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United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 10
EPA910-F-09-006
October 2009
Federal Air Rules for Indian Reservations
Fact Sheet: Orchard & Vineyard Burning
on the Yakama Reservation
Why do farmers tear out existing orchards and
vineyards?
Orchardists change varieties of fruit and farming
techniques to remain competitive in the market. This
requires the orchardists to tear out existing blocks of
orchards and vineyards to prepare for replanting.
What happens to the material that is removed?
Several methods can be used to dispose of woody
material from orchard and vineyard pruning and tear
outs, including burning, chipping, shredding, grinding,
composting or use as hog fuel.
Although burning may appear to be the easiest way to
dispose of vegetation, the use of alternative disposal
methods can result in cleaner air for our families and
community.
What are the health effects related to burning
orchard and vineyard material?
Smoke is made up of a complex mixture of gases and
fine particles produced when wood and other organic
matter burn. The biggest health threat from smoke
comes from fine particles. These microscopic particles
can get into your eyes and respiratory system, where
they can cause health problems such as burning
eyes, runny nose, and illnesses such as bronchitis.
Fine particles can also aggravate asthma and chronic
heart and lung diseases—and are linked to premature
deaths in people with these chronic conditions.
Who is most affected by this
type of air pollution?
Elders, children, pregnant
women and people with heart
or respiratory diseases (like
asthma) are most at risk from
breathing smoke and particulate
matter.
What rules apply to burning orchard and
vineyard material?
Open burning of orchard and vineyard material
is regulated by the Federal Air Rules for Indian
Reservations in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington
(FARR). FARR open burning rules must be adhered
to when burning orchard or vineyard material:
• During a burn ban, open burning is not
allowed. EPA may declare a burn ban
whenever air quality concentrations
approach, or are predicted to approach,
the heath standards for particulate matter.
Please call the FARR Hotline at 1-800-
424-4EPA or check the FARR website
www.epa.gov/r10earth/FARR before burning
to find out if a burn ban is in effect.
• During a burn ban, all open burning must be
put out immediately or allowed to burn down
by withholding additional fuel.
• Do not burn garbage, plastics, demolition
debris (treated or painted wood), tires, diesel
fuel, or any other prohibited materials - these
are illegal.
• Material that is burned must be kept as dry as
possible.
• Material that will not burn (dirt, rocks) must be
separated from the material to be burned as
much as possible.
• During open burning, a natural or artificial draft
(moving air) must be present.
• The material being burned must be separated
from the grass or peat layer when possible.
• The fire must not be allowed to smolder (burn
slowly with no flame).
• Check with local fire protection service and the
Yakama Nation Fire Management to find out
about their requirements before you burn.
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How can I burn more cleanly and safely?
Keep it Dry: Make sure the materials are as dry
as possible and free from dirt. Three weeks is
recommended for drying for prunings and small
branches, and at least six weeks is recommended
for drying for large branches and stumps.
Keep it Hot: Build and maintain the fire as hot
as possible. Burning at low temperatures creates
smoke as a result of incomplete combustion. Heat
and ignite the entire pile as quickly as possible with
a propane torch or other commercial lighting device.
Oxygen: Stack your starter pile of brush and wood
as tightly as possible, but make sure it has enough
air circulating throughout. Brush and wood require
plenty of air to burn efficiently. Smaller pieces will
burn more quickly than larger chunks. Carbon
monoxide, volatile organic compounds and soot
particles are produced when there is not enough
oxygen available.
Use the Right Material: Only burn natural
vegetation. Add material after the starter pile is
fully engulfed. Once the fire is started, feed it
continuously. Avoid pushing dirt into the pile with
the pruning or tear out material.
Manage the Fire: Make several small diameter, tall
piles rather than one large, sprawling pile. Keep the
piles small enough to control the fire and prevent
escape. You must have fire suppression equipment
and water available.
Don't leave your fire unattended: Unattended
fires are a hazard and you need to be on hand to
maintain a hot fire. Do not walk away until the fire is
out and cool.
Manage the Smoke: Light a small test fire before
starting your fire to check the direction of the
smoke plume and ventilation. Be sure the plume is
blowing away from neighbors, roads, schools and
other sensitive places to prevent smoke impacts to
surrounding people and places. If a burn has the
potential to cause visibility hazards on roadways,
contact the local transportation agency prior to
burning for applicable traffic control requirements.
Who should I contact if I have further questions
about burning orchard and vineyard material?
USEPA Region 10 Contacts:
FARR Hotline
AWT 107
1200 6th Ave., Suite 900
Seattle, WA 98101
1-800-424-4372
Jerry Craig, US EPA, FARR Compliance & Outreach
15 West Yakima Ave., Suite 200,
Yakima, WA 98902
Craig.Jerry@epa.gov
(509) 952-3057
Yakama Nation Contacts:
Hillary Renick, Air Quality Specialist
604 W 4th Ave. Suite E
Toppenish, WA 98948
hillary@yakama.com
(509) 865-5121 ext: 6078
Yakama Nation Fire Management
(509) 865-6653
Additional Information
Additional information about the FARR is available at
the EPA RegionIO FARR website
www.epa.gov/r1 Oearth/FARR.
The website provides additional background
information on the rule and implementation of the
FARR.
The FARR Hotline is available at 1-800-424-4EPAto
provide information, forms and respond to questions.
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