[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Amsterdam 5-26-1976.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
It shall be unlawful to engage in blasting operations or in any other
activity in which explosives are used or to store or keep in the city any
black powder, guncotton, giant powder, dynamite, nitroglycerin, fulminate
of mercury or any other explosive or substance, compound, mixture or article
having properties of such a character that alone or in combination or contiguity
with other substances or compounds may decompose suddenly and generate sufficient
heat, gas or pressure to produce rapid flaming combustion or administer a
destructive blow to persons or property, without having secured a license
therefor and complied fully with the provisions of this chapter.
Permits shall be obtained:
A.
To manufacture, possess, store, sell or otherwise dispose
of explosives or blasting agents.
B.
To transport explosives or blasting agents.
C.
To use explosives or blasting agents.
D.
To operate a terminal for handling explosives or blasting
agents.
E.
To deliver to or receive explosives or blasting agents
from a carrier at a terminal between the hours of sunset and sunrise.
F.
To transport blasting caps or electric blasting caps
on the same vehicle with explosives.
A.
Required permits can be obtained from the office of the
Director of Public Works whose approval shall be endorsed thereon, together
with that of the City Engineer. The fee for such permit shall be required
by the applicant payable as follows:
A.
Manufacture. The manufacture of explosives or blasting
agents shall be prohibited unless such manufacture is authorized by the Director
of Public Works, City Engineer and the Chief of the Amsterdam Fire Department.
This shall not apply to hand loading of small-arms ammunition for personal
use when not for resale.
B.
Storage. The storage of explosives and blasting agents
is prohibited within the limits established by law as the limits of the city
in which such storage is to be prohibited, except for temporary storage for
use in connection with approved blasting operations; provided, however, that
this prohibition shall not apply to wholesale and retail stocks of small-arms
ammunition, explosive bolts, explosive rivets or cartridges for explosive-actuated
power tools.
C.
Quantity. The Director of Public Works and the Chief
of the Amsterdam Fire Department may limit the quantity of explosives or blasting
agents to be permitted at any location.
D.
Sale, display. No person shall sell or display explosives
or blasting agents on highways, sidewalks, public property or in or at places
of public assembly.
E.
Restriction upon location, quantity. The Director of
Public Works, along with the Chief of the Amsterdam Fire Department, may designate
the location and specify the maximum quantity or explosives or blasting agents
which may be loaded, unloaded, reloaded or temporarily retained at each terminal
where such operations are permitted. Carriers shall immediately notify the
Director of Public Works when explosives or blasting agents are received at
terminals.
F.
Location of buildings. Buildings used for the storage
of blasting agents separate from explosives shall be located away from inhabited
buildings, passenger railways and public highways, in accordance with the
provisions of the American Table of Distances for Storage of Explosives.
B.
Notice. Wherever blasting is being conducted in the vicinity
of gas, electric, water, fire alarm, telephone, telegraph or stem utilities,
the blaster shall notify the appropriate representatives of such utilities
at least 24 hours in advance of blasting, specifying the location and intended
time of such blasting. Verbal notice shall be confirmed with written notice.
In an emergency, this time limit may be waived by the Director of Public Works.
C.
Precautions. Due precautions shall be taken to prevent
accidental discharge of electric blasting caps from current induced by radio
or radar transmitters, lightning, adjacent power lines, dust storms or other
sources of extraneous electricity.
A.
Location of facilities. Buildings or other facilities
used for mixing blasting agents shall be located away from inhabited buildings,
passenger railways and public highways, in accordance with the provisions
of the American Table of Distances for Storage of Explosives.
B.
Quantity limits. Not more than one day's production
of blasting agents or the limit determined by the American Table of Distances
for Storage of Explosives, whichever is less, shall be permitted in or near
the building or other facility used for mixing blasting agents. Larger quantities
shall be stored in separate buildings or magazines.
C.
No blasts shall be discharged unless the Director of
Public Works or his representative is present at the site. The applicant may
be required to provide additional safety precautions as determined by the
Director of Public Works or his representative from field conditions prior
to blasting.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the foregoing provisions
of this chapter shall be liable to a fine of not less than $100 nor more than
$1,000 for each offense, and each and every day that any of the terms, conditions
or provisions of this chapter are not complied with shall be considered a
separate offense.
