10-R298

2010 -- H 7104 SUBSTITUTE A

Enacted 06/02/10

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

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL

MANAGEMENT AND THE PAWTUXET RIVER AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT

ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING

Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, and Handy

Date Introduced: January 13, 2010

     WHEREAS, The Pawtuxet River is a vital component of an estuary that contributes to

the environmental health of Narragansett Bay; and

     WHEREAS, Over the course of the last century, there have been numerous

manufacturing facilities and at least one toxic dump that have contributed to the pollution of the

Pawtuxet River and its watershed; and

     WHEREAS, These sites include the Ciba-Geigy Chemical Corporation, which is located

on the banks of the Pawtuxet River, two miles west of the fall in Pawtuxet Village; and

     WHEREAS, These manufacturing factories have contributed to the pollution not only of

the Pawtuxet River, but also of adjacent wetlands; now, therefor be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby respectfully requests the Department of Environmental

Management and the Pawtuxet River Authority to conduct environmental testing, prior to the

initiation of any construction projects, to determine levels of all toxic contaminants listed as

potential concern for direct human exposure by the Department of Environmental Management in

its Rules and Regulations for the Investigation and Remediation of Hazardous Material Releases

(Table 1, Direct Exposure Criteria, Pages 35-39); and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives hereby respectfully requests that these

chemical analyses be conducted on samples of sediment at least two miles upstream from any

construction project that would affect the lowering of the river’s flood plain; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives hereby respectfully requests that the

projects studied include those to be constructed or the removal of existing dams or the alteration

of any natural features that would affect the level of water flow in the Pawtuxet River; 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

Environmental Management and the Chairperson of the Pawtuxet River Authority.

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LC00096/SUB A

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