NORTHERN SONOMA COUNTY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT

2-400 LIMITATIONS

2-401 Burning Preparation and Restrictions
The following limitations, in addition to Section 2- 101.1, apply to all burning allowed by Sections 2-102.3 and 2-300.

401.1 The waste to be burned shall be reasonably free of dirt, soil and excess moisture and whenever possible, shall be piled or windrowed in such a manner as to burn with maximum possible heat intensity and minimum smoke.

401.2 All open burning operations falling within the scope of these procedures must provide for ignition of the fuel pile by fuel blivets, drip torches, diesel sprayers, or other approved ignition devices.

401.3 The waste to be burned must be ignited as rapidly as practicable within applicable fire control regulations.

401.4 The waste shall be free of tires, tarpaper, garbage, or other types of rubbish likely to cause excessive smoke or odor. Pressure treated wood, pesticide containers, fumigation sheeting, irrigation system pipe or any plastic material may not be burned.

401.5 The waste shall be allowed to dry for the following minimum time periods before burning:

401.5.01 Trees and branches over 6 inches in diameter: 30 days.
401.5.02 Brush, vines, bushes, prunings and small branches: 15 days.
401.5.03 Field crops and weeds: 7 days.
401.5.04 Other materials: drying times will be determined by the District.

401.6 Minimum drying periods may be waived by the District only on submittal of acceptable evidence that the material to be burned contains less than 25 percent moisture.

401.7 Burning of waste after shorter drying times may be allowed by permit from the District only on submittal of acceptable proof that the denial of such permit would threaten imminent and substantial economic loss.

401.8 With respect to range improvement burning, brush shall be treated at least 6 months prior to burning along with the felling of any unwanted trees over six inches in diameter, unless acceptable proof can be submitted that such treatment is technically and economically unfeasible.

401.9 All persons desiring to burn under the provisions of Section 301.4 shall provide the District with written certification from the Department of Fish and Game stating that the burning is desirable and proper.

401.10 NON-AGRICULTURAL burning conducted under the provisions of Section 2-302.2 and 2-302.3 (Property Development and Fire Hazard Reduction) shall also provide for:

401.10.01 All wood waste to be free of material not grown at the site.
401.10.02 Brush to be treated at least 60 days prior to the burn if economically and technically feasible.
401.10.03 Trees over 6 inches in diameter to be felled and dried at least 30 days prior to the burn in accordance with section 2-401.5.
401.10.04 Burning may be prohibited by the District on permissive burn days if smoke would be transported to a nearby populated area.

401.11 Burning under the provisions of 2-300 may be prohibited by the District if it is determined that meteorological conditions could cause smoke to create or contribute to an exceedance of a state or federal air quality standard or cause a public nuisance.

401.12 Each district within the North Coast Air Basin shall establish daily limits as to the amount of material, expressed in acreage or tonnage, which may be burned each permissive burn day under the provisions of 2-301.1 (general agriculture), 2-301.2 (range improvement), 2-301.3 (forest management), 2- 301.5 (wildland vegetative management).

401.13 For projects of 2,000 acres or larger where burning is conducted under the provisions of 301.5, the following information shall be provided the District for review and approval at least 30 days in advance of the proposed burning.

In the Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District all projects regardless of size which are conducted under 2-301.5 shall submit this information. No burning may be conducted until such time as the applicant has received authorization from the APCO of the Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District.

401.13.1 Location and specific objectives of the burn project.
401.13.2 Acreage or tonnage, type, and arrangement of vegetation to be burned.
401.13.3 Directions and distances to nearby sensitive receptor areas.
401.13.4 Fuel condition, combustion, firing pattern, and meteorologic prescription elements developed for the project.
401.13.5 Projected schedule and duration of project ignition, combustion, and burndown.
401.13.6 Specifications for meteorological monitoring and verifying critical project parameters.
401.13.7 Specifications for disseminating project information.