06-R 154
2006 -- S 2957
Enacted 03/22/06
S E N A T E R E
S O L U T I O N
RESPECTFULLY
REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES NAVY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS OF REMOVING THE LEAD PAINT HAZARD FROM THE
AREA NEAR THE PORTSMOUTH MELVILLE SCHOOL
Introduced
By: Senator C Levesque
Date
Introduced: March 22, 2006
WHEREAS, Article 1 of the Rhode Island Constitution states “All free
governments are
instituted
for the protection, safety, and happiness of the people.” Over the past several
months a
serious
situation has emerged that gives rise to the imminent safety of some of the
youngest and
most
vulnerable citizens of this state; and
WHEREAS, Numerous paint chips, containing lead paint, have been found on the
ground
outside
the Melville Elementary School located on West Main Road in Portsmouth; and
WHEREAS, Lead has long been recognized as a harmful environmental pollutant.
The
Secretary
of the United States Department of Health and Human Services has stated that
lead is
the
"number one environmental threat to the health of children in the United
States"; and
WHEREAS, The paint chips are from a Navy water tower located adjacent to the
school,
and
although the Navy “has recognized and remains concerned about the safety of the
students,
teachers
and visitors of the school,” this hazard, which was discovered almost six
months ago,
has
yet to be fully remedied; and
WHEREAS, The Navy needs to devise a comprehensive long-term solution forthwith,
and
the current contamination must be remedied without any further delays; now,
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence
Plantations
hereby
respectfully requests the United States Navy Region Northeast in conjunction
with the
Rhode
Island Department of Environmental Management expedite the lead paint hazard
treatment
and
removal from the Navy water tower and the surrounding area located adjacent to
the
Portsmouth
Melville Elementary School; 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 Navy Secretary Donald C.
Winter, Navy
Captain
T.W. Malloy, Chris Zendan, spokesperson for Navy Region Northwest, the Director
of
the
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, L.F. Clavin & Co. of
Warwick,
Portsmouth
School Superintendent Susan F. Lusi, and Melville School Principal Joanne
Olson.
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LC02842
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