In a release issued last week, Sen. William A. Walaska (D-Dist. 30, Warwick) said he is extremely disappointed that the Rhode Island Airport Corporation acted unilaterally and without required public …
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In a release issued last week, Sen. William A. Walaska (D-Dist. 30, Warwick) said he is extremely disappointed that the Rhode Island Airport Corporation acted unilaterally and without required public notice when it moved an air quality monitoring station near T.F. Green Airport.
In a letter to Warwick’s Mayor Scott Avedisian, the RIAC informed him that, due to ongoing construction related to the airport runway extension, one of the monitoring stations was being moved. Although the letter said the station was being “temporarily relocated,” there was no indication when, or if, it would be moved back to its original location.
“This action by the Airport Corporation is clearly in violation of legislation enacted in 2007, which I sponsored in the Senate, establishing the air monitoring program,” said Walaska. “The law allows for changes to the monitoring plan by the Airport Corporation, the Department of Health or the Department of Environmental Management, but it requires review and comments by the general public, and the advisory committee established by the law. That review never happened; the public was never informed. The Airport Corporation just acted on its own and it is not allowed to do that.”
The 2007 law directed the Airport Corporation to design a monitoring program, to procure and install long-term air quality monitors and to keep the testing going at least until the year 2015 (or beyond, if the state decides to extend the testing program). The monitoring program around the airport is designed to measure particulate matter, including carbon, volatile organic compounds such as benzene and formaldehyde, and various forms of hydrocarbons.
“According to the Airport Corporation, the monitoring station in question was only moved about 200 yards from its permanent location,” said Walaska. “The distance it was moved is not the issue. The issue is that the law clearly requires public notification and the right to comment on any proposed changes to the monitoring plan. The corporation could prove it’s a good neighbor by being more open and straightforward about what it is doing with the people who live, work and go to school near the airport.”
“The monitoring program was required by law for one most important reason – the health and safety of Warwick residents,” said Walaska. “Changes to the program – which could affect the accuracy or quality of the monitoring – impacts the well-being of Warwick residents and the Airport Corporation is wrong to do an end-run around the public, temporary or otherwise.”
At a public forum last week, RIAC acknowledged it had failed to follow the law. RIAC used the forum to solicit suggestions to where the station should be located. Most of those attending recommended that it be located close to where it had been, which is the site for the relocated Winslow Park playing fields. The fields currently located to the south of the airport are being moved to allow for expansion of Green Airport’s main runway, which is to be operational by late 2017.
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RoyDempsey
I am not sure who wrote this article, but most of the people at that meeting stated that they wanted to be bought out and have nothing to do with the airport. Surprisingly, these people stated that they had accepted the fact that they lived near the airport and had accepted a diminished quality of life that went along with it, what they did not buy into was a complete destruction of that quality which the field relocation had caused.
In this case, the Mayor failed to lead (no where to be found), a certain council member failed in research and due diligence, RIAC took advantage of lack of oversight and the residents of Lake Shore Drive have taken a beating.
Tuesday, October 7, 2014 Report this
fenceman
It should be noted that Senator Walaska was NOT at the meeting last week, however, Senate district 30 candidate Archer WAS at that meeting.
Tuesday, October 7, 2014 Report this
Pmaloneyjr
http://rhodybeat.com/stories/Health-issues-raised-over-playing-fields-next-to-runway,96619
Here is a solution to the Warwick Firefighter Soccer/ Winslow Field relocation issue. The schools will be looking at consolidating, rather than relocate the fields next to the airport, have the city work with the schools to find a school area that can accommodate the soccer fields and parking for families. The city and RIAC can pay for modifying a current school playing fields to accommodate the soccer fields.
It could be a win/win/win for everyone. The players are, for the most part, students in Warwick schools.
It is an opportunity for the city and schools to work together to solve a problem, and RIAC will have moved the fields without objection to the quality of air. There is a large area behind Aldrich, Vets fields are huge, Tollgate and Winman Complex is large. The Administration Building (Greene School next to Gorton) has a large field. I am sure there is a solution if the city works with the schools to find it.
We can even have the younger players at one school area and the older kids play at a different place if it is an issue of room or parking. I know the soccer organization schedules games according to age groups.
I was a soccer coach and assistant coach for a few years and my kids played for a few years. I was always concerned about being so close to the airport.
For goodness sake, Mayor Avedisian is always talking about the about of Protected Open Space he has secured for Warwick. Why can't we use some for these families? Have RIAC knock some trees down in City Park or create a space at Rocky Point for the children to play there.
These are options I haven't heard anyone talk about. DO not risk the health of these children and their families for a quick fix to the problem.
Warwick City Council and the Mayor gave up the fight to move forward, RIAC is willing to help with the relocation. If we settle for the park next to the Airport we will have to fight in 10 years to have it moved again and risk the health of these kids. If you don't think it is a problem, look at the roof of each house in the path of the airport and tell me you think it is fine for the families to breath that air.
For solutions to problems, sometimes we need to look outside of the box. We need the fields to be centralized for the families but I am sure a family won't mind driving 5-10 extra minutes if it means their child will stay healthy.
I would like to add that I spoke with the superintendent of schools today and he suggested we should have a monitoring station at Wickes School. I agree and would work towards having one installed there.
I am running for City Council in Ward 1. Please vote for me on election day, November 4th. Thank you, Patrick Maloney Jr.
Tuesday, October 7, 2014 Report this