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N.C. Open Burning Rule
One of NC’s oldest air quality rulesFirst adopted in 1971Prohibits most outdoor burningSet conditions for allowable firesViolators can be fined up to $10,000 or more in serious cases
Why Is Burning Restricted?Smoke pollutes the airContains many toxic air pollutantsCreates hazeSmoke is unhealthy to breathe
If It Doesn’t Grow, Don’t Burn ItOnly leaves, branches and other plant growth can be burned – nothing elseIf local pickup is available, even yard waste cannot be burnedIt is always illegal to burn trash and other non-vegetative material
Never Burn These Materials:Trash, garbageLumberTreated woodTiresNewspapersOther paper products
Building materialsAsphalt shinglesPlastics, syntheticsHeavy oilsPaintsHousehold, agricultural chemicals
Burn Ban on Ozone Action DaysNo open burning on Air Quality Action Days (Code Orange, Red) in forecast areasCharlotte, Triangle, Triad, Asheville, Fayetteville and Hickory metro areasApplies to: homeowners, land clearers, contractors, fire training (structures)Exceptions: Agriculture, forestry, wildlife management, permanent fire training facilities
Allowable BurningCampfiresOutdoor cookingBonfires for festive occasionsYard waste if no public pickupLand clearing
Burning Yard Waste
Allowed only if no public pickup availableLeaves, branches and other yard wasteDoes not allow stumps and logs over 6 inches in diameterSmoke cannot create a nuisance
Other ExceptionsManaging forests or wildlife habitatsTraining fire fightersControlling agricultural pests and diseasesDisposing storm debris hurricanes and other natural disastersLand clearing
Conditions for Allowable Burning
Fires must be on site of originMust occur between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.Winds must blow away from roads or fires located least 250 feet awayFires must be at least 1,000 feet from occupied buildings
Goals of Outreach Campaign
Increase public awarenessReduce violationsImprove air qualityProtect public healthSave staff time and resources
Enforcement IssuesOpen burning is DAQ’s biggest enforcement problemEnforcement costs totaled $154,248 in 2000 alone Open burning cases account for:
- 67% of all air quality complaints- 53% of all violation notices- 34% of enforcements and settlements
Sources of Violations
Backyard burnersLand clearersContractorsSmall businessesFarmsTire, landfill firesControlled burns
Sources of Violations
0
20
40
60
80
100
120Residential
Contractors
Land Clearing
OtherBusinessLandscape
Fire Depts.
Auto, Salvage
Open Burning Fines Per Year
$0
$50,000
$100,000
$150,000
$200,000
$250,000
Dollars
19981999200020012002
Outreach MaterialsBrochures and other publicationsWeb siteViolator-paid newspaper adsBillboardsClassroom materialsVideosLetters, presentations to targeted groups
Outreach Slogans
Old“Don’t Get Burned”Emphasis on enforcement and penaltiesCould be misinterpreted
New“Breathe … Don’t Burn”Focus on health and environmentMore positive
Open Burning Publications
BrochureGuide sheetBackyard Burners Insert (English/Spanish)Land Clearers Insert (English/Spanish)Combined Insert for burn permits
Web Site EnhancementsURL - http://daq.state.nc.us/enf/openburn/Links to Publications, RegulationsPhotos of ViolationsPress ReleasesFrequently Asked QuestionsWaiver and Fire training formsLinks to other agencies
Violator-paid Ads
First-time open-burning violatorsOption to buy newspaper ads rather than pay finesAds in 70 newspapers, 59 countiesMost effective in rural areasAd rates range from $40 in small weeklies to $500+ in large dailies
Billboard AdvertisingFocus on Breathe … Don’t Burn slogan25 signs along major highways across the stateAdvertising space free through N.C. Outdoor Advertising Association, estimated value $62,500+DAQ pays production and installation costs, est. $18,618 ($745/sign)
Contact Information
Tom MatherN.C. Division of Air QualityRaleigh, NC
Phone: (919) 715-7408E-mail: [email protected]: www.ncair.org