NEW Ucci Introduces Bills to Hold RIRRC Accountable
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Rep. Stephen R. Ucci (D-Dist. 42, Johnston, Cranston) has introduced three bills related to the operation of the Rhode Island Resource and Recovery Corporation, a quasi-public agency charged with disposing of the state’s trash and recycling.
“It is in the best interest of my constituents, and really for all Rhode Islanders, that we keep a watchful eye on how our landfill facilities operate and increase improvement and efficiency anywhere we can,” he said. “We need to know how much space we’re using, stay on top of odor problems stemming from our trash facilities and guarantee that all of our quasi-public agencies are held to the same standards. Transparency in these agencies, especially with everything that has happened during the last year with the rotten landfill smell and the quality of life issues my constituents have been facing, is more important than ever.”
The first bill (2012-H 8188) would make it unlawful for RIRRC facilities to accept construction debris for disposal, including painted, treated and coated wood or wood products. The list further extends to wall coverings, plaster, drywall, plumbing fixtures, non-asbestos insulation, roofing shingles, other roof coverings and glass. Any facility violating this section shall be fined between $2,500 and $5,000. That fine would go directly to the city or town in which the facility is located.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTUnder provisions of the second bill (2012-H 8189), an agency could suffer a similar fine for using those same materials – with the addition of organic materials like paper, wood, food waste, leaves and yard waste –as a cover for compacted solid waste at a sanitary landfill. Organic materials may only be used for this purpose with the approval of the state Department of Environmental Management.
The third bill (2012-H 8190) serves as the House version of Sen. Frank A. Ciccone III’s (D-Dist. 7, Providence, North Providence) Senate legislation (2012-S 2712), which imposes standards of accountability and transparency on quasi-public corporations. With the RIRRC included in the list of quasi-public agencies, the representative hopes to hold the corporation accountable for its actions and monitoring in the future.
Representative Ucci is the chairman of the Special House Commission on Rhode Island Resource Recovery, which has been investigating ways to put an end to the strong odor that has been emanating from the landfill in Johnston. The commission held three meetings this year, working to address the problems causing the odor, ensure communication with the public about the problem and search for solutions used by other landfills. Representatives Deborah A. Fellela (D-Dist. 43, Johnston), Thomas Winfield (D-Dist. 53, Smithfield, Glocester), Rep. Michael W. Chippendale (R-Dist. 40, Foster, Glocester, Coventry) and Rep. Michael J. Marcello (D-Dist. 41, Scituate, Cranston) also served on the panel.
“I want to thank this commission for all of their hard work this year,” Representative Ucci said. “It certainly was not an easy task addressing these problems, but I commend my colleagues in their efforts to alleviate the hardship our constituents have experienced because of the landfill odors. In quagmires like these when emotions often run high on all sides of the issue, we were able to do what’s best for our communities and hopefully offer reassurance that the RIRRC will be held to the highest standards and ensure the best quality of life for all in the vicinity of that landfill.”
The first two RIRRC-related bills have been referred to the House Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources. Co-sponsoring both bills are Representatives Fellela, Peter J. Petrarca (D-Dist. 44, Lincoln, Johnston, Smithfield), Marcello and John M. Carnevale (D-Dist. 13, Providence, Johnston). The third bill applying to all quasi-public agencies has been sent to the House Finance Committee. Representatives Fellela, Petrarca and Carnevale co-sponsor the legislation.
