About RAB
A Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) was established for NAVSTA Newport in 1996, to establish community awareness, public participation information exchange, and stakeholder involvement in the Navy’s Environmental Restoration Program (ERP). A RAB is an advisory unit made up of community members, local environmental group members, and state, and federal officials. The RAB is intended to bring community members with diverse interests within the local community together with government officials representing the Navy, and the EPA and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM). This partnership enables the early and continued two-way flow of information, concerns, values, and needs between the community and NAVSTA Newport.
Newport Community Involvement Plan
The purpose of the Community Involvement Plan (CIP) is to assist the Navy in meeting the needs of the local community for information about, and participation in, the ongoing investigation and remedial processes under CERCLA.
Environmental Restoration Advisory Board
Whether participating as a member of the general public or as an actual member of the RAB, community input is always welcomed!
Environmental Restoration Advisory Board meetings for Naval Station Newport are held bi-monthly. People interested in being included on the RAB meeting e-mail distribution list may contact RAB Co-Chair, Dave Dorocz at (401) 841-7671. Those who receive RAB emails will be regularly updated on upcoming RAB meeting time and locations, meeting agendas, and minutes from previous meetings. Upcoming meeting dates and details can be viewed here.
People interested in becoming a member of the Naval Station Newport Restoration Advisory Board are encouraged to complete a RAB Membership Application.
Prior meeting minutes and additional ERP documents are also made available for public review at the Jamestown, Middletown, Newport and Portsmouth Public Libraries.
Public Comment Periods and Meetings
Proposed Plans and EE/CAs are made available for public comment. A public meeting and public hearing is held for each Proposed Plan issued by the Navy, and by request for EE/CAs. During the meeting, Navy officials will discuss investigation findings, the various cleanup alternatives, the Navy's preferred cleanup alternative, and the rationale for the preferred cleanup alternative. Meeting/hearing attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and make comments for the record. The public may also submit written comments during the public comment period. A Responsiveness Summary is prepared for significant comments received and is made available in the information repository.
Notices announcing the public comment periods are published in the Newport Daily News and on this web site. The documents are made available for review in the information repositories and on this web site.
Information Repositories
There are four information repositories consisting of a reference collection of general and Naval Station Newport ERP site information, including documents for public review, the CIP, RAB meeting minutes, Superfund information, and fact sheets. These information repositories are maintained at:
Jamestown Public Library
26 North Road
Jamestown, RI 02835
(401) 423-7280
http://www.jamestownphilomenianlibrary.org/
Middletown Public Library
700 W Main Road
Middletown, RI 02842
(401) 846-1573
http://www.middletownpubliclibrary.org/
Newport Public Library
300 Spring Street
Newport, RI 02840
(401) 847-8720
http://www.newportlibraryri.org/
Portsmouth Public Library
2658 E Main Road
Portsmouth, RI 02871
(401) 683-9457
http://portsmouthlibrary.org/