§ 23-19.7-9. Impact agreements. (a)(1) A neighboring community, as defined in § 23-19.7-3(12), may, upon a showing of probable and significant adverse impact, in accordance with the standards procedures enumerated under subsections (c) and (d), enter into an impact agreement with a hazardous waste management facility developer as provided for under this section, and may establish a local assessment committee as provided for under § 23-19.7-6 for this purpose.

(2) The impact agreement may as a matter of right address in its terms, conditions, and provisions the mitigation of or compensation for those adverse health, safety, environmental, and fiscal impacts which are shown by the neighboring community to be likely and significant.

(3) The impact agreement shall specify the terms, conditions, and provisions, if any, under which it may be assigned to a party other than the signatory developer.

(4) A neighboring community shall notify the developer that it anticipates significant adverse impacts within forty-five (45) days after the issuance of necessary state permits for construction or substantial alteration of a hazardous waste management facility under the provisions of the Hazardous Waste Management Act, chapter 19.1 of this title. This requirement may be waived by mutual agreement of the developer and the neighboring community.

(b) No hazardous waste management facility shall be sited, constructed, operated, substantially altered, or maintained unless an impact agreement shall first have been established by the developer and any neighboring community which makes the required showing of probable and significant adverse impact.

(c) A showing of probable and significant adverse impact shall require that the neighboring community:

(1) Identify and describe the type, nature, and extent of adverse impacts anticipated and the reason why; and

(2) Identify and describe the alleged relationship of the proposed hazardous waste management facility, its construction, alteration, or operation, to the anticipated adverse impacts.

(d)(1) The neighboring community and the hazardous waste management facility developer may by mutual agreement find that significant adverse impacts are probable as the result of siting, constructing, operation, or alteration of the proposed facility. In this case, arbitration such as that provided for under this section, shall not be necessary, and the parties may proceed directly to the negotiation of an impact agreement.

(2) Where the mutual agreement is not forthcoming, an arbitration panel shall be established within thirty (30) days after the neighboring community notifies the developer that it anticipates significant adverse impacts as a result of the developer's proposal. This panel shall have the sole responsibility for determining whether and on what issues a showing of probable and significant adverse impact has been successfully made.

(3) The panel shall be comprised of three (3) members; one selected by the developer, one selected by the neighboring community, and a third, who shall act as chairperson, selected jointly by the developer and the neighboring community.

(4) If there is no agreement on a third arbitrator within thirty (30) days after the two (2) parties have appointed their respective arbitrators, or if they choose by mutual agreement, either party may file a demand for arbitration and appointment of the third arbitrator by the American arbitration association.

(5) The arbitration panel shall, within forty-five (45) days after establishment and based on evidence presented to it, determine whether a significant adverse impact is probable, and whether that impact is related to or caused by the siting, construction, operation, or alteration of the hazardous waste management facility.

History of Section. (P.L. 1982, ch. 197, § 1.)