2026 -- H 8431 | |
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LC006290 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- REFUSE DISPOSAL | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Finkelman, Casimiro, Craven, Caldwell, McEntee, | |
Date Introduced: April 10, 2026 | |
Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Chapter 23-18.9 of the General Laws entitled "Refuse Disposal" is hereby |
2 | amended by adding thereto the following section: |
3 | 23-18.9-19. Siting restrictions for pyrolysis facilities. |
4 | (a) Definitions. As used in this section: |
5 | (1) "Pyrolysis facility" means any facility or operation that thermally decomposes solid |
6 | waste, including plastics or other organic materials, in an oxygen-limited or oxygen-free |
7 | environment for the purpose of producing fuel, gas, oil, char, or other byproducts. The term shall |
8 | include any preprocessing, storage, or handling of feedstock or byproducts conducted as part of |
9 | such operation. |
10 | (2) "School" means any public or private elementary or secondary school, including charter |
11 | schools, approved by the Rhode Island department of education and serving students in any of |
12 | grades kindergarten through twelve (k-12). |
13 | (b) Prohibition. |
14 | Effective July 1, 2026, no person shall site, construct, install, expand, or operate a pyrolysis |
15 | facility within one mile of the property line of any school. |
16 | (c) Measurement. |
17 | The distance required under subsection (b) of this section shall be measured in a straight |
18 | line from the nearest property boundary of the proposed pyrolysis facility to the nearest property |
19 | boundary of the school. |
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1 | (d) Permitting. |
2 | The Rhode Island department of environmental management shall not issue any permit, |
3 | license, or approval for a pyrolysis facility that does not comply with the requirements of this |
4 | section. |
5 | (e) Non-waiver. |
6 | The requirements of this section shall be mandatory and shall not be waived by the |
7 | department or any other state or municipal authority. |
8 | (f) Relationship to other laws. |
9 | The provisions of this section shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other applicable |
10 | requirements under this chapter or any other provision of the general laws or regulations. |
11 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- REFUSE DISPOSAL | |
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1 | This act would prohibit the construction, expansion or operation of a pyrolysis facility |
2 | within one mile of a school. |
3 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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