EPA: Rhode Island factories polluting less

More than 1 million pounds of chemicals were released by 160 facilities in Rhode Island during 2001, according to the EPA, which marks a 14 percent reduction over 2000. That amount is an 88 percent drop from 1988.

Five of the six companies that appeared on both the 2000 and 2001 lists of the 10 largest polluters reduced their emission of pollutants in 2001, according to Jan H. Reitsma, director of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.

Reitsma said the combined efforts of DEM and the industry to upgrade equipment and implement pollution-prevention techniques have contributed to the reductions.

The EPA’s list of Rhode Island’s largest on- and off-site emitters of toxic chemicals includes: Fibermark DSI of Johnston; Kenyon Industries Inc. of Shannock; Facile Holdings Inc. of Rumford; Tech Industries Inc. of Woonsocket and Soluol Chemical Co. of West Warwick.

Travelers Aid gets funding for new medical center

PROVIDENCE – Officials from Travelers Aid of Rhode Island on July 2 celebrated a $738,000 federal appropriation to help build a new medical and dental center at its new headquarters, the old YMCA building on Broad Street.

Travelers Aid expects to quadruple its present clinical space while moving its operations to a more accessible location for its patient population, according to a news release from Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy, who announced the funding. Kennedy, a Democrat, is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

The 5,800-square-foot clinic will include four medical-exam rooms, three dental exam rooms and two intake/counseling areas. Plans also include a five-bed respite area for homeless patients who are released from area hospitals and in need of aftercare.