Hazard Assessment Flashcards
How soon must abatement be completed following assessment?
6-12 months depending on proximity to local gov’t area
How often must assessments be conducted after anthropogenic disturbance?
every 3 - 6 months following completion, depending on proximity to local gov’t area.
Who regulates the open burning smoke control regulation?
The ministry of environment
What is the purpose of the open burning smoke control regulation?
- minimize impacts of smoke from open burning
- fires must meet any conditions set by local government bylaws.
- must not have negative impact on residents
- no burning of prohibited materials
What kind of fires does the open burning smoke control apply to
- land clearing
- silviculture
- forestry
- wildlife habitat enhancement
- domestic range improvement
What are the requirements of the O.B.S.C.R?
- burn only vegetative matter on the same site from which the material was gathers.
- do not burn prohibited materials or substances that emit dense smoke/noxious odours
- Must be more than 100m from neighbouring residences or businesses.
- More than 500m from a hospital, care facility or school in session
- Ensure smoke does not impose visibility hazards at airports or highways
- Ensure ventilation index is “good” on the day you start and “fair” on the following day
- Ensure satisfactory control and feeding of the fire, and make sure adequate equipment and staff are available to ensure regulatory limits are met
- Follow additional category a and b restrictions
What are the category A restrictions?
- Near major communities
- burning must be extinguished within 72 hours of ignition
- minimum 15 days between burns on the same parcel of land
- only four burns per year on the same parcel of land
What are the category B conditions?
- all areas that are not category A
- smoke release periods must not exceed 96 hours
- after 96 hours if smoke is released by more than 5% of the debris, the pile must be scattered so that it will stop burning
- after 96 hours the debris scattered from the burn piles can be re piled to start a new 96 hour smoke release period.
What are potential impacts of not being able to burn?
- accumulation of unabated fuel
- Potential for costly and damaging unwanted wildfires
- More difficult planning, due to slash impeding reforestation
- increased brush competition (causing regeneration delays)
- Increased pest infestation (Voles that damage seedlings like slash piles)
What are smoke management plans?
- Plans that can be developed to permit burning that would not be allowed under OBSCR
- must be approved by wildfire management branch
- must contain acceptable alternative strategies for smoke control
What is the difference between a hazard assessment and a risk assessment?
Hazard: assessment of fuel conditions
Risk: assessment of the likelihood of ignition sources
