Program Management Branch - Smoke Management

The purpose of the Nevada Smoke Management Program is to coordinate and facilitate the statewide management of prescribed outdoor burning in the state of Nevada. This program is designed to meet the requirements of NRS445B.100 through 445B.845, inclusive which deal with air pollution, and the requirements of the EPA Interim Air Quality Policy on Wildland and Prescribed Fires (May 1998).

The Smoke Management Program Plan details the applicability of the program and responsibilities of affected parties. It provides information on permit requirements for those land managers using prescribed fire and wildland fire use as a land management tool. It also includes information on air quality monitoring at prescribed fires, burner qualifications, and emission reduction methods.

This program in no way supersedes the authority of local governments to regulate and control smoke and air pollution under NRS 244.361 and NRS 268.410 or the authority of the state forester to regulate controlled fires under NRS 527.122 through 527.128.

View the Complete Smoke Management Program Plan

Appendices from the Smoke Management Plan:

• Appendix 1 -- Open Burn Permit Application and Instruction Sheet (Revised 9/05)
  
• Appendix 2 -- List of western state and Nevada Tribal Lands contacts (Revised 6/01)
  
• Appendix 3 -- Applicable State and Local Statutes and Regulations
  
• Appendix 4 -- State of Nevada Annual Fire Activity Data Report form
  

The Nevada Handbook for Agricultural Open Burning is available for downloading. (10 Pages, 540KB)

Information on Backyard Burning. The pollution caused by open garbage burning endangers public health and ecosystems. It damages not only the air quality, but also the soil and water – in your own backyard. This page provides information on the pollutants released by burning barrels, the dangers of backyard burning and lists a few alternatives to burning barrels. There are links to information on woodsmoke, burning barrels and an US EPA report on the emissions from burning barrels.