As the spring/summer open burning season begins March 1 the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is reminding those who conduct burning that only clean, untreated wood and plant material can be burned. Materials prohibited from open burning include, but are not limited to; food wastes, plastics, wood that has been coated, painted, stained, or treated, dead animals or animal droppings, rubber materials, chemicals, asphalt shingles, tar paper, pathogenic or hazardous wastes, and standing or demolished structures containing prohibited materials.
The DEQ recommends contacting county health departments before open burning to determine whether any county level air quality related requirements exist, specifically in Lewis and Clark, Missoula, Lincoln, Flathead and Yellowstone counties.
Regardless of location, all burners should contact local fire control authorities prior to open burning (during any time of the year) to obtain information on local fire safety related requirements, and to notify appropriate authorities of the location and timeframe of the burns.
Air quality related open burning rules are outlined in the Administrative Rules of Montana, Title 17, Section 8, Subchapter 6. The spring/summer open burning season ends August 31. For more information on air quality related open burning rules, open burning seasons, and state level permit requirements, please visit DEQ’s open burning webpage at http://deq.mt.gov/AirQuality/airOpenBrn.mcpx.
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