November 08, 2024
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BEP lists 14 conditions on Warren rifle range

WARREN – The state has added 14 conditions to Steamship Navigation Co.’s rifle-range permit to construct berms on its Route 90 property.

The state Board of Environmental Protection issued the conditions last week after finding that Steamship Navigation had violated its permit, said Michael Parker, project manager for the state Department of Environmental Protection.

The project consists of constructing four berms with a flammable material from Gates Formed-Fibre Co. in Auburn and covering the material with sludge from the Anson-Madison Sanitary District and a short-paper sludge from another company. The berms are mounds that are fired at with rifles.

Earlier this month, the BEP held a hearing on the matter and at that time only one berm had been finished and some erosion-control work had not been done.

Concerns were raised about the rifle-range owners’ financial and technical ability to complete the project.

At the hearing, owner Cathy Dunican indicated a willingness to complete the project and to provide the state with the company’s financial records.

Among conditions being added to Steamship Navigation’s permit:

. The company must install by Dec. 31 a gate at the western access road to prevent unauthorized access to the range, and copies of keys to all locked points of entry must be provided to the Warren fire chief for emergency access.

. By Dec. 31, its certified financial reports for 1998, 1999 and 2000 must be delivered to the DEP.

. By Jan. 15, Steamship must buy, store and make available to emergency responders 100 gallons of Class A foam on the property, until the project is completed. The supply, if used, must be replaced within seven days.

. By Jan. 31, a $500,000 performance surety bond payable to the DEP must be delivered to the state, conditioned on full compliance with the license and full completion of the project by Dec. 31, 2001.

. By Jan. 31, Steamship must provide the DEP with evidence of financing to pay for completion of the project.

. Provide the DEP by Jan. 31 an emergency response plan showing how a fire at the range would be handled.

. By March 31, all berm materials must be removed from the 1.1-acre easement parcel owned by Overlock Family Trust.

. No further Gates materials shall be brought on the site.

. Steamship shall not permit the use of any portion of the outdoor range for rifle or pistol shooting until the DEP receives written certification from a contractor that a 3-foot-thick sand-backed projectile containment structure has been built for each range area to be used.

. Steamship must post notices and notify in writing all users of the range that the use of tracer rounds or other incendiary devices will be prohibited because of fire danger.

If the company does not comply with the conditions of the permit or it cannot prove that it has the financial capability to comply, the DEP will undertake remedial action, Parker said.

He did not know exactly what steps would be taken, but indicated that the state may have to complete the work.


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