ARTICLE TOOLS

E-mail story

Comments

Printer friendly version

iPod friendly version

Share This

Text Size: A A A A

Hamilton County: Permits required for fall burning

By: Adam Crisp
(Contact)

Included in this article

Amber McCorvie

In a sign that fall soon will rob the trees of leaves, the Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau again is allowing countywide yard waste burning — with permits and pretty hefty fees in some areas.

The summer ban on burning ended Tuesday, and permits will be granted beginning today. Permit applications will be available through April 30.

Burning within the county’s 10 municipalities requires a $50 fee and an inspection of the burning site before a permit will be issued, said Amber McCorvie, a bureau spokeswoman.

Burning outside city limits has a $5 fee and usually does not require an inspection, she said.

“Seasonal burning has been a really effective way to reduce air pollution here and in other communities,” Ms. McCorvie said. “Pollution levels are higher in the summer, and burning puts a lot unnecessary pollutants into the air.”

Ms. McCorvie said long summer days and the intense summer sun trap pollutants and form low-level ozone that often complicates breathing for those with compromised respiratory systems.

The burning prohibitions began in 2005 to reduce air pollution in the region. The American Lung Association still gave the county an F on its annual listing of city-by-city air quality reports this spring.

The Air Pollution Control Bureau would prefer that local residents not burn trash at all, opting to compost or drop off unwanted wood at Chattanooga’s wood recycling facility on Amnicola Highway, Ms. McCorvie said.

To curb burning, the bureau requires steeper penalties in the city, where yard refuse collection is available, she said.

On top of the pollution control board fees and applications, beginning Oct. 15, burning in the unincorporated areas of Hamilton County also will require a permit from the state Division of Forestry if the burning is within 500 feet of woods, grasslands or forests, said Robert Rhinehart, assistant district forester.

Dry fall months bring an increased risk for wildfires, he said. Even though this summer wasn’t as dry as those in years past, Mr. Rhinehart said foresters are watching the conditions closely.

“We’re having a few fires every week, usually from miscellaneous causes like sparks from equipment,” Mr. Rhinehart said. “It’s not been a real problem yet ... but we are starting to be more concerned since we haven’t had enough periodic rainfall in September.”

Comments