Rhode Island General Laws Title 23. Health and Safety § 23-66-3. Requirements of the assessment

(1) An analysis of ambient air conditions, including but not limited to, levels of lead, mercury, zinc, chromium, arsenic, particulates, nitrogen oxide, and any other pollutants as required by the department of environmental management for major stationary sources.

(2) A complete air quality impact analysis will be performed using meteorological data as provided by the United States Weather Service or comparable weather services of the state for the five (5) years preceding the date the protocol is approved and the protocol for conducting such an analysis must be submitted to the department of environmental management for their approval; the area of analysis to be determined by the department of environmental management, but in no case shall the area of analysis be less than one thousand (1,000) meters in radius from the location of the proposed sewage sludge incineration facility; and identification of communities predominantly down-wind of the proposed sewage sludge incineration facility.

(3) The assessment shall include an estimate of planned and reasonably expected stack emission levels including but not limited to heavy metals and related compounds, particulates, arsenic, beryllium, lead, mercury, and nitrogen oxide.

(4) In the assessment the proponent shall demonstrate that other reasonable or suitable alternate disposal and/or reuse method for the sewage sludge have been examined.

(5) The assessment shall evaluate the potential for the proposed sewage sludge incineration facility to incinerate materials other than sewage sludge. The proponent must provide a quality control plan for materials to be incinerated by the proposed facility including but not limited to: sewage sludge imported from other communities, sewage service districts, states or countries; and any material to be incinerated other than sewage sludge.

(6) The assessment shall propose comprehensive plans for emergency conditions including, but not limited to, catastrophic mechanical failure, breakdown and/or fire and shall propose plans for community notification and evacuation in emergency circumstances.

(7) The assessment shall be prepared by a firm or person with extensive experience in the preparation of environmental and health assessments.

(8) The assessment shall include atmospheric modeling to predict substantive environmental and health impacts on and off site as required by federal Environmental Protection Agency Sewage Sludge Regulation 503 and state department of environmental management air pollution control regulations for acceptable ambient levels.

(9) The assessment shall be a condition precedent to the issuance of any air quality permit by the department of environmental management.