Connecticut Regional Haze 

State Implementation Plan November 2009 

ATTACHMENT FF 

Connecticut Smoke Management Documentation 
Controlled 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 Department of Environmental Protection, Division 

of Forestry, to conduct isolated open burning within the State Forests, State Parks, and State 

Wildlife Management Areas listed below, and subject 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 period 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 Park 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 3/1-5/15 
Controlled 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 the 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 Procedures 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 prepared 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 and to discourage the growth and development 

of undesirable tree and shrub growth. 

There are 2 burn areas proposed for State Forest lands that are intended to discourage the 

growth and development of specific tree and shrub species that are competing with more 

desirable, commercially valuable, tree species or that are impeding the regeneration of more 

desirable species. 

There is 1 burn area proposed where 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 development and maintenance of 

grassland and low shrub habitats for wildlife, including grassland bird species. Most are 

WHIP projects. 

There is 

 1 burn area on a Wildlife MA to follow up a Federally funded hazard mitigation project to 

reduce the risk of wildfire spreading from State owned land. 

There is 1 burn area on a State 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-colonial forest condition. 

Questions with regard to these proposed controlled burns may be directed to me or Ralph 

Scarpino, the Fire Program leader. 

Thank you.