Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws > Chapter 23-23 - Air Pollution

• Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
• Air contaminant: means soot, cinders, ashes, any dust, fumes, gas, mist, smoke, vapor, odor, toxic or radioactive material, particulate matter, or any combination of these. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-23-3
• Air pollution: means presence in the outdoor atmosphere of one or more air contaminants in sufficient quantities that either alone or in connection with other emissions by reason of their concentration and duration, may be injurious to human, plant, or animal life or cause damage to property or unreasonably interfere with the enjoyment of life and property. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-23-3
• Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
• Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
• Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
• Director: means the director of environmental management or any subordinate or subordinates to whom he or she has delegated the powers and duties vested in him or her by this chapter. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-23-3
• Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
• Extremely toxic air contaminant: means any air contaminant that has been classified as a potential carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), or the National Toxicology Program (NTP); or any air contaminant that induces mutagenic or teratogenic effects; or any air contaminant that, when inhaled, has caused significant chronic adverse effects in test animals; or any air contaminant having an acute toxicity of:

  (i)  LD50 (oral) less than 500mg/kg;

  (ii)  LD50 (inhalation) less than 2000ppm; or

  (iii)  LD50 (dermal) less than 1000mg/kg;

  and/or has been adopted by the director pursuant to the provisions of chapter 35 of Title 42. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-23-3

• Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
• Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
• Minority leader: See Floor Leaders
• Motor vehicle: means every vehicle that is self-propelled and every vehicle that is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails, except vehicles moved exclusively by human power and motorized wheelchairs. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-23-3
• Open fire: means any fire from which the products of combustion are emitted directly into the open air without passing through a stack or chimney. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-23-3
• Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
• Person: means an individual, trust, firm, joint stock company, corporation (including a quasi-governmental corporation), partnership, association, syndicate, municipality, municipal or state agency, fire district, club, non-profit agency or any subdivision, commission, department, bureau, agency, or department of state or federal government (including quasi-government corporation), or of any interstate body. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-23-3
• Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
• town: may be construed to include city; the words "town council" include city council; the words "town clerk" include city clerk; the words "ward clerk" include clerk of election district; the words "town treasurer" include city treasurer; and the words "town sergeant" include city sergeant. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-9
• Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.