This resolution provides a recommendation to the Town of Eastchester for the restriction of the use of power tools for yard work and gardening as well as the supporting background and rationale which was used to develop the recommendation. The following provides a summary of the impacts of leaf blowers, a review of ordinances from other
Each weekend, about 54 million Americans mow their lawns, using 800 million gallons of gas per year. Most people do not associate air pollution with lawn care. Yet emissions from lawn mowers, snow blowers, chain saws, leaf blowers, and similar outdoor power equipment are a significant source of pollution producing up to 5% of the nation's air pollution and a good deal more in metropolitan areas. Gas powered gardening equipment emit hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides (contributing to the formation of ground level ozone), particulate matter (damaging to the respiratory system), carbon monoxide (a poisonous gas) and carbon dioxide (contributing to global warming). Ground-level ozone impairs lung function, inhibits plant growth, and is a key ingredient of smog. The health toll of these pollutants includes cancer as well as damage to lungs, heart, the immune system and detoxification system.
Leaf blowers have become a common gardening tool in
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
The pollutants that cause these problems are all released by gas powered lawn equipment. The EPA completed studies entitled “Nonroad Engine and Vehicle Emission Study” in 1991 and in 1994 which determined that sources from lawn equipment contribute significantly to ozone non-attainment. Using outdated lawn and garden equipment (pre-1997) can account for as much as five percent of the total man-made hydrocarbons that contribute to ozone formation. Reducing emissions from small engines can help to alleviate the formation of ground-level ozone resulting in a decrease of air pollution-related health problems.[2] Additionally a study was conducted entitled, “Determination Particulate Emission Rates from Leaf Blowers” which provided evidence that particulate matter is suspended in the air with the use of leaf blowers on all surfaces (including asphalt, lawns and concrete) with impacts up to 20 meters (66 feet) from the equipment and up to 2 meters (6.6 feet) in height. [3]
In addition to the pollutants of local concern, these engines also produce carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless and poisonous gas which results from incomplete fuel combustion as well as heavy metals.[4]
Noise can impair the health and welfare of residents and impact their quality of life. According to the Mayo Clinic the safe range for noise is less than 70 decibels. There is a risk for hearing loss once noise levels reach 85 decibels and severe injury occurs once levels are at 120 decibels.[5] Lawn mowers and leaf blowers can range from 85 to 95 decibels[6]; however there are models that run quieter including electric models. Many manufacturers test their products and provide decibel information in product specifications.
In addition, power tools driven by internal combustion engines contribute to the overall carbon footprint of the Town and whose unmitigated use runs counter to the Town’s philosophy, and as a member of ICLEI, for reducing emissions that contribute to Climate Change.
A first-order approximation of green house gas (GHG) emissions from lawn equipment can be simply the carbon dioxide (CO2) created by burning gasoline. Gasoline produces 19.6 pounds of CO2 per gallon burned. Compare the amount of gasoline used in a family's lawn equipment to the amount used in cars (assuming that the family used 1,000 gallons/year in their car and 10 gallons/year in their lawn equipment), results in lawn equipment accounting for less than 1% of the GHG emissions of a suburban family. Nevertheless, switching to an electric lawnmower may reduce a family's carbon footprint.
Switching to electric mowers will not totally eliminate pollution; however, emissions from the electric industry are more regulated and are not in your backyard.
Until 1995, lawnmower emissions were unregulated. Older more powerful, less efficient two-cycle engines release 25-30% of their oil and gas unburned into the air. The EPA has finalized a new emission control program to reduce hydrocarbon emissions from small spark-ignition engines by about 35 percent. The new exhaust emissions standards will take effect in 2011 or 2012, depending on the size of the engine. The final rule also includes new standards to reduce evaporative emissions from these fuel systems. These standards will reduce the harmful health effects of ozone and carbon monoxide from these engines. Compared to their unregulated counterparts, EPA estimates that engines complying with the new emission standards will emit on average more than one third less hydrocarbons.
In the course of its investigation, the Committee uncovered Local Law 1-2001, which regulates the decibel levels of transient noise and steady noise in the Town of
Many municipalities throughout the Nation and the County have implemented ordinances that restrict the use of lawn power equipment to protect the health and welfare of their residents. It is believed that at least fifteen
The Committee reviewed six of the many ordinances in effect in
Carol Casazza Herman, Chair,
Also from Larchmont an email from Police Chief John G. Poleway to their Environmental Committee on
In view of the foregoing, and taking into account the needs of landscapers and homeowners, and in keeping with the regulations from neighboring communities the
§ The ordinance should limit the use of power tools with an internal combustion engine used for landscaping and yard maintenance (“equipment”) to the following times:
o Weekdays:
o Saturday:
o Sunday and Holidays: No use allowed
§ In addition, use of leaf blowers only should be forbidden between May 15th and September 15th of each year
§ Equipment shall not produce noise levels higher than 65dba as measured from a neighbor’s property line
§ The following exceptions will apply:
o Grass may be cut on with an internal combustion engine lawn mower by an occupant of the premises on weekdays between the hours of
o Uses of snow blowers, chain saws and other domestic tools and equipment are exempted from these limits when used to clear driveways, streets or walkways during and within 48 hours of snowfalls, rainstorms, ice storms, windstorms or similar emergencies.
Dates leaf blowers are not allowed to operate
Larchmont: June 1st – September 30th
October 1st to April 30th Limited hours and days
Dobbs Ferry: Dec 15th – March 15th and May 1st – Sept 15th
Bronxville: June 1st – Sept 30th
Allowed hours of operation
Larchmont: Weekdays:
Saturday:
Sunday and Holidays:
Saturday:
Sunday and Holidays:
Saturday:
Sunday and Holidays:
Dobbs Ferry: Weekdays:
Saturday: 10am – 5 pm
Sunday and Holidays: 10am – 5 pm
Saturday:
Sunday and Holidays:
Larchmont: Any gardening equipment with an internal combustion engine
Dobbs Ferry: Blowers and fans
Bronxville: Gasoline powered blowers
Dobbs Ferry: 65dba
Larchmont:
Monday through Friday, excluding holidays: between 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., except grass may be cut with an internal combustion engine lawn mower by an occupant of the premises where it is being cut on weekdays between the hours of 5:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
However, uses of snowblowers, chain saws and other domestic tools and equipment are exempted from these limits when they are being used to clear driveways, streets or walkways during and within 24 hours after snowfalls, rainstorms, ice storms, windstorms or similar emergencies.
Dobbs Ferry:
Unless the noise from such blower or fan is muffled and such engine is equipped with a properly functioning muffler or baffling device or effective noise-absorbent material sufficient to deaden such noise.
Except that grass may be cut with an internal combustion engine lawn mower by the occupant of the premises on any day between the hours of
Exceptions to this subsection:
(a) Golf course operations, municipal and school employees while in the performance of their regular duties beyond 100 feet from the nearest residence.
(b) Utility companies, municipal and school employees or property owners and/or their subcontractors while performing emergency repairs.
Conducted Spring 2008
|
Should the Town of |
Answer Text |
Votes |
% |
|
|
Yes |
400 |
57% |
|
|
No |
301 |
43% |
|
|
|
701 total |
|
Some of the letters we have received in support of the Leafblower Local Ordinance.
A support letter from the American Lung Association
A support letter from the League of Conservation Voters
Footnotes
[1] http://www.epa.gov/air/community/details/yardequip_addl_info.html.
[2] United States Environmental Protection Agency. Small Engine Emission Standards. EPA420-F-98-025. August 1998.
[3] Fitz, Dennis and Acermont, Gary. Determination Particulate Emission Rates from Leaf Blowers. 2006.
[4] http://www.epa.gov/air/community/details/yardequip_addl_info.html.
[5] National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 2008, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2009, and American Tinnitus Association, 2009.
[6] The