MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING 

among the 

Georgia Department of Natural Resources 

Environmental Protection Division, 

Georgia Department of Natural Resources 

Wildlife Resources Division 

and the 

Georgia Forestry Commission 

This agreement made and entered into the I l of July 2008, by and among the 

Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division 

(hereinafter referred to as EPD) and Georgia Department ofNatural Resources Wildlife 

Resources Division (hereinafter referred to as WRD) and the Georgia Forestry 

Commission (hereinafter referred to as GFC). 

Whereas, EPD, WRD, and GFC, recognize the critical importance of prescribed 

fire for resource management and the resulting benefits to forestry, wildlife management, 

and agriculture; and 

Whereas, EPD, WRD, and GFC, recognize the importance of minimizing the 

public health and environmental impacts of smoke intrusion into populated areas from 

prescribed fires; and 

Whereas, EPD, WRD, and GFC, in cooperation with federal and private partners, 

have developed a "Basic Smoke Management Plan, dated April 16, 2008" (Exhibit A) 

Now, therefore, in consideration of the mutual benefits to each party hereto, the 

parties agree to implement the "Basic Smoke Management Plan, dated April 16, 2008". 

This Agreement shall become effective as soon as signed by all parties. Any party has a 

right t terminate this agreement upon six ( 6) months notice. 

Direc or, Environmental Protection Division 

~~illif$P~sion 

nterim Director, Georgia Forestry Comm~n 

Attachment: Exhibit A 
BASIC SMOKE MANAGEMENT 

PLAN 

April 16, 2008 

DEPT. OF NATURAL 

RESOURCES 

Prepared by: 

Georgia Department of Natural Resources 

Environmental Protection Division 

Air Protection Branch 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

INTRODUCTION 

I. AUTORIZATION FOR PRESCRIBED BURNING 

II. SMOKE MANAGEMENT 

Ill. PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AWARENESS 

IV. SURVEILLANCE AND ENFORCEMENT 

V. SMOKE MANAGEMENT PLAN EVALUATION 

Basic Smoke Management Plan Page 2 of 14 

3 

5 

8 

11 

12 

12 

April 16, 2008 
INTRODUCTION 

This Smoke Management Plan (SMP) details Georgia's basic framework of procedures 

and requirements for managing smoke from prescribed fires. The Georgia Department 

of Natural Resources and the Georgia Forestry Commission developed this plan with 

cooperation from Federal military installations located in Georgia, Federal land 

managers associated with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the United States 

Forest Service, the National Park Service, and groups and associations representing . 

environmental interests or private individuals in Georgia. "The Interim Air Quality Policy 

on Wildland and Prescribed Fires"1 and the draft Environmental Protection Agency 

(EPA) guidance document, "Elements of a Smoke Management Program,"2 were used 

to structure the elements of this SMP. The Interim Policy addresses how best to 

achieve national clean air goals while improving the quality of wildland ecosystems 

through the increased use of prescribed fire. The Georgia Department of Natural 

Resources (DNR) and the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) are cooperatively 

responsible for administering this SMP. 

The purposes of this SMP are to implement EPA's policy: to minimize the public health 

and environmental impacts of smoke intrusion into populated areas from fires that are 

managed to benefit resources or the environment; to avoid significant deterioration of air 

quality and potential National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) violations; and to 

avoid visibility impacts in Class I areas while providing the citizens of the State of 

Georgia with healthy air and ecosystems. Additionally, for instances when emissions 

from a prescribed fire may qualify as an exceptional event, the EPA has stated that a 

state must demonstrate that a certified SMP was in place at the time of the event, or the 

state must ensure that the burner employs basic smoke management practices. 

Implementation of this SMP will, therefore, also facilitate the flagging and other 

treatment of ambient monitoring data under the Exceptional Events Rule.3 

Georgia's economy is heavily supported by agriculture and forestry. Both of these key 

industries utilize prescribed burning to cultivate products needed by the nation and the 

world. In addition to managing forests and agricultural resources, prescribed burning 

helps protect lives and property by reducing accumulations of forest fuels and sustains 

and recovers imperiled species and ecosystems. 

1 U.S. PEA, April 23, 1998 

2 Draftthree, U.S. EPA, December31, 1997 

3 40 CFR 50.14 and 51.930 

Basic Smoke Management Plan Page 3 of 14 April 16, 2008 
Many of Georgia's forests are managed for the ecosystem services they provide to 

people. Prescribed burning promotes healthy forests which in turn provide clean air, 

clean water, and conserve soil as well as provide recreational opportunities for 

Georgia's citizens and visitors. Prescribed burning is necessary to maintain healthy 

ecosystems and in many cases to meet requirements of the Federal Endangered 

Species Act. For example, the red cockaded woodpecker is Federally endangered, and 

Federal property managers must use prescribed fire to enhance its recovery. 

Prescribed fire is an important tool to maintain habitat for popular and economically 

important game species, such as the northern bobwhite, wild turkey, and white-tailed 

deer. Many native animals and plants are dependent on habitats maintained by fire. 

Fire plays a vital role in statewide wildlife management goals and has been recognized 

as one of the highest priority conservation actions in Georgia's State Wildlife Action 

Plan. 

Basic Smoke Management Plan Page 4 of 14 April 16, 2008 
I. AUTORIZATION FOR PRESCRIBED BURNING 

The Georgia General Assembly recognizes that the forestlands and resources of the 

. state are natural resources of great economic value to the citizens of the state and that 

prescribed burning is a resource protection and land management tool which benefits 

the safety of the public, Georgia's forest resources, the environment and the economy 

of the state. The Assembly enacted the Georgia Prescribed Burning Act4 to authorize 

and promote the continued use of prescribed burning for community protection and for 

silvicultural, environmental, and wildlife purposes. The legislature understood that, as 

the State's population continues to grow, concerns about liability and smoke nuisance 

complaints could cause prescribed burn practitioners to limit burn activity and reduce 

the benefits to the State. The Prescribed Burning Act tasks GFC with training prescribed 

burn practitioners, promoting prescribed burning with the public, and protecting 

prescribed burning from restriction by local ordinances. 

Prescribed burning is also regulated in Georgia under the Georgia Forest Fire 

Protection Act. 5 Burn permits are required from GFC for all prescribed fires except 

agricultural burning and leaf pile burning. According to the Georgia Forest Fire 

Protection Act, all forest fire protection work is under the direction of GFC. The Act 

gives GFC the authority to go on any land for the purpose of preventing, controlling, or 

suppressing any uncontrolled fire. An aggressive State wildfire suppression policy has 

contributed substantially to protecting air quality in Georgia. 

Prescribed burning helps achieve many desired resource objectives and can be used to 

minimize the emissions and adverse impacts of smoke on public health and the 

environment. The Georgia Air Quality Act6 is designed to preserve, protect, and 

improve air quality, to control emissions in order to prevent the significant deterioration 

of air quality, and to attain and maintain ambient air quality standards. This Act 

authorizes the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) to issue rules 

regarding air quality, including the authorization to regulate prescribed burning when 

subject to the Federal Clean Air Act. Air pollutants of concern from prescribed fire 

include emissions of precursors for ozone and primary and precursor emissions of 

particulate matter. Georgia EPD's open burning regulations7 prohibit all open burning in 

the State with exceptions, including authorized prescribed burning. Additional 

restrictions apply to counties that are currently designated as non-attainment areas for 

the 8-hour Ozone NAAQS or for counties that are found to contribute to the nonattainment status of designated counties. The rule also places restrictions on counties 

with a population exceeding 65,000. Furthermore, prescribed burning is banned on a 

seasonal or episodic (depending upon the county) basis during the summer ozone 

season in multi-county areas in and around Atlanta, Macon, Augusta, and Georgia 

counties near Chattanooga, Tennessee. 

4 Ga. Code Ann. 12-6-145- 12-6-149 

5 Ga. Code Ann. 12-6-80-12-6-93 

6 Ga. Code Ann. 12-9-1 - 12-9-25 

7 Rules for Air Quality Control, 391-3-1-.02(5), "Open Burning" 

Basic Smoke Management Plan Page 5 of 14 April 16, 2008 
A. PERMITTING 

The Georgia Forest Fire Protection Act requires prescribed burn practitioners to 

obtain a permit from GFC before initiating a fire. The size, date, type of burn, 

county location, weather, air quality conditions, and other relevant information are 

used as criteria to determine if a permit shall be issued. Permits are issued by 

forest rangers that are trained in fire, weather, and smoke management. 

According to GFC procedures, all burn projects of one acre or more are screened 

to determine if air sheds or smoke-sensitive populations are threatened. Permits 

are issued or denied based on smoke management and fire danger. In order for 

permits to be issued, all the requirements of Georgia EPD's Rules for Air Quality 

Control concerning open burning and GFC's guidelines must be met. Areas 

specified by Georgia EPD as especially susceptible to violations of air quality 

standards will be given special attention to avoid issuance of permits during 

measured or expected high air pollution periods. Such attention will include a 

regional review of the previous and current days' ambient conditions for ozone 

and particulate matter in relation to NAAQS. Although agricultural burning does 

not require a permit, notification of GFC is required. 

GFC has considerable investment in fire weather/smoke management 

forecasting, training, public relations, and fire permitting. A dedicated fire 

weather meteorologist provides weather forecasting for 17 geographical locations 

within the State. Spot weather forecasting is available at GFC's website 

www.gatrees.org for anywhere in Georgia. Permits and smoke management are 

administered from 140 locations. 

The following are examples of some of the forecasted meteorological parameters 

used by the fire weather meteorologist for smoke management: 

• Mixing Height (MH) - the thickness of the lower layer of the atmosphere 

where "mixing" occurs. 

• Transport Wind Speed (TWS) - the average of all wind speeds between the 

surface and the mixing height. 

• Fog Potential -estimation of the potential for natural fog. It is a function of 

cloud cover, probability of precipitation, relative humidity, and wind speed. 

• Plume Trajectory - the direction that a smoke plume is expected to travel. 

• Turner Stability and Atmospheric Tendency - a measure of atmospheric 

stability determined from opaque cloud cover, cloud ceiling height, surface 

wind speed and solar elevation angle. 

• Smoke Dispersion Index (DI) - a measure of the atmosphere's "diluting 

power." It is a function of the mixing height, transport wind speed and 

atmospheric stability class. 

• Low Visibility Occurrence Risk Index (L VORl) - an index for probability of 

low visibility that is dependent upon relative humidity and the smoke 

dispersion index. 

This and other helpful information can be obtained at the GFC website 

www.gatrees.org. 

Basic Smoke Management Plan Page 6 of 14 April 16, 2008 
B. TRAINI~G REQUIREMENTS 

All appropriate GFC personnel are trained in smoke management planning, fire 

weather forecasting, and determination of smoke sensitive areas. Smoke 

management indices are provided on the GFC website www.gatrees.org twice 

daily, seven days per week, and a meteorologist is available for consultation on 

weekdays. Burn authorizations are plotted on a local map by GFC to identify 

specific smoke-sensitive areas within the impact area of the planned burn. 

GFC's Georgia Prescribed Fire Manager Certification program (authorized by the 

Georgia Prescribed Burning Act and funded by the Georgia Forest Fire 

Protection Act) includes a module on smoke management. Publications 

including the Guide for Prescribed Fire in Southern Forests8 provide smoke 

management guidance for individual projects. 

C. INTER-AGENCY COORDINATION 

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Environmental Protection and 

Wildlife Resource Divisions work directly with GFC to regulate and monitor 

outdoor burning in the State. The Department of Transportation and the 

Department of Public Safety work with GFC to monitor smoke on Georgia's 

highways. Both the EPD and GFC actively participate in "Visibility Improvement 

for State and Tribal Association" ih the Southeast regional planning organization 

to develop plans for improving visibility in Class I areas in Georgia and nearby 

states. 

Coordination also occurs among the EPD, GFC and Federal land management 

agencies in the State. Although State laws requiring a permit from GFC for 

prescribed burning generally do not apply to Federal agencies, Federal land 

managers have policies and management practices in place to conduct 

prescribed burning in a manner to benefit natural resources while minimizing air 

pollution. Lands located in Georgia that are managed by the USDA Forest 

Service and Department of Interior must be managed by policies that ensure 

compliance with GFC permit requirements. The Department of Defense (DOD) 

installations in Georgia comply with other Federal land and ecosystem 

management requirements that address prescribed burning and air pollution. 

8 United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Southern Region, February 1989; Technical 

Publication R8-TP 11 

Basic Smoke Management Plan Page 7 of 14 April 16, 2008 
II. SMOKE MANAGEMENT 

The goal of smoke management is to reduce the exposure of Georgia's citizens to air 

pollution, impaired visibility, and nuisance caused by prescribed fire smoke. Use of the 

basic smoke management guidelines presented in this document will reduce the impact 

of smoke from prescribed fires on air quality and visibility. The basic principles of 

smoke management include identification and avoidance of smoke sensitve areas, 

minimizing emissions, selection of appropriate meteorological conditions to maximize 

smoke dispersion, proper evaluation of weather conditions prior to burning, public 

notification, and air quality monitoring. These tools will also foster understanding 

between prescribed burn practitioners and adjoining communities of planned burning 

activity. 

The following are essential smoke management components that should be considered 

when planning prescribed burns. 

A. SMOKE MITIGATION 

Smoke mitigation comprises those actions that are utilized to m1mm1ze fire 

emissions. The effects of smoke from prescribed fire can be mitigated, when 

necessary, by planning burns to avoid smoke sensitive areas, providing for good 

smoke dispersion, and utilizing practices that manage the quantity of emissions 

that are released. 

1. Avoid Smoke Sensitive Areas 

Due caution should be practiced whenever wind will carry smoke to 

smoke-sensitive areas. Wind direction should be considered to minimize 

smoke intrusion of populated areas, public roads, schools, airports, etc. 

The authorizing agent and the prescribed burn practitioner should 

consider location of smoke-sensitive areas prior to authorizing and 

initiating a prescribed fire. 

2. Select Good Smoke Dispersion Conditions 

The Guide for Prescribed Fire in Southern Forests9 provides a smoke 

dispersion index that should be used for prescribed burning in Georgia. 

GFC daily fire weather forecasts predict the dispersion index each 

morning and update values each afternoon. When smoke-sensitive areas 

are present and likely to be impacted by smoke, a value above 40 on the 

smoke dispersion index is desired. Values above 60 are desired for larger 

burns or if smoke-sensitive areas are in close proximity to the burn. 

9 United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Southern Region, February 1989; Technical 

Publication R8-TP 11 

Basic Smoke Management Plan Page 8 of 14 April 16, 2008 
Atmospheric m1x1ng height, transport wind speed, and atmospheric 

stability are also important weather factors that influence smoke 

dispersion. General guidelines are for a minimum mixing height of 1 ,650 

feet; transport winds of at least 9 mph; and a slightly unstable atmosphere. 

However, prescribed fires may be successful below these minimums 

depending on proximity of smoke-sensitive areas and the size and type of 

the area to be burned. The smoke from a prescribed fire belongs to the 

person that" ignited it, and it is his/her responsibility to assure that it causes 

no negative impacts and, in particular, to make sure the smoke does not 

impact any smoke-sensitive areas. 

Smoke dispersion should be monitored during the burn by the prescribed 

burn practitioner for any affects on nearby smoke-sensitive areas. The 

GFC should be notified if problems occur. Practitioners are responsible 

for negative impact from their smoke and should take steps to mitigate any 

problems. 

If there is a chance that smoke-sensitive areas may be impacted, burning 

at night should be conducted only on occasions when wind speed is 

expected to maintain at least 3-5 mph, relative humidity is predicted to be 

below 80%, and other relevant smoke dispersion parameters are met. 

3. Manage Released Emissions 

Both the timing and the amount of emissions released by a fire are usually 

manageable and can help to reduce smoke impacts. The burning 

technique utilized should be based on atmospheric conditions and total 

emissions expected to be released in order to minimize affects on smokesensitive areas. 

One way to reduce total emissions is to reduce the area (i.e., fuels) to be 

burned. Forest thinning, whole-tree chipping, use of herbicides where 

appropriate, and mechanical removal or utilization of fuels to achieve 

desired resource benefits are all potential options. Another effective 

method to limit emissions is to schedule a burn when some of the forest 

fuels are not burnable due to moisture content. These options should be 

considered whenever necessary to prevent intrusion of smoke-sensitive 

areas. 

Where air quality is a concern, forest management practices should be 

considered in lieu of burning or as a pretreatment to reduce the amount of 

smoke from the planned burn. 

When EPD's air quality monitors indicate actual exceedances or likely 

exceedances of air quality standards, EPD and GFC will work together to 

restrict burning as appropriate. GFC will respond appropriately to 

complaints and suggestions from the public concerning local smokeBasic Smoke Management Plan Page 9 of 14 April16, 2008 
related air quality issues. GFC offers suppression of burn projects when 

feasible and practical if monitoring reveals significant smoke intrusions. 

B. SMOKE DISPERSION EVALUATION 

Smoke dispersion evaluation will be the responsibility of the GFC. The GFC 

employs a full-time fire weather meteorologist and produces a specialized fire 

weather and smoke dispersion forecast each morning and afternoon. Major 

smoke dispersion components of the forecast include surface wind direction and 

speed, smoke dispersion index, transport wind speeds aloft, and mixing height. 

There is also a low-visibility occurrence risk index for predicting visibility 

problems. GFC employees who issue burn authorizations are trained to follow 

published guidelines for smoke dispersion. 

Each GFC burn authorization location maintains an area map showing smokesensitive locations. A wind direction arrow is affixed to each map allowing an 

indication of the current wind direction. Burn permit requests that are large 

enough to have smoke consequences are plotted on the map and analyzed in 

relation to wind direction, smoke sensitive receptors, and other burn permits 

already granted for that day. Authorizations may be denied or modified to avoid 

serious smoke intrusions. 

Georgia's Prescribed Fire Manager Certification Program stresses the necessity 

of evaluating smoke dispersion in the prescribed burn planning process and 

teaches practitioners how to do it. 

Serious smoke intrusions resulting from authorized burns require documentation 

and written review with the results readily available. 

C. PUBLIC NOTIFICATION 

Prescribed burn practitioners should notify local residences, businesses, and 

other populated areas that may be impacted by smoke from their fire. This may 

be accomplished by personal contact or by leaving notices such as door 

hangers. Information provided should include the proposed date, time and 

location of the burn; contact information for the prescribed burn practitioner who 

is conducting the burn; and why the area is being burned. For larger fires or fires 

that may create a special interest from the public, additional notification should 

be provided through the media. GFC maintains a media notification system 

where fires in excess of 1 ,000 acres are reported to the GFC Communications 

Department, which automatically issues a media alert for the affected area. GFC 

maintains a Memorandum of Understanding with the Georgia Department of 

Public Safety and the Georgia Department of Transportation whereby all 

prescribed fires of 1 00 acres or more are reported for smoke monitoring on 

Georgia highways. 

Basic Smoke Management Plan Page 10 of 14 April 16, 2008 
D. AIR QUALITY MONITORING 

EPD monitors levels of air pollution, including particulate matter, across the state. 

These monitors are located in urban, suburban, and rural locations for various 

purposes. NAAQS are set by EPA to protect the health and welfare of the 

population. When the level of an air pollutant exceeds a NAAQS, this is 

considered an exceedance. Scientific studies have linked high levels of 

particulate matter, especially fine particles (alone or in combination with other air 

pollutants), with a series of significant health problems including premature 

death, respiratory-related hospital admissions and emergency room visits, 

aggravated asthma, acute respiratory symptoms (including aggravated coughing 

and difficult or painful breathing), chronic bronchitis, decreased lung function that 

can be experienced as shortness of breath, and work and school absences. 

Burning activity can significantly impact the level of particulate matter (both fine 

particulate matter or PM2.5 as well as PM10, which constitutes fine as well as 

larger particles) in Georgia. 

EPD maintains various types of PM10 and PM2.5 monitors across Georgia. The 

US Fish and Wildlife Service and Forest Service both maintain fine particulate 

monitors for tracking visibility conditions in Federally designated Class I areas in 

Georgia: Okefenokee Wilderness Area and Cohutta Wilderness Area. 

In addition to air quality monitoring, prudent prescribed burn practitioners conduct 

visual monitoring of their individual projects. Smoke management is taught in the 

Prescribed Fire Manager Certification Program with emphasis on self-monitoring 

of smoke impact on smoke-sensitive areas. Such visual monitoring by 

prescribed burn managers can be useful in identifying and avoiding high levels of 

particulate matter that might be measured at an air quality monitor. 

III. PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AWARENESS 

The Georgia Prescribed Fire Act tasks GFC to promote public education and awareness 

of prescribed fires. This does not preclude other agencies or organizations from 

promoting prescribed fire, and they are encouraged to do so. The Georgia Prescribed 

Fire Council and many other natural resource organizations are strong advocates of 

prescribed fire and include public education as part of their mission. 

GFC certifies prescribed fire managers through two sessions each year resulting in 

about 100 practitioners becoming certified annually. 

Other public outreach is attained through school programs, public speaking, landowner 

field days, fair exhibits, Prescribed Fire Awareness Week and through hands-on 

assistance available to landowners who want to conduct prescribed burns. 

Basic Smoke Management Plan Page 11 of 14 April 16, 2008 
IV. SURVEILLANCE AND ENFORCEMENT 

GFC responds quickly and appropriately to smoke-related complaints from the public. 

Projects that are found to be causing significant smoke intrusions are suppressed to the 

extent practicable. GFC fire patrol aircraft advise forest rangers of any significant 

smoke intrusions discovered while on routine wildfire patrols. GFC forest rangers 

discuss smoke intrusions with individual prescribed burn practitioners whenever 

problems occur. Suggestions to alter the scope of future projects are made. GFC 

retains the right to void certification of Georgia certified prescribed burners if certain 

stipulations are not adhered to which may include smoke intrusion into an smokesensitive area if investigation reveals a disregard for basic smoke management 

practices. All outdoor burning is subject to enforcement through law enforcement 

officers of GFC, DNR and local law enforcement. The enforcement authority is the 

Georgia Forest Fire Protection Act, as well as EPD's authority to enforce Federal and 

State air quality regulations and laws. 

V. SMOKE MANAGEMENT PLAN EVALUATION 

GFC and DNR will work closely with stakeholders to routinely evaluate this plan. GFC 

will provide data on outdoor burning to stakeholders and EPD will provide pertinent air 

quality monitoring data. The Georgia Prescribed Fire Council was formed to enable 

collaboration among prescribed burn practitioners and with other interested public and 

private organizations to address statewide natural resource goals including air quality. 

DNR and GFC, in coordination with stakeholders, will evaluate the effectiveness of this 

SMP at the annual Prescribed Fire Council Meeting and revise it as necessary. 

Basic Smoke Management Plan Page 12 of 14 April 16, 2008 
Air Quality 

Ambient Air 

Class I Area 

Dispersion 

Federal Land Manager 

(FLM) 

Fuel 

Fuel Loading 

Micrometer 

Mixing Height 

National Ambient Air 

Quality Standards (NAAQS) 

Particulate Matter (PM) 

PM2.5 

PM10 

Glossary 

The characteristics of the ambient air (all locations accessible to the general public) 

as indicated by concentrations of the six air pollutants for Which national standards 

have been established [i.e., particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (S02) nitrogen 

dioxide (N02) ozone (03), carbon monoxide (CO) and lead], and by visibility in 

mandatory Federal Class I areas. 

That portion of the atmosphere, external to buildings, to which the general public has 

access. 

An area set aside under the Clean Air Act (CAA} to receive the most stringent 

protection from air quality degradation. Mandatory Class I Federal areas are (1) 

international parks, (2) national wilderness areas that exceed 5,000 acres in size, (3) 

national memorial parks that exceed 5,000 acres in size, and (4) national parks that 

exceed 6,000 acres and were in existence prior to the 1977 CAA amendments. The 

extent of a mandatory Class I Federal area includes subsequent changes in 

boundaries, such as park expansions. 

The removal (by whatever means) of pollutants from the atmosphere over a given 

area. 

The Secretary of the Department with authority over such lands. The FLM for the 

Department of the Interior) has been delegated to the Assistant Secretary for Fish 

and Wildlife and Parks (includes the US Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park 

Service). The FLM for the Department of Agriculture has been delegated to the 

Forest Service, and for the National Forests in Georgia this has been delegated to 

the Forest Supervisor. 

Includes combustible vegetative matter such as grass, trees, shrubs, limbs, 

branches, duff, and stumps 

An estimate of the entire accumulation of vegetative matter on a given area, 

expressed in tons-per-acre. 

One millionth of a meter (also micron). 

The upper limit of a mixing layer of unstable air within which the vigorous up and 

down movement of the atmosphere occurs. It is measured from the ground surface 

and is expressed in feet. 

Standards for maximum acceptable concentrations of pollutants in the ambient air to 

protect public health with an adequate margin of safety, and to protect public welfare 

from any known or anticipated adverse effects of such pollutants (e.g., visibility 

impairment, soiling, materials damage, etc.) in the ambient air. 

Any airborne finely-divided material, except uncombined water, which exists as a 

solid or liquid at standard conditions (e.g., dust, smoke, mist, fumes, or smog). 

Particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 2.5 

micrometers. 

Particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 1 0 

micrometers (including PM2.s). 

Basic Smoke Management Plan Page 13 of 14 April16, 2008 
Prescribed Fire 

Regional Haze 

Smoke Dispersion Index 

Smoke Management 

Program (SMP) 

Smoke Sensitive Areas 

Transport Wind Speed and 

Direction 

Violation of the PM NAAQS 

Wildfire 

Wildland 

Wildland Fire 

The controlled application of fire to existing vegetative fuels under specified 

environmental conditions and following appropriate precautionary measures, which 

causes the fire to be confined to a predetermined area and accomplishes one or 

more planned land management objectives as specified in paragraphs 12-6-146(3), 

(4) and (7) of the Georgia Prescribed Burning Act or to mitigate catastrophic wildfires. 

Generally, concentrations of fine particles in the atmosphere extending up to 

hundreds of miles across a region and promoting noticeably hazy conditions; widespread visibility impairment, especially in mandatory Class I Federal areas where 

visibility is an important value. 

A measure of the atmosphere's "diluting power". It is a function of the mixing height, 

transport wind speed and atmospheric stability class. 

Establishes a basic framework of procedures and requirements for managing smoke 

from fires that are managed for resource benefits. The purposes of SMPs are to 

mitigate the nuisance and public safety hazards (e.g., on roadways and at airports) 

posed by smoke intrusions into populated areas; to prevent deterioration of air quality 

and NAAQS violations; and to address visibility impacts in mandatory Class I Federal 

areas in accordance with the regional haze rules. 

Population centers such as towns and villages, camp grounds, hospitals, nursing 

homes, schools, roads, airports, mandatory Class I Federal areas, etc., where smoke 

and air pollutants can adversely affect public health, safety and welfare. 

The average speed of the wind (mph) moving through the mixing layer, and the 

direction from which the wind is coming. When used in conjunction with the 

observed or forecasted surface wind, it is a smoke drift indicator. 

As revised in 2006, the daily PM10 standard is violated when the 99th percentile of 

the distribution of 24-hour concentrations for a period of one year (averaged over 

three calendar years) exceeds 150 llg/m3 at any monitor within an area. The NAAQS 

levels for PM2.

5 are set at a daily concentration less than or equal to 35 llg/m3, and 

an annual mean concentration of less than or equal to 15.0 llg/m3. The daily 

standard is violated when the 98th percentile of the distribution of the 24-hour 

concentrations for a period of one year (averaged over three calendar years) 

exceeds 35 llg/m3 at any monitor within an area. The annual standard is violated 

when the annual arithmetic mean of the 24-hour concentrations from a network of 

one or more population-oriented monitors (averaged over three calendar years) 

exceeds 15.0 llg/m3. Compliance with the annual PM2.

5 NAAQS is based on 

population-oriented monitors because the health information, upon which the 

standard is based, relates area-wide health statistics to area-wide air quality as 

measured by one or more monitors. 

An unwanted wildland fire. 

An area where development is generally limited to roads, railroads, power lines, and 

widely scattered structures. The land is not cultivated (i.e., the soil is disturbed less 

frequently than once in 10 years), is not fallow, and is not in the United States 

Department of Agriculture (USDA) Conservation Reserve Program. The land may be 

neglected altogether or .managed for such purposes as wood or forage production, 

wildlife, recreation, wetlands or protective plant cover. 

Any non-structural fire, other than prescribed fire, that occurs in the wildland. Note: 

Wildland fires include unwanted (wild) fires and naturally ignited fires that are 

managed within a prescription to achieve resource benefits. 

Basic Smoke Management Plan Page 14 of 14 April 16, 2008