Ucci Calls For Probe Into Landfill Smell [Poll]

From the General Assembly News Bureau:

Rep. Stephen R. Ucci (D-Cranston, Johnston) issued a statement on Nov. 4 asking House leaders to convene the House Committee on Government Oversight — of which he is a member — to investigate Corporation’s response to a severe odor problem at the Central Landfill in Johnston.

Ucci said he has received more calls about the odor from constituents recently than in all the rest of his seven years as a legislator combined, and believes the problem has reached a magnitude that warrants further examination.

“The landfill is a state resource, not just a local problem. The Government Oversight Committee should make sure that RIRRC is fulfilling its obligation to operate responsibly and prevent the landfill from jeopardizing the health, safety and environment of the community,” Ucci said in the statement. “We need to discuss what else can be done to end this problem as soon as possible and prevent it from happening again.”

Ucci joined officials from Johnston and Cranston in a after the Department of Environmental Management notified RIRRC that .

“There are lots of other landfills around the country, and from time to time I’m sure they all face the same problems. My question is whether RIRRC is following industry standards and doing its best to be a good a neighbor to the people of Johnston and Cranston,” Ucci stated.

Earlier on Nov. 4, Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena appeared on the John DePetro talk show to discuss the recent issues at the landfill. Click here to listen to the podcast from 630 WPRO and 99.7 FM.