Gas Leaf Blower Public Hearing

Background
The precise language is consistent with similar legislation already in place locally, at the Incorporated Villages of Southampton, North Haven, and East Hampton, summarized below and available here.

Gas Leaf Blowers can operate September 21 to May 19: 8am - 4pm/ Monday - Friday and 8am - 1pm on Saturday.
Gas Leaf Blowers (GLB) are restricted from operating: May 20 to September 20 and on Sundays/year-round and holidays.

Grounded in the 400+ Plan section of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan, this legislation was recommended by the Sustainable Southampton Green Advisory Committee as a result of public pressure, and significant public health and environmental benefit that align with New York State GreenHouse Gas (GHG) reduction targets.

The Science and data underpinning this legislation

Noise: can cause permanent hearing damage or other hearing issues such as tinnitus after just 2 hours of hearing a blower’s 65 to 80 decibels at 50 feet5 away.
Public health: “hydrocarbon emissions from a half hour of yard work with the two-stroke leaf blower are about the same as a 3,900-mile drive from Texas to Alaska in a Raptor pickup” (New York Times)
Solid and Toxic Waste – GLBs also produce thousands of pounds of solid toxic waste and plastics waste yearly in the form of contaminated air and fuel filters, spark plugs, gaskets, and plastic two cycle oil containers that are sent to landfills. Filling gas tanks and mixing two cycle oil often results in spilling toxic liquids, and residual oil from used containers can find their way into water systems and harm local ecosystems.
Alignment with New York State Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction mandates outlined in the Clean Energy Standard.

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