ARDC Burning and Open Fire Policy

May 31, 2001

During the past few years, several changes have been made in federal and state law involving the burning of materials by open fire or within engineered incinerators. This policy does not apply to incinerators. Destroying material by incineration is a highly regulated activity requiring construction and operating permits. A modification to an existing incinerator or the purchase of an incinerator requires approval by UNL Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) prior to modification or purchase.

This policy pertains to burning and open fires on the ARDC property. This issue first surfaced during an environmental audit of the ARDC by EHS in 1996 whereby EHS raised a concern about the burning of trash, wood, feed sacks and seed sacks. EHS determined that the only materials that the ARDC could burn as allowed by NDEQ regulation were agriculturally-related materials and trees, shrubs or vegetation provided the fire did not create a nuisance or traffic hazard and the materials burned originated on the ARDC property. These regulations are contained in the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality’s (NDEQ) Air Quality Regulations, Title 129, Chapter 30. Since the ARDC had previously burned other materials, the ARDC Director applied for a permit from the NDEQ to allow the burning of non-treated wood and feed sacks. The application was denied.

Burning of seed and feed sacks, wood products and other materials is fairly common in rural areas even though it is against the law. The ARDC employees and managers may not be aware that burning of these materials is illegal. The penalties for illegal burning may be very high and are an embarrassment to the University of Nebraska. In order to eliminate the potential for illegal burns on the ARDC property, the following procedure shall be followed immediately - no exceptions:

A request for open burning form (see attached ARDC Internal Open Burning Permit form) shall be completed by the Manager of the Unit prior to requesting a burn. The request shall be approved by the ARDC Director, or in the absence of the Director, the ARDC Facilities Manager, ARDC Farm Operations Manager or the ARDC Administrative and Computer Operations Manager. The only materials that can be burned are agriculturally-related materials (i.e., empty pesticide containers) where disposal by burning is recommended by the manufacturer and the materials were used on the ARDC property, trees, shrubs or vegetation indigenous to the ARDC property.

Once ARDC approval has been given, the Unit Manager may apply to the Mead Fire Department for a permit to lift the State-wide open burning ban (burn permit). The Mead Fire Chief has agreed to issue the permits for 30 days from the date on the ARDC request form. Please note that a completed and signed copy of the ARDC Internal Open Burning Permit form must be shown to the Mead Fire Department Official before they will issue a burn permit on the ARDC. The burn permit, by law, needs to be at the burn site during the burn. Burn permits should be filed and maintained by the Units.

After the ARDC Internal Open Burning Permit has been approved and a burn permit issued r by the Mead Fire Department, the Unit Manager responsible for the burn must use sound judgment to determine the day and time the burn shall take place taking into account wind conditions, potential for the fire to escape and other pertinent control measures. When a decision has been made to burn, the Unit Manager shall notify the Saunders County 911 Dispatcher in the Saunders County Sheriff’s Office at 443-1000 and the ARDC front office at 624-8000 prior to burning. The information given shall include the day, time, location and duration of the burn. This will ensure compliance with any burning bans that are in place.

The Unit Manager responsible for the burn shall be responsible for ensuring the fire stays under control. Under no circumstances shall a fire be left unattended.

Reports of non-approved open fires or illegal fires shall be reported immediately to the ARDC Director. The Director shall determine if a violation of ARDC Policy and/or the law has occurred. If a violation has occurred, the ARDC Director shall notify the relevant Department Head of the infraction and discuss measures to ensure this does not reoccur. A violation of this Policy and/or the law shall be noted in the responsible employee(s) personnel file.

If the ARDC Director determines a violation of the law may have occurred, the Director shall immediately notify EHS who shall determine appropriate further action.

ARDC Internal Open Burning Permit

Unit Requesting Open Burn ______________________________

Unit Manager Responsible for Burn ______________________________

Phone Number(s) ______________________________

Location of Burn ______________________________

List Material to be Burned ______________________________

Date Requested ______________________________

Approved by (ARDC Director, Facilities Manager, Farm Operations Manager, or Administrative and Computer Operations Manager) ______________________________

Date ______________________________

Check List for Burn

• Complete the ARDC Internal Open Burning Permit Form and give it to the Research & Education Building Front Desk who will obtain approval signature.
• Obtain a Burn Permit from the Mead Fire Department (available at Konecky Oil and Bank of Mead).- Check to ensure weather conditions are favorable for burn.
• Check to ensure wind direction and smoke will not cause a safety concern.
• Notify County Dispatcher at 443-1000 immediately prior to the burn giving the location, date and time and duration of the burn.
• Notify ARDC Front Desk at 624-8000 regarding location, date and time of burn prior to the burn. A voice mail message will be sent by the receptionist to the Units informing them of the Unit conducting the burn, burning location, date and time of burn. The receptionist will record the beginning and ending time of burn on this form. Copy of form will be sent to Tom Schimelfenig with the Carbon Sequestration Project and original to be placed in Marnie’s “IN” box for filing under 909.- Ensure reasonable precautions have been taken to contain the fire.
• Ensure fire is completely put out before leaving the site or the ARDC. - Signature below indicates that applicable laws and policy will be followed during the burn.

Signed (Unit Manager)______________________________

Date_______________

Keep a copy for the Unit’s records and return the completed form to the ARDC Director.

Rev. 4/2/2003