Railside Environmental Services (Pond View) Questions Linger. Legislators Want Answers.

In a letter dated January 20, 2015, Senator Daniel Da Ponte, District 14 and Representative Katherine Kazarian, District 63, have penned a letter to R I Department of Environmental Management Director, Janet Coit. Da Ponte and Kazarian represent the area in question - mostly the Omega Pond area in Rumford. The legislators have continued to receive complaints from constituents and neighbors of the troubled construction debris facility.

Da Ponte and Kazarian are formally requesting an update of the Railside Environmental Services operation as it may or may not comply with State Law and prior rulings. Those close to the complicated and years long battle have reported that the State Fire Marshall was at Pond View on Thursday, January 8th - found 17 fire code violations, PV was told they could not take any more debris in for a week. Sources indicate that the State Fire Marshall has continued to find violations and will be inspecting the property again soon. It has not been independently determined if the State Fire Marshall has cited RES and City officials say they do not have copies of violations or other pertinent DEM documents. At least once city resident has sent in a written request to the DEM asking to review the RES application for a new license. "To date there has been no response from the DEM). This resident has since filed a complaint with the Attorney General's office in writing for non compliance of the citizen's request.

Recently, a sign advertising the RES operation, was placed on land in which it was not allowed and after a few days and a call from the city Zoning Officer, it was removed. Da Ponte and Kazarian sent their letter to the City Council, City Manager as well as the State DEM Director. Here is part of their letter:

"Dear Director Coit: As you are aware, last session the General Assembly passed into law our companion legislation, S 2441 Substitute A I H 8117 Substitute A - AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - REFUSE DISPOSAL. The sponsors' intent in drafting the legislation was to address quality of life concerns for citizens living within a one thousand foot (1000') radius of a construction and demolition (C&D) debris processing facility, by requiring that such facilities conduct all operations within an enclosed structure. The final language of the law reflects many hours of input and cooperation among DEM, City and State officials i n order to affect a real and practical improvement in the citizens• quality of life.

Over six months' time since changing the law, our offices have continued to receive numerous complaints of a familiar, common thread - that "business as usual" continues at Railside Environmental Services located on Omega Pond in the Rumford section of East Providence. In light of this, we are requesting a written update as to the status of operations at the aforementioned facility, including any violations issued in the past six months and whether any timetable has been set forth for its compliance with the change of law addressing C&D facilities.

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of this request. We look forward to receiving your response in a timely manner." The joint letter was also sent to other area legislators, Senator William J. Conley, Representative Gregg Amore and Representative Helio Melo and City Solicitor, Timothy Chapman. Rumford residents following this case for years, hope that this legislative inquiry will help provide some answers.