RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONDUCT AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF RUNWAY EXPANSION AT T.F. GREEN AIRPORT ON THE CITY OF WARWICK AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES
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Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Aiken, Trillo, Sherlock, and Ginaitt |
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Date Introduced: May 09, 2002 |
WHEREAS,
Airports' most serious impacts on the surrounding environment are in air, water
and noise pollution; and
WHEREAS,
Airports rank as high as smokestack industries in the amount of pollution they
release into the environment, yet are excluded from many rules that equally
polluting industries must follow; and
WHEREAS, The
City of Warwick has received one of the lowest air quality ratings by the
United States Environmental Protection Agency; and
WHEREAS,
Residents living near the airport share similar environmental health concerns
with residents who live near other facilities or sources of pollution; and
WHEREAS, The
Department of Health can assist in assessing the impact of airport noise and
air pollution on surrounding communities by:
-- offering
technical support in the review and interpretation of data collected during
noise studies, ensuring that the airport comply with federal noise
requirements;
-- providing
technical support, depositions and testimony in court to strengthen public
nuisance suits brought by local officials and the Office of the Attorney
General;
-- working
with school officials on ways to evaluate impacts of airport noise/emissions on
learning and health;
-- reviewing
DEM air testing results and working with DEM to expand testing;
-- providing
technical assistance in developing a Request for Proposals and grants for a
comprehensive study of the environmental and health impacts of the airport; and
WHEREAS, According
to information in the T.F. Green Airport Master Plan Update by the Study
Resource Committee, current airfield passenger capacity is 9,307,900, terminal
passenger capacity is 6,701,400 and landslide passenger capacity is 7,997,600. As of April 25, 2002, the current passenger
demand for each is only 5,430,900; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED,
That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence
Plantations hereby respectfully requests the Rhode Island Department of Health
to assist the city of Warwick in interpreting health data and in developing an
RFP and a grant for funding an environmental impact study on the effect of
runway expansion at T.F. Green Airport on the City of Warwick and the
surrounding communities; including Cranston and Providence. Said study should include, but not be
limited to, the increase in air pollution and ground level aircraft emissions
which are currently excluded in state plans; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to
transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Director of the
Department of Health, the Chairman of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation, the
Members of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation, the Director of the Rhode
Island Airport Corporation, the Mayor of the City of Warwick, the Mayor of the
City of Cranston, the Mayor of the City of Providence, the Rhode Island
Congressional Delegation and the Director of the Rhode Island Department of
Environmental Management.