HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-2006-039 Proposing Changes to the Open Burning Permits Issuance System to Remove the Burning Prohibition Exemption,ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
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Resolution Proposing Changes to the Open Burning Permits Issuance ~~
System to Remove the Burning Prohibition Exemption, Specifically in
Periods of Drought, Or, In the Alternative, Requesting Local Government
Authority to Prohibit Open Burning Without the State's Declaration of a
Hazardous Condition
WHEREAS, residents of the State of North Carolina depend on state and local
governments to protect their health, safety, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina currently has in place a system for the issuance
of burning permits so that members of the public can dispose of yard debris and other
associated waste; and
WHEREAS, this burning permit issuance system alerts governmental officials that
burning activities will be occurring and also provides the opportunity for officials to
educate the public regarding the practices and safeguards that should be employed; and
WHEREAS, the enabling statutes for this burning permit system also provide the
opportunity to prohibit all open burning during periods of hazardous forest fire conditions
or during air pollution episodes; and
WHEREAS, the same enabling statutes exempt from such prohibition any fires started
1) within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling house if the fire is confined within an
enclosure from which burning material may not escape or 2) within a protected area
upon which a watch is being maintained and which is provided with adequate fire
protection equipment; and
WHEREAS, when the force of an open burning prohibition during hazardous forest fire
conditions is nullified as is the case under the exemption provision, the health, safety,
and welfare of any individuals conducting burning activities and the entire the public at
large is compromised;
WHEREAS, there have been more forest fires in the first 3 months of 2006 than in the
entire 2005 calendar year, and the current year marks the seventh out of the last 10
years that North Carolina has experienced drought conditions, creating on-going
hazardous conditions for burning activities;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we, the Orange County Board of
Commissioners, hereby call upon the North Carolina General Assembly to amend the
statutes related to open burning to remove the open burning prohibition exemption that
is currently available during periods of hazardous forest fire conditions, during drought
periods, or during air pollution episodes.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in the alternative, we hereby call upon the General
Assembly to grant local governments the authority to prohibit open burning without the
State's declaration of a hazardous condition since local fire authorities are best suited to
assess local conditions and determine the best courses of action related to burning
activities.
This the 18th day of April 2006.
Barry Jacob , C
Orange Cou o mmissioners