Friday, April 30, 2004

Burn ban starts tomorrow By JOHN THOMPSON jthompson@TheCitizenNews.com If you want to burn leaves or debris, today is the last day to do it until the fall. Metro Atlanta’s official summer smog season starts tomorrow, and with it comes the annual burn ban.In Atlanta, during the summer months, the ozone in the air can reach unhealthy levels. Residents are prohibited from outdoor burning from tomorrow until October 1. The ban first started during the 1996 Olympics and has become an annual event because of the region’s dirty air. Coweta is one of 45 counties in the region that is subject to the Environmental Protection Division regulations concerning outdoor burning during the summer months. The burn ban is in effect in the 45 counties from May 1 through September 30 each year. Some types of open burning have always been prohibited by the Georgia Rules for Air Quality Control. This ban prohibits several additional types of burning during the ozone season as follows: •Burning of leaves, tree limbs, or other yard wastes; •Burning of vegetative waste from land clearing (includes a ban on the use of air curtain destructors). • Burning over of forest land by the owners of the land, with some exceptions. A few types of open fires are still allowed provided there are no local ordinances that prohibit them. These include: • Fires for carrying out recognized agricultural practices. • Fires for recreational purposes or for cooking food. • Fires for training fire-fighting personnel. For more information about the Open Burning Ban, you can contact the Air Protection Branch at (404) 363-7000. Questions about available options for handling the solid waste can be directed to the Land Protection Branch at (404) 362-2537.

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