Open Burning in North Carolina

North CarolinaDepartment of EnvironmentAnd Natural Resources

Seven Regional OfficesIn North Carolina

Regional Offices

Buncombe CountyWestern NC Regional Air Pollution Control Agency49 Mount Carmel Road

Asheville, NC 28806Phone: (828) 255-5655

Fax: (828) 255-5226

Forsyth County Environmental Affairs Dept.

537 N. Spruce StreetWinston-Salem, NC 27101

Phone: (336) 727-8064Fax: (336) 727-2777

Mecklenburg County Dept. of Environmental Protection

700 N. Tryon Street, Suite 205Charlotte, NC 28202

Phone: (704) 336-5500Fax: (704) 336-4391

Local Environmental Programs

Washington Regional Office943 Washington Square Mall

Washington, NC 27889Phone: (252) 946-6481

Fax: (252) 975-3716

Wilmington Regional Office127 Cardinal Drive Extension

Wilmington, NC 28405Phone: (910) 395-3900

Fax: (910) 350-2004

Winston-Salem Regional Office585 Waughtown Street

Winston-Salem, NC 27107Phone: (336) 771-4600

Fax: (336) 771-4632

Raleigh Regional OfficeP.O. Box 27687

Raleigh, NC 27609Phone: (919) 571-4700

Fax: (919) 571-4718

Mooresville Regional Office610 E. Center Avenue Suite 301

Mooresville, NC 28115Phone: (704) 663-1699

Fax: (704) 663-7579

Fayetteville Regional Office225 Green Street Suite 714

Fayetteville, NC 28301Phone: (910) 486-1541

Fax: (910) 486-0707

Asheville Regional Office2090 US Hwy 70

Swannanoa, NC 28778Phone: (828) 296-4500

Fax: (828) 299-7043

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!

www.ncair.org or 888-784-6224 (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

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

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 www.p2pays.org OR 1-(800) 763-0136

Breathe… Don’t Burn!

Outdoor fires pollute the air

Smoke is unhealthy to breathe

Recycle or properly dispose of waste

Contact Information

www.ncair.org

Call 1-877-OPEN BURN (1-877-673-6287)