Connecticut Regional Haze State Implementation Plan November 2009



### ATTACHMENT FF Connecticut Smoke Management DocumentationControlled Burn Authorization – (page 1 of 2) 

## MEMORANDUM

Date: February 7, 2008

To: Donald H. Smith, State Forester

From: Gina McCarthy Commissioner

Re: Authorization to Burn for Vegetative Management, Training or Enhancement of Wildlife Habitat or Ecological Sustainability on State Property

In accordance with Section 1. Subsection (f) of section 22a-174 of the general statutes as amended by PA 00-01, I hereby authorize the Depart ment of Environmental Protection, Division of Forestry, to conduct isolated open burning with in the State Forests, State Parks, and State Wildlife Management Areas listed below, and subj ect to the conditions enumerated herein. Please note that for each State Forest, State Park, and State Wildlife Management Area, burning can only occur during the specific time peri od specified for that forest, park, or area.
Location Town Acreage Time Period Hopeville Pond State Park Griswold 17 4/15-5/29 9/4-11/30 Cockaponsett State Forest Westbrook 16 3/1-4/15

Harkness State Park Verades Waterford 20 3/10-4/25

Pachaug State Forest Voluntown 20 4/1-4/21

Nipmuck State Forest Union 10 (2 sites) 3/10-4/20

Naugatuck State Forest Naugatuck 25 (3 sites) 3/1-4/15

Higganum Meadows WMA Haddam 19 3/16-4/15

Cockaponset State Forest Chester 2 3/1-5/15

Harkness Memorial State Pa rk Waterford 20 3/10-4/25

Haddam Meadows State Park Haddam 20 3/1-4/24

Tunxis State Forest Hartland 20 3/1-5/7

Nehantic State Forest Lyme 17 4/15-5/15

Barn Island Wildlife Management Area Stonington 4 3/1-5/15

Goodwin State Forest Hampton 9 3/1-5/15Controlled Burn Authorization – (page 2 of 2) This authorization is granted subject to the following conditions:

1. Burn operations must not be conducted when:
a) national or state ambient air quality standards may be exceeded.
b) an advisory from the Commissioner of any air pollution episode is in effect.
c) the forest fire danger in the area is identified by th e State Forest Fire Warden as extreme and woodland or grassland is within one hundred feet for the proposed burn.
d) the forest fire danger is high or very high, unless a permit to conduct the burn has been issued by the State Forest Fire Warden.

2. Burn operations must not be conducted where a hazardous health condition may be created.

3. Burn operations must incorporate all safety precautions described in the burn plan, following all procedures as outlined the Standard Operating Proc edures for Forest Fire Control, Section 9.0, Prescribed Burns, Subsection 9.1, State Lands.

4. Burn operations must conform to all parameters established in the burn plan and burning must occur between 10:00AM and 5:00 PM on a sunny to partly sunny day when wind speeds average between 5 and 15 miles per hour.

5. Burn operations must not be conducted on any day with an air quality prediction below “Good” as determined by the DEP Bureau of Air Management Monitoring group (860-424-4167) on the day preceding the proposed burn date.

6. The Division of Forestry supervisor of the burn operation must advise the DEP Bureau of Air Management Air Dispatcher (860-424-3702) on the morning prior to burning or, for weekend burns, on the Friday immediately prior to the burn. A copy of this authorization must be available at the burning sites at all times during the conduct of the burn operation.

This document suffices as a Special Burning Permit as per CGS, Section 23-49a.(b),.

Gina McCarthy , Commissioner: ___________________________

Date: ___________________

Odrive.2007authorization

# Bureau of Natural Resources DIVISION OF FORESTRY
Memorandum 2/7/08

To: Edward Parker, Bureau Chief, BNR Cc: Ralph Scarpino From: Donald H. Smith, Director/State Forester RE: Request for Authorization to Burn – (background)

Attached please find a memorandum prepar ed for the Commissioner’s signature to authorize the conduct of controlled burning by Division of Forestry personnel of 14 areas of DEP owned lands. The intent and design of these burns varies depending upon the characteristics of each site to be burned. In general, the burns are intended to encourage the growth and development of desirable vegetative cover a nd to discourage the gr owth and development of undesirable tree and shrub growth. There are 2 burn areas proposed for State Fore st lands that are inte nded to discourage the growth and development of spec ific tree and shrub species that are competing with more desirable, commercially valuab le, tree species or th at are impeding the re generation of more desirable species. There is 1 burn area proposed wh ere training with helicopters (State Police/ National Guard) is the primary objective.

There are 8 burn areas scheduled with wildlife management being the prime consideration. These burns are intended to aid in the de velopment and maintenance of grassland and low shrub habitats for wildlife, includi ng grassland bird species. Most are WHIP projects.

There is

1 burn area on a Wildlife MA to follow up a Federally funded hazard mitigati on project to reduce the risk of wildfire sp reading from State owned land.

There is 1 burn area on a Stat e Park continuing the work of reproducing pitch pine on a Natural Area Preserve. There is 1 burn area on State Forest designed to continue a series of burns to restore a characteristic pre-colo nial forest condition. Questions with regard to these proposed controlled burns may be directed to me or Ralph Scarpino, the Fire Program leader. Thank you.