Willamette Valley Field Burning Rule Revisions 

On June 29, 2009, the Oregon Legislature adopted Senate Bill 528. This bill will prohibit general open field burning in the Willamette Valley starting in 2010. Special hardship or emergency burning of up to 2,000 acres per year can be authorized by the Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) to address "disease outbreak or insect infestation." Also under the bill, identified species and steep terrain burning is reduced from a maximum of 25,000 to 15,000 acres per year. Other restrictions on stack burning and propane flaming allow this burning to continue at very low levels until 2013, and then none thereafter. Other provisions in SB 528 double the registration and burn fees, and also give the EQC the authority to prohibit burning in "critical non-burn areas" where there are power transmission lines or other similar concerns.

DEQ, along with the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), is currently developing rulemaking to adopt the provisions in SB 528, by revising the administrative rules that regulate field burning and related burning in the Willamette Valley. An advisory committee meeting was held on December 15, 2009 to review the proposed rule changes by both agencies. DEQ plans to seek public comment on the proposed rulemaking in April 2010, with two public hearings in Eugene-Springfield and Salem. After the public comment period, DEQ will prepare a response to all comments received and may modify the proposed rules. The final proposed rulemaking is expected to be presented to the EQC for adoption in August 2010. For further information, see the DEQ Proposed Rulemaking Announcement and other documents below.

Proposed Rulemaking Documents (coming March 2010)

• DEQ Proposed Rulemaking Announcement of Field Burning
• Proposed revisions to DEQ Field Burning Division 266 Rules
• Proposed revisions to ODA Field Burning Division 603 Rules
• DEQ Fiscal and Economic Impact Statement
• DEQ Land Use Evaluation Statement
• DEQ Relationship to Federal Requirements

More Information

• DEQ and ODA Field Burning Advisory Committee Agenda
• Field Burning Advisory Committee Meeting Summary
• Senate Bill 528 as adopted June 29, 2009
• DEQ Field Burning Fact Sheet 2007
• ODA Field Burning Rulemaking

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