Ordinance"AN ORDINANCE REGULATING BLASTING AND
THE USE OF EXPLOSIVES IN BLASTING OPERATIONS"
;ection 1. Statement of Legislative Intent
This ordinance is enacted in recognition of the fact
that blasting operations and the use of explosives in connection
therewith which are taking place in the Town can be dangerous and
constitute a potential public and private nuisance. The said
blasting operations are and have been a source of potential -danger
to`persons and property, are of a highly volatile nature and are
obvious sources of potential physical harm to residents and others_
in the Town. The blasting operations and use of explosives in
connection therewith creates a situation, which if not properly
controlled, will make the Town a less safe and less pleasant
place in which to live, to engage in.business and ca. -&I harm the
welfare of the Town as a whole. The intent of this ordinance is
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to establish procedures for the regulation of blasting and the use
of explosives in blasting operations in the Town:of Wappinger.
..ection 2. Title
This ordinance shall be known as an ordinance regulating
lasting and the use of ex plosives in.blasting-operations..
ection 3. Definitions _
Whenever used in this ordinance:
(a) "Board" means the Board of Standards and Appeals
of the Department of Labor of the State of New York.
(b) "Labor Law" means the Labor Law of the State of
ew York.
(c) "Codes", "Rules" and "Regulations" means the Codes,
if rules and Regulations which are promulgated by the Board cf
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Standards and Appeals of the Department of Labor of the State of
L'iew York.
(d) "Explosives" means gunpowder, powders used for
blasting, high explosives, blasting materials, detonating fuses,
detonators and other detonating agents, smokeless powder- and
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.nd any chemical compound or any mechanical mixture containing an--
ixidizing combustible units, or other ingredients in such
>roportions, quartities, or packing that -ignition by fire, friction;.
;oncussion, percussion or detonation of any part thereof may and is
Lntended to cause an explosion, but shall not include gasoline,
cerosene, naphtha, turpentine, benzine, acetone, ethyl .ether and
benzol. Fixed a. -,munition and primers for small arms, firecrackers,
Safety fuses and matches shall not be deemed to be explosives when,
as may be determined by the board in its rules, the individual unii
contain any of the above-mentioned articles or substances in such
limited quantity, of such nature and so packed that it,is:impossib'
to produce an explosion of such units to the injury of life, limb
or property.
(e) "Building" means any building regularly occupied in
whole or in.part as a.habitation for human beings,.and any church,
school house, railway station or other building. -or place where
people are accustomed to live, work or asse,,-Aw le.
(f) "Person" includes natural person, partnership,
association or corporation.
Section 4. Licenses
(a) No person shall purchase, -own, possess, transport
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or use explosives operations in the Town of Wappinger
outside the limits of any incorporated village therein unless a
license therefor shall have been issued as provided under the
Labor Law.
(b) In addition to the aforementioned license, no
1person shall blast or use any explosives in blasting operations in
jthe Town of Wappinger outside the limits of any incorporated
,village therein unless a blaster's license therefor shall be
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Il issued as hereinafter provided.
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Section 5. Blaster's License
(a) A blaster's license shall be issued by the Town
Clerk of the Town of Wappinger upon application orr forms pre-
scribed by her, and upon payment of a fee of Five ($5.00) Dollars
providing the applicant shall have complied with the requirements
as provided for under the Labor Law and under the Codes, Rules
and Regulations, and shall, in addition, stall have furnished
evidence in the form of a certificate of insurance issued by an,
insurance company authorized to do business in the State of New
York, in form acceptable to the Town Attorney guaranteeing that
the applicant has in full force and effect at the time of.the
making of such application a policy of public liability insurance
including a specific endorsement covering any and all liabilities
arising from blasting operations. The said policy -and certificate
shall provide for bodily injury coverage in limits of not less than
One Hundred Thousand to Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000/
$300,000) and for property damage coverage in limits of not less t
Twenty-five Thousand ($25,000.00) Dollars and shall further provid
that the Town of Wappinger, Dutchess County, New York, will be
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held harmless from any and all claims, actions and proceedings,
which may be brought against it by any person, firm or corporation
(for injury to person or damage to property resulting from or
occasioned by such blasting operations. Such policy shall contain
the further provision that it shall not be cancelled,Iterminated,
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modified or changed by the insurance company issuing it unless
at least 10 days prior written notice of such cancellation,\
termination, mopdification or change is sent to the mown Clerk by
registered mail. The policy shall further provide that the
presence of the Town Engineer or any cDnsuilting engineer responsib e
for specific town projects or their representatives on the site of
the operation shall not.affect the obligation of the insurer under
its said policy. 'No blaster's license shall be valid unless such
insurance coverage shall rcmain in full force and effect.
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(b) The blaster's license shall be valid for one year
from the date of its issuance provided that applicant shall compl-,
with the requirements contained in.t'ris ordinance, with the Labor
Law and with the said Codes, Rules and Regulations.
Section 6. General Provisions for Handling Explosives.
The holder of a blaster's license aforementioned shall'
perform blasting operations in accordance with the provisions;
regulations and requirements of the Labor Law and of the Codes,
Rules and Regulation and,any and all amendments thereto, and in
addition, shall perform such blasting operations in accordance
with recommended good practices usually employed in the industry.
Section 7. Hours of Blasting.
It shall be unlawful to blast or carry on any blasting
operation during other than daylight hours, or -at any time on
Sunday, except with the approval in writing'of.the'Town Engineer.
Section 8. Covering Blasts. ,
Before firing any blasts, except where the same is in a
tunnel, the material to be blasted shall be covered on the top
and sides with heavy woven material of rope, wire or rubber, of
sufficient size, weight and strength to prevent the escape of
broken rock or other material in a manner liable to cause injury
or damage to persons or property unless written permission dis-
pensing with the same is obtained from the Town Engineer or any
consulting engineer responsible for specific town projects.
Section 9. Exemptions.
The provisions of this ordinance 'shall, not apply to any
of the following:
(1) Agencies of the United States, including iu* Armed
Services.
(2) The State of New York and its political "d civil
subdivisions;
(3) -Any school district or portion thereof oL1Oted in
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the Town:
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(b) The blaster's license shall be valid for one year
from the date of its issuance provided that applicant shall compl-,
with the requirements contained in.t'ris ordinance, with the Labor
Law and with the said Codes, Rules and Regulations.
Section 6. General Provisions for Handling Explosives.
The holder of a blaster's license aforementioned shall'
perform blasting operations in accordance with the provisions;
regulations and requirements of the Labor Law and of the Codes,
Rules and Regulation and,any and all amendments thereto, and in
addition, shall perform such blasting operations in accordance
with recommended good practices usually employed in the industry.
Section 7. Hours of Blasting.
It shall be unlawful to blast or carry on any blasting
operation during other than daylight hours, or -at any time on
Sunday, except with the approval in writing'of.the'Town Engineer.
Section 8. Covering Blasts. ,
Before firing any blasts, except where the same is in a
tunnel, the material to be blasted shall be covered on the top
and sides with heavy woven material of rope, wire or rubber, of
sufficient size, weight and strength to prevent the escape of
broken rock or other material in a manner liable to cause injury
or damage to persons or property unless written permission dis-
pensing with the same is obtained from the Town Engineer or any
consulting engineer responsible for specific town projects.
Section 9. Exemptions.
The provisions of this ordinance 'shall, not apply to any
of the following:
(1) Agencies of the United States, including iu* Armed
Services.
(2) The State of New York and its political "d civil
subdivisions;
(3) -Any school district or portion thereof oL1Oted in
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the Town:
(4) Any district corporation;
(5) Any public benefit corporation; \.
(6) Police and fire -fighting forces:
_Section 10 Violation and Penalty_.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this
ordinance, or failing to comply therewith, shall be guilty of a
n misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by imprison-
ment for a teen of not more than one year, or by a fine of not
more than one thousand dollars, or both such fine and impri,son-
ment. Each violation of any provision of this,ordinance shall be
a separate and distinct offense, and in case of continuing viola-
tion, each day such violation shall be permitted to exist shall
constitute a separate offense. ,
Section 11. Repeal of Inconsistent Ordinances,*
All ordinances or parts of ordinances not..consistent
with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed.
Section 12. Separability
If any section, paragraph, subdivision, clause, phrase
or provision of this ordinance shall be adjudged invalid or held
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of this
ordinance as a whole or any part or provision thereof, other than
.the part so decided to be invalid*or unconstitutional.
Section 13. When Effective
This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon adoptic
and publication as provided by law.
Introduced by r
Seconded by \���, �•
Vote: Councilman Clausen. i=,•,
Councilman Finnan r
Councilman Heady (� ;
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Councilman Mills
Supervisor Diehl ��_
BE IT ORDAINED by the Town Board of the Town of Wappinger as
follows:
Section 1. Section 5 of "AN ORDINANCE REGULATING BLASTING A"10
THE USE OF EXPLOSIVES IN BLASTING OPERATIONS" adopted by the Town
Board of the Town of Wappinger on August 12, 1968 is amended by
deleting the provisions thereof in its entirety and by substituting
in place thereof the following:
Section 5. Blaster's License.
(a) A blaster's license shall be issued by the Town Clerk of
the Town of Wappinger upon application on forms prescribed by her,
and upon payment of a fee of FIFTY ($50.00) DOLLARS providing t':a
applicant shall have complied with thy_ requirements as provided for
under the Labor Law and under the Codes, Rules and Regulations and
all other state statutes and regulations as well as all local laws
and ordinances and shall, in addition, have furnished evidence is
the form of a cetificate of insurance issued by an insurance company
authorized to do business in the Sta.t,? of New York , in form
acceptable to the Attorney to the Town guaranteeing that the
applicant has in full force and effect at the timte of the making of
such applica_'on a policy of pu��ii.c liability insurance includia� a
specific endorsement covering any and ali I iabil -C.,es arising f n
blasting operations. The- said poi_cy and certificate shall pry..aa
for bodily injury coverage in limits car Tlot 1?s, t'i-i..-I Five Hundred
T'zousand to One Million Dollars ($500,000/$1,000,000) and for
nr:>>>arty 13 ,fie cover;;12t in limits of not less than Two Hundre,i
Fifty Thousar. d ($250,;-)70) Dollars and shall furt;zsr provide tha` the
Town of GJappinger, Dutcne5s
New York will o ht-ild laarmii!ss
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from any and all claims, actions and proceedings, which may be
brought against it by any person, firm or corporation for injury to
person or damage to property resulting from or occasioned by such
blasting operations. Such policy shall contain the further
provision that it shall not be cancelled, terminated, modified or
changed by the insurance company issuing it unless at least ten days
prior written notice of such cancellation, termination, mbdification
or change is sent to the Town Clerk by registered mail. The policy
shall further provide that the presence of the Town Engineer or any
consulting engineer responsible for specific town projects or their
representatives on the site of the operation shall not affect the
obligation of the insurer under its said policy. No blaster's
license shall be valid unless such insurance coverage shall remain
in full force and effect.
(b) All applications shall be made at least ten days before
the date of blasting activities. Each blasting permit application
shall be accompanied by a certification from the zoning
administrator and/or building inspector that the applicant or the
owner of the land where the blasting activity shall ta',-,e place has
obtained all necessary permits or that zoning or building permits
are not necessary. All applications shall fully describe the notice
or' the activity for which the blasting is being u:laertaken and shall
idantify the name, address and telephone number of the person who
has authorized the blasting activity, and contain written
authorization by the landowner for 5«ch activity.
(c) The blaster's license shall oa valid only for one day at
the location specified on the permit, its iss-aanc providing that
she applicant shall comply with the requirements contained in this
ordinance, with the Labor Law and with the said Codes, Rules and
Regulations. Separate application must be made for renewal or
extension, and a fee of $10.00 shall accompany each application for
renewal or extension. Extension or renewal for a date fifteen or
more days beyond the first permit date shall not be permitted.
Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon
adoption and publication as provided by law.