NORTHERN SONOMA COUNTY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT
2-300 PROCEDURES
2-301 Open Burning - Agricultural Classifications
Within the limitations of 2-400, open outdoor fires may be allowed for the disposal of approved combustibles only
on permissive burn days in the following agricultural operations, as defined in Section 2-200.
301.1 Agricultural in the growing of crops or raising of fowl or animals.
301.2 Range improvement to remove unwanted vegetation for wildlife, game or livestock habitat or establish an agricultural practice.
301.3 Forest management to remove forest debris.
301.4 Wildlife Management by the use of range improvement burning to enhance wildlife or game habitat. (See 2-401.9)
301.5 Wildland Vegetation Management by the use of prescribed burning. The procedures as identified in section 2-401.13 shall apply to all burning which meets the definition of wildland vegetation management burning regardless of whether such burning also meets another definition in Section 2-200.
2-302 Open Burning - Non-Agricultural Classification
Within the limitations of 2-400 open outdoor fires may be allowed only for the disposal of approved combustibles
only on permissive burn days in the following non-agricultural operations.
302.1 Single or two-family dwellings: for the disposal of approved combustibles burned on the property where generated. This category is not restricted to permissive burn days, except in the following areas:
The Humboldt Bay Air Basin (Appendix A)
The Ukiah-Little Lake Air Basin (Appendix B)
The Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District (Appendix C)
302.2 Property Development for the disposal of wood waste from trees, vines, or brush on the property where grown and which is being developed for commercial or residential purposes. (41802 H & S) Each proposed burn under this classification must be approved by the District Board, or where delegated, the air pollution control officer, after consideration of the amount of waste to be burned, the season of the year, the ambient air quality, proximity of waste to developed areas or such other or additional criteria as the District Board or air pollution control officer may establish. Such approval shall be in the form of a permit issued by the District air pollution control officer and such permit shall allow burning only on permissive burn days. (41804 H & S)
302.3 Fire Hazard Reduction for the disposal of brush cuttings resulting from brush clearance done in compliance with state and local ordinances specifically to reduce a potential fire hazard on the property where grown. (41802 H & S Code) Each proposed burn under this classification must be approved by the District Board, or where delegated, the air pollution control officer, after consideration of the amount of waste to be burned, the season of the year, the ambient air quality, proximity of waste to developed areas or such other or additional criteria as the District Board or air pollution control officer may establish. Such approval shall be in the form of a permit issued by the District air pollution control officer and such permit shall allow burning only on permissive burn days. (41804 H & S)
302.4 Right-of-way Clearing by a public entity or a utility.
302.5 Levee,Reservoir and Ditch maintenance.
2-303 Burn Day Determination
303.1 Information as to whether a day is a permissive burn day or a no-burn day will be available from the designated agencies listed under 2-305 of this regulation, and will be transmitted to the general public by announcement over local radio and television stations. 24-hour burn conditions may be obtained by phoning:
North Coast Unified (707) 443-3091
Mendocino County (707) 468-4391
Northern Sonoma County (707) 565-2876
303.2 Burn day determinations will be made covering the entire California North Coast Air Basin; however, more restrictive conditions may be specified by a District for localized problem areas.
303.3 Upon requests from a permittee through a designated agency, seven days in advance of a specific range improvement, forest management, or wildland vegetation management burn at any elevation below 6,000 feet (msl), a permissive-burn or no-burn notice will be issued by the ARB up to 48 hours prior to the date scheduled for the burn. Without further request, a daily notice will continue to be issued until a permissive-burn notice is issued.
303.4 A permissive-burn or no-burn advisory outlook will be available up to 72 hours in advance of burns specified in 303.3.
303.5 The ARB or the District may cancel permissive-burn notices that have been issued more than 24 hours in advance if the cancellation is necessary to maintain suitable air quality.
2-304 Burning Permits
304.1 Permits are required as follows:
304.1.01 Agricultural Burning - permits are required and issued by the appropriate designated agency listed in 2-305.304.1.02 Single and two-family dwellings - permit requirements of the fire control agency having jurisdiction in the area of the burn must be met for the burning of approved combustibles on the property. Air Pollution Control permits for this classification are also required in the Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District.
304.1.03 Property Development - permits are required from the District for the disposal of brush clearance when done on the property where grown. Fire control agency permit requirements must also be met.
304.1.04 Fire Hazard Reduction - permits are required from the District for the disposal of brush cuttings resulting from brush clearance done in compliance with local ordinances to reduce fire hazard on the property where grown. Fire Control Agency permit requirements must also be met. (41802 H & S Code)
NOTE: District permits are pre-empted from the requirements of this regulation for the abatement of an imminent fire hazard as defined in 2-207.1 and pursuant to Section 13055 H & S Code.
304.1.05 Right-of-Way Clearing, Ditch, Levee and Reservoir Maintenance - a permit may be required from the District (check with the appropriate District). Permit requirements of the fire control agency having jurisdiction in the area of the burn must also be met.
304.2 Each applicant for an agricultural burning permit in accordance with Section 2-301 of this regulation shall supply such additional information as is required by the California Air Resources Board or the District.
304.3 Permits issued for agricultural burning shall bear a statement of warning containing the following words or words of similar import.
"This permit is valid only on those days during which agricultural burning is not prohibited by the California
Air Resources Board or the District pursuant to Section 41855 of the Health and Safety Code."
2-304 Burning Permits
304.4 Range improvement burning may be conducted by permit from a designated agency on no-burn days during the period between January 1 and May 31, providing that more than 50% of the land has been brush treated. In the Northern Sonoma County APCD burning under this category may only be conducted by permit on a permissive burn day. The Air Resources Board may prohibit burning during this period if in the opinion of the Board, such prohibition is required for the maintenance of suitable air quality.
304.4.01 If the burn is to be done primarily for the improvement of land for wildlife or game habitat, the Department of Fish and Game may specify the amount of brush treatment required.
304.5 Special permits for agricultural burning on no-burn days may be issued by the District if denial of such permit would threaten imminent and substantial economic loss. In authorizing such burning each district of the North Coast Air Basin shall establish limits as to the amount of acreage or tonnage which can be burned on no burn days. Such burning shall be denied if the ambient air quality standards of metropolitan areas downwind of the burning are forecasted by the Air Resources Board to be exceeded.
2-305 Agricultural burning permits are issued ONLY by the following designated agencies as approved by the ARB,
within their areas of jurisdiction:
United States Forest Service
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
United States Bureau of Indian Affairs
Arcata Fire Department
Eureka Fire Department
Humboldt Fire District No. 1 Ukiah Valley
Fire Protection District
Fort Bragg Fire Department
Little Lake Fire Protection District (Willits)
Round Valley Fire District (Covelo)
Potter Valley Fire Department
Redwood Valley-Calpella Fire District
Bodega Bay Fire Protection District
Healdsburg Fire Department
Cloverdale Fire Department
Guerneville Fire Protection District
Graton Fire Protection District
Forestville Fire Protection District
Monte Rio Fire Protection District
North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District
Mendocino County Air Pollution Control District
Rincon Valley Fire Protection District
Occidental Volunteer Fire Department
Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District
Windsor Fire Protection District
305.1 Designated agencies shall submit to the District agricultural burn permit information in a time interval and form as requested by the District.