Local Senators Tour Coventry Neighborhoods Near Asphalt Plants

Sen. Juan M. Pichardo, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Housing & Municipal Government, joined Coventry Senators Leonidas P. Raptakis and Nicholas D. Kettle, also a member of the committee, in a visit with neighbors of Coventry asphalt plants near the Westwood Estates and Wood Estates neighborhoods.

Sen. Pichardo (D – Dist. 2, Providence) noted that legislation sponsored by Senators Raptakis and Kettle relating to the facilities is under consideration in the Housing & Municipal Government Committee.

“The Housing & Municipal Government Committee considers many pieces of legislation which have an impact on specific local areas in the cities and towns across the state,” said Sen. Pichardo. “My intention as chairman is to take a hands-on approach to gain a better appreciation for the issues facing residents impacted by the legislation we are considering, such as the noise and potential air and water pollution which the residents of these Coventry neighborhoods told me about.”

The Coventry senators have sponsored 2013-S-0283, which would regulate the location and use of asphalt facilities within the town of Coventry.

“The residents of Wood Estates and Westwood Estates have been living with this industrial plant in their midst, operating at all hours, and dramatically impacting upon their quality of life. We have proposed a legislative remedy to mitigate some of the problem, and I appreciate that the Chairman is taking the time to talk to residents and learn about the importance of such a bill for the residents of those neighborhoods,” said Sen. Raptakis (D – Dist. 33, Coventry, East Greenwich, West Greenwich).

Sen. Kettle (R – Dist. 21, Coventry, Foster, Scituate, West Greenwich) said, “The legislation regarding these operations affects the very air they breathe.  I can think of no better way to understand the importance of this bill to the people who live here than to walk the neighborhood, talk to people, and experience what they experience.  I’m glad the chairman agrees.”

Tammy Duxbury of Wood Estates North, President of the advocacy group Citizens Advocating for a Safe Environment, said, “As far as our organization is concerned, we want to know how these two plants came to exist. They are not good neighbors. They operate at all hours of the night, and the odors from them have been overwhelming.” She thanked the senators for their attention to the problem.

A hearing was conducted on the legislation on March 21. It was held for further study at that time.