Polisena to Announce Settlement of Odor Lawsuit

Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena has scheduled a 6 p.m. news conference on Thursday to announce a settlement with Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation in the lawsuit filed in December, 2011, over odors from the Central Landfill.

In an email to local media, Polisena said he plans to hold a press conference at the athletic field behind Johnston High School, or inside the high school gymnasium in case of inclement weather, to explain the details of the agreement.

Michael OConnell, executive director of RIRRC, declined comment when reached by phone Thursday afternoon.

Polisena filed the lawsuit on Dec. 14, 2011 against RIRRC and Broadrock Renewables, LLC, for allowing excessive odors to escape from the trash pile at the Shun Pike landfill.

Broadrock, which recently made news after its older gas-extraction plant had an explosion in one of its pipes, was not named as party to the settlement in Polisena's press release.