This is taken from 'The Bennington Banner', Monday March 30, 2008. Here is the actual URL: http://www.benningtonbanner.com/ci_8741393?source=most_viewed If the URL does not come up, this is the text of the article. Notice "A junkyard is defined as a place where 4 or more UNREGISTERED cars are kept". So, if you are covered by THEIR definition, you are a Junkyard! DammedFools. "Fooled by Hobbyists" indeed. This crap continues there will be NO parts cars anywhere so others may be restored to useful. Zoning is getting to be real horse-poop, indeed! (I have diluted some words and changed them from anatomical descriptors to something less obtuse, but get it right, these folks ARE from the planet which sounds like Urenus!) Saturday, March 29 POWNAL - Junkyards across the state are wreaking havoc on the environment, and stricter state laws are in the works, an environmental specialist told the Pownal Planning Commission on Thursday. In an attempt to find ways to improve local junkyards, the commission invited Judy Mirro, a specialist with the state Department of Environmental Conservation, to discuss regulations. "I help businesses comply with environmental regulations," said Mirro. "We get complaints about salvage yards from all over the state." The biggest issue is that wells are contaminated by junkyard waste. Soon, a law that will make junkyard owners responsible for ensuring that water stays on their property is expected to go into effect. "It forces a junkyard to manage their site so that rain does not take oil and things off the property," said Mirro. Another new mandate is that any car with mercury switches cannot be scraped for metal unless the switches are removed, said Mirro. The department is now giving rebates to yards that turn those switches in. In New Hampshire, a handbook with recommendations for best business practices has become law, said Mirro. The handbook includes strict junkyard regulations and is helping to clean up the state. Same standards But for fear that owners will move their businesses over the border, New Hampshire is asking Vermont and Maine to adopt the same standards, she said. "In New Hampshire they are either coming into compliance or shutting the door," said Mirro. "We're thinking this is going to be the answer." A legislative committee is expected to meet with the Vermont League of Cities and Towns to move forward on the legislation, said Mirro. If passed, enforcement will be in the state's hands and not the towns', she said. The department has been reaching out to get junkyard owners into compliance since 2002. Mirro said that owners were invited to a series of meeting about regulations and the department has given advice to businesses across the state. "The idea is not to punish people; it is to get them into compliance," said Mirro. Mirro said ordinances are the best way to regulate junkyards on the local level. The town constable, under the Select Board's direction, could fine out-of-compliance junkyards, she said. Junkyards are defined by state law as any place with four or more unregistered cars, said Mirro, and owners of those properties need to follow environmental law. "We find a lot of people that hide behind being a hobbyist. If you've got four or more, you are a junkyard," said Mirro. _______________________________________________ Amc-list mailing list Amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx http://splatter.wps.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/amc-list