P-0365 - Open Burning by Governmental Entities and Non-Profits Receiving County Funds 09-05-2000-5d

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POLICY FOR INSERTION INTO THE POLICY MANUAL 1 MEETING DATE: EFFECTIVE DATE: September 5, 2000 NUMBER: P0365 • • September 5, 2000 REVISIONS: POLICY: Open Burning by Governmental Entities and Non-Profits Receiving County Funds The Orange County Board of Commissioners finds that inappropriate open burning of debris associated with development and land clearing activities contributes unnecessarily to adverse environmental, public health, and public safety impacts for Orange County and its citizens. The Board wishes to make explicit its expectations of governmental and non-profit entities (and their agents) that receive capital project and/or operational support from funds appropriated by Orange County, as to those entities' disposal plans for vegetative and wood waste, and the like, associated with their project or operational activities. All such entities are expected to: • Fully explore alternatives to burning of leaves, branches and other plant growth discarded through construction, program operation, and/or service delivery. Alternatives to burning include mulching/chipping, composting, and topsoil mining. • To the extent permitted by law, bid projects and write contracts for projects, operations, and services that expressly prohibit burning of vegetative and wood waste, and the like. • Contact the Environment and Resource Conservation Department, on an "as needed basis" to request assistance/referral to companies and organizations that offer acceptable alternative vegetative/wood waste management services. The ERCD shall develop and maintain a comprehensive referral list but shall refrain from recommending any firm. • Burn, or cause to be burned, vegetative and wood waste only as a last resort and in the case of undue financial hardship. Cost estimates for at least one alternative method should be obtained. If burning is still pursued, the organization will notify (in advance, in writing) the County and/or other local government in whose jurisdiction the activity will occur with an explanation of why an alternative disposal method was not selected. • Ensure that any burning accomplished in accordance with this policy as a last resort does not occur on days where ozone levels are projected to reach code "orange" or code "red", as posted daily on the NC Division of Air Quality web site, and through the NC Air Awareness Program. • Ensure that any burning accomplished in accordance with this policy as a last resort is located at least 100 feet from any roadway for traffic safety reasons and no closer than 300 feet from any property line adjoining any meeting or gathering place such as a school, church, restaurant, auditorium, governmental facility, office building, or the like. The Orange County Unit of the NC Forest Service is specifically exempted from this policy as it relates to burning activities associated with their hazard management programs. However,