North Carolina Division of Air Quality Open Burning

Air Quality Regional Offices Asheville Mooresville Winston-Salem Fayetteville Raleigh Washington Wilmington North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)

Regional Offices Buncombe County Western NC Regional Air Pollution Control Agency 49 Mount Carmel Road Asheville, NC Phone: (828) Fax: (828) Forsyth County Environmental Affairs Dept. 537 N. Spruce Street Winston-Salem, NC Phone: (336) Fax: (336) Mecklenburg County Dept. of Environmental Protection 700 N. Tryon Street, Suite 205 Charlotte, NC Phone: (704) Fax: (704) Local Environmental Programs Washington Regional Office 943 Washington Square Mall Washington, NC Phone: (252) Fax: (252) Wilmington Regional Office 127 Cardinal Drive Extension Wilmington, NC Phone: (910) Fax: (910) Winston-Salem Regional Office 585 Waughtown Street Winston-Salem, NC Phone: (336) Fax: (336) Raleigh Regional Office 3800 Barrett Drive Raleigh, NC Phone: (919) Fax: (919) Mooresville Regional Office 610 E. Center Avenue Suite 301 Mooresville, NC Phone: (704) Fax: (704) Fayetteville Regional Office 225 Green Street Suite 714 Fayetteville, NC Phone: (910) Fax: (910) Asheville Regional Office 2090 US Hwy 70 Swannanoa, NC Phone: (828) Fax: (828)

Open Burning Rule Protects environment and human health One of NCs oldest air quality rules - adopted in 1971 Regulates outdoor burning Sets conditions for allowable fires Violators can be fined up to $25,000 per violation or more in serious cases

NC Forest Service Responsible for protecting state and privately owned forest land from forest fires Forest fire prevention Controlling wildfires NCFS issues open burning permits DAQ does not issue open burning permits

Local Government Local agencies and fire officials may have other ordinances Local ordinances must be no less stringent than the state regulation Following one agencys regulation does not guarantee compliance with other agencies Contact your local agencies prior to any open burning

Why Limit Open Burning? Smoke from open burning pollutes the air and is unhealthy to breathe Potential health effects include Lung and eye irritation Headaches dizziness Asthma attacks Coughing and wheezing Air pollution can damage trees and crops

Air Quality Forecast Areas

NC Air Quality Action Days Yard waste Land clearing debris Natural disaster material Fire training DAQ recommends no burning throughout the rest of the region on code orange, red, or purple days! Action days occur when ozone or particle pollution is forecasted to be higher than AQ standards. On code orange, red, or purple days in air quality forecast areas the following types of open burning are prohibited:

NC Air Quality Action Days Forest management practices Agricultural practices Wildlife management practices Practices must be acceptable to the North Carolina Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, or Wildlife Management Commission Exceptions to prohibited open burning on code orange, red, or purple days

Air Quality Forecast Website: Phone: (1-888-RU4NCAIR) Check the forecast in your area before you burn!

If It Doesnt Grow, Dont Burn It It is always illegal to burn trash and other non-vegetative material

What may be burned? Residential – small, vegetative yard wastes (only if public-up is not available) Non-Residential – Nothing except land clearing debris (businesses, schools, churches, etc) The burning must follow NC Air Quality Rules It is always illegal to burn trash and other non-vegetative material Businesses may never burn, except for land clearing debris ALL Burning Is Prohibited EXCEPT what is allowed in the rule.

Other Allowable Burning Campfires Outdoor cooking Bonfires for festive occasions Managing forests or wildlife habitats Controlling agricultural pests and diseases Disposing of storm debris from hurricanes and other natural disasters (Requires DAQ prior approval)

Never Burn These Materials: Trash, garbage Lumber and Pallets Treated wood Tires Newspapers and other paper products Wire and coated wire Structures – standing or demolished Asphalt shingles Plastics, synthetics Heavy oils Paints Household, agricultural chemicals

Residential Yard Waste Burning

Must originate on a PRIVATE residence and be burned on that site If public pickup is NOT available Leaves, branches, grass clippings, and other plant waste Does not allow stumps and logs over 6 inches in diameter Must occur between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Air quality forecast - Code green or yellow Smoke cannot create a nuisance No setback distances

Land Clearing Debris Burning

Only vegetative material such as logs, stumps and limbs May use kerosene or diesel fuel to start Start and add to the pile only between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Setback Requirements: 250 feet from public road (Wind Direction – National Weather Service Forecast) 500 feet from occupied structure (not on burn site) Air Quality Forecast - Code Green or Yellow Every pile can be considered a separate violation

Why do we have setback requirements?

Where is this smoke going?

Setback requirements reduce impact on surrounding areas.

Setback Exception (500 feet distance waiver) Applies ONLY to open burning vegetative land clearing debris Allows open burning within 500 feet of occupied structures Requires DAQ prior approval Forms from DAQ website Signatures of those w/in 500 ft Maps

Air Curtain Burner

Air Curtain Burner Requirements Vegetative material only (On-site) 250 feet from public road 300 feet from occupied structure (not on site) 10% Opacity limit (excluding 45 minute start-up) Air quality forecast - Code green or yellow DAQ prior notification and approval required

Fire Fighter Training

Training exercises at permanent fire training facilities (Under supervision of colleges and fire academies/training centers) No DAQ notification or prior approval required

Fire Fighter Training Abandoned structures – Extinguish & rescue Junked vehicles – Extinguish & rescue DAQ notification form & prior approval required

Impermissible Fire Training Salvageable items, such as insulated wire and electric motors If the primary purpose of the fire is to dispose of synthetic materials or refuse. Previously demolished structures

Fire Fighter Training Notification

Meet The Following Conditions Notification – Regional office (10 days prior to burn – can FAX) Notification and approval – HHCU/Asbestos (Notification must be postmarked 10 working days prior to the start date. Faxes not accepted) Change schedule – Notify HHCU in writing prior to original start date and Call DAQ regional office Air quality forecast - Code green or yellow

Training Objective - Experience

Complaint Investigation Process DAQ receives complaint from: Citizens Other agencies (Fire Dept, NCFS, etc) All complaints are investigated by: DAQ (phone, site visit) Other agencies Complaints investigated by other agencies: Referral of information to DAQ DAQ may do site visit (depending on nature and severity of burn) DAQ addresses every complaint received

DAQ Enforcement If a violation is documented, DAQ will: Issue Notice of Violation or Notice of Recommendation for Enforcement Civil Penalty Assessment (Up to $25,000 per violation which goes to the county school system) If a violation cannot be documented, DAQ will: Close case – may issue an open burning information letter

Breathe… Dont Burn! Outdoor fires pollute the air Smoke is unhealthy to breathe Recycle or properly dispose of waste

Open Burning Alternatives Compost yard waste Chip tree limbs Land clearing debris Haul to sawmill or pulpwood yard Chip or tub grind remaining material Recycle or re-use non-vegetative material Contact local solid waste facility Contact N.C. Division of Environmental Assistance and Outreach Or

North Carolina Division of Air Quality OPEN BURN ( ) North Carolina Department of Environment & Natural Resources