Outdoor Burning in Texas - Texas Municipal League

OUTDOOR BURNING IN TEXASbrush, grass, leaves, branch trimmings, or otherplant growth generated from specific residentialproperties for which this site is designated. Allburning must be supervised by a fire departmentemployee. For more information call {PHONENUMBER OF OWNER OR AUTHORIZEDAGENT}.” The placard(s) must be clearly visibleand legible at all times;(B) designate specific residential properties forconsolidated burning at the designated site;(C) maintain a record of the designated residentialproperties. The record must contain the descriptionof a platted subdivision and/or a list of each propertyaddress. The description must be made availableto commission or local air pollution control agencystaff within 48 hours, if requested;(D) ensure that all waste burned at the designatedsite consists of trees, brush, grass, leaves, branchtrimmings, or other plant growth;(E) ensure that all such waste was generated atspecific residential properties for which the site isdesignated; and(F) ensure that all burning at the designated site isdirectly supervised by an employee of a fire departmentwho is part of the fire protection personnel,as defined by Texas Government Code, §419.021,and is acting in the scope of the person’s employment.The fire department employee shall notifythe appropriate commission regional office with atelephone or electronic facsimile notice 24 hoursin advance of any scheduled supervised burn.The commission shall provide the employee withinformation on practical alternatives to burning.Commission approval is not required;(6) crop residue burning for agricultural managementpurposes when no practical alternative exists. Such burningshall be subject to the requirements of §111.219 ofthis title and structures containing sensitive receptorsmust not be negatively affected by the burn. When possible,notification of the intent to burn should be madeto the appropriate commission regional office prior tothe proposed burn. Commission notification or approvalis not required. This section is not applicable to cropresidue burning covered by an administrative order; and(7) brush, trees, and other plant growth causing a detrimentalpublic health and safety condition burned by acounty or municipal government at a site it owns uponreceiving site and burn approval from the executivedirector. Such a burn can only be authorized when thereis no practical alternative, and it may be done no morefrequently than once every two months. Such burns cannotbe conducted at municipal landfills unless authorizedunder §111.215 of this title (relating to ExecutiveDirector Approval of Otherwise Prohibited OutdoorBurning), and shall be subject to the requirements of§111.219 of this title.§111.211. Exception for Prescribed Burn.Outdoor burning shall be authorized for:(1) Prescribed burning for forest, range and wildland/wildlife management purposes, with the exception ofcoastal salt-marsh management burning. Such burningshall be subject to the requirements of §111.219 of thistitle (relating to General Requirements for AllowableOutdoor Burning), and structures containing sensitivereceptors must not be negatively affected by the burn.When possible, notification of intent to burn shouldbe made to the appropriate commission regional officeprior to the proposed burn. Commission notification orapproval is not required.(2) Coastal salt-marsh management burning conductedin Aransas, Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Galveston,Harris, Jackson, Jefferson, Kleberg, Matagorda, Nueces,Orange, Refugio, and San Patricio Counties. Coastalsalt-marsh burning in these counties shall be subject tothe following requirements:(A) All land on which burning is to be conductedshall be registered with the appropriate commissionregional office using a United States GeologicalSurvey map or equivalent upon which are identifiedsignificant points such as roads, canals, lakes, andstreams, and the method by which access is madeto the site. For large acreage, the map should bedivided into manageable blocks with identificationfor each defined block. The information must bereceived for review at least 15 working days beforethe burning takes place.(B) Prior to any burning, notification, either verbalor written, must be made to, and authorizationmust be received from the appropriate commissionregional office. Notification must identify the specificarea and/or block to be burned, approximatestart and end time, and a responsible party who canbe contacted during the burn period.16 TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY