§ 23-19.14-1 - Legislative findings. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 23-19.14-1

   § 23-19.14-1  Legislative findings. –It is recognized and acknowledged by the general assembly that:

   (1) In Rhode Island, there are hundreds of sites that havevarying degrees of contamination from hazardous materials;

   (2) The contamination is often an obstacle to redevelopmentdue to the liability relating to the sites;

   (3) Clean up standards and objectives must be consistent witha site's current and reasonably expected future use;

   (4) Financial institutions are often cautious or unwilling tolend to businesses that wish to expand at or relocate to sites that have or arefeared to be contaminated;

   (5) Rhode Island's urban corridor contains many sites thathave been found by federal or state programs to be contaminated;

   (6) The following cities and towns have numerous known sites:Cranston, East Providence, Johnston, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, Providence,Warwick, West Warwick, Woonsocket, and Central Falls. There are also manypotential sites in these and other municipalities that may have beencontaminated by historical industrial activities;

   (7) [Deleted by P.L. 2002, ch. 186, § 1.]

   (8) Proper redevelopment and reuse of these properties wouldnot only benefit the state's economy and the employment of those who live inthe urban corridor, but would also benefit the state's environment; and

   (9) The redevelopment and reuse of these impacted sites willcontrol and remove the existing contamination and will reduce the artificialeconomic incentive to develop previously undisturbed natural resources.