DEM Must Deny Pond View Expansion

There have been many articles, letters to the editor, and editorials written about TLA/Pond View in the last few months. Rumford residents gathered together recently for a press conference to bring attention to what is happening in our neighborhood. It’s important that all residents of East Providence and throughout the state understand what we are experiencing.
I have lived on Sutcliffe Circle for almost 30 years, long before Pond View established a business. The neighborhood used to be quiet and clean. Unfortunately, now our roof, siding and shutters are coated with black soot. Our cars are constantly covered in dust. I worry about the health of my family and neighbors as we breathe the air containing these particles. I am not anti-business, but I expect to maintain a quality life and this is being disrupted by the presence of the Pond View processing facility. It originally opened as a “wood chip” processor. We were told they would take in items like wooden pallets, chop them up, and ship them out. However, they accept and process far more than their original permits allowed. Now they even grind concrete! Apparently, no one checks to see what they actually accept. We hear trucks and machinery as early as 6 AM every day. During the spring and summer months, the beeping of the back-up signals of trucks and banging of dumpsters being loaded and unloaded often awakens me from a sound sleep since they are permitted to “offload waste” at any time of the day or night. They must NOT be allowed to expand this business.
We have a company whose original permit to handle up to 150 tons per day is being contested. Now they want to expand to handle 1500 tons of demolition material and waste daily!! A decision on this expansion is expected any day now from Janet Coit, the new director of DEM. All Rhode Island residents need to be aware. This could happen to you! DEM must deny Pond View’s expansion and protect our children!

- Nancy Capineri