TUOLUMNE COUNTY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT

RULE 307 - WILDLAND VEGETATION MANAGEMENT BURNING

307.1 Wildland Vegetation Management Burning is defined in this rule as the use of prescribed burning conducted by a public agency or through a cooperative agreement or contract involving a public agency to burn land predominately covered with chaparral (as defined in the California Administrative Code, Title 14, Section 1561.1), trees, grass or standing brush.

307.2 Wildland Vegetation Management Burning Requirements

This rule applies to all burning which meets the definition as stated in Rule 307, regardless of whether such burning also meets another definition within this regulation.

  1. The APCO may regulate total acreage or tonnage that may be burned each day within the district.
  2. The APCO may regulate burning or require mitigation when the meteorological conditions could otherwise cause smoke to create or contribute to an exceedence of a state or federal ambient air quality standard or cause a public nuisance.
  3. All open outdoor fires shall be ignited as rapidly as practicable with the applicable fire control restrictions and only with approved ignition devices as defined in Rule 300.E.
  4. Vegetation burned under this rule shall be free of tires, rubbish, tar paper or construction debris, and reasonably free of dirt and soil.
  5. Vegetation will be in a condition to facilitate combustion and minimize the amount of smoke emitted during combustion.
  6. Wildland Vegetation Management burning must comply with the requirements:
  1. Rule 302 Burning Permit
  2. Rule 303 Burn or No-Burn Day
  3. Rule 307.3 Burn Plan

307.3 Burn Plan

The following information will be provided to the APCO for review and approval at least 14 days in advance of the proposed burn:

  1. Location and specific objectives of the proposed burn.
  2. Acreage or tonnage, type, and arrangement of vegetation to be burned.
  3. Directions and distance to nearby sensitive receptor areas.
  4. Fuel condition, and combustion and meteorological prescription elements developed for the project.
  5. Projected schedule and duration of project ignition, combustion and burn down.
  6. Specifications for monitoring and verifying critical project parameters.
  7. Specification for disseminating project information.
  8. Other information requested by the APCO.

307.4 Exceptions

  1. The APCO may exempt project burns smaller in area or tonnage than threshold levels established by the District.
  2. The APCO may exempt projects located in zones as established by the District.