Office of Borough President James P. Molinaro
Staten Island, New York
B.P. Molinaro and DEC to renew firebreak buffer zone permits to protect homeowners from brush fires
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Continuing an eight-year program to protect homeowners from brush fires, Borough President Molinaro today announced that he is renewing an agreement with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to provide a permit process for residents to establish firebreaks in the tall grasses bordering their residential homes. The program renewal is timely, given the rash of severe brush fires plaguing the Island.
Only residents residing in areas designated by the DEC as “high risk” for brush fires will be permitted to create the firebreaks in these wetland areas.
Under the agreement, residents concerned about brush fires engulfing the tall grasses adjoining their homes are instructed to contact the Borough President’s Office and request that their names be included under the general permit which has been issued to the Borough President’s Office. Molinaro is volunteering his Helpline staff to handle requests in order to make the process more convenient for residents. The Borough President’s staff will record the names and addresses of the residents and forward the requests to the DEC. Residents can call the Helpline at 718-816-2000.
The permit will be issued with the following provisions for weed growth on private property:
* Residents will be permitted to create a firebreak of 50’ (measured from their homes)
* Residents can only mow phragmites (reed grass), not trees, shrubs, or other plants.
* Only hand-held equipment, such as lawnmowers and weed-wackers will be permitted (no “buggy” lawnmowers, bulldozers or equipment that would damage the wetland).
For reed grass on public property, residents living adjacent to the property would need to contact the Borough President’s Office to request an expedited permit, and the Borough President’s Office itself will organize a clean-up crew to remove the weeds. Under the permit, private homeowners will not be able to mow the weeds themselves on public property.
The geographic area covered under the agreement includes the two following boundaries:
* Oakwood – from Great Kills Park to Mill Road to Cedar Grove Avenue
* Dongan Hills/Midland and South Beach – Hylan Boulevard to Fr. Capadanno Boulevard and Jefferson Boulevard to Sand Lane
“Many years of experience have shown us where the brush fires tend to ignite on Staten Island,” Molinaro said, “and allowing residents in these areas to mow down the reed grass is an important safety step.
“Six years ago, former Borough President Molinari and I started this expedited permitting process with DEC,” Molinaro added, “and I appreciate DEC’s long-standing cooperation on this approach, which balances environmental protection with fire safety.
“The DEC has framed a general permit for brush fire ‘firebreak’ actions that will provide the margin of safety homeowners have sought,” Molinaro said. “My office will coordinate the requests and ensure they expedited under that general permit.”
Residents desiring firebreaks can begin the process by filing a request with the Borough President’s Office as soon as possible.
Residents may also contact DEC directly if they have any questions regarding the provisions of the permit. They may call DEC’s Office of Environmental Permits at 718-482-4997.
March 16, 2006