44 Complaint Records 2012 BOARD OF HEALTH
MEMBERS
DONNA C.SALLOOM,CHAIR
SUZANNE SMITH,M.D.
JOANNE LEVIN,MD.
Benjamin Wood,MPH,Director
Patricia Abbott,RN,Public Health Nurse
Daniel Wasiuk,Health Inspector
Edmund Smith,Health Inspector
Heather McBride,Clerk
CITY OF NORTHAMPTON
MASSACHUSETTS 01060
OFFICE OF THE
BOARD OF HEALTH
(413)587-1214
FM 413)587-1221
212 MAIN STREET
NORTHAMPTON,MAO1060
Wayne E. Brown and Eleanor J.Brown,
44 Mary Jane Lane,
Florence, MA 01062
Mr. Brown,
1/30/2012
Thank you for contacting my office last week. As I said I would when we talked on the phone,I have
spoken to the Building Inspection Department about the nature of your project and the permit you
have for construction.
We cannot allow the continued use of the stove,an unpermitted installation which is releasing smoke
at a low height into the neighborhood. The Health Department has received several complaints from
residents;your project does not seem to nearing completion;and any need for daily,continued running
of the stove does not outweigh the health of your neighbors.
Discontinue operation of the stove immediately. Contact the Building Inspector concerning whether a
woodstove permit is possible and to update them with details about the completion of the project.
Thank you for your cooperation,
tree L., ,' / c6 - r / (fie
Edmund Smith
Health Inspector,Northampton Health Department
Ed Smith
From: Heather McBride
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2012 1:27 PM
To: Ed Smith
Subject: Mr. Brown and his smoking chimney
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Completed
Mr. Brown came by 1/26/12 1:15 p.m.to say that he is burning wood once a day in the detached cellar to keep the cellar
dry. He had photos and everything.
Please call him 584-2779
Heather McBride
Clerk, Northampton Health Department
212 Main St.
Northampton, MA 01060
413-587-1214
Fax 413-587-1221
BOARD OF HEALTH
MEMBERS
DONNA C.SALLOOM,CHAIR
SUZANNE SMITH,M.D.
JOANNE LEVIN,M.D.
Benjamin Wood,MPH,Director
Patricia Abbott,RN,Public Health Nurse
Daniel Wasiuk,Health Inspector
Edmund Smith,Health Inspector
Heather McBride,Clerk
CITY OF NORTHAMPTON
MASSACHUSETTS 01060
OFFICE OF THE
BOARD OF HEALTH
(413)587-1214
FAX(413)587-1221
212 MAIN STREET
NORTHAMPTON,MA 01080
Wayne E. Brown and Eleanor J.Brown,
44 Mary Jane Lane,
Florence, MA 01062
Mr. and Mrs Brown,
1/23/2012
The Northampton Health Department has received a complaint stating that heavy smoke is coming
from a short stack behind your house at 44 Mary Jane Lane.The building inspectors office has no
record of permitted construction which would allow the use of a solid fuel burning device in an
auxiliary structure on your property. It is illegal to bum trash in the State of Massachusetts and
likewise the City of Northampton has its own regulations and ordinances governing the type of
material that can be burned,when it can be burned and how it is burned. For your information please
see 310 CMR 7.00: AIR POLLUTION CONTROL, specifically section 7.07 which governs the
type of material that can be burned.
Even if you are only burning wood,the City of Northampton's Board of Health has REGULATIONS
GOVERNING EMISSIONS FROM SOLID FUEL BURNING DEVICES that requires the system
burning wood to be capable of producing clear smoke. Thick smoke such as that which was
complained of would constitute evidence that your wood burning device is not capable of doing so or
you are using material that is not suitable for burning.This type of smoke is further considered to be a
nuisance that can be cited under MGL Ch. 111,S. 122.
You should further be aware that both state and local regulations and laws carry the possibility of
fines. It is also important to recognize that these regulations are in place to protect the public's health.
Please respond in writing within 7 days of receipt of this letter explaining what type(s)of
material you have been burning at 44 Mary Jane Lane,and the steps you are taking to properly
permit the installation of the smoke emitting device located behind your house.
Failure to respond and/or continued burning of material at 44 Mary Jane Lane may result in fines or
court action.
Thank you for your cooperation,
Edmund Smith
Health Inspector,Northampton Health Department
11-ae 611
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