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Home My WebLink About- Miscellaneous - 113 ANDOVER STREET 3/28/2019 w Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy &Environmental Affairs Department of Environmental Protection Charles D. Baker Matthew A.Beaton Governor Secretary r Karyn E.Polito t/ Martin Suuherg Lieutenant Governor / Commissioner FEB 2 7 2019 Trustees of the Reservations RE: NORTH ANDOVER The Stevens-Coolidge Place Weir Hill Reservation 113 Andover Street Boston Hill North.Andover,MA 01845 Prescribed Burn Units Air Quality Control Section 7.07(3)(0 PRESCRIBED BURN APPROVAL Dear Mr.Hopping: The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection("MassDEP"),Bureau of Air and Waste, Northeast Region,has reviewed documentation dated April 18,2017, submitted by Trustees of Reservations, in partnership with the North Andover Fire Department,the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation,Bureau of Fire Control,the Massachusetts Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to continue the implementation of the prescr*ibed fire plan. The documentation submitted requests authorization to conduct controlled open burns at Weir Hill Reservation and Boston Hill in North Andover. According to the plan for the prescribed burn for 2019 the partnership will apply a prescribed fire to a total of up to 25 acres at Weir Hill Reservation The units at Weir Hill include T3,T4, and T6, S 1, S2, S3 and S4. The prescribed burn at Boston Hill will include up to 15 acres within units A &B. The prescribed burn will occur sometime between April l and November 30, 2019 for the purpose of protecting and promoting habitat for rare species, research and ecological management, improving public,and firefighter safety by reducing fuel loads, and providing training opportunities for North Andover fire fighters and burn crews from the Trustees of the Reset-vations, the division of Fisheries and Wildlife,Bureau of Fire Control, and other fire personnel from federal, state, and local conservation agencies and organizations. MassDEP has determined that this is a valid application of 7.07 Open Burning as contained in 310 CMR 7.00 "Air Pollution Control"regulations adopted by MassDEP pursuant to the authority granted by Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 111,Section 142 A-N, Chapter 21 C, Section 4 and 6,and Chapter 21E, Section 6 of the"Air Pollution Control Regulations." This determination does not relieve you of the obligation to comply with any other statutory and regulatory requirements. This information Is available in alternate format.Cali Michelle Waters-Ekanem,Diversity Director,at 617-292-6761.TTY#MassRelay Service 1-800-439-2370 MassDEP Website:www.mass.cgov/dep Printed on Recycled Paper MassDEP letter re:2019 Prescribed Bum Approval for Weir Hill Reservation,North Andover Page 2 of 4 This authorization is contingent with the following conditions: 1, This authorization allows the proponent to conduct the proposed prescribed burning activities from April 1,2019 to November 30,2019. 2. The prescribed bum may only be conducted on days that the Air Quality Index(AQI)for Ozone is predicted to be less than or equal to 50 and the AQI for fine particulate(PM2.5) is predicted to be less than or equal to 75. A) Prior to conducting the bum,the proponent shall check the MassDEP web site [htt ://,oublic.dei).state.ina.us/MassAir/Pap-es/MqpForecasLaspx?&ht=].&hi--108] to determine the Air Quality Index(AQI)for the day the bum is proposed. The AQI is posted by 11:00 AM each day and provides a prediction of air quality conditions for the following day. 13) If the predicted AQI is marginal or should the proponent Want an updated forecast,the proponent may contact MassDEP Air Quality Forecasting staff at 617-292-5838 for additional guidance. If MassDEP Air Quality Forecasting staff is unavailable,the proponent shall rely solely on the AQI to determine whether the burn can proceed. C) On days where the AQI is predicted to exceed the set values for either Ozone or PM2.5,then the bum shall be postponed until a day when the air quality improves below the stated values. USEFUL FORECASTING TOOL RELATED HYPERLINK(s) MA AO FORECAST' I&hi=108 MA CURRENT 03 READING http://public.de state,in,,Lus/MassAit�/Page,14a Curren s ?pm--4 I —I&hi-103 p --- =1�_2 -t,A,-px MA CAPE&ISLANDS FORECAST hftp://www.aimow.govLindex,cfm7?a-cti�n=aimow,local efty city1d=70&btnGetAi-chiyes =Get+Data&ma13d-ate= FIRE WEATHER PLANNING http://wwm iy/product.php?site�--NWS&foi-mat=Cl&version--l& lossary=O&h FORECAST ighlight=dMissueft-Bt7x&product=FWF RED FLAG WARNING FORECASThttp://www.crh.iLoaa.goly/t)roduct,r)]iD?sitc=NWS&format,Cl&version=l&glossgy:O&h ighlight--off&issuedby=BOX&prqduct--[tFW 3. The proponent may conduct prescribed burning for research purposes only from July 1,through September 15,provided such research bums do not exceed 10 acres per event. 4. The proponent shall notify area residents and visitors of the prescribed bum activities at least two days prior to the proposed event. Said notice should include the posting of physical placards on significant roadways, access trails,and neighborhood areas adjacent to the burn zone(s) as well as notice(s) in newspaper(s)of local circulation*' In cases where residential dwellings are situated in close proximity to areas to be treated, more direct notification methods shall be required. This may include individual leaflets per house,reverse 911 or direct verbal notice from fire control personnel on foot in the applicable neighborhood(s). 5. The prescribed bum plan,to include smoke screening, shall be reviewed and approved by an appropriately experienced bum boss or fire manager, prior to the ignition of any burn unit. The prescribed burns must be conducted in accordance*with all applicable fire management plans and smoke management practices. The following guidebooks may be used as reference. Document Title Interagency Prescribed Fire Planning and Implementation Procedures Guide 2008 littp://www.iiwciz.2c�y/pms/RxFii-e/i,xfiregLuid2,pdf Wildfire Smoke,A Guide for Public Health Officials,2008 littp://oehha.ca.ggv/aii-/risk assess/wildfirev&pdf MassDEP letter re: 2019 Prescribed Burn Approval for Weir.Hill Reservation,North Andover Page 3 of 4 Smoke Management Guide for Prescribed and Wildland Fire,2001 Edition h ://www.nwc , ov/ ms/ ubs/SMG/SMG-72. df GTR-SRS-I03 Managing Smoke at the Wildland Urban Interface(2007) http://www.srs,fs.tis(la. ov/ ubs/_,-kr/�tr srs103. c1f 6. All burn activities shall be supervised by an appropriately experienced burn boss, at all times. In addition, all b*urn activities shall be supported by sufficient staffing and equipment based on the size, vegetation type, and geographical setting of the burn zone. 7. A prescribed burn may only take place if it is determined that the prescribed burn would still be within prescription parameters as outlined in the prescribed burn plan. 8. All ignitions will be conducted between the hours of 9:00 am through 5:00 pm with all burns being in burn down mode between 5:00 pm and 9:00 pm, unless otherwise authorized by MassDEP and the local Fire Department. 9. Total acreage burned per calendar year by the proponent shall not exceed 30 acres,with additional . acreage contingent upon prior MassDEP approval. 10. Prescribed burning must be conducted during periods of good atmospheric ventilation. 11. Prescribed burning shall be conducted without causing a nuisance condition. 12. Prescribed burning shall be conducted with smoke minimizing starters if starters or starting aids are used. 13. Prescribed burning must be conducted under the provisions of a properly executed permit issued under the provisions of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 48 Section 13. 14. Best smoke management practices must be exercised to determine appropriate burn unit size,and ignition methods. 15. The Northeast Regional Of-flee(NERO)of MassDEP shall be notified by email of the intent to conduct any prescribed burn prior to,but not in excess of, forty-eight(48)hours to any ignition. The following persons at NERO shall be notified: strsan.ruch u,state.ma.us karen.golden-smith or gtate.rna.us 16. The prescribed burn shall be continuously monitored under the direct auspices of the appropriate local fire department,or their designee,and adequate resources must be provided to ensure safe execution of open buns activity. 17. A copy of this approval letter and a calendar year burn unit list shall be sent to the local fire department and board of health at least thirty(30)days prior to any prescribed burn within their jurisdiction. 18. Any alteration or destruction of vegetation(undertaken)within a wetland or within the one hundred (100)foot buffer zone requires the prior written permission of the local conservation commission, pursuant to the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, M.G.L. Chapter 131 section 40 and the implementing regulations at 340 CMR 10.00. i MassDEP letter re: 2019 Prescribed Bum Approval for Weir Hill Reservation,North Andover Page 4 of 4 19. Within 30 days of the conclusion of the prescribed burn authorized herein but 110 later than' 30 days after the expiration of this authorization,the proponent shall provide MassDEP with a summary of the fire management activities that have been conducted during the previous calendar year. This report shall detail the results of the previous year burns and how the goals of the burn program were achieved including but not limited to,problems in executing the burn, scientific objectives,nuisance conditions that may have occurred,objectives obtained that would not have been possible if mechanical clearing methods were used. 20. Before commencing the prescribed burns,the proponent shall provide a copy of proposed burning to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife,Natural Heritage&Endangered Species Program,Route 135, Westborough,MA 0 15 8 1,to ensure compliance with the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act(MESA)M.G,L,,c, 13 IA. 21.. Be advised, in accordance with open burning regulation at 310 CMR 7.07(6), all prescribed burning activities authorized herein are subject to the enforcement provisions of 310 CMR 7,52,which allow any police department, fire department, or board of health within theirjurisdictional area full enforcement authority. 22. This authorization shall expire on December 31, 2019. 23, Failure to comply with these conditions may result in the revocation of this authorization. Should you have any questions relative to this matter,please contact either Karen Golden-Smith of the Northeast Regional Office at 978.694,3275 or at the letterhead address. Very truly yours, Karen Golden-Smith Susan Ruch Environmental Analyst Deputy Regional Director Compliance and Enforcement Section Bureau of Air and Waste MassDEP—NERO-BAW KGS ece: North Andover Fire Department North Andover Board of Health MassDEP-NERD S.Ruch K. Golden-Smith