Georgia Burn Ban Ends Sept 30
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9/8/09 Georgia’s annual air quality ban on outdoor burning,
mostly in the northern half of Georgia, will end at midnight on
September 30, 2009. The annual restrictions have been in place
since May 1st in 54 counties statewide. Burn permits can be
obtained from the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) beginning
October 1st.
“The Georgia Environmental Protection Division puts this ban
in place to comply with Federal Clean Air Regulations,” said
Alan Dozier, Chief of Forest Protection for the Georgia Forestry
Commission. “Ozone levels increase to unhealthy levels in
summer,” he said. “Most types of open burning are
restricted during the ban in an effort to manage the summertime
surge in ozone levels.” The following counties are affected by the 2009 burn ban:
Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Bibb, Butts, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga,
Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Columbia, Coweta, Crawford,
Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Fulton,
Gordon, Gwinnett, Hall, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Houston,
Jackson, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Lumpkin, Madison, Meriwether,
Monroe, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Paulding, Peach, Pickens, Pike,
Polk, Putnam, Richmond, Rockdale, Spalding, Troup, Twiggs,
Upson, Walker, and Walton. The outdoor burning ban is under the jurisdiction of the
Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Environmental
Protection Division (EPD), Air Protection Branch. The GFC operates an on-line burn permit system at
1-877-OK2-BURN. The phone system informs callers by county
whether or not they can burn, depending on specific conditions
in their area. Residents may also call their county GFC office
for more information or visit GaTrees.org. |
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