What Grows On in Rhode Island ~ News Blog

Pawtucket Recycles ~ December 2, 2009

From WasteZero:

Pawtucket Needs Your Help....TONIGHT!

Rhode Island's leading environmentalists agree that implementing a pay-as-you-throw system is the single best way to reduce solid waste and increase recycling.
 
Economists say pay-as-you-throw would save Rhode Island cities millions in annual disposal costs.
 
BUT...Pawtucket has not yet been convinced.
 
Here's how the Providence Journal described last week's public meeting on pay-as-you-throw:

Several of the 10 residents at the informational forum at Baldwin Elementary School, including City Councilman Jean Philippe Barros, made it clear that a fee system for garbage bags could prove a tough sell.     

http://www.projo.com/news/content/PAWTUCKET_BAGS_11-22-09_NLGGVDO_v300.3385111.html

The next meeting to discuss the proposed plan for Pawtucket pay-as-you-throw is TONIGHT AT 7 PM.
 
Won't you show city leaders that local and state residents want a cleaner and safer Pawtucket NOW! Please show your support for pay-as-you-throw and Rhode Island's future by attending tonight's public meeting.


Tonight, Wed., Dec. 2 at 7:00 PM at Fallon Elementary School, 62 Lincoln Avenue
 
To learn more about the WasteZero System and to see a complete list of upcoming Pawtucket Informational Sessions, please visit http://www.wastezero.com/press.cfm?id=12

Providence Recycling Program and City Council ~ November 19, 2009

Environmental Community Calls on Providence City Council to Maintain “Green Up Providence” Recycling Program While Addressing Residents’ Concerns
 

Providence RI –A coalition of environmentalists and community residents are urging the Providence City Council to maintain the city’s new recycling policy while addressing concerns from residents about the implementation of the program.
 
According to the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, the early reports from the Providence’s program already show a marked increase in recycling.
 
A number of council members proposed delaying the implementation of the program, but supporters of Green Up are urging the city to stay the course and continue to troubleshoot according to residents’ concerns until the new recycling policy is running smoothly.

Climate Change Hearing & Presentations ~ November 10, 2009

Hearing of the House Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change that I‘ll be hosting in Seekonk to discuss the national security and environmental impacts of global warming.
 
We will have two speakers:
 
David Janik, South Coastal Regional Coordinator for the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, will be giving a presentation on “Climate Change Impacts on Coastal Communities and Infrastructure.”
 
Alex Cornell du Houx, Campaign Director of Operation Free whose mission statement is “Secure America with Clean Energy,” will be presenting on “Security Implications of Climate Change.”  He is also a representative in the Maine State Legislature.
 
The hearing is open to the public.  I encourage you invite anyone who might be interested in attending.
 
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Seekonk High School Auditorium
(261 Arcade Ave., Seekonk, MA)
 
Steve D'Amico
State Representative, 4th Bristol District
State House, Room 39
Boston, MA  02133
Rep.StevenD'Amico@Hou.State.MA.US
T: (617) 722-2014
F: (617) 626-0855

From the Ground Up! Press Conference ~ Providence, RI ~ September 3, 2009

Growing a Healthier, More Sustainable City - From the Ground Up!

Southside Community Land Trust and over 30 partners to announce a three-year initiative funded by the USDA Community Food Projects Grant

WHO:             Southside Community Land Trust (SCLT)
 
WHAT:          Press Conference to announce From the Ground Up!
 
WHEN:          Thursday, September 3, 2009, 4:30pm
 
WHERE:       Janes Community Garden, 12-14 Janes St., South Providence (near Eddy St. and Public St., please contact for directions)
 
WHY:             To introduce From the Ground Up!, an exciting initiative made possible by the USDA Community Food Projects Grant and over 30 community partners and foundations.

RI Water Infrastructure Needs Panel ~ September 2, 2009

Whitehouse Brings Together Panel of Experts to Examine Rhode Island’s Water Infrastructure Needs
 
Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, September 2nd, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) will bring together a panel of experts to discuss Rhode Island’s aging water infrastructure system and its impact on our economy, environment, and public health.  Whitehouse will chair an official field briefing of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee at the Narragansett Bay Commission in Providence.
 
EVENT:         Sheldon Whitehouse Chairs EPW Committee Field Briefing on “Investing in our Future and Protecting our Environment: Water Infrastructure Needs in Rhode Island”
 
WHEN:          Wednesday, September 2, 2009,  10:00 a.m.
 
WHERE:        Narragansett Bay Commission, 1 Service Road, Providence
 
In its 2009 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, the American Society of Civil Engineers estimates $255 billion will be needed over the next 5 years to maintain and repair the nation’s aging water infrastructure.  This problem is especially acute in Rhode Island, which is home to some of the nation’s oldest water infrastructure, with some water treatment and delivery systems over 100 years old – well past their intended life spans.  The total cost of needed water infrastructure projects in Rhode Island currently stands at over $1 billion, yet total federal funding in 2009 for Rhode Island under the EPA clean water and drinking water revolving loan funds provides only $12.8 million.  Pollution and contamination in Narragansett Bay and along Rhode Island’s beaches is directly attributable to the State’s aging water treatment systems; putting our citizens at risk and undermining our tourism-based economy.
 
Witnesses testifying at the briefing will include:
·         Tony Simeone, Executive Director, Rhode Island Clean Water Finance Agency
·         Laurie Horridge, Director of Executive Affairs, Narragansett Bay Commission
·         Jonathan Stone, Executive Director, Save the Bay
·         Ron Nunes, President, Utility Contractor’s Association of Rhode Island; Member, Board of Directors, National Utility Contractor’s Association; President, R.T. Nunes & Sons
The Senate EPW Committee is responsible for reviewing all Senate legislation pertaining to the environment and public works, particularly matters related to global warming, environmental health, and air and water quality.  Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) has served as Chairman of the Committee since January, 2007.

Hearing ~ Solid Waste Diversion Bills ~ April 23, 2008

From Sarah Kite, RI Resource Recovery Corporation:

These bills are up for a hearing and could use some support. S2797 is the pay as you throw bill without mandating PAYT, and S2771 is the bottle bill. Both bills are being heard Wednesday 4/23 at the rise of the Senate in room 310. Thanks for any assistance!

Senate Bill No. 2797 <http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText08/SenateText08/S2797.pdf> 
BY Sosnowski, Paiva-Weed, Gibbs, Maselli, Bates
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY {LC2168}
03/05/08 Introduced, referred to Senate Environment and Agriculture
04/23/08 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration

Senate Bill No. 2771 <http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText08/SenateText08/S2771.pdf> 
BY Paiva-Weed, Sosnowski, Gibbs, Bates, Gallo
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - PLASTIC BOTTLE AND CONTAINER LABELING ACT {LC2167}
02/27/08 Introduced, referred to Senate Environment and Agriculture
04/23/08 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration

Sarah

Sarah Kite
Recycling Manager
Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation
65 Shun Pike
Johnston, RI 02919
Phone: (401) 942-1430 Ext. 112
Fax: (401) 946-5174
sarahk@rirrc.org

Petition for Safer Children's Products & Ground Water in RI

From the Toxics Information Project:

PLEASE SIGN ONLINE PETITION FOR SAFER CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS & GROUND WATER IN RI PASS THIS ON TO ANYONE ELSE YOU KNOW IN RI!

Here is a chance to really make a difference in less than a minute!  Click on the link below to sign on to our Open Letter to the RI General Assembly, calling for action on legislation to protect RI children from endocrine disrupting chemicals (Note to environmentalists - these same hormone mimickers wind up in water, fish - and all of us!).

www.toxicsinfo.org/legislation.htm for more information and to sign. or www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/736773429 to go directly to signing page.

Contact me with any questions or to help with further action.

Liberty Goodwin, Director Toxics Information Project (TIP) Providence, RI, Tel. 401-351-9193 E-Mail:  liberty@toxicsinfo.org Website:  www.toxicsinfo.org

Hearing ~ Moratorium on Wind-/Wave-energy Project Applications ~ March 11, 2008

From Providence Business News:

CRMC Semi-Monthly Meeting. Narragansett Bay Commission, Boardroom, One Service Road, Providence, RI.
6:00 p.m.

PBN: "A public hearing on the proposal [of a one-year moratorium on applications from developers to build wind- and wave-energy projects in state waters] will be held at the Narragansett Bay Commission in Providence on Tuesday, March 11, at 6 p.m. All other business has been cleared from the meeting agenda, and the CRMC could vote on the proposal immediately following the hearing or could remand the proposal back to the agency’s staff for further study, CRMC spokeswoman Laura Ricketson-Dwyer said ..."

See the full Providence Business News article.

Hearings on Cape Wind Draft Environmental Impact Statement ~ March 10, 11, 12, 13

From Bill Mott, The Ocean Project, and the Conservation Law Foundation:

Support Clean Energy:
Attend Upcoming Hearings on Cape Wind!

In the face of unprecedented warnings about global warming and the need to end our dangerous dependence on fossil fuels, Cape Wind presents an important opportunity to tap into abundant renewable energy. The 130-turbine Cape Wind project proposed for Nantucket Sound is the first large-scale offshore wind project in America. It can provide clean wind power for 75 percent of the Cape and Islands. 

This pioneering project has undergone more than six years of environmental and permitting review to date, and has been approved by the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board. But the environmental review of the project is still underway. In January, the U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS) released a new Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the project. Click here to download the DEIS.

Now is your chance to voice your support for Cape Wind! Next week, four hearings will be held to gather public comment on the Cape Wind DEIS:

March 10:  Hyannis/Yarmouth, 6 pm, Mattacheese Middle School Auditorium, 400 Higgins-Crowell Road, West Yarmouth
March 11:  Nantucket, 5 pm, Nantucket High School Auditorium, 10 Surfside Road.
March 12:  Martha’s Vineyard, 5 pm, Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Auditorium, 100 Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road, Oak Bluffs.
March 13:  Boston, 6 pm, Campus Center Ballroom, University of Massachusetts-Boston, 100 Morrissey Boulevard, South Boston.

We encourage you to attend one or more hearings and let MMS know that clean renewable energy projects like Cape Wind are needed to begin to address the challenge of global warming. The environmental benefits of the project are expected to far outweigh any impacts.  MMS should move forward with fair and expeditious review and permitting so that this pioneering wind energy project can become a reality.

We hope that you will be able to attend!
- Sue Reid, Director, CLF MA Clean Energy & Climate Change Initiative

Hearing on Public Space at India Point, Providence ~ March 3, 2008

From David P. Riley:

Dear Friends of India Point Park,

     Please come to an important  hearing on protecting public space at India Point. The RI Transportation Dept. (RIDOT) is planning to sell the Shooters parcel -- right next to the park -- to the highest bidder with no restrictions.

    We need to urge RIDOT to delay the sale until AFTER the planning process is completed. It would be tragic for the park, the city, and the state to rush into the permanent sale of one of the state's key assets, which could be a public gateway to the Bay providing significant long-term economic and civic benefits for the region. (MAP:   Maguire map of India Point and the new I-195. The Shooters site is two small parcels in white at the end of the two docks just west of the park. Click on map to enlarge.)

WHEN:      Monday, March 3, 6PM

WHERE:    City Council chambers, Providence City Hall

WHAT:       Public hearing on proposal to rezone Shooters (see map below) as Public Space. RIDOT
                  adamantly opposes rezoning because it would prevent them from selling it to the highest
                  bidder, which would probably mean high rise luxury condos next to the park, which is
                  the only expanse of Bay shoreline open to the public in Providence.

WHO:         We need you to come Monday and be heard. Your presence and your voice will let
                   RIDOT know what the park means to us and to the city, and why RIDOT needs to slow down!
                   (You can also submit written comments at the hearing, or email them to
                   ward1.agv1@providenceri.com.  Please come: we need a crowd!

Read on for TALKING POINTS for Monday's hearing: