As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
CINDERS, DUST, FLY ASH, NOXIOUS ACIDS, FUME AND GASSES
All matter other than dense smoke, including coke, cinders,
dust and soot formed as a result of the combustion of fuel, which
are carried in the gas stream so as to reach the external air and
which have not been completely consumed by the combustion process.
DENSE SMOKE
That smoke which has a density of No. 3 or greater as established
by the Ringelmann Chart, hereinafter referred to and adopted.
INSPECTOR
The person designated by the municipal governing body to
enforce the provisions of this chapter.
PERSON, FIRM OR CORPORATION
Any individual, partnerships, firms, associations, companies,
corporations, syndicates, or other groups or groups of organized or
unorganized individuals who may employ, own, use or operate any fuel-consuming
device.
RINGELMANN CHART
That standard published by the United States Bureau of Mines to determine the density of smoke, as hereinafter set forth in full in §
238-9 of this chapter.
The provisions of §
238-2 of this chapter shall not be applicable when a firebox, furnace, boiler, locomotive or other fuel-consuming device is being cleaned out and a new fire is being built therein, in which event a smoke of a density greater than that described as No. 3 of the Ringelmann Chart shall be permitted for the single period of not to exceed six minutes in the single period of 60 minutes in which the new fire is being built.
It shall be unlawful for any person to permit
or cause the escape of such quantities of soot, cinders, noxious acids,
fumes and gasses in such place or manner as to be detrimental to any
person or to the public or to endanger the health, comfort and safety
of any such person or of the public, or in such manner as to cause
or have a tendency to cause injury or damage to property or business.
The escape of such matter is declared to be a public nuisance and
may be summarily abated by the inspector.
The duties of the inspector shall be to investigate
all complaints of violations of this chapter and to institute necessary
proceedings in case of violation.
Any person interfering in any manner or impeding
the performance of duty of the inspector shall be deemed guilty of
a violation of this chapter and shall be liable to the penalties hereinafter
provided.
Whenever it has been adequately demonstrated
to the inspector that compliance with the terms of this chapter cannot
be effectively and immediately made, the inspector shall have the
authority to grant a temporary permit for the continued operation
of such noncomplying equipment, but only in the event that the party
has taken all necessary steps to secure compliance with the chapter.
Such temporary permit shall be issued for no longer a period than
six months, at the expiration of which period of time the party holding
such permit shall be deemed to be in violation of the provisions of
this chapter.
The standard by which the density of smoke is
to be measured will be the Ringelmann chart, published by the United
States Bureau of Mines. Use of the chart will be made by placing it
at such distance from the observer that the squares appear as even
shades of coloring, or when no white spaces between the lines are
visible. Comparison of the smoke under observation with the various
shades of the chart will then indicate the density of the smoke. Observation
distances shall not be less than 100 feet nor more than 1/4 mile from
the smoke observed.
The governing body may, after three or more
established violations of this chapter from one source, having a rated
boiler horsepower of 50 BHP or more, require the installation of an
acceptable smoke recorder on the offending source. The chart record
of the recorder shall be maintained continuously and be available
for inspection by the delegated representative of the governing body
at any hour during the boiler plant operation.
The inspector or representative of the local
governing body shall, upon observation of a violation of this chapter,
notify the offender of such violation, and in the event that the offender
is not operating under a period of grace, the inspector or representative
of the local governing body shall swear out a complaint to the Municipal
Judge summoning the violator to court and making the violator subject
to the penalties of this chapter.
Any person violating any provision of this chapter, upon conviction, shall be liable to the penalty stated in Chapter
1, General Provisions, Article
III, General Penalty. Offenses on separate days shall be deemed to be separate offenses for the purposes of this chapter.