Rhode Island General Laws 23-23.1-5. Proclamation of episode and issuance of orders
If the director determines at any time that air pollution, in any place or area in the state, constitutes an unreasonable and emergency risk to the health of those present within that area of the state, that determination shall be communicated in writing, with the factual findings on which the determination is based, to the governor. Upon being so advised, the governor may by proclamation declare, as to all or any part of the area mentioned in the determination, that an air pollution episode exists, and upon making the declaration the governor shall have the following powers which he or she may exercise in whole or in part by the issuance of an order or orders:
(1) To prohibit, restrict, or condition motor vehicle travel of every kind, including trucks and buses, in the area;
(2) To prohibit, restrict, or condition the operation of retail, commercial, manufacturing, industrial, or similar activity in the area;
(3) To prohibit, restrict, or condition operation of incinerators in the area;
(4) To prohibit, restrict, or condition the burning or other consumption of any type of fuel in the area;
(5) To prohibit, restrict, or condition the burning of any materials in open fires in the area;
(6) To prohibit, restrict, or condition any and all other activity in the area which contributes or may contribute to the air pollution emergency.
History of Section.
P.L. 1971, ch. 137, § 1: G.L. 1956, § 23-25.1-5; P.L. 1979, ch. 39, § 1.
Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 23-23.1-5
- Air pollution: means presence in the outdoor atmosphere of one or more air contaminants in sufficient quantities, which 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 which unreasonably interfere with the enjoyment of life and property. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-23.1-3
- Air pollution episode: means the condition of an air pollution alert, an air pollution warning, or an air pollution emergency, and these conditions shall be deemed to exist whenever the director of environmental management determines that the accumulation of air contaminants in any area or place in the state is attaining or has attained levels which could, if those levels are sustained or exceeded, lead to a threat to the health of the public. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-23.1-3
- Area: means not only that portion or portions of the state as shall be described in the air pollution episode declaration of the governor, but also to any other portion or portions of the state where activities are carried on which contribute or may contribute to the air pollution episode in the portion or portions of the state described in the governor's declaration. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-23.1-3
- Director: means the director of environmental management or any subordinate or subordinates to whom the director has delegated the powers and duties vested in him or her by this chapter. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-23.1-3
- in writing: include printing, engraving, lithographing, and photo-lithographing, and all other representations of words in letters of the usual form. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-16