North Carolina

Division of Air Quality

Open Burning

Air Quality Regional Offices

Winston-Salem Raleigh Asheville Mooresville Washington Fayetteville Wilmington

North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)

Regional Offices

Asheville Regional Office

2090 US Hwy 70 Swannanoa, NC 28778 Phone: (828) 296-4500 Fax: (828) 299-7043

Fayetteville Regional Office

225 Green Street Suite 714 Fayetteville, NC 28301 Phone: (910) 433-3300 Fax: (910) 485-7467

Mooresville Regional Office

610 E. Center Avenue Suite 301 Mooresville, NC 28115 Phone: (704) 663-1699 Fax: (704) 663-7579

Raleigh Regional Office

3800 Barrett Drive Raleigh, NC 27609 Phone: (919) 791-4200 Fax: (919) 881-2261

Washington Regional Office

943 Washington Square Mall Washington, NC 27889 Phone: (252) 946-6481 Fax: (252) 975-3716

Wilmington Regional Office

127 Cardinal Drive Extension Wilmington, NC 28405 Phone: (910) 796-7215 Fax: (910) 350-2004

Winston-Salem Regional Office

450 W. Hanes Mill Road, Suite 300 Winston-Salem, NC 27105 Phone: (336) 776-9800 Fax: (336) 776-9797

Buncombe County

Western NC Regional Air Pollution Control Agency 49 Mount Carmel Road Asheville, NC 28806 Phone: (828) 250-6777 Fax: (828) 255-5226

Local Environmental Programs

Forsyth County

Environmental Affairs Dept.

201 North Chestnut Street Winston-Salem, NC 27101 Phone: (336) 703-2440 Fax: (336) 727-2777

Mecklenburg County

Mecklenburg County Air Quality 700 N. Tryon Street, Suite 205 Charlotte, NC 28202 Phone: (704) 336-5430 Fax: (704) 336-4391

Open Burning Rule

 Protects environment and human health  One of NC’s 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 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  Air pollution can damage trees and crops

Air Quality Forecast Areas

NC Air Quality Action 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:     Yard waste Land clearing debris Natural disaster material Fire training at non-permanent training facilities (i.e. houses) DAQ recommends no burning

orange, red, or purple days!

throughout the rest of the region on code

NC Air Quality Action Days

Exceptions to prohibited open burning on code orange, red, or purple days     Forest management practices Agricultural practices Wildlife management practices Fire training at permanent training facilities Practices must be acceptable to the North Carolina Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, or Wildlife Management Commission

Air Quality Forecast

Check the forecast in your area before you burn!

 Website: www.ncair.org  Phone: 1-888-784-6224 (1-888-RU4NCAIR)  Email: www.enviroflash.info

 Forecast will come out at 3 p.m. on the day prior to the forecasted day.

If It Doesn’t Grow, Don’t Burn It

It is always illegal to burn trash and other non-vegetative material

ALL Burning Is Prohibited

EXCEPT what is allowed in the rule.

 What may be burned?

  Residential – vegetative yard wastes ( only if public pick-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

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  Structures – standing or demolished  Lumber and Pallets  Asphalt shingles  Treated wood  Plastics, synthetics  Tires  Newspapers and other paper products  Wire and coated wire  Heavy oils  Paints  Household, agricultural chemicals

Residential Yard Waste Burning

Residential Yard Waste Burning

 Must originate on a PRIVATE residence and be burned on that site  If public pickup is NOT available  Vegetative yard waste  Must occur between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

 Air quality forecast - Code green or yellow  No setback distances

Land Clearing Debris Burning

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  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

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 or partially 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 accepted) (Notification must be postmarked 10 working days prior to the start date. Faxes not  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:  or Issue Notice of Violation  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… Don’t 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

www.ncenvironmentalassistance.org

Or 1-877-623-6748

North Carolina Division of Air Quality

1-877-OPEN BURN

(1-877-673-6287)

www.ncair.org

North Carolina Department of Environment & Natural Resources