ALBANY -- The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has a new way of lowering home heating costs this winter season. The DEC is now accepting applications from homeowners to cut firewood from State Forests in Chenango, Madison and Broome Counties. There will be a lottery-type system used to determine winning applicants who will be able to harvest standing, live trees for use as affordable firewood.
“Since DEC launched the Homeowner Firewood Program in 1978, it has been welcomed by the surrounding communities looking for quality firewood to reduce home heating costs and keep families warm through the winter months,” said Regional Director Ken Lynch.
Firewood applications are available from DEC’s Sherburne and Kirkwood offices and are available on the web at http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/50141.html. Applications will be accepted until March 6, 2009. Applications must include name, address and phone number of the person requesting firewood, the number of cords requested and the area where applicant prefers to cut firewood.
For additional information on the homeowner firewood program, contact the DEC in Sherburne for Chenango and Madison Counties at (607) 674-4017 or Kirkwood for Broome County at (607) 775-2545. For more information on firewood movement restrictions visit: http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/28722.html, call 1-866-640-0652, or email firewood@gw.dec.state.ny.us.
Information courtesy NYS DEC
