Section 50. Forest management, agricultural practices, and highway construction and maintenance programs

Part III. Special Statewide Requirements for Forestry, Agricultural, and Highway Programs

A. Open burning may be used for the following forest management practices provided the burning is conducted in accordance with the Department of Forestry's smoke management plan to:

1. Reduce forest fuels and minimize the effect of wild fires.

2. Control undesirable growth of hardwoods.

3. Control disease in pine seedlings.

4. Prepare forest land for planting or seeding.

5. Create a favorable habitat for certain species.

6. Remove dead vegetation for the maintenance of railroad, highway and public utility right-of-way.

B. In the absence of other means of disposal, open burning may be used for the following agricultural practices to:

1. Destroy undesirable or diseased vegetation.

2. Clear orchards and orchard prunings.

3. Destroy empty fertilizer and chemical containers.

4. Denature seed and grain that may no longer be suitable for agricultural purposes.

5. Prevent loss from frost or freeze damage.

6. Create a favorable habitat for certain species.

7. Destroy strings and plastic ground cover remaining in the field after being used in growing staked tomatoes.

C. Open burning may be used for the destruction of vegetative debris generated by highway construction and maintenance programs conducted by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) provided the burning is conducted in accordance with VDOT's best management practices (BMP) for vegetative debris and the following requirements are met:

1. The department has approved the BMP.

2. The local department regional office shall be notified at least five business days before commencement of a burn.

3. No liquid accelerants (e.g., diesel, motor oil, etc.) or other prohibited materials (e.g., building debris, treated wood, painted wood, paper, cardboard, asphaltic materials, tires, metal, garbage, etc.) shall be used.

4. No burn activity shall be conducted in a VOC emission control area from May 1 through September 30 or in violation of § 10.1-1142 of the Code of Virginia.

5. No more than one burn event per regular burn site shall be scheduled or commenced per 60-day period.

6. The open burn shall be extinguished for reasons including but not limited to the following:

a. Unfavorable meteorological conditions (i.e., high winds or air stagnation);

b. Official declaration by a governmental entity of a pollution alert, code red air quality action day, or air quality health advisory where the burn activity is occurring; or

c. The emission of smoke, ashes, dust, dirt, odors, or any other substance creates a threat to public health, a nuisance, a pollution problem, a fire hazard, a safety hazard, or impairment to visibility on traveled roads or airports.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 25, Issue 12, eff. March 18, 2009; amended, Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 21, eff. July 15, 2015.

Statutory Authority

§ 10.1-1308 of the Code of Virginia; §§ 110, 111, 123, 129, 171, 172, and 182 of the Clean Air Act; 40 CFR Parts 51 and 60.