WHEREAS, On November 9, 1995, representatives of the Division of Air Resources performed an inspection at Pease & Curran, Inc., located at 75 Pennsylvania Avenue in the City of Warwick, to determine compliance with applicable state and federal air pollution control rules and regulations; and

WHEREAS, During the inspection, it was determined that Pease & Curran, Inc. does not have an operator in attendance at all times when an incinerator is operating, as required by Air Pollution Permit Approval Nos. 927-932. This is in violation of Air Pollution Control Regulation No. 9, entitled "Air Pollution Permits." Pease & Curran, Inc. is required to comply with their conditions of Approval Nos. 927-932, specifically Section D(1), immediately, by assuring that an operator is present at all times when an incinerator is operating; and

WHEREAS, On December 12, 1995, at the Warwick Air Quality Oversight Committee (WAQO) meeting, the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) stated that Pease & Curran, Inc. cannot legally operate their facility without an employee in house monitoring the system; and

WHEREAS, On January 3, 1996, at 5:00 P.M., a WAQO member telephoned DEM with a complaint regarding heavy emissions of foul smelling smoke emanating from Pease & Curran, Inc. In addition, a committee member verified, by ringing the doorbells and banging on the doors at Pease & Curran, Inc., that no one was in the building; and

WHEREAS, Pease & Curran, Inc.'s apparent unwillingness to comply with state and federal rules and regulations regarding the safe operation of their facility and the serious health risks deriving from emissions stemming from its facility, makes it imperative that any DEM meetings regarding Pease & Curran, Inc.'s application to renew its license to operate in the City of Warwick be publicly conducted in that city, thereby opening the process to the people most likely to be affected by DEM's decision; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby respectfully requests that the Department of Environmental Management conduct a public hearing in the City of Warwick before acting upon Pease & Curran, Inc.'s request for a renewal of its license to operate in that city; 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 Timothy R.E. Keeney, Director of the Department of Environmental Management.