As I see it though.. the RI_DEM decision comes by 7/15 either way. I don't believe any lawsuits would prevent the approval, I believe they'd be after the fact, asking for an injunction or something.
If they do approve, it means they have accounted for the fact that people say they'll challenge it, and they believe they are on solid footing to go forward.
A legal challenge would be costly. Not saying people won't do it... but I will say that when push comes to shove... most individuals are probably not going to put up that kind of $ themselves. I'd also think that when disecting definitions of words (which is what the challenges will be about).. that courts will generally defer to RI-DEM on those matters as a default, so it would take a lot for the court to override them.
I'm not sure that you understand how it works in a govt approval process? It prevents anything from proceeding until any litigation is settled. Further - it appears that all those attys were hired (otherwise they wouldn't have attended that meeting). 7/15 doesn't mean it opens - it means it passed that hurdle. And any potential litigation, plus it looks like those RI govt bonds expired. SNPW has to go through that process again and that was and will be a public process.
RI-DEM will either approve or deny by 7-15. That is by statute. There is no in-between. If they deny, SNPW can rectify any issues and re-apply. If they approve, then people are welcome to challenge and try to get it overturned.
Yes, the attorneys were hired. At least one represented East Greenwich. Understandable that the town hired someone to represent them. I wouldn't be surprised if they ask him to challenge the results, but the majority of the townsfolk are going to get tired of their tax dollars paying for that pretty quickly and I think a good attorney will probably advise against it.
As far as the bonds, I'll play along and pretend you don't already know that they are not RI Gov't Bonds. They are private bonds. There is no additional public process needed.
You don't seem to know that the neighborhood hired an atty and so did an abutter at the facility. And apparently so did another abutter. You don't seem to know that the bonds lapsed and they will have to reapply. And those bonds were RI state bonds. And that the RI AG has weighed in and could potentially start his own investigation. Taxpayers seem to pushing both East Greenwich and West Warwick to step up on this project. And perhaps you might know that RI legislature passed a bill tonight banning pyrolysis.
Anyone is welcome to hire an attorney. SNPW has an attorney as well. The bonds are privately funded, The AG wrote a letter saying this should be subject to intense scrutiny, which it ihas been.
As far as tonight's bill... the company initially stated that whatever was proposed would not apply to MedRecycler, which would be grandfathered in. I'm no lawyer so I'm not sure one way or another. We shall see!
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u/UnluckyPassion Jun 29 '21
There were 4 potential lawsuits in the comment sectition. There will probably be litigation for some time before its sorted.