Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the QSS Biosolids topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
North Kingstown leaders, residents demand transparency on proposed Quonset biosolids (pyrolysis) plant
Summary
Residents, town officials and state legislators pressed for more transparency and legal scrutiny after Quonset Development Corporation authorized a ground‑lease related to a proposed QSS Biosolids pyrolysis facility; the council passed a resolution asking QDC to rescind its authorizing vote and authorized research into hiring environmental counsel.
A special North Kingstown Town Council meeting drew hundreds of residents Wednesday as town officials, state lawmakers and dozens of community members demanded public answers about a proposed QSS Biosolids facility planned at the Quonset Business Park.
Town Manager Ralph Mallas and the chair opened the meeting by saying state and local officials had received complaints about multiple projects, but the biosolids proposal had sparked the most alarm. Mallas read a letter from Gov. Daniel McKee urging transparency and public workshops about the project and said the Narragansett Bay Commission had responded to the governor’s outreach. “I urge all of you to collaborate and cooperate in furnishing this information through public meetings and workshops, fully open to the community and its leaders,” the governor wrote, according to the text read at the meeting.
State legislators who attended told residents that the project exposed regulatory gaps. Senator DiMario said the technology and permitting raised questions the legislature should address and backed the creation of a study commission to examine wastewater and biosolids disposal statewide. Representative Julie Casimiro said the Speaker had signaled support for a study commission and a moratorium on new approvals until it finishes work—she urged the council to pass a resolution supporting that approach.
Public comment was dominated by opposition. Vanessa Mascaro told the council the town was being treated as “a dumping ground” and called for an independent investigation. John Dower warned the proposed plant would sit in the town’s sole‑source aquifer recharge area and urged the council to bring in environmental legal support. Multiple residents described persistent odor, health and property‑value concerns and pressed the council to act.
After hearing testimony, the council adopted a resolution asking the Quonset Development Corporation to rescind the board action taken on 11/19/2024 that authorized the managing director to move forward with a ground lease for QSS Biosolids LLC, and to hold public hearings describing how the proposed pyrolysis operation would affect public health and safety. The council also directed the town manager to research hiring experienced environmental legal counsel and report back.
Council member Matt McCoy, who represented the town on the QDC board and said he had voted against the authorization, accepted responsibility for not fully informing fellow council members and resigned his appointment to the QDC board at the meeting. The council’s actions were procedural steps aimed at pausing progress and expanding public review; officials said the lease had not yet been executed.
The town and state officials said they would continue outreach to DEM, Quonset leadership, and the Narragansett Bay Commission, and residents said they would pursue formal petitions and legal interventions if necessary. The council emphasized that further updates will be posted on town channels and that the issue will be a recurring agenda item.
