N.M. Code R. § 20.11.21.19 Emissions Reduction Techniques

• Library: New Mexico Administrative Code
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current through Register Vol. 34, No. 24, December 19, 2023
• Citation: N.M. Code R. § 20.11.21.19
• Year: 2023

Emissions reductions techniques (ERTs) are control strategies that help reduce smoke from prescribed fires. ERTs are used in conjunction with fire and do not replace fire. In addition to department-approved ERTs, other ERTs are included below.

A. Reducing the area burned.

(1) Burn concentrations - Sometimes concentrations of fuels can be burned rather than using fire on 100 percent of an area requiring treatment. The fuel loading of the areas burned using this technique tends to be high.

(2) Isolate fuels - Large logs, snags, deep pockets of duff, sawdust piles, squirrel middens or other fuel concentrations that have the potential to smolder for long periods of time can be isolated from burning. Eliminating these fuels from burning is often faster, safer and less costly than mop-up, and allows targeted fuels to remain following the prescribed burn. This can be accomplished by several techniques including (a) constructing a fireline around fuels of concern; (b) not lighting individual or concentrated fuels; (c) using natural barriers or snow; (d) scattering the fuels; and (e) spraying with foam or other fire retardant material.

(3) Mosaic burning - Landscapes often contain a variety of fuel types that are noncontinuous and vary in fuel moisture content. Prescribed fire prescriptions and lighting patterns can be assigned to use this fuel and fuel moisture non-homogeneity to mimic natural wildfire and create patches of burned and non-burned areas or burn only selected fuels. Areas or fuels that do not burn do not contribute to emissions.

B. Mechanical treatments - Mechanically removing fuels from a site reduces emissions proportionally to the amount of fuel removed. Treatments may include but are not limited to the following methods.

(1) Firewood sales - Firewood sales may result in sufficient removal of woody debris making on site burning unnecessary. This technique is particularly effective for piled material where the public has easy access.

(2) Whole tree harvesting - Whole trees can be removed through harvesting or thinning techniques and virtually eliminate the need for burning.

(3) Mulch/chips - Mechanical processing of dead and live vegetation into wood chips or shredded biomass is effective in reducing emissions if the material...