For the purpose of these rules and the rules in 567-Chapters 20 through 35, the following terms shall, unless otherwise noted, have the meaning indicated in this rule. The definitions set out in Iowa Code sections 455B.101, 455B.131, and 455B.411 are incorporated verbatim in these rules.
"Backyard burning" means the disposal of residential waste by open burning on the premises of the property where such waste is generated.
"Garbage" means all solid and semisolid putrescible and nonputrescible animal and vegetable wastes resulting from the handling, preparing, cooking, storing and serving of food or of material intended for use as food but excluding recognized industrial by-products.
"Landscape waste" means any vegetable or plant wastes except garbage. The term includes trees, tree trimmings, branches, stumps, brush, weeds, leaves, grass, shrubbery and yard trimmings.
"Open burning" means any burning of combustible materials where the products of combustion are emitted into the open air without passing through a chimney or stack.
"Refuse" means garbage, rubbish and all other putrescible and nonputrescible wastes, except sewage and water-carried trade wastes.
"Residential waste" means any refuse generated on the premises as a result of residential activities. The term includes landscape waste grown on the premises or deposited thereon by the elements, but excludes garbage, tires, trade wastes, and any locally recyclable goods or plastics.
"Rubbish" means all waste materials of nonputrescible nature.
"Trade waste" means any refuse resulting from the prosecution of any trade, business, industry, commercial venture (including farming and ranching), or utility or service activity, and any governmental or institutional activity, whether or not for profit.
(1)Prohibition. No person shall allow, cause or permit open burning of combustible materials, except as provided in 23.2(2) and 23.2(3).(2)Variances from rules. Any person wishing to conduct open burning of materials not exempted in 23.2(3) may make application for a variance as specified in 567-subrule 21.2(1). In addition to requiring the information specified under 567-subrule 21.2(1), the director may require any person applying for a variance from the open burning rules to submit adequate documentation to allow the director to assess whether granting the variance will hinder attainment or maintenance of a National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS).(3)Exemptions. The open burning exemptions specified in this subrule do not provide exemptions from any other applicable environmental regulations. In particular, the exemptions contained in this subrule do not absolve any person from compliance with the rules for solid waste disposal, including ash disposal, and solid waste permitting contained in 567-Chapters 100 through 130 or the rules for storm water runoff and storm water permitting contained in 567-Chapters 60 and 64. The following exemptions apply unless prohibited by local ordinances or regulations, except that the exemptions for open burning of trees and tree trimming (23.2(3)"b"), landscape waste (23.2(3)"d"), residential waste (23.2(3)"f"), agricultural structures (23.2(3)"i"), and demolished buildings (23.2(3)"j") are unavailable within the cities of Cedar Rapids, Marion, Hiawatha, Council Bluffs, Carter Lake, Des Moines, West Des Moines, Clive, Windsor Heights, Urbandale, and Pleasant Hill. a.Disaster rubbish. The open burning of rubbish, including landscape waste, for the duration of the community disaster period in cases where an officially declared emergency condition exists. Burning of any structures or demolished structures shall be conducted in accordance with 40 CFR Section 61.145 as amended through January 16, 1991, which is the "Standard for Demolition and Renovation" of the asbestos National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants.b.Trees and tree trimmings. The open burning of trees and tree trimmings not originated on the premises provided that the burning site is operated by a local governmental entity, the burning site is fenced and access is controlled, burning is conducted on a regularly scheduled basis and is supervised at all times, burning is conducted only when weather conditions are favorable with respect to surrounding property, and the burning site is limited to areas at least one-quarter mile from any inhabited building unless a written waiver in the form of an affidavit is submitted by the owner of the building to the department and to the local governmental entity prior to the first instance of open burning at the site which occurs after November 13, 1996. The written waiver shall become effective only upon recording in the office of the recorder of deeds of the county in which the inhabited building is located. However, when the open burning of trees and tree trimmings causes air pollution as defined in Iowa Code section 455B.131(3), the department may take appropriate action to secure relocation of the burning operation. Rubber tires shall not be used to ignite trees and tree trimmings. This exemption shall not apply within the area classified as the PM10 (inhalable) particulate Group II area of Mason City. This Group II area is described as follows: the area in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, in Lincoln Township including Sections 13, 24 and 25; in Lime Creek Township including Sections 18, 19, 20, 21, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35; in Mason Township the W 1/2 of Section 1, Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, the N 1/2 of Section 11, the NW 1/4 of Section 12, the N 1/2 of Section 16, the N 1/2 of Section 17 and the portions of Sections 10 and 15 north and west of the line from U.S. Highway 18 south on Kentucky Avenue to 9th Street SE; thence west on 9th Street SE to the Minneapolis and St. Louis railroad tracks; thence south on Minneapolis and St. Louis railroad tracks to 19th Street SE; thence west on 19th Street SE to the section line between Sections 15 and 16.
c.Flare stacks. The open burning or flaring of waste gases, providing such open burning or flaring is conducted in compliance with 23.3(2)"d" and 23.3(3)"e."d.Landscape waste. The disposal by open burning of landscape waste originating on the premises. However, the burning of landscape waste produced in clearing, grubbing and construction operations shall be limited to areas located at least one-fourth mile from any building inhabited by other than the landowner or tenant conducting the open burning. Rubber tires shall not be used to ignite landscape waste.e.Recreational fires. Open fires for cooking, heating, recreation and ceremonies, provided they comply with 23.3(2)"d." Burning rubber tires is prohibited from this activity.f.Residential waste. Backyard burning of residential waste at dwellings of four-family units or less. The adoption of more restrictive ordinances or regulations of a governing body of the political subdivision, relating to control of backyard burning, shall not be precluded by these rules.g.Training fires. For purposes of 23.2(3), a "training fire" is a fire set for the purposes of conducting bona fide training of public or industrial employees in firefighting methods. For purposes of this paragraph, "bona fide training" means training that is conducted according to the National Fire Protection Association 1403 Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions (2002 Edition) or a comparable training fire standard. A training fire may be conducted, provided that all of the following conditions are met: (1) A training fire on a building is conducted with the building structurally intact.(2) The training fire does not include the controlled burn of a demolished building.(3) If the training fire is to be conducted on a building, written notification is provided to the department on DNR Form 542-8010, Notification of an Iowa Training Fire-Demolition or a Controlled Burn of a Demolished Building, and is postmarked or delivered to the director at least ten working days before such action commences.(4) Notification shall be made in accordance with 40 CFR Section 61.145, "Standard for Demolition and Renovation" of the asbestos National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) as amended through January 16, 1991.(5) All asbestos-containing materials shall be removed prior to the training fire.(6) Asphalt roofing may be burned in the training fire only if notification to the director contains testing results indicating that none of the layers of asphalt roofing contain asbestos. During each calendar year, each fire department may conduct no more than two training fires on buildings where asphalt roofing has not been removed, provided that for each of those training fires the asphalt roofing material present has been tested to ensure that it does not contain asbestos. Each fire department's limit on the burning of asphalt roofing shall include both training fires and the controlled burning of a demolished building, as specified in 23.2(3)"j."(7) Rubber tires shall not be burned during a training fire.h.Paper or plastic pesticide containers and seed corn bags. The disposal by open burning of paper or plastic pesticide containers (except those formerly containing organic forms of beryllium, selenium, mercury, lead, cadmium or arsenic) and seed corn bags resulting from farming activities occurring on the premises. Such open burning shall be limited to areas located at least one-fourth mile from any building inhabited by other than the landowner or tenant conducting the open burning, livestock area, wildlife area, or water source. The amount of paper or plastic pesticide containers and seed corn bags that can be disposed of by open burning shall not exceed one day's accumulation or 50 pounds, whichever is less. However, when the burning of paper or plastic pesticide containers or seed corn bags causes a nuisance, the director may take action to secure relocation of the burning operation. Since the concentration levels of pesticide combustion products near the fire may be hazardous, the person conducting the open burning should take precautions to avoid inhalation of the pesticide combustion products.i.Agricultural structures. The open burning of agricultural structures, provided that the open burning occurs on the premises and, for agricultural structures located within a city or town, at least one-fourth mile from any building inhabited by a person other than the landowner, a tenant, or an employee of the landowner or tenant conducting the open burning unless a written waiver in the form of an affidavit is submitted by the owner of the building to the department prior to the open burning; all chemicals and asphalt roofing are removed; burning is conducted only when weather conditions are favorable with respect to surrounding property; and permission from the local fire chief is secured in advance of the burning. Rubber tires shall not be used to ignite agricultural structures. The asbestos National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) as amended through January 16, 1991, requires the burning of agricultural structures to be conducted in accordance with 40 CFR Section 61.145, "Standard for Demolition and Renovation." For the purposes of this subrule, "agricultural structures" means barns, machine sheds, storage cribs, animal confinement buildings, and homes located on the premises and used in conjunction with crop production, livestock or poultry raising and feeding operations. "Agricultural structures," for asbestos NESHAP purposes, includes all of the above, with the exception of a single residential structure on the premises having four or fewer dwelling units, which has been used only for residential purposes.
j.Controlled burning of a demolished building. A city, as "city" is defined in Iowa Code section 362.2(4), with approval of its council, as "council" is defined in Iowa Code section 362.2(8), may conduct a controlled burn of a demolished building. A city is the only party that may conduct such a burn and is responsible for ensuring that all of the following conditions are met: (1) Prohibition. The controlled burning of a demolished building is prohibited within the city limits of Cedar Rapids, Marion, Hiawatha, Council Bluffs, Carter Lake, Des Moines, West Des Moines, Clive, Windsor Heights, Urbandale, Pleasant Hill, Buffalo, Davenport, Mason City or any other area where area-specific state implementation plans require the control of particulate matter.(2) Notification requirements. For each building proposed to be burned, the city fire department or a city official, on behalf of the city, shall submit to the department a completed notification postmarked at least 10 working days prior to commencing demolition and at least 30 days before the proposed controlled burn commences. Documentation of city council approval shall be submitted with the notification. Information required to be provided shall include the exact location of the burn site; the approximate distance to the nearest neighboring residence or business; the method used by the city to notify nearby residents of the proposed burn; an explanation of why alternative methods of demolition debris management are not being used; and information required by 40 CFR Section 61.145, "Standard for Demolition and Renovation" of the asbestos National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), as amended through January 16, 1991. Notification shall be provided on DNR Form 542-8010, Notification of an Iowa Training Fire-Demolition or a Controlled Burn of a Demolished Building. For burns conducted outside the city limits, the city shall send to the chairperson of the applicable county board a copy of the completed DNR notification Form 542-8010 and documentation of city council approval. Notification to the county board shall be postmarked, faxed or sent by email at least 30 days before the proposed controlled burn commences.(3) Asbestos removal requirements. All asbestos-containing materials shall be removed before the building to be burned is demolished. The department may require proof that any applicable inspection, notification, removal and demolition occurred, or will occur, in accordance with 40 CFR Section 61.145, "Standard for Demolition and Renovation" of the asbestos NESHAP, as amended through January 16, 1991.(4) Requirements for asphalt roofing. During each calendar year, each city shall conduct no more than two controlled burns of a demolished building in which asphalt roofing has not been removed, provided that for each controlled burn of a demolished building the asphalt roofing material present has been tested to ensure that it does not contain asbestos. Each city's limit on the burning of asphalt roofing shall include both the controlled burning of a demolished building and training fires, as specified in 23.2(3)"g."(5) Building size limit. For each proposed controlled burn located within the city limits, more than one demolished building may be included in the burn, provided that the sum total of all building material to be burned at a designated site does not exceed 1,700 square feet in size. For a controlled burn site located outside the city limits, the sum total of all building material to be burned, per day, may not exceed 1,700 square feet in size. For purposes of this subparagraph, "square feet" includes both finished and unfinished basements and excludes unfinished attics, carports, attached garages, and porches that are not protected from weather.(6) Time of day requirements. The controlled burning of a demolished building may be conducted only between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. and only when weather conditions are favorable with respect to surrounding property. The city shall adequately schedule and sufficiently control the burn to ensure that burning is completed by 6 p.m.(7) Prohibited materials. Rubber tires, chemicals, furniture, carpeting, household appliances, vinyl products (such as flooring or siding), trade waste, garbage, rubbish, landscape waste, residential waste, and other nonstructural materials shall not be burned.(8) Limits on the number and location of burns. For burns conducted within the city limits, each city may undertake no more than one controlled burn of demolished building material in every 0.6-mile-radius circle during each calendar year. For burn sites established outside the city limits, each city shall undertake no more than one controlled burn of demolished building material per day. A burn site outside the city limits must be located at least 0.6 of a mile from any building inhabited by a person, as "person" is defined in Iowa Code section 362.2(17).(9) Requirements for burn access and supervision. The city shall control access to all demolished building burn sites. Representatives of the city who are city employees or who are hired by the city shall supervise the burning of demolished building material at all times.(10) Recordkeeping requirements. The city shall retain at least one copy of all notifications and supplementary information required to be sent to the department under 23.2(3)"j"(2). Additionally, the city shall maintain a map of the exact location of each burn site and supporting documentation showing the date of each demolished building burn and the square feet of building material burned on each date. All maps, notifications and associated records shall be maintained by the city clerk, as "clerk" is defined in Iowa Code section 362.2(7), for a period of at least three years and shall be made available for inspection by the department upon request.(11) Variance from this paragraph. In accordance with 567-subrules 21.2(1) and 23.2(2), a city may apply for a variance from the specific conditions for controlled burning of a demolished building and may request that the director conduct a review of the ambient air impacts of the request. The director shall approve or deny the request in accordance with 567-subrule 21.2(4).(12) Compliance with other applicable environmental regulations. Compliance with the exemption requirements in this paragraph shall not absolve a city of the responsibility to comply with any other applicable environmental regulations. In particular, a city conducting a controlled burn of a demolished building shall comply with all applicable solid waste disposal, including ash disposal, and solid waste permitting rules contained in 567-Chapters 100 through 130, as well as all applicable storm water discharge and storm water permitting rules contained in 567-Chapters 60 and 64.Iowa Admin. Code r. 567-23.2
Adopted by IAB May 15, 2024/Volume XLVI, Number 24, effective 6/19/2024