R 308

2003 -- S 1195

Enacted 07/01/03

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF SAND AND GRAVEL ACTIVITIES IN RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Senator V. Susan Sosnowski

Date Introduced: July 01, 2003

     WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island values its air, water and land resources and its

citizens’ use of those resources; and

     WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island should encourage the sustainable use and reuse of

its air, water and land resources; and

     WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island should strive to minimize the impairment of the

quality of its landscape and natural resources; and

     WHEREAS, There are numerous sand and gravel operations and stone quarrying

activities across Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, Sand and gravel operations and stone quarrying activities are profitable

enterprises in Rhode Island and an important component of the state’s infrastructure and

economy, including agriculture and road maintenance; and

     WHEREAS, By nature, sand and gravel deposits are associated with high quality

drinking water aquifers and groundwater recharge areas; and

     WHEREAS, Removal of rock, sand, and soil layers diminishes the natural filtering

capacity of the land and may render the underlying groundwater more vulnerable to

contamination; and

     WHEREAS, Sites of sand and gravel removal and stone quarrying activities across the

state which are not properly reclaimed raise uncertainty with regard to potential future impacts to

groundwater and subsequent use of the land; and

     WHEREAS, Sand and gravel operations and stone quarrying activities typically employ

motorized equipment and other heavy machinery for extraction and processing creating a

potential for groundwater contamination from diesel fuel, oil, solvents and other fluids during

routine operations or from accidental spills, which is of particular concern in areas of

reclamation; and

     WHEREAS, There is a need to examine existing state and local oversight of sand and

gravel operations and stone quarrying activities for the purpose of protecting the state’s valuable

natural resources and promoting sound resource management policies; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby respectfully requests that the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental

Management convene a task force to examine the environmental impacts of sand and gravel

activities in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Director of the Rhode Island Department of

Environmental Management and to the Honorable Donald L. Carcieri, Governor of the State of

Rhode Island.

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LC03608

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