Ariz. Admin. Code § 18-2-1505

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 49, December 6, 2024

Section R18-2-1505 - Prescribed Burn Requests and Authorization

A. Each F/SLM planning a prescribed burn, shall complete and submit to ADEQ the "Daily Burn Request" form supplied by ADEQ for each day the F/SLM will complete ignitions. The Daily Burn Request form shall include:

1. The contact information of the F/SLM conducting the burn;

2. Acknowledgement that a qualified Prescribed Fire Burn Boss is conducting the burn;

3. Date of the ignition;

4. The area to be burned on the day for which the Burn Request is submitted, with reference to the Burn Plan, including size, legal location to the section, and latitude and longitude to the minute;

5. Projected smoke impacts; and

6. Any local conditions or circumstances known to the F/ SLM that, could impact the Daily Burn Authorization Process or the burn.

B. After consultation and upon request by ADEQ, the F/SLM shall provide additional information related to the burn or any ongoing prescribed fires or wildfires such as: reports, digital photographs, meteorological, smoke dispersion, or air quality conditions to supplement the Daily Burn Request form and to aid in the Daily Burn Authorization Process. F/SLM may coordinate with ADEQ prior to submitting a Daily Burn Request to discuss potential air quality impacts or other concerns.

C. The F/SLM shall submit the Daily Burn Request form to ADEQ as expeditiously as practicable, but no later than 2:00 p.m. of the business day preceding the burn.

D. An F/SLM shall not ignite a prescribed burn without receiving the approval of ADEQ, as follows:

1. ADEQ shall only approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove a burn on the business day before the burn is to take place.

2. If ADEQ ails to address a Burn Request by 10:00 p.m. the business day before the burn is to take place the Burn Request is approved by default after the burner makes a good faith effort to contact ADEQ to confirm that the Burn Request was received by exhausting available methods of communication, which may include contracting the ADEQ smoke management team directly, as well as the main number for the ADEQ air quality division, and leaving voicemails if there is no response.

3. ADEQ may communicate its decision by verbal, written, or electronic means. ADEQ shall provide a written or electronic reply if requested by the F/SLM.

E. If weather conditions cease to conform to those in the smoke management prescription of either the Burn Plan or any conditions on the approval of the applicable Burn Request, the F/SLM shall take appropriate action to reduce further smoke impacts, ensure safe and appropriate fire mitigation, and notify the public as per the requirements established by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group or F/SLM equivalent. The F/SLM may modify the smoke management prescription in the Burn Plan after consultation with ADEQ. A F/SLM conducting a burn shall contact ADEQ if there is any change in the burn conditions that ceases to conform with the Burn Plan and could cause negative impacts to smoke sensitive areas and communicate what areas of the submitted smoke management prescription in the Burn Plan need to be modified.

F. The F/SLM shall ensure that there is industry-standard signage and notification to protect public safety on transportation corridors including roadways and airports during a prescribed fire.

Ariz. Admin. Code § R18-2-1505

Adopted effective October 8, 1996 (Supp. 96-4). Amended by final rulemaking at 10 A.A.R. 388, effective March 16, 2004 (Supp. 04-1). Amended by final rulemaking at 29 A.A.R. 1427, effective 8/7/2023.