April 5, 2002
Extremely
cold temperatures are forecast for Friday and Saturday
evenings that could seriously affect fruit crops
in bloom or near bloom around the state. Therefore,
the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
(DEP) has authorized the following procedure for
open burning to help fruit farmers protect their
crops. No tires can be burned as part of this authorization.
- Farmers
who know that open burning is required to protect
their blossoms or young buds must contact the
DEP's 24-hour Communication Center at 1-877-WARN
DEP. The following information is to be provided:
- Name
of the responsible individual who is to
conduct the open burning
Name of farm
Street address (no P.O. Box)
Telephone number of farm contact
Predicted orchard(s) temperature in degree F
Predicted wind speed at orchard(s)
Hours of open burning
- Material
burned
Upon
completion of the open burning, the farmer must
also provide the following information:
- Reference
to the previous identification provided
in the open burning request
Actual orchard(s) temperature in degree F
Actual wind speed at the orchard(s) location
- A
statement that all restrictions in the
open burning approval were followed.
If
the farmer does not know in advance that the
critical temperature AND low wind velocity will
occur, notice of such burning may be provided
the following morning no later than 9 a.m.
No
open burning will be permitted unless the temperature
within the orchard area is at or below the critical
temperature for the bud stage and the wind velocity
is less than five miles per hour. Both conditions
must be met before open burning may occur. The
attached report lists the critical temperatures
for New Jersey crops. The average temperature
required to kill 10 percent of the buds is defined
as the critical temperature.
Farmers
may use smudge pots or open burn clean scrap
lumber (untreated), felled trees, prunings, hedgegrows,
or firewood. Farmers must make every effort to
obtain and use approved smudge pots. These pots
must be fueled with either kerosene or #2 fuel
oil. No refuse trade waste, garbage, etc. is
to be combined with the authorized burning material.
Farmers will not be permitted to open burn tires
to protect their fruit crops.
- Failure
to adhere to these provisions may result in appropriate
enforcement action.
|
