SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS

April 3, 1997 501-1

RULE 501 AGRICULTURAL BURNING

Adopted 9-13-71

(Amended 1-14-74, 2-5-75, 9-15-75, 6-1-76, 8-3-77, 12-6-78, 10-22-85, 4-3-97)

INDEX

100 GENERAL

101 PURPOSE

110 SEVERABILITY

200 DEFINITIONS

201 AGRIBUSINESS

202 AGRIBUSINESS WASTE

203 AGRIBUSINESS-RELATED WASTE

204 AGRICULTURAL BURNING

205 AGRICULTURAL BURNING PERMIT

206 AGRICULTURAL BURNING PLAN 

207 ALLOW AGRICULTURAL BURNING

208 APPROVED IGNITION DEVICE

209 DESIGNATED AGENCY

210 FOREST MANAGEMENT

211 IMMINENT AND SUBSTANTIAL ECONOMIC LOSS

212 IRRIGATION SYSTEM

213 IRRIGATION SYSTEM MANAGEMENT

214 NO-BURN DAY

215 OPEN OUTDOOR FIRE

216 PAPER CONTAINERS OF AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS

217 PERMIT HOLDER

218 PERMISSIVE BURN DAY

219 POPULATED AREA

220 PRESCRIBED BURNING

221 PRE-TREATED

222 RANGE IMPROVEMENT

223 SENSITIVE RECEPTOR

224 SPECIAL PERMIT

225 STATE BOARD

226 TIMBER OPERATIONS

227 WILD LAND VEGETATION MANAGEMENT

300 STANDARDS

301 BURNING PROHIBITION ON NO-BURN DAYS

302 BURNING PERMIT REQUIREMENT

303 PERMIT CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL

304 AGRICULTURAL BURNING ON A NO-BURN DAY

305 STANDARDS FOR ALL TYPES OF AGRICULTURAL BURNING

306 SPECIFIC STANDARDS FOR BURNING AGRIBUSINESS WASTE AND

AGRIBUSINESS-RELATED WASTE

307 SPECIFIC STANDARDS FOR FOREST MANAGEMENT BURNING

308 SPECIFIC STANDARDS FOR RANGE IMPROVEMENT BURNING

309 SPECIFIC STANDARD FOR BURNING TO IMPROVE LAND FOR WILDLIFE AND

GAME HABITAT

310 SPECIFIC STANDARDS FOR IRRIGATION SYSTEM MANAGEMENT BURNING

311 SPECIFIC STANDARDS FOR WILD LAND VEGETATION MANAGEMENT BURNING

312 SPECIFIC STANDARDS FOR BURNING EMPTY PAPER CONTAINERS OF

CHEMICALS
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS

501-2 April 3, 1997

400 ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS

401 PERMIT APPLICATION INFORMATION

402 BURNING PERMITS

403 PERMIT STATEMENT

404 REQUEST FOR ADVANCE NOTICE

405 PERMIT SUSPENSION/REVOCATION

406 FORWARDING PERMIT INFORMATION

407 FIRE PROTECTION AGENCY MANDATES

500 MONITORING AND RECORDS (NOT INCLUDED)
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS

April 3, 1997 501-3

100 GENERAL

101 PURPOSE: To reduce air pollution through the regulation of agricultural burning.

110 SEVERABILITY: If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this

rule is, for any reason, held invalid, unconstitutional, or unenforceable by any court of

competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed as a separate, distinct, and

independent provision, and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining

portions thereof. 

200 DEFINITIONS

201 AGRIBUSINESS: The growing of crops or the raising of fowl or animals for the primary

purpose of:

201.1 Making a profit,

201.2 Providing a livelihood, or

201.3 Conducting agricultural research or instruction by an educational institution.

202 AGRIBUSINESS WASTE:

202.1 Unwanted materials produced wholly from agribusiness, or

202.2 Grass and weeds in or adjacent to fields in cultivation or being prepared for

cultivation.

203 AGRIBUSINESS-RELATED WASTE:

203.1 Materials not produced wholly from agribusiness, but which are intimately related

to the growing or harvesting of crops and which are used in the field. Examples

of agribusiness-related waste include, but are not limited to: raisin drying trays,

paper hot caps, and untreated grape stakes.

203.2 Agribusiness-related waste does not include:

a. Plastic; rubber; synthetic rubber; ornamental or landscape vegetation;

shop wastes; construction material; demolition debris; garbage; rubbish;

oil filters; tires; tar, tar paper, or other tar-containing materials; petroleum

waste; flammable liquid waste; livestock bedding; metal; or motor

vehicles.

b. Any material used for packing or processing agricultural products

including, but not limited to, broken boxes, pallets, packaging material, or

packing boxes.

c. Containers of agricultural chemicals, except for empty paper containers

of agricultural chemicals (see Sections 204.9, 216, and 312).

204 AGRICULTURAL BURNING: Open outdoor fires:

204.1 To dispose of agribusiness waste, or

204.2 To dispose of agribusiness-related waste, or

204.3 For forest management, or

204.4 For range improvement, or

204.5 For the improvement of land for wildlife and game habitat, or

204.6 To prevent disease or pests (e.g., the burning of diseased crops or diseasecontaminated bee boxes), or

204.7 For irrigation system management, or

204.8 For wild land vegetation management, or

204.9 To dispose of empty paper containers of agricultural chemicals.

205 AGRICULTURAL BURNING PERMIT: A permit issued pursuant to Section 402 that

authorizes a permit holder to conduct agricultural burning.
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS

501-4 April 3, 1997

206 AGRICULTURAL BURNING PLAN: A document that:

206.1 Is required by the Agricultural Burning Guidelines in Title 17 of the California

Code of Regulations, and

206.2 Has been prepared by the Sacramento Valley Basinwide Air Pollution Control

Council, and

206.3 Has been approved by the State Board.

207 ALLOW AGRICULTURAL BURNING: For the purposes of this rule, a person shall be

deemed to have allowed agricultural burning if such burning:

207.1 Occurs on land under his or her control, e.g., owned or leased land, and

207.2 Is conducted by:

a. An employee, agent, licensee, or invitee of the person; or

b. Any other person on the land who has been given permission to conduct

agricultural burning by any individual identified in Subsection 207.2(a)

above.

208 APPROVED IGNITION DEVICE: Any instrument or material that will ignite agricultural

burning, where the instrument or material produces a flame, but does not produce black

smoke, and the flame is then used for ignition. This includes flares or burners fueled by

liquid petroleum gas, butane, or propane, or other similar instruments or materials

approved by the Air Pollution Control Officer. This does not include tires or tar-containing

materials.

209 DESIGNATED AGENCY: Any agency, including the District, designated by the State Board

as having authority to issue agricultural burning permits and special permits. For the

purposes of this section, the Air Pollution Control Officer shall act on behalf of the District.

210 FOREST MANAGEMENT: Forestry practices including:

210.1 The removal of forest debris, or

210.2 Timber operations, silviculture, or forest protection practices. 

211 IMMINENT AND SUBSTANTIAL ECONOMIC LOSS: The loss of a planting season or

irreparable harm to a crop.

212 IRRIGATION SYSTEM: A system, including river levees, for the delivery of water for the

following purposes:

212.1 Agribusiness, or

212.2 Forest management, or

212.3 Range improvement, or

212.4 The improvement of land for wildlife and game habitat.

213 IRRIGATION SYSTEM MANAGEMENT: The operation and maintenance of an irrigation

system, including, but not limited to, disease and pest prevention, weed abatement, and

levee maintenance.

214 NO-BURN DAY: Any day on which agricultural burning is prohibited by the State Board

or the Air Pollution Control Officer.

215 OPEN OUTDOOR FIRE: Any combustion of combustible material of any type that occurs

outdoors and is not in any enclosure. In addition, the products of such combustion are not

directed through a flue.

216 PAPER CONTAINERS OF AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS: Sacks or other receptacles

that are:

216.1 Made predominantly of paper; and

216.2 Manufactured to contain pesticides, fertilizers, or toxic substances; and

216.3 Emptied and used in the field for purposes intimately related to the growing and

harvesting of crops.
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS

April 3, 1997 501-5

217 PERMIT HOLDER: A person who has applied for and received from the designated

agency approval or conditional approval of an agricultural burning permit or a special

permit. 

218 PERMISSIVE BURN DAY: Any day other than a no-burn day.

219 POPULATED AREA: Any territory in the District that is within:

219.1 An incorporated city; or

219.2 An area where sewerage is collected through a sewer system and treated by

either:

a. A governmental agency, such as the Sacramento Regional County

Sanitation District, or

b. A community association.

220 PRESCRIBED BURNING: The planned application of fire to vegetation on lands

selected in advance of such application, where any of the purposes of the burning are

specified in the definition of agricultural burning in Section 204.

221 PRE-TREATED: Felled, cut, crushed, uprooted, desiccated with herbicides, or dead.

222 RANGE IMPROVEMENT: The removal of vegetation for a wildlife, game, or livestock

habitat improvement; or for the initial establishment of an agricultural practice on

previously uncultivated land.

223 SENSITIVE RECEPTOR: A school, day care facility, hospital, health care facility,

convalescent home, senior residence facility, park, or similar land use identified by the Air

Pollution Control Officer.

224 SPECIAL PERMIT: An agricultural burning permit issued pursuant to Section 402 that

authorizes agricultural burning (pursuant to Sections 304.1, 305.5, 306.5, or 310.2) not

otherwise authorized by this rule or by the State Board.

225 STATE BOARD: The California Air Resources Board or any person authorized to act on

its behalf.

226 TIMBER OPERATIONS: The cutting or removal of timber or other forest vegetation.

227 WILD LAND VEGETATION MANAGEMENT: The use of prescribed burning conducted

by a public agency, or through a cooperative agreement or contract involving a public

agency, to burn land predominantly covered with chaparral (as defined in Title 14,

California Code of Regulations, Section 1561.1), trees, grass, or standing brush.

300 STANDARDS

301 BURNING PROHIBITION ON NO-BURN DAYS: A person shall not ignite, conduct, or

allow agricultural burning on a no-burn day, except as authorized by Section 304 or 312.2.

302 BURNING PERMIT REQUIREMENT:

302.1 On either a permissive burn day or a no-burn day, a person shall not ignite,

conduct, or allow agricultural burning without first obtaining approval, pursuant to

Section 402, of:

a. A special permit—for the types of agricultural burning required to have a

special permit by Section 304.1, 305.5, 306.5, or 310.2; or

b. An agricultural burning permit—for all other types of agricultural burning

not specifically required by this rule to have a special permit.

Such person, or his/her representative, shall have the permit available for

inspection at the burn site during the burning operation authorized by the permit.
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS

501-6 April 3, 1997

302.2 A person shall not burn any material that is not clearly described in the permit

authorizing the burn.

302.3 Except as otherwise provided by this rule, neither an approved agricultural

burning permit nor an approved special permit shall:

a. Be valid for any time period when agricultural burning is prohibited by

either the State Board or the Air Pollution Control Officer, or

b. Authorize agricultural burning that has been restricted by the Air Pollution

Control Officer pursuant to Section 305.2, or

c. Exempt a permit holder or any other person from any:

1. Fire control or prevention statute, rule, or regulation; or

2. Prohibition of agricultural burning by a public fire control agency.

d. Exempt a permit holder or any other person from public nuisance laws

and regulations.

303 PERMIT CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL: Any person who ignites, conducts, or allows

agricultural burning shall comply with the conditions of approval set forth in the agricultural

burning permit or the special permit authorizing the burn.

304 AGRICULTURAL BURNING ON A NO-BURN DAY:

304.1 Notwithstanding the permit statement required by Section 403, a person may

ignite, conduct, or allow agricultural burning on a no-burn day if:

a. The designated agency determines that denial of permission to burn

would pose imminent and substantial economic loss, as defined in

Section 211, and

b. The designated agency approves or conditionally approves a special

permit authorizing such burning on a no-burn day.

304.2 In authorizing such burning, the designated agency:

a. Shall limit the amount of acreage that may be burned in any one day, and

b. Shall only authorize such burning when any downwind populated areas

are forecast by the District, or the District’s designated agent, to achieve

the State and federal ambient air quality standards.

305 STANDARDS FOR ALL TYPES OF AGRICULTURAL BURNING: Except as indicated,

the following requirements pertain to all types of agricultural burning identified in Section

204:

305.1 ACREAGE ALLOTMENT: The acreage within the District that is available for

agricultural burning on permissive burn days is, and shall not exceed, the acreage

allotment determined pursuant to the Agricultural Burning Plan.

305.2 PERMISSIVE BURN DAY RESTRICTIONS: Relative to permissive burn days,

the Air Pollution Control Officer may restrict agricultural burning to less than the

State-allotted acreage identified in Section 305.1 or may declare a no-burn day in

all or part of the District if:

a. Meteorological conditions would:

1. Cause an undue amount of emissions from agricultural burning to

be transported to a sensitive receptor or into a populated area, or

2. Cause agricultural burning to be a nuisance prohibited by Rule

402—NUISANCE; or

b. In conjunction with present or predicted meteorology, agricultural burning

on a permissive burn day could cause or contribute to a violation of a

State or federal ambient air quality standard—including the State visibility

standard and a State or federal particulate matter standard.

305.3 WIND DIRECTION: No person shall ignite, conduct, or allow agricultural burning

when the wind direction is such that smoke from the burn will cause or does

cause a nuisance prohibited by Rule 402—NUISANCE.

305.4 CONTACT FOR PERMISSION TO BURN: No permit holder shall ignite,

conduct, or allow agricultural burning unless, prior to the burn, on the same day

as the burn, the permit holder:
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS

April 3, 1997 501-7

a. Contacts both the designated agency and the fire protection agency

having jurisdiction over the burn location.

b. Provides the following information to both agencies:

1. The number of the permit authorizing the burn,

2. The location of the proposed burn,

3. The type of material to be burned,

4. The acreage or tonnage to be burned,

5. The length of time the material to be burned has been drying,

and

6. The time of the proposed burn.

c. Requests and receives verbal permission to conduct the burn from both

agencies.

305.5 IGNITION REQUIREMENTS: Except as otherwise directed by the fire protection

agency having jurisdiction:

a. Agricultural burning shall be:

1. Ignited with an approved ignition device, as defined in Section

208, and

2. Ignited as rapidly as practicable.

b. Field crop stubble, including rice, barley, oat, and wheat straw, shall be

ignited only by the following methods, as defined in the Agricultural

Burning Plan:

1. strip-firing into the wind, or

2. backfiring.

c. Ignition methods other than those specified in paragraph (b) of Section

305.5 may be authorized by special permit:

1. When and where a public fire protection agency has declared

that an extreme fire hazard exists, or

2. Where the designated agency has determined that the crops do

not lend themselves to strip-firing into the wind or backfiring.

305.6 IGNITION HOURS:

a. Except as provided in Subsections (b), (c), (d), or (e) of this Section

305.6, a person shall not ignite agricultural burning:

1. Earlier than 10:00 AM.

2. Later than 5:00 PM (or one hour prior to sunset, whichever is

earlier).

b. From September 15 through November 30, a person shall not ignite

agricultural burning earlier than 10:00 AM or later than 3:00 PM.

c. A fire protection agency may modify these ignition hours for fire safety

purposes.

d. The Air Pollution Control Officer may modify these ignition hours if:

1. Meteorological conditions would:

a) Cause an undue amount of emissions from agricultural

burning to be transported to a sensitive receptor or into a

populated area, or

b) Cause agricultural burning to be a nuisance prohibited by

Rule 402—NUISANCE; or

2. In conjunction with present or predicted meteorology, agricultural

burning on a permissive burn day could cause or contribute to a

violation of a State or federal ambient air quality standard—

including the State visibility standard and a State or federal

particulate matter standard.

e. The Air Pollution Control Officer may modify these ignition hours in

accordance with the Agricultural Burning Plan.

305.7 PROHIBITED MATERIALS: None of the following materials shall ever be burned

as part of any type of agricultural burning:
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS

501-8 April 3, 1997

a. Plastic; rubber; synthetic rubber; ornamental or landscape vegetation;

shop wastes; construction material; demolition debris; garbage; rubbish;

oil filters; tires; tar, tar paper, or other tar-containing materials; petroleum

waste; flammable liquid waste; livestock bedding; metal; or motor

vehicles.

b. Any material used for packing or processing agricultural products

including, but not limited to, broken boxes, pallets, packaging material, or

packing boxes.

c. Containers of agricultural chemicals, except for empty paper containers

of agricultural chemicals (see Sections 204.9, 216, and 312).

306 SPECIFIC STANDARDS FOR BURNING AGRIBUSINESS WASTE AND

AGRIBUSINESS-RELATED WASTE:

306.1 ARRANGEMENT OF WASTE: A person shall not ignite, conduct, or allow

agricultural burning to dispose of either agribusiness waste or agribusinessrelated waste unless the waste is physically arranged to burn with a minimum of

smoke.

306.2 DRYING TIME: The minimum drying time prior to burning agribusiness waste or

agribusiness-related waste shall be:

Type of Material to Be Burned

Minimum Drying Period

Prior to Burning

Trees, tree stumps, and large branches greater than

6 inches in diameter 6 weeks

Prunings and small branches less than or equal to 6

inches in diameter, vines, or bushes 3 weeks

Dry grass and dry cereal stubble or straw—other

than rice straw 0 days

Post-harvest rice straw that has been spread 3 days

Post-harvest rice straw that has been rowed 10 days

Post-harvest rice straw that passes the crackle test in

Section 306.3 0 days

Post-harvest spread or rowed rice straw at the end of

a rain greater than 0.15 inches

As much time as is

necessary for the straw to

pass the crackle test in

Section 306.3.

Residue from field crops cut in a green condition 3 days

Other materials or burning for disease and pest

prevention

As much time as the

designated agency

determines is necessary to

assure rapid and complete

combustion with a

minimum of smoke.

306.3 CRACKLE TEST: To check the moisture content of rice straw in a rice straw

field proposed for burning, a permit holder shall select a composite sample of rice

straw from under the mat, in the center of the mat, and from different areas in the

field. The sample size from each area shall be a handful of rice straw. Rice

straw shall be dry enough to burn—i.e., it shall pass the “crackle test”—if each

such handful-sized sample from the field makes an audible crackle when bent

sharply.
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS

April 3, 1997 501-9

306.4 MECHANICAL RICE STRAW SPREADERS VS. ROWS: Pursuant to the

Agricultural Burning Guidelines in Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations, a

mechanical spreader shall be used in rice harvesting to ensure an even

distribution of the straw. However, rice straw may be left in rows provided it

meets the drying criteria in Section 306.2 prior to being burned.

306.5 FIELD CROP BURNING DURING THE FALL RICE STRAW BURNING

PERIOD: During the period of October 1 through November 15 of each year, a

person shall not burn field crop acreage, other than rice straw acreage, that was

harvested prior to September 10, unless the person obtains approval of a special

permit for, and prior to, the burn, pursuant to Section 402. In approving the

special permit, the designated agency shall:

a. Ensure that the amount of acreage which is to be burned is in the

District's allotment specified in Section 305.1.

b. Require a specific explanation in writing of the agricultural practices that

require immediate burning.

c. Require the person to specify in writing why the burning was not

conducted prior to October 1.

d. Require the exception to be valid only on permissive burn days.

306.6 NORTHWEST SACRAMENTO: On days when the Air Pollution Control Officer

or the affected fire protection agency predicts that winds will be from any direction

within 90 degrees of true north, no person shall ignite, conduct, or allow the

burning of either agribusiness waste or agribusiness-related waste in the

northwest Sacramento area having the following boundary:

Commencing at a point where the Sacramento and American Rivers

merge; then north along the Sacramento River to the point where

the river intersects the Sacramento-Sutter County borderline; then

east along said Sacramento-Sutter County borderline to a point

 where said line intersects the main railroad line of the Western

Pacific Railroad, which line runs north from the City of Sacramento

to Sutter County; then south along said railroad line to a point where

intersection is made with the city limits of the City of Sacramento;

then easterly and southerly along such city limits to their intersection

with the American River; then west along the American River to the

point of beginning.

306.7 NORTHWEST SACRAMENTO BURNING EXCEPTION: The designated agency

may authorize a permit holder to ignite, conduct, or allow the burning prohibited by

Section 306.6 if the burning is verbally authorized pursuant to Section 305.4, and:

a. Is necessary to preclude hazards on public thoroughfares or at airports

due to smoke, or

b. Can be performed without causing a nuisance prohibited by Rule 402—

NUISANCE.

306.8 PROHIBITED MATERIALS: A person conducting agricultural burning to dispose

of agribusiness waste or agribusiness-related waste:

a. Shall burn only agribusiness waste or agribusiness-related waste, and

b. Shall burn only those materials that are reasonably free of excessive dirt,

soil, and visible surface moisture.

306.9 ON-SITE BURNING REQUIRED: All agricultural burning to dispose of

agribusiness waste or agribusiness-related waste must occur on the property

where the material being burned was grown, raised, or, in the case of

agribusiness-related waste, used.

307 SPECIFIC STANDARDS FOR FOREST MANAGEMENT BURNING:

307.1 Waste materials to be burned in a forest management burn shall be dried for a

minimum period specified by the designated agency.

307.2 Waste to be burned shall be windrowed or piled where possible, unless good

silvicultural practice dictates otherwise.

307.3 Piled waste shall be prepared so that it will burn with a minimum of smoke.

307.4 Piled waste shall be reasonably free of dirt and soil.
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS

501-10 April 3, 1997

308 SPECIFIC STANDARDS FOR RANGE IMPROVEMENT BURNING: Range

improvement burning shall be authorized as follows:

308.1 Brush shall be pre-treated at least 6 months prior to the burn if economically and

technically feasible.

308.2 All unwanted trees over six (6) inches in diameter shall be felled and allowed to

dry at least 6 weeks prior to the burn.

308.3 The Department of Fish and Game may specify the amount of treatment required,

provided the burn is for wildlife habitat improvement.

309 SPECIFIC STANDARD FOR BURNING TO IMPROVE LAND FOR WILDLIFE AND

GAME HABITAT: If agricultural burning is done primarily to improve land for wildlife

habitat or game habitat, the permit holder shall file with the designated agency a statement

from the Department of Fish and Game certifying that the burn is desirable and proper.

310 SPECIFIC STANDARDS FOR IRRIGATION SYSTEM MANAGEMENT BURNING:

310.1 The burn area of any agricultural burning undertaken to facilitate the operation or

maintenance of an irrigation system shall be free of the materials listed in Section

203.2.

310.2 A person shall not ignite, conduct, or allow agricultural burning to facilitate the

operation or maintenance of an irrigation system without first obtaining approval,

pursuant to Section 402, of a special permit for the burn, if the burn is to occur

either:

a. During the period of October 1 through November 15 of each year, or

b. Within a populated area.

311 SPECIFIC STANDARDS FOR WILD LAND VEGETATION MANAGEMENT BURNING:

 Open outdoor fires undertaken to facilitate wild land vegetation management shall comply

with the following wild land vegetation management burning requirements:

311.1 Vegetation to be burned shall be in a condition that will facilitate combustion and

minimize the amount of smoke emitted during combustion.

311.2 For wild land vegetation management burning projects exceeding 10 acres in

size, or for wild land vegetation management burning projects situated in the zone

described in Section 306.6, the following information—in addition to the

information set forth in the burning permit application —shall be provided to the

designated agency for review and approval 30 days in advance of the proposed

burning:

a. The location and specific objectives of the burn project;

b. The acreage or tonnage, type and arrangement of wild land vegetation to

be burned;

c. The directions and distances to nearby sensitive receptor areas;

d. The fuel condition, combustion, and meteorological prescription elements

developed for the burn;

e. The projected schedule and duration of project ignition, combustion, and

burn down;

f. The specifications for monitoring and verifying critical project parameters;

and

g. The specifications for disseminating project information—i.e., notification

of the public, the designated agency, the fire protection agency having

jurisdiction, and other affected agencies of the time, date, location, and

acreage of the proposed burn.

312 SPECIFIC STANDARDS FOR BURNING EMPTY PAPER CONTAINERS OF

AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS:

312.1 No open outdoor fires for the disposal of paper containers of agricultural

chemicals shall occur unless:

a. Such burning is conducted where the containers are emptied in the field,

and
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS

April 3, 1997 501-11

b. Such burning will not create a nuisance prohibited by Rule 402—

NUISANCE, and

c. The containers have been emptied according to the California

Environmental Protection Agency’s Department of Pesticide Regulation’s

Guidelines for Emptying and Burning of Pesticide Bags, as amended

from time to time, and

d. The containers are burned according to the California Environmental

Protection Agency’s Department of Pesticide Regulation’s Guidelines for

Emptying and Burning of Pesticide Bags, as amended from time to time;

and

312.2 Provided the requirements of Section 312.1 are met, open outdoor fires for the

disposal of empty paper containers of agricultural chemicals may occur on either:

a. A permissive burn day, or

b. A no-burn day, notwithstanding the permit statement required by Section

403.

400 ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS

401 PERMIT APPLICATION INFORMATION: Persons applying for either an agricultural

burning permit or a special permit required by this rule shall provide the following

information to the designated agency:

401.1 The applicant’s name, address, and telephone number; and

401.2 The location of the proposed burn; and

401.3 The acreage (for field crops) or estimated tonnage of material to be burned; and

401.4 The nature of the waste to be burned.

402 BURNING PERMITS:

402.1 The designated agency may approve, or may conditionally approve, an

agricultural burning permit or a special permit if:

a. The proposal described in the permit application will, in fact, be

agricultural burning.

b. The designated agency has reasonable cause to believe that the permit

applicant will comply with the terms of the permit; this rule; and other

laws, regulations, and State guidelines governing agricultural burning.

402.2 An agricultural burning permit that has been approved pursuant to Section 402.1

shall:

a. Be valid—except as otherwise specified by this rule—through the next

June 30 following the date of such approval.

b. Authorize agricultural burning only at the location for which the permit is

approved or conditionally approved.

402.3 A special permit that has been approved pursuant to Section 402.1 shall:

a. Set forth the special conditions (if any) under which the requested activity

shall occur.

b. Authorize only one occasion of agricultural burning only at the location for

which the special permit is approved.

403 PERMIT STATEMENT: The District’s agricultural burning permit form or special permit

form shall contain the following statement: "Except as otherwise specified by the

Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District’s Rule 501—AGRICULTURAL

BURNING, this permit is valid only on those days during which agricultural burning is not

prohibited by the California Air Resources Board or by the Air Pollution Control Officer of

the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District.”

404 REQUEST FOR ADVANCE NOTICE:

404.1 Pursuant to paragraphs (c), (d), and (e) of Section 80110, Title 17 of the

California Code of Regulations, the permit holder for a range improvement burn,

forest management burn, or wild land vegetation management burn, may ask the

State Board to:
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS

501-12 April 3, 1997

a. Issue a 72-hour outlook for a permissive burn/no-burn.

b. Provide advance (up to 48 hours) daily notices of a permissive burn/noburn.

404.2 The permit holder shall make this request:

a. Through the designated agency.

b. Seven days prior to the proposed burn.

405 PERMIT SUSPENSION/REVOCATION: A permit approved pursuant to this rule may be

suspended or revoked in accordance with the same provisions as those for stationary

sources in Division 26, Part 4, Chapter 4, Article 1, of the California Health and Safety

Code. 

406 FORWARDING PERMIT INFORMATION: A designated agency shall forward the permit

information received from applicants to the Air Pollution Control Officer upon request.

407 FIRE PROTECTION AGENCY MANDATES: All agricultural burning authorized pursuant

to this rule shall be subject to any requirements, restrictions, or prohibitions of the fire

protection agency having jurisdiction over the burn site.