Attorney General Peter F. Neronha issued a statement today following the Court's acceptance of Rhode Island Recycled Metals’ (RIRM) fire remediation plan, which allows the company to resume operations after installing infrared cameras.
"Rhode Island Recycled Metals forfeited its right to manage its own business a long time ago. With the utmost respect for Judge Stern, I am disappointed that RIRM will reopen soon for the time being, over this Office’s objection, and I’m not holding my breath for this business to suddenly change course and behave responsibly. Yet, the South Providence community has been holding its breath for years, figuratively and perhaps literally at some points, as RIRM subjects them to significant health risks, pollutants, and the very tangible threat of dangerous fires," stated Neronha.
He added, "All of this to say, this fight is not over. My Office will continue to push forward on our pending litigation to move this company into a receivership so that its management can do no further harm, as well as keep up the pressure to ensure that its remediation requirements, including removal of the tugboat, are not further neglected."