[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners
of the Township of Bethlehem 4-19-1993 by Ord. No. 3-93 (Ch. 7, Part 1, of the
1988 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as the "Bethlehem
Township Air Pollution Control Ordinance."
Whereas air pollution is detrimental to the
health, safety, welfare, comfort and living conditions of the citizens
of the Township of Bethlehem, it is hereby declared to be the policy
of the Township of Bethlehem to protect its citizens from air pollution
caused by open fires within the Township of Bethlehem.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following
terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this
section unless from the particular context it clearly appears that
some other meaning is intended.
Any enclosed device specifically designed for the burning
of any material for the production of heat.
All putrescible animal and vegetable matter resulting from
the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food.
Any device specifically designed for the destruction by burning
of refuse, sewage sludge or any other combustible material.
Leaves, garden residue, shrubbery and tree trimmings and
similar material, but not including grass clippings.
[Added 7-19-2010 by Ord. No. 02-10; amended 10-18-2010 by Ord. No.
04-10]
A fire in which any material is burned in the open or in
a receptacle other than a furnace or incinerator.
A substance used for writing, printing, packaging and wall covering, manufacturing principally from rag, wood or other vegetable fiber reduced to a pulp, but excluding newspaper and other paper which is designated from time to time as recyclable pursuant to the recycling provisions of Chapter 212, Solid Waste, Article I, Collection and Disposal, and the Bethlehem Township recycling rules and regulations.[1]
Any individual, partnership, association, syndicate, company,
firm, trust, corporation, department, bureau, agency or other entity
recognized by law as the subject of rights and duties.
Materials generated by a person or entity which can be separated
from other municipal waste and returned to commerce to be reused as
a resource in the development of useful products. Materials which
may be recycled include but are not limited to glass (clear, brown
or green), aluminum, steel and bimetal cans, high-grade office paper,
mixed paper, newspaper (including newspaper inserts), telephone books,
corrugated paper, magazines and other periodicals, plastic containers
and other materials as may be designated by the Township from time
to time as recyclable materials.
[Added 7-19-2010 by Ord. No. 02-10; amended 10-18-2010 by Ord. No.
04-10]
Garbage, rubbish and trade waste.
Solids not considered to be highly flammable or explosive,
including, but not limited to, rags, old clothes, leather, rubber,
carpets, wood, excelsior, paper, ashes, furniture, crockery, masonry
and other similar materials.
[Amended 10-18-2010 by Ord. No. 04-10]
Salvaging or reclaiming of any product or material including,
but not limited to, metals, chemicals, shipping containers or drums.
All solid or liquid material or rubbish resulting from construction,
building operations or the prosecution of any business, trade or industry,
including but not limited to paper, plastic products, cartons, paint,
grease, oil and other petroleum products, chemicals, cinders and other
forms of solid or liquid waste materials.
Twigs, shrub trimmings, small branches and like vegetative
matter (including grass clippings).
[Amended 7-19-2010 by Ord. No. 02-10; 10-18-2010 by Ord. No. 04-10]
The officers of the Bethlehem Township Police
Department, and such other persons as may be designated from time
to time by the Bethlehem Township Board of Commissioners, shall have
the following powers and duties:
A.
To enforce the provisions of this chapter.
B.
To receive and initiate complaints of violations of
this chapter.
C.
To enter and inspect any building, property, premises
or place for the purpose of investigating an actual or suspected source
of open burning or for the purpose of ascertaining compliance or noncompliance
with this chapter.
D.
To send written notice of any violation of this chapter
to such person or persons responsible for said violation.
E.
To order any person or persons responsible for any
violation of this chapter to abate said violation.
F.
To institute prosecution for the violation of this
chapter.
Except as specifically provided in § 101-6, no person shall:
A.
Ignite or feed an open fire for the destruction of
refuse or in the conduct of a salvage operation, in any public or
private place outside of any building.
B.
Cause, suffer, allow or permit the maintenance of
any open fire for the destruction of refuse or in the conduct of a
salvage operation on any property under his, her or its control outside
of any building.
C.
Fail, neglect or refuse to comply with any written
abatement notice served on such person.
D.
Set, start,
feed, permit to burn or maintain any fire for the destruction of refuse,
recycling materials, leaf waste or yard waste at any time.
[Added 7-19-2010 by Ord. No. 02-10; amended 10-18-2010 by Ord. No.
04-10]
[Amended 6-3-1996 by Ord. No. 7-96; 7-19-2010 by Ord. No.
02-10; 10-18-2010 by Ord. No. 04-10]
A.
When approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection, an open fire may be set under the following circumstances:
(1)
For the prevention or abatement of a fire hazard which
cannot be prevented or abated by other reasonable means, when set
by or under the supervision of a public officer in the performance
of the official duties of such public officer.
(2)
For the purpose of instructing personnel in firefighting.
B.
An open fire may be set in a grill or similar receptacle
solely for cooking food.
C.
An open fire or outdoor or indoor incinerator may
be used by the Township Police Department in the conduct of their
official police business and operations.
[Added 1-18-1999 by Ord. No. 1-99]
A.
The Board of Commissioners may, by resolution:
(1)
Determine that conditions of dry weather, drought, shortage of water, shortage of fire-fighting equipment or personnel or other conditions exist pursuant to which open fire which are otherwise permitted pursuant to § 101-6C of this chapter create additional risks to the public health, safety and welfare.
(2)
Temporarily ban such open fires for such period or
periods of time as the Board of Commissioners deems necessary and
appropriate or until such temporary ban is removed by further resolution
of the Board of Commissioners.
B.
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to ignite, feed or cause, suffer, allow or permit the maintenance of any open fire which is otherwise permitted pursuant to § 101-6C during the period or periods of such temporary ban.
C.
Public notice of the declaration of the temporary
ban shall be given by the Township through radio, newspaper or other
available media and information on the modification or termination
of the temporary ban may be given by use of this same media.
[Amended 1-18-1999 by Ord. No. 1-99]
Any person violating any of the provisions of
this chapter or failing to comply therewith or with any of the requirements
thereof shall, upon conviction before any Magisterial District Judge
in the Township of Bethlehem, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less
than $25 nor more than $300, together with costs, for the first violation;
and not less than $50 nor more than $300, together with costs, for
the second and subsequent violations. Each day a violation exists
shall constitute a separate offense. In default in payment of any
fine, the defendant shall be sentenced to jail for a period not exceeding
90 days.
