1. CURRENT STATUS of PRESCRIBED BURNING in TEXAS D. Lynn Drawe, Ph.D. Chairman, Texas Prescribed Burn Board

2. OUTDOOR BURNING IN TEXAS All burning in Texas is conducted under exemptions of TCEQ rules for outdoor burning as put forth in their bulletin RG-049 (August 2007). All burning in Texas is conducted under exemptions of TCEQ rules for outdoor burning as put forth in their bulletin RG-049 (August 2007).

3. Texas Prescribed Burning Coalition: Legislative success This is the original coalition that started the process at Kerrville in 1996. Prescribed Burning Bill HB 2599 (9/1999) States right of every Texas landowner to burn on their property States right of every Texas landowner to burn on their property Unfortunately, not a right-to-burn law Unfortunately, not a right-to-burn law Set up prescribed burn manager certification system Set up prescribed burn manager certification system

4. Certified Prescribed Burn Manager CPBM -- individual w/ a bona fide CPBM license issued by TDA CPBM -- individual w/ a bona fide CPBM license issued by TDA Why become certified? Why become certified? Commercial license - Burn commercially Commercial license - Burn commercially Private license - Burn on your own land Private license - Burn on your own land Training in the use of prescribed fire Training in the use of prescribed fire Burn during burn ban (HB 3315) Burn during burn ban (HB 3315) Landowner can conduct a PB w/o CPBM Landowner can conduct a PB w/o CPBM Landowner can conduct a PB w/o license Landowner can conduct a PB w/o license

5. TEXAS PRESCRIBED BURN REGIONS 1.Panhandle Plains 2.Edwards Plateau & Trans- Pecos 3. Rolling Plains & Cross Timbers 4. East Texas Pineywoods 5. South Texas Plains & Coastal Marshes

6. CURRENT STATUS 24 Commercial CPBMs 24 Commercial CPBMs 36 Private CPBMs 36 Private CPBMs

7. Can CCt allow exemptions under burn ban? Yes Yes There is no such thing as a burn permit in Texas (except for Coastal Marsh burning) There is no such thing as a burn permit in Texas (except for Coastal Marsh burning) HB 1080 (2001) exempts CPBMs under burn bans HB 1080 (2001) exempts CPBMs under burn bans However, does not require CPBM under burn ban However, does not require CPBM under burn ban

8. W/o CPBM, who is responsible for insurance? Landowner responsible for liability insurance for Prescribed Burn on their property Landowner responsible for liability insurance for Prescribed Burn on their property Check farm/ranch insurance & be sure of coverage you have & conditions that apply Check farm/ranch insurance & be sure of coverage you have & conditions that apply Even w/ CPBM conducting burn, landowner should check own insurance coverage Even w/ CPBM conducting burn, landowner should check own insurance coverage

9. RE-CERTIFICATION Every 2 years, contingent upon providing annual proof of ins Every 2 years, contingent upon providing annual proof of ins Annual proof of insurance, on TDA/PBB form (available on website), due 12/31 annually Annual proof of insurance, on TDA/PBB form (available on website), due 12/31 annually $500 fee due w/ renewal $500 fee due w/ renewal CPBM must obtain 6 CFTs during 2-yr certification period CPBM must obtain 6 CFTs during 2-yr certification period CFTs earned 3+yrs ago do not meet req CFTs earned 3+yrs ago do not meet req Req to furnish evidence of CFTs implied by 4 TAC Secs. Req to furnish evidence of CFTs implied by 4 TAC Secs. If CPBM does not provide evidence of CFTs, TDA/PBB would ask for them. If CPBM does not provide evidence of CFTs, TDA/PBB would ask for them.

10. Texas Alliance of Prescribed Burn Associations (PAPBA) NEW ALLIANCE NEW ALLIANCE

11. NRCS-Conservation Innovation Grant Goal: Increase prescribed fire use through a community-based alliance of burning associations, and integration of web-based technology, particularly for education and training. Goal: Increase prescribed fire use through a community-based alliance of burning associations, and integration of web-based technology, particularly for education and training.

12. Prescribed Burn Associations in Texas

13. Texas Alliance of Prescribed Burning Associations (TAPBA) 9 of the 11 PBAs were represented at San Angelo Wkshp in June 2011 9 of the 11 PBAs were represented at San Angelo Wkshp in June 2011 PBA Leadership unanimously supported idea to estab state-wide alliance PBA Leadership unanimously supported idea to estab state-wide alliance Benefits of alliance Benefits of alliance Unified approach to increase use of prescribed fire & support lando wners Unified approach to increase use of prescribed fire & support lando wners

14. TAPBA Goals Promote fuel reduction & address wildfire prevention Promote fuel reduction & address wildfire prevention Promote use of safe prescribed fire practices Promote use of safe prescribed fire practices Fire mitigation through use of prescribed fire to reduce risk to residential & commercial areas Fire mitigation through use of prescribed fire to reduce risk to residential & commercial areas Address long-term sustainability of prescribed fire uses across landscape Address long-term sustainability of prescribed fire uses across landscape

15. – Picture rotator highlighting events. – New and Events tab, archive/date stamp – Alliance Header – Horizontal navigation – Log-in page, access to other website features – Viewing and reporting of p-fire burns – Adding on-screen digitizing feature. TAPBA Website http://pfire.tamu.edu http://pfire.tamu.edu

16. Current TAPBA Status  A draft Constitution has been drafted and is in the process of being finalized.  PBAs have nominated members to serve on the TAPBA Steering Committee.  Four Work Groups were formed to address: – Alliance Structure/Organization and Alliance Constitution and/or charter – Finances – Education and Training – Umbrella Prescribed Fire Insurance  PBA Leadership will reconvene within the next two weeks to further discuss the establishment of the TAPBA.

17. END