Open Burning FAQs
What is the open burning smoke control regulation and how does it apply to my burn?
Since 1993, emissions from the open burning of land clearing debris have been regulated by the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation (OBSCR). The intent of the regulation is to reduce smoke emissions and impacts without requiring an Air Emission Permit from the Ministry of Environment.
What is the venting index and where do I obtain information for my area?
The ventilation index is a measure of the atmosphere's ability to disperse pollution. A ventilation index of '0' implies no ability of the atmosphere to disperse pollutants (smoke) while a value of '100' implies an excellent ability to disperse pollutants. The ventilation index is formed by multiplying the mixed layer height by the average wind speed in this mixed layer. Stronger wind speeds and thicker mixed layers will produce higher ventilation index values. For convenience, the actual numbers are converted to a scale of 0 to 100.
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