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Divisions > Air Resources > Programs/Bureaus/Units > Non-Permitted Sources of Air Pollution >

Open Burning/Non-Permitted Sources of Air Pollution

In general, activities and/or sources of air pollution that do not require a specific air permit from DES include open burning, wood stoves, fireplaces, outdoor wood-fired boilers, and the generation of fugitive dust. "Open burning" means the burning of any type of combustible material in the open, where smoke and other emissions are released directly to the air. During open burning, air pollutants do not pass through a stack, chimney, or flue. Open burning of some types of material is only allowed in New Hampshire under certain conditions. more …

Hot Topics

• Clean Burning Woodstoves
• Construction & Demolition Debris – Ban on Burning Wood Components (House Bill 428 of the 2007 Session)
• Keene Woodstove Changeout Campaign
• Law Regulating Outdoor Wood Boilers (House Bill 1405 of the 2008 Session) is Effective August 10, 2008

Publications (Complete List)

• Open Burning of Residential Trash (Fact Sheet ARD-33)
• Outdoor Wood-Fired Boilers and Air Quality (Fact Sheet ARD-40)
• Q & A on the Burning of Construction & Demolition Debris (Fact Sheet CO-20)
• Residential Trash Burning (DES brochure)
• Wood Stoves and Air Pollution (Fact Sheet ARD-36)
• Your Old Wood Stove’s Dirty Little Secrets

Rules/Regulatory

• Env-A 1000: Prevention, Abatement and Control of Open Source Air Pollution
• House Bill 427 (passed in 2007) Defines Construction and Demolition Debris and Certified Waste-Derived Products
• House Bill 428 (passed in 2007) Prohibits the Combustion of the Wood Component of Construction and Demolition Debris
• House Bill 1405 (passed in 2008) – Regulates Outdoor Wood-Fired Hydronic Heaters (Outdoor Wood Boilers)
• RSA 125-C:10-c, Combustion Ban, effective January 1, 2008, Prohibits the Combustion of Untreated Wood from the Construction or Demolition of a Structure

Education/Outreach

• Information about local and state actions to address Outdoor Wood Boilers in the Northeast, including model regulations, can be found at www.nescaum.org/topics/outdoor-hydronic-heaters
• Residential Trash Burning (Sample Flyer)
• Residential Trash Burning (DES brochure)
• Trash Burning Public Service Announcement for television (print version )
• Trash Burning Public Service Announcement for radio (print version )
• Trash Burning Public Service Announcement for print
• What’s In That Smoke?

Technical Assistance

• For information on alternatives to backyard burning (proper solid waste management, recycling, composting, etc.), contact the Solid Waste Technical Assistance Program or call your local town office.

Training

• Forest Fire Protection Information

Forms/Applications

• Asbestos notification form
• Live Fire Instruction and Training Notification Form ARD-1003

Permits

• NH Division of Forest and Lands – Fire Permits

Related Programs

• Air Toxic Pollutants
• Asbestos Management
• Particle Pollution (Particulate Matter)
• Regional Haze
• Solid Waste Recycling & Technical Assistance

Resources/Links (Complete List)

• Assessment of Outdoor Wood-Fired Boilers (NESCAUM)
• EPA Backyard Burning web site
• EPA Burnwise

Contact Us

• Tom Guertin
  Senior Compliance Assessment Specialist
  NHDES Air Resources Division
  29 Hazen Drive; PO Box 95
  Concord, NH 03302-0095
  (603) 271-1370
  (603) 271-1381 (fax)
  thomas.guertin@des.nh.gov

NH Department of Environmental Services | 29 Hazen Drive | PO Box 95 | Concord, NH 03302-0095
(603) 271-3503 | TDD Access: Relay NH 1-800-735-2964 | Hours: M-F, 8am-4pm