[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Stratford 7-10-1978. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BLASTING AGENT
Any material, composition or mixture intended for blasting, consisting substantially of a fuel and oxidizer, none of the ingredients of which is an explosive as defined in this section and the finished product of which, as mixed and packaged for use or shipment, cannot be detonated by the test procedure established by regulations promulgated by the State Fire Marshal.
EXPLOSIVE
Any chemical compound or any mechanical mixture that contains oxidizing and combustible units or other ingredients in such proportions, quantities or packaging that ignition by fire, friction, concussion, percussion or detonator may cause such a sudden generation of highly heated gases that the resultant gaseous pressure is capable of destroying life or limb or of producing destructive effects to contiguous objects but not including colloided nitrocellulose in sheets or rods or grains not under 1/8 of an inch in diameter, wet nitrocellulose containing 20% or more moisture and wet nitrostarch containing 20% or more moisture; and manufactured articles shall not be held to be explosive when the individual units contain explosives in such limited quantity, of such nature or in such packing that it is impossible to produce a simultaneous or destructive explosion of such units to the injury of life, limb or property by fire, friction, concussion, percussion or detonator, including fixed ammunition for small arms, firecrackers, safety fuses and matches. "Explosive," as used in said sections, shall not be deemed to include gasoline, kerosene, naphtha, turpentine or benzine.
No person shall manufacture, keep, store, sell or deal in any explosives unless he has and produces a license from the Commissioner of State Police pursuant to Section 29-89 of the Connecticut General Statutes and until he obtains from the Fire Marshal of the Town of Stratford a written permit therefor, which permit shall not be valid for more than 30 days. Such permit so granted shall definitely state the location of the building where such business is to be carried on or such explosive deposited and shall state that such building or premises with the regulations provided for in this section.
No person shall procure, transport or use any explosives unless he produces a valid license by the Commissioner of State Police pursuant to Section 29-89d of the Connecticut General Statutes and has obtained a written permit therefor from the Fire Marshal of the Town of Stratford, specifying the name of the purchaser, the amount to be purchased and transported and the purpose for which it is to be used. Any such permit to use explosives shall state the number of years the purchaser has been engaged in blasting activity. Such permit shall be valid for such period, not longer than one year, as is required to accomplish the purpose for which it was obtained. No carrier shall transport any such explosive unless such written permit accompanies the same, and no person shall have in his possession any such explosive unless he has a license and permit therefor. The fee for such permit shall be $2. Each person who has in his custody or possession any explosive or any detonating caps for explosives shall keep the same either under personal observation or securely locked up.
A. 
The Commissioner of State Police shall have exclusive jurisdiction in the preparation of, and may enforce reasonable regulations for, the safe and convenient storage, transportation and use of explosives and blasting agents used in connection therewith, which regulations shall deal in particular with the quantity and character of explosives and blasting agents to be stored, transported and used; the proximity of such storage to inhabited dwellings or other occupied buildings, public highways and railroad tracks; the character and construction of suitable magazines for such storage; protective measures to secure such stored explosives and blasting agents; and the abatement of any hazard that may arise incident to the storage, transportation or use of such explosives and blasting agents.
B. 
Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the Labor Commissioner shall regulate the storage, transportation and use of explosives and blasting agents in places of employment insofar as such activities relate to employee health and safety, provided that such regulations shall be no less stringent than those prepared and enforced by the Commissioner of State Police pursuant to this section.
Any license or permit issued under the provisions of this section may be suspended or revoked by the issuing authority for violation by the licensee or permittee of any provision of law or regulation relating to explosives or conviction of such licensee or permittee of any felony or misdemeanor. Suspension or revocation of a license shall automatically suspend or revoke the permit, and the suspension or revocation of a permit shall automatically suspend or revoke the license.
A. 
The applicant shall furnish a blasting bond in the amount of $5,000. This bond will cover all permits issued to the applicant for the duration of the permit. This blasting bond must be in the office of the Fire Marshal before the permit will be issued.
B. 
The applicant shall furnish a certificate of insurance, showing public liability for the following amounts:
(1) 
Bodily injury: $500,000 for any one person; $1,000,000 for any one accident.
(2) 
Property damage liability: $500,000 for any one accident; $1,000,000 for the aggregate.
C. 
The insurance certificate must state "covers blasting" or "includes blasting," and said certificate must be in the Fire Marshal's office before a blasting permit will be issued.
As a condition of the issuance of the permit, the applicant must obtain and submit completed approval forms furnished by the Bridgeport Hydraulic Company, 835 Main Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut, and the Southern Connecticut Gas Company, 880 Broad Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Each person selling or giving away any explosive shall first ascertain that the purchaser or donee of such explosives has obtained a license and permit required by Section 29-89 of the Connecticut General Statutes and this chapter and shall keep a record in which shall be entered an accurate account of each disposition by such person in the course of business, or otherwise, of any explosive. Such record shall show, in legible writing to be entered therein at the time of disposition of the explosive, a history of such transaction, showing the name and quantity of the explosive, the name and place of residence and business of the purchaser or donee and the name and address of the individual to whom delivered. Such record shall be kept by such person in his principal office or place of business in this state and shall be subject to examination by any military authority, the Commissioner of State Police, his deputies and the Stratford Police Department. Any such authority may, at any time, require any such dealer to produce such record for the year previous.