Public Input_Alex Wehrspann_Backyard BurningSTATE OF NEW MEXICO
Environment Department
AIR QUALITY BUREAU
CHECKLIST AND GUIDE FOR
OPEN BURNING OF VEGETATIVE MATERIAL
(such as slash, weeds, yard trimmings and clippings)
Complete this checklist BEFORE YOU BURN to see if it is allowed under the Open
Burning Regulation (20.2.60 NMAC).
If the answer is NO to any of these questions, your burn is NOT ALLOWED under the
Open Burning Regulation (20.2.60 NMAC).
* If your NO answers are only for one or more of these questions (1, 2, 3, and 8), you
MAY be allowed to burn under the Smoke Management Regulation (20.2.65 NMAC), if
you meet the requirements of that regulation. For more information, see
www.nmenv.state.nm.us/aqb, or call the Air Quality Bureau at 1-800-224-7009.
December 31, 2003
1
YES
NO
* 1. Will you be burning no more than 10 acres or 1,000 cubic feet of
piled material per day? (If NO, this regulation does not apply; see
20.2.65 NMAC, Smoke Management.)
* 2. Have you considered using alternatives to burning, such as
chipping or composting? (See list)
* 3. Will the burning be at least 300 feet from neighbors (dwellings,
workplaces, places where people congregate)?
4. Is the material to be burned as dry as practicable? (see
recommendations)
5. Is the material free of paper, plastic and other trash? (see regulation
for very limited exemption for plastic sheeting covering piled slash)
6. If the burning will be more than 1 acre per day, or 100 cubic feet of
piled material per day, have you provided prior notice of the burn date
and location to neighbors within 1/4 mile of the burn?
7. Have you notified the local firefighting authority prior to burning?
* 8. Will you be starting the burn no earlier than 1 hour after sunrise,
and extinguishing the burn at least 1 hour before sunset?
9. Will you be attending the burn AT ALL TIMES, until it is fully
extinguished?
10. Will you be using only the minimum amount of auxiliary fuel
necessary, and no oil heavier than No. 2 diesel (no motor oil)?
If the answer is NO to any of these questions, your burn is NOT ALLOWED under the
Open Burning Regulation (20.2.60 NMAC).
* If your NO answers are only for one or more of these questions (1, 2, 3, and 8), you
MAY be allowed to burn under the Smoke Management Regulation (20.2.65 NMAC), if
you meet the requirements of that regulation. For more information, see
www.nmenv.state.nm.us/aqb, or call the Air Quality Bureau at 1-800-224-7009.
December 31, 2003
1
How to determine "pile volume"
"Pile volume" refers to the overall volume of the pile, including the air space between
the solid materials. Pile volume can be calculated from the overall dimensions (length,
width, height) of the pile.
Simple Method: A simple, approximate calculation is to multiply the length times the
width times the height of the pile in feet. For example, a pile that is 10 feet wide, 5 feet
long, and 3 feet high would have an approximate volume of:
Length X Width X Height = volume in cubic feet
10 ft. X 5 ft. X 3 ft. = 150 cubic feet
This simple method assumes the pile has straight sides, so it overestimates the volume
of rounded piles. If you use this method and determine that the pile volume is less than
1,000 cubic feet, then you can be sure that your burn is small enough to be covered by
the Open Burning Regulation.
Complex Methods: Pile volume can be calculated more precisely using complex
geometric formulas that take into account the rounded shape of most piles. More
information on these methods is available in the Smoke Management Program's
Guidance Document, Appendix K ("Guidance on How to Calculate Fuel Loading").
Mixtures of piled and nonpiled material: To determine daily burn amount when you are
burning a combination of piled and nonpiled material, convert the pile volume to
equivalent acreage at the rate of 100 cubic feet equals 1 acre, and add this to the
acreage of nonpiled material.
Alternatives to burninq
In this regulation, an alternative to burning refers to any method of removing or reducing
fuels that replaces the use of fire. This includes mechanical, biological, or chemical
treatments. Detailed information is provided in Appendix C ("Alternatives to Burning") of
the Smoke Management Program's Guidance Document.
Alternatives to burning include:
• Composting - You can start a compost pile in your back yard. You can compost
most organic material including leaves, grass clippings, coffee grounds, fruit,
vegetables, and some livestock manure (but not pig, cat or dog droppings).
Finished compost will provide excellent garden nutrients.
• Mowing - Frequent mowing will keep weeds from growing up and creating a fire
hazard. The cut material can often be left in place, crushed or incorporated into
the soil. Mowing weeds, and then allowing them to dry before piling and burning
them will greatly reduce the amount of smoke produced.
December 31, 2003 2
• Mechanical removal - Slash, brush and weeds can be chipped and used as
mulch, and/or hauled to a disposal facility or biomass utilization facility. See if
your local area has a chipper or a designated facility for disposal of yard waste
and slash.
For a free composting brochure, and information on facilities that will take yard waste,
slash, and cut trees for recycling, contact Greg Baker, NM Environment Department,
505-827-2780, or visit the web site of the New Mexico Organics Recycling Organization
(http://nmrecycle.org/nmoro.htm).
A table listing some of the major pollutants associated with smoke from various sources, including on -road
and off-road mobile sources, stationary and area sources, and a variety of fuels is below.
Fuel Type
Gasoline
Diesel
Wood
and
Yard
Debris
Natural
Gas
Oil
Coal
Wood
Pulp
Industry
Trash
Examples
Automobiles,
Lawnmowers,
Snowmobiles
Trucks,
Stationary
Diesel
Fire
Places,
Open
Buming
Home
Heating,
Power
Plants,
Industry
Home
Heating,
Power
Plants,
Industry
Power
Plants,
Industry
Power
Plants,
Industry
Paper Mills
Commercial
Incineration
Primary
Pollutants
Carbon Dioxide
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Carbon
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Monoxide
Sulfur Dioxide
X
X
X
X
Nitrogen
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Oxides
Particles
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Trace
Pollutants
Carcinogens
X
X
X
X
X
Benzene
X
X
X
Dioxins/
Furans
X
X
X
X
X
Formaldehyde
X
PAHs
X
X
Styrene
X
1,3 -butadiene
X
X
X
X
Bis[2-
ethylhexyl]
phthalate
X
PCBs
X
X
Arsenic
X
X
X
X
X
Beryllium
X
X
X
Cadmium
X
X
X
X
Chromium
X
X
X
Cobalt
X
Hydrochloric
Acid
X
X
X
X
Lead
X
X
X
X
X
X
Manganese
X
X
X
X
X
Mercury
X
X
X
X
X
Nickel
X
X
X
X
X
Potassium
X
X
X
X
X
Selenium
X
X
X
Vanadium
X
X
Zinc
X
X
X
X