:: Burn
Barrels :: Leaves :: Campfires :: Wood
Stoves & Furnaces ::
::
Tree Trimmings and Brush :: Neighbors :: Enforcement ::
:: Recommendations ::
Air quality in the mid-Hudson Valley is poor.
Almost 30,000 residents of Ulster County suffer from asthma,
bronchitis, or emphysema. [Source: Senator Schumer,
compiled from CDC, census, and ALA data] The American Lung Association
(ALA) rated Ulster County 'C' and most of
the surrounding
counties
'F' for
high
ozone days in its State
of the Air 2006
report.
Poor
air quality results from many factors ranging from local auto
emissions to industrial
plant emissions from as far away
as the mid-west. Smoke is a significant contributor to our
poor air quality and a particular irritant to health and well
being of residents who
live in close proximity to those who burn.
Most factors contributing to poor air are
beyond our immediate control. Burning
is not.
Smoke in our community is generated most often by burning
tree trimmings, bushes and leaves, wood furnaces and wood stoves, and
burn barrels. As a result, the Committee recommends several regulations
related to burning.
Burn Barrels
The EPA, NYS
DEC, and NYS
Department of Health provide extensive
information recommending a local ban on burn barrels.
Although
some have
made an argument
for allowing burn
barrels where smoke won't effect immediate neighbors, the smoke contributes
to the overall poor air quality of our region. We recommend complying with
the recommendations that we ban burn barrels. |
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Leaves
The smoke from burning leaves contains a high particulate
content and smoldering leaves generate a high volume
of smoke over a long period. The town picks up
leaves each fall and residents can also compost them or leave them on-site
as mulch. There is no compelling reason to continue to allow burning of leaves.
Campfires
It is not our intent to restrict responsible recreational
campfires.
Wood Stoves and Wood Furnaces
We have not made recommendations about wood furnaces
or wood stoves that do not meet the EPA certification
standards.  The NYS attorney general is coordinating an effort with other
northeastern states to encourage the EPA to issue standards for
wood furnaces. We believe regional or national standards make sense.
 We
encourage those with pre-EPA certified wood stoves (1992) to upgrade.
You can determine whether your stove needs to be upgraded by checking
for certification.
Certified wood stoves have a metal tag affixed to the back of the stove.
Please
note: it is illegal to sell a pre-certified wood stove, even
in a garage sale.
Tree Trimmings and Brush – County
Regulations
The county regulations currently requires that anyone
who plans to engage in open burning of brush, tree
trimmings and stumps notify the County Fire
Control Office at (845) 338-1440 in advance of the event. The Fire Control
Office notifies the respective Fire Chiefs of the upcoming open burns in
their districts.
Contractors must obtain a NYSDEC Permit for open
burning of brush. Their permits are conditioned
upon notification to the Fire Control Office of
their burning
schedule.
The county regulations seem sufficient.
Impact on Neighbors
Although we would like to believe that neighbors would
cease an activity that negatively impacts another, we have found
that isn't the case.
Several residents have complained at
public hearings and in written comments that neighbors have
not respected their
requests not to burn. Smoke has impacted both their health
and their quality of life.
As a result, we recommend a ban on any burning
that elicits a complaint from neighbors.
Enforcement
Adherence to state, county and local regulations
must be based on individual responsibility,
respect for neighbors, and good citizenship.
The Fire Department visits a site only if
they receive a complaint. If the burn turns out to be safe
and the substances burned allowable by NYS law, they take
no action. If the fire is unsafe or illegal they require
the owner or contractor to extinguish it.
Realistically,
enforcement is difficult and spotty, at best. For these reasons we
recommend an on-going public education program related to
air quality and the
impact of burning. Personal responsibility should be highlighted. We solicit your support to improve the air quality
in our community and region.
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