of finfish stock; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Attorney General, Rhode Island's Congressional Delegation, the Massachusetts Attorney General and the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation.