[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council
of the Borough of Moosic 3-18-2008 by Ord. No. 8-2008. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
A.
The residents of and visitors to Moosic Borough are
entitled to clean air and environmental circumstances free of unreasonable
dust, obnoxious odors, noxious fumes and smells, as well as an environment
free of stored debris and storage of combustible fuels in adjacent
or exposed exterior areas within densely populated areas.
B.
The Council of the Borough of Moosic has been advised,
and it is generally recognized that, outdoor fuel-burning appliances
cause emission problems that cross property lines. Because the smoke
stays close to the ground it can easily reach humans working or playing
outdoors or penetrate neighboring buildings. It also causes problems
with smoke visibility. The low-lying smoke can worsen cardiovascular
problems such as angina, irritate eyes and lungs, trigger headaches,
and worsen respiratory diseases such as asthma, emphysema and bronchitis.
C.
It is the intent of the Moosic Borough Council to
establish and impose restrictions on the installation, use, operation
and maintenance of outdoor fuel-burning appliances for the purpose
of securing and promoting the public health, comfort, convenience,
safety and welfare of the Borough of Moosic, its residents and visitors.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
A device, including, but not limited to, any furnace, stove
or boiler, designed and constructed to burn wood and/or other fuels
specifically designated by the appliance's manufacturer, manufactured
for placement outdoors for the heating of a residence, building or
other structure and/or the heating of water supplied to a residence,
building or other structure.
A vertical structure enclosing a flue or flues that carries
off smoke and/or exhaust from an outdoor fuel-burning appliance's
firebox or burn chamber.
A.
Any new outdoor fuel-burning appliance must have or
meet the following:
(1)
A permanent chimney that extends at least two feet
above the peak of any residence, building or other structure which
is not located on the same property as the appliance and which is
located within 100 feet of the appliance, with a minimum height of
20 feet.
(2)
A fan or blower that is attached to the appliance
to increase the efficiency and to reduce the emissions from the appliance.
(3)
Be located not less than 150 feet from any neighboring
property line.
(4)
Outdoor fuel-burning appliances shall only be permitted
to be installed and operated on parcels of four or more acres.
B.
All outdoor fuel-burning appliances are required to
meet emission standards currently required by the Environmental Protection
Agency at the time of installation. The EPA emissions standards currently
required by the EPA are hereby adopted by reference, together with
any amendments or modifications made to them in the future.
C.
All outdoor fuel-burning appliances shall be installed,
operated and maintained in strict conformance with the manufacturer's
instructions and the regulations promulgated hereunder. In the event
of a conflict, the regulations promulgated hereunder shall apply unless
the manufacturer's instructions are stricter, in which case the manufacturer's
instructions shall apply.
D.
The owner of the outdoor fuel-burning appliance shall
produce the manufacturer's instructions for all devices that do not
conform to the requirements of this chapter.
E.
No homemade outdoor fuel-burning appliances are permitted
to be installed or used within the Borough.
F.
Only natural wood or other fuels specifically permitted
by the manufacturer, in writing, maybe burned in outdoor fuel-burning
appliances. The burning in outdoor fuel-burning appliances of composite/processed
wood products and nonwood products, household or other garbage, plastic
material, rubber, including tires and synthetic rubber-like products,
recyclable natural, railroad ties, leaves, furniture, construction
debris, laminated wood, wet or soggy wood, painted, varnished or treated
wood and/or any item not specifically permitted in writing, by the
manufacturer is prohibited.
G.
A permit must be acquired from the Borough Zoning
Officer prior to the installation of any outdoor fuel-burning appliance,
and an inspection must be completed prior to the operation of the
subject appliance. The inspection shall be completed by an independent
licensed inspection company approved by the Moosic Borough Council.
No outdoor fuel-burning appliance is permitted to operate until a
favorable decision/report is issued by the inspection company and
a permit is issued by the Borough Zoning Officer.
H.
Ashes or waste cannot be accumulated in a large area
on the property. They may be dispersed on the property as long as
no accumulation can be seen (for example, spread in a driveway). Any
large accumulation of ashes or waste must be disposed of weekly with
your trash.
I.
All outdoor fuel-burning appliances may only be utilized
for the sole purpose of furnishing heat and/or hot water to a residence,
building or ether structure during the period of October 1 through
April 30, and only if the outdoor fuel-burning appliance meets the
requirements of this chapter, and as amended.
J.
If an outdoor fuel-burning appliance is more than
50% torn down, physically deteriorated or decayed, the appliance must
be removed and/or replaced with a new unit. Any new appliance being
installed to replace an existing appliance must meet all requirements
of this chapter and as amended.
K.
All storage of materials being burned in the outdoor
fuel-burning appliance shall be neatly stacked and/or stored under
cover, free from insects (termites, ants; etc.) or any type of disease-carrying
rodents.
L.
All outdoor fuel-burning appliances shall comply with
all applicable state, county and local laws, including but not limited
to ordinances that prohibit the creation of a human health hazard
and/or a public nuisance.
A.
Any outdoor fuel-burning appliance in existence on
the effective date of this chapter shall be permitted to remain, provided
that the owner applies for and receives a permit from the Moosic Zoning
Officer within 90 days of such effective date. All of the provisions
of this section shall continue to apply to owners of existing outdoor
fuel-burning appliances who obtain permits. If the owner of an existing
outdoor fuel-burning appliance does not receive a permit within one
year of the effective date of this chapter, the outdoor fuel-burning
appliance shall be removed. "Existing" or "in existence" means that
the outdoor fuel-burning appliance is installed on the owner's property
and in operation at the time this chapter is introduced. The permit
required by this chapter must be acquired from the Borough's Zoning
Officer. The Borough's Zoning Officer shall not issue any permit until
an inspection is conducted of the appliance and a favorable report
is issued by the inspection company. Any inspection required by this
section shall be completed by a licensed inspection company approved
by the Council of the Borough of Moosic.
B.
All existing outdoor fuel-burning appliances are required
to meet emission standards currently required by the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA). Emissions standards which are currently required
by the EPA are hereby adopted by reference, together with any amendments
or modifications made to them in the future.
C.
All existing outdoor fuel-burning appliances shall
be operated and maintained in strict conformance with the manufacturer's
instructions and the regulations promulgated hereunder. In the event
of a conflict, the regulations promulgated hereunder shall apply unless
the manufacturer's instructions are stricter, in which case the manufacturer's
instructions shall apply.
D.
All existing outdoor fuel-burning appliances shall
have or must erect a permanent chimney that extends at least two feet
above the peak of any residence, building or other structure which
is not located on the same property as the appliance and which is
located within 350 feet of the appliance.
E.
All existing outdoor fuel-burning appliances shall
have or must install a fan or blower to increase the efficiency and
to reduce the emissions from the appliance.
F.
Only natural wood or other fuels specifically permitted
by the manufacturer, in writing, may be burned in outdoor fuel-burning
appliances. The burning in outdoor fuel-burning appliances of composite/processed
wood products and nonwood products, household or other garbage, recyclable
material, rubber tires, railroad ties, leaves, laminated wood, wet
or soggy wood, painted or treated wood and any item not specifically
and permitted, in writing, by the manufacturer is prohibited.
G.
All existing outdoor fuel-burning appliances may only
be utilized for the sole purpose of furnishing heat and/or hot water
to a residence, building or other structure during the period of October
1 through April 30 and only if the outdoor fuel-burning appliance
meets the requirements of this chapter, and as amended.
H.
If any existing outdoor fuel-burning appliance is
more than 50% torn down, physically deteriorated or decayed, the appliance
must be removed and/or replaced with a new unit. Any appliance being
installed to replace an exiting appliance will be considered a new
outdoor fuel-burning appliance and will be required to satisfy all
requirements and regulations for new outdoor fuel-burning appliances
set forth in this chapter and as amended.
I.
Ashes or waste cannot be accumulated in a large area
on the property. They may be dispersed on the property as long as
no accumulation can be seen (for example, spread in a driveway). Any
large accumulation of ashes or waste must be disposed of weekly with
your trash.
J.
All storage of materials being burned in the outdoor
fuel-burning appliance shall be neatly stacked and/or stored under
cover free from insects (termites, ants, etc.) or any type of disease-carrying
rodents.
K.
All existing outdoor fuel-burning appliances shall
comply with all applicable state, county and local laws, including
but not limited to ordinances that prohibit the creation of a human
health hazard and/or a public nuisance.
A.
All permits required by this chapter shall be obtained
from the Borough Zoning Officer.
B.
Application. An application for a permit for an existing
or new outdoor fuel-burning appliance shall be made to the Borough
Zoning Officer on forms furnished by the Borough, and the applicant
shall furnish the following information:
(1)
Name and address of applicant and property owner.
(2)
Legal description of property.
(3)
A sketch of the dimensions of the applicants property,
including locations of buildings and the outdoor fuel-burning appliance,
relative to property lines and distance from neighboring residences
that are within 500 feet.
(4)
A copy of the appliance manufacturer's installation
and operator's/user's manual.
C.
All permits applied for under this chapter shall include
a permit fee pursuant to the current schedule of fees. Further, the
applicant will be required to pay any inspection fees as provided
for in this chapter.
D.
All permit applications shall be reviewed by the Borough Zoning Officer. As part of the review process, the Borough Zoning Officer shall request that an inspection of the appliance be completed by a licensed inspection company authorized by the Borough Council, as required by § 165-3G.
E.
The Borough Zoning Officer shall issue a permit to
the applicant only if the outdoor fuel-burning appliance meets all
requirements of this chapter and any amendments, and a favorable inspection
report was issued by the inspector.
F.
Any permit issued under this chapter shall remain
valid for one year from the date of issue. If installation of the
outdoor fuel-burning appliance is not completed within one year of
the date the permit was issued, the permit is void and the applicant
must reapply for a new permit if he/she still desires to install and/or
operate the appliance.
A.
Any permit issued pursuant to this chapter may be
suspended if the Borough Code Enforcement Officer determines that
it is necessary to protect the public health, safety and welfare of
the residents of the Borough of Moosic if any of the following conditions
occurs:
(1)
Emissions from the outdoor fuel-burning appliance
fail to meet any EPA emissions standards through an air quality test.
(2)
Malodorous air contaminants from the outdoor fuel-burning
appliance are detectable outside the property of the person on whose
land the outdoor fuel-burning appliance is located.
(3)
The emissions from the outdoor fuel-burning appliance
interfere with the reasonable enjoyment of life or property.
(4)
The emissions from the outdoor fuel-burning appliance
cause damage to vegetation or property.
(5)
The emissions from the outdoor fuel-burning appliance are or may be harmful to human or animal health, as determined by testing of emissions, as noted hereinbefore in § 165-6A(1).
(6)
If a designated representative of the Borough of Moosic conducts an air quality test pursuant to § 165-6A(1) and the tests are in excess of EPA standards, then in addition to any other fines or penalties, the owner shall be responsible for all costs associated with said testing, including, but not limited to, labor, equipment, materials, etc.
B.
A suspended permit may be reinstated once the condition which resulted in suspension is remedied and reasonable assurances are made that such condition will not recur. Recurrence of a condition which has previously resulted in suspension of a permit shall be considered a violation of this chapter subject to the penalties provided in § 165-8 of this chapter.
It shall be the duty of the Borough's Police
Department and/or the Borough Code Enforcement Officer to enforce
the terms of this chapter and secure compliance with the requirements
thereof. Any authorized officer, agent, employee or representative
of Moosic Borough may inspect any property located within Moosic Borough
for purposes of ascertaining compliance with the provisions of this
chapter.
The Borough Solicitor shall initiate an enforcement
action before a district judge against any person, firm or corporation
who is in violation of this chapter. Any person, firm or corporation
who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction
thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $600 and, in
default of payment and of said fine, to imprisonment for a term not
to exceed 30 days. Every day that a violation of this chapter continues
shall constitute a separate offense. An equitable remedy may also
be sought by the Borough Solicitor against any person, firm or corporation
in violation of this chapter by filing an appropriate action in the
Court of Common Pleas of Lackawanna County.
