Open Burning in North Carolina

North Carolina Department of Environment And Natural Resources

Seven Regional Offices In North Carolina

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 P.O. Box 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 One of NC’s oldest air quality rules First adopted in 1971 Regulates outdoor burning Set conditions for allowable fires Violators can be fined up to $25,000 per violation or more in serious cases

NC Division of Forest Resources Responsible for protecting state and privately owned forest land from forest fires Forest fire prevention Controlling wildfires DFR 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 agency’s 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 and  Even death in some cases

If It Doesn’t Grow, Don’t Burn It Only leaves, branches and other plant growth can be burned… nothing else – only if public pick-up is not available It is always illegal to burn trash and other non-vegetative material

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

Illegal Burning It is illegal to burn trash or garbage

Illegal Burning It is illegal to burn demolition material

Illegal Burning It is illegal to burn construction material

Allowable Burning Yard waste – Homeowners/Residential Land clearing – Grading, building contractors, agriculture, etc… The burning must follow NC Air Quality Regulations

Air Quality Forecast Area

Air Quality Forecast (May 1-September 30) Check the forecast in your area before you burn! or (1-888-RU4NCAIR)

NC Air Awareness Yard waste Land clearing debris Natural disaster material Fire training (excluding permanent training facilities) DAQ recommends no burning throughout the rest of the state on code orange, red, or purple days! Code orange, red, or purple days in air quality forecast areas – cannot burn the following

NC Air Awareness Permanent Fire Training Facilities Forest management practices Agricultural practices Wildlife management practices Practices must be acceptable to the Division of Forest Resources, Department of Agriculture, or Wildlife Management Commission Exceptions to prohibited open burning on code orange, red, or purple days

Burning Yard Waste

Must originate on PRIVATE residence and be burned on that site Allowed only if no public pickup 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

Land Clearing Debris

Burning Land Clearing Debris Only vegetative material such as logs, stumps and large limbs May use kerosene or diesel fuel to start Must occur between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. 250 feet from public road (Wind Direction – National Weather Service Forecast) 1,000 feet from occupied structure (not on site) Air Quality Forecast - Code Green or Yellow Vegetative Debris must originate on site where burning taking place Every pile can be considered a separate violation

Setback Exception Open burning land clearing debris Allows open burning within 1,000 feet of occupied structures (not on site) DAQ prior approval required

Setback Exception Process Responsible party Burn dates – Begin and end Burn site information – Location, map & size area Signed statement waiving objections – Everyone within 1,000 ft. of burn pile(s) DAQ prior approval required The following information is required:

Is This Legal?

Air Curtain Burner

Air Curtain Burner Requirements Vegetative material only (On-site) 250 feet from public road 500 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

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

Open Burning Compliance DAQ receives complaint Investigate complaint Other investigations/inspections  Fire marshal  Other fire officials  Solid waste officials  Other state/local officials

Other investigations Here’s what we’d like to know Materials being burned How big the pile or area burned is Pictures of the burning and around the open burning site Name of violator and any contact information

Enforcement Document Violation Issue Notice of Violation Notice of Recommendation for Enforcement Civil Penalty Assessment (Up to $10,000 per violation)

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 Call Pollution Prevention OR 1- (800) www.p2pays.org

Breathe… Don’t Burn! Outdoor fires pollute the air Smoke is unhealthy to breathe Recycle or properly dispose of waste

Contact Information Call OPEN BURN ( )