OPEN BURNING REGULATIONS
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recently released draft regulations that would significantly limit the use of “burn barrels” in New York State. The draft regulations, which are open for public comment until August 14th, would prohibit the burning of household refuse and yard waste on a statewide basis.
The proposed regulations would also impact the agricultural industry. The regulations as drafted continue to allow the burning of some agricultural wastes, such as “naturally grown products such as vines, trees and branches from orchards, leaves and stubble” on farms larger than five acres. Also allowed to be burned are “petroleum fueled smudge pots to prevent frost damage to crops” and individual open fires in response to an outbreak of an animal disease.
However,
burning plastic or synthetic materials, such as pesticide containers,
fertilizer bags, large plastic storage bags (including bags commonly known
as "Ag bags"), tires, plastic grain bags, would be prohibited.
Also, the regulations do not address
specifically the burning of paper-based feed bags, wood shavings used for
livestock bedding, baling twine and other non-synthetic farm-specific waste
DEC’s draft regulations also ignore the added costs of refuse disposal for farmers and homeowners alike. Landfills that accept agricultural plastics, such as greenhouse films or sileage covers, can be many miles away from the farm, costly to use (up to $400 for a truck load) and rigid in how they will accept the materials (a number of landfills require farm plastic to be cut in 5’ by 5’ sheets). For non-farm landowners garbage disposal through a service can cost up to $80 a month.
New York Farm Bureau will be filing comments on the proposed regulations prior the filing deadline. You can also go to the New York Farm Bureau webpage to file your comments on the regulations through our e-lobby website at www.nyfb.org.
To obtain a copy of the draft open burning regulations, you can contact New York Farm Bureau or go to the DEC webpage at http://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/43439.html.
DEC will be holding a series of public hearings on the regulations in June and early July. Public Hearings on the proposed rule change will be held as follows:
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Genesee Community College, Conable Technology
Bldg., Rm. T102, College Dr., Batavia, NY
July 2, 2008, 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. - Herkimer County Community College, Robert
McLaughlin, College Center, Hummel Corporate
Center, 100 Reservoir Rd., Herkimer, NY
Aug. 4, 2008, Information Session: 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.,
Public Hearing: 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. - Jamestown Community College, Training Center,
10785 Bennett Rd., (Rte. 60), Rm. 117, Dunkirk, NY
Aug. 6, 2008, Information Session: 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.,
Public Hearing: 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. - Allegany County Office Bldg., Seven Court St.,
Legislative Board Chambers, Belmont, NY
Aug.7, 2008, Information Session: 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.,
Public Hearing: 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
