North Carolina’s Open Burning Outreach Campaign

N.C. Division of Air Quality

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 Cases Per Year

020406080

100120140160180

# Cases

19981999200020012002

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)

Want Clean Air?

Stop Outdoor Burningwww.ncair.org

Breathe … Don’t Burn

Stop Outdoor Burningwww.ncair.org

Reaching Children

Teacher’s GuideVideoPencilsMagnetsColoring sheets

Other Outreach Materials

VideosPowerPoint presentationsMagnetsExhibitsPosters

Contact Information

Tom MatherN.C. Division of Air QualityRaleigh, NC

Phone: (919) 715-7408E-mail: tom.mather@ncmail.netWeb: www.ncair.org