Open Burning/Smoke
Regulations
restricting or prohibiting open burning are typically written and
enforced by state, regional, and/or local governments. These rules
are aimed at reducing the generation of smoke, preventing smoke and
ash from impacting people and the environment, and preventing wildfires.
Examples of typical regulations are given below:
-
States
often have rules covering various aspects of open burning,
such as limits
on the types of materials that can be burned, quantity,
and
hours of the day when burning can be performed (e.g., see North
Carolina’s
Open Burning Rule).
-
Open
burning is often regulated locally by a fire code or ordinance
that has it’s
roots in state law (e.g., City
of Huntsville Code of Ordinances, Article III Open Burning)
-
Intentional burning of buildings (including fire training), is "demolition" under federal asbestos rules and is regulated (more Information). |
Many
localities limit open burning to vegetation removed from the
property during
clearing. In many areas you are required to obtain
a permit
for this type of open burning (e.g., see Washington
State Department of Ecology
Air Quality Program)
-
Other
rules require that the vegetation must be dried for a minimum
number of days before burning, and limit the diameter of logs
that can be burned
(e.g., see West
Virginia Air Quality Regulation for Open Burning)
-
Some
areas completely prohibit open burning of construction
debris (e.g., see Montgomery
County, MD)
Use
the CICA Air Pollution Information Tool to find out about open
burning rules in your area.
Dust
Airborne dust
generated from construction activities may be regulated by regional
and local rules. [Dusts containing lead or asbestos are
covered by federal and state regulations and are covered elsewhere
on CICA.] Typical rules require builders to implement best management
practices (e.g., establish vegetation, watering, sequential clearing,
wheel washing, reducing vehicle speed, prompt removal of dirt/mud
tracked onto highways) as abatement measures. An example of dust
control rules are Benton
(WA) Clean Air Authority Urban Fugitive Dust Policy (see
construction/demolition section). Some localities require contractors/builders
to obtain
a permit from the local air pollution control authority before
construction begins. As an example, see the City
of Albuquerque Dust Control Program.
Use the Air
Pollution Information Tool to find out about dust regulations in your area.
|