Politics & Government
Forks Township Mulls Permanent Burn Ban
Forks Township officials seeking pre-approval of burn ban ordinance from DEP before it goes before Board of Supervisors for vote.
After more than a month of having a ban on burning, the is mulling whether to make it permanent.
"I am very supportive of a ," Supervisor Bob Egolf said. "Forks offers complete garbage and recycling pickups and brush recycling at our public works complex."
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Forks Township does allow homeowners to have open fires on their properties; however, supervisors are considering a repeal of the township's burn ordinance so that open burning would be illegal at all times.
"From what I have learned, open burning is not only dangerous and also detrimental to our environment -- the air we breathe," Egolf continued. "If we adopt a burning ban, I believe our residents will comply."
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Township Finance Director Jim Farley said he recently met with Cindy Oatis, Township Manager John Cornell and Public Works Director Mark Roberts to discuss the ban and its impact on recycling.
He said the ban is "one piece of a large obstacle" that needs to be cleared in order to possibly get recycling grants from the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Farley said Fire Chief Charles Chapman and Zoning Officer Tim Weis have also reviewed the ban ordinance and are in favor of it.
The move is to help align the township with Act 101 compliance -- the state regulation overseeing local recycling and hazardous waste ordinances.
What township officials are seeking is pre-approval on the language of the ordinance from the DEP in an effort to save time, Farley said.
This way, if supervisors approve the ban, it would not get rejected from the DEP if the agency didn't agree with the information.
"We want to get this enacted sooner rather than later," Farley said. "We're taking the correct course. Other municipalities have received informal approval of their documents."
The ban would not prohibit fire pits and torches that people have around pools, Weis said.
Fines for violating the ban would be between $500 and $1,000, Weis said.
Township Supervisor David Billings said a period of public comment would also be needed before the ordinance can be sent to the DEP.
Northampton County had issued a burn ban more than a month ago due to dry and windy conditions and warm temperatures that could spark uncontrolled fires.