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Umatilla County narrows burn ban to allow limited agricultural field burning under smoke rules
Summary
After discussing smoke-management rules and existing ordinances, commissioners carved an exception into the county burn ban to allow farmers to burn under the county’s smoke-management and burn-day requirements.
The Umatilla County Board of Commissioners directed staff to allow limited agricultural field burning under existing smoke-management and burning-ordinance rules at its July 22 administrative meeting.
County staff said the board had adopted a countywide burn ban effective July 1 that included an agricultural burn prohibition. Following a request from a caller and discussion of the ordinances, the board moved to adopt a modification that would permit farmers to burn field residue provided they comply with other requirements in the county’s smoke-management and burning ordinances.
One commissioner noted the need to clarify the county code to reflect the carve-out and emphasized that any allowed burning would still require compliance with applicable smoke-management rules and burn-day schedules. “I think if you're gonna make an exception, make it clear that they still have to comply with any other requirements in the ordinance, which would be burning on a burn day,” the commissioner said.
The motion to allow farmers to burn within the limitations of the smoke-management and burning ordinances was moved, seconded and approved by the board. The transcript does not show a listed ordinance number or a specific amendment text; staff indicated further work would be done on the ordinance language.
The board’s modification applies only within the county jurisdiction; the transcript does not indicate changes to state rules or the involvement of state agencies.
