air permit
Air Curtain Incinerators

What is an Air Curtain Incinerator?

Air curtain incinerators are devices that burn wood waste like trees and brush. ACIs have an insulated box to burn the wood waste and a fan powered by a diesel engine that blows a curtain of air over the box. Oregon uses ACIs for both wildfire cleanup and fire prevention efforts. ACIs are an alternative to traditional open burning and produce less harmful smoke and particulate matter.

There are two types of air curtain incinerators; one ACI produces biochar and the other produces ash. Both types of ACIs are powered by a diesel engine that must meet the cleanest Tier 4 engine standards available on the market. If you would like additional information, please contact Max@lrapa.org.

What is emitted from an ACI?

Compared to traditional outdoor burning of wood waste, air curtain incinerators emit lower levels of air pollutants including PM2.5 and NOx. ACIs burn more efficiently and produce significantly less smoke than traditional outdoor burning.

DEQ and LRAPA have created a list of authorized and prohibited materials for use in ACIs. Toxic air pollutants from ACIs come from the wood itself. The most concerning pollutants are metals like manganese. Manganese is naturally occurring in soil and is taken into the tree through the roots. The metals can be released into the air when the wood is burned. The emissions from the diesel engine that powers the fan are also assessed as part of an LRAPA air permit.

How does the Cleaner Air Oregon program estimate health risk?

In Oregon, facilities are required to evaluate the health risk from toxic air pollutants. To do this, facilities first estimate the types and amounts of toxic air pollutants emitted. Next, facilities determine the risk from those toxic air pollutants to adults and children living, working, or going to school nearby. This is done through dispersion modeling that estimates how much of a given pollutant a person nearby may breathe in based on distance, time and amount.

LRAPA compares the dispersion modeling estimates of risk with Oregon’s established health standards. If the facility’s risk is higher, LRAPA requires the facility to lower their emissions.

An ACI is operating near me. What can I expect?

If an ACI begins operating near you, you may see brief periods of smoke when the ACI first turns on and when the operators load new material. You may briefly smell burning wood. Noise from the device is limited to the diesel engine and blower fan. The vehicles used to load the ACI may also create noise.

The ACI should not be a constant source of heavy smoke. This may indicate that it’s not being operated properly.

ACIs Outside of Lane County

The following companies are currently permitted by DEQ or are applying to DEQ to operate in Oregon and outside of Lane County. See DEQ’s ACI webpage. If a company is listed as ‘portable’ and is permitted by DEQ, they must obtain a permit from LRAPA prior to moving into a new location in Lane County. 

 

Company Name Status Location(s) Permit or Public Notice Risk Assessment (RA) Link
Black Butte Ranch Permitted 13899 Bishops Cap, Sisters, OR 97759 Current Permit RA Summary
Elder Demolition Permitted Portable​ Current Permit RA Summary
S&H Logging (Stroupe Family Farm) Application withdrawn 24800 NE Boones Ferry Rd, Aurora, OR 97002

14711 SE Wallace Rd, Dayton, OR 97114​

  RA Summary
Valley Environmental Permitted Portable Current Permit RA Summary

ACIs in Lane County

The following companies are currently permitted by LRAPA or are applying to LRAPA to operate in Lane County. If a company is listed as ‘portable’ and is permitted by LRAPA, they must notify LRAPA prior to moving into a new location within Lane County.

Company Name Status Location(s) Permit or Public Notice Risk Assessment (RA) Link
Bureau of Land Management – Northwest Oregon District Office (BLM)  Permitted Portable Current Permit  Begins on .PDF pg 29
Valley Environmental dba VAE, LLC Permitted Portable Current Permit  Begins on .PDF pg 29

 

What Other Rules Apply to an ACI?

There are many safety protocols the operator of an ACI must follow to protect those nearby. The ACI can’t operate if the local fire department or Forest Service has banned burning, an air stagnation advisory is in place or the Air Quality Index is 100 or greater. The operators must be trained by a certified operator and they must follow all safety actions recommended by the manufacturer.

If you have concerns about the operation of an ACI near you, please contact LRAPA.

CURRENT AIR QUALITY

AIR QUALITY COMPLAINT

MONITORING

AIR TOXINS

LRAPA monitors air quality throughout Lane County with eight regulatory-grade monitors and over 90 commercial-grade air sensors. Air Quality Index values are updated hourly.

Find the current air quality, look up the closest monitor to you, and learn more about the Air Quality Index (AQI) on the Current Air Quality Page.

BURNING OVERVIEW

HOME WOOD HEATING

OUTDOOR BURNING

RECREATIONAL BURNING

LRAPA regulates the burning of wood and yard debris, known as “outdoor burning,” in Lane County. LRAPA also enforces home wood heating – such as fireplaces and wood stoves – opacity ordinances for the cities of Eugene, Springfield and Oakridge. Seasonal and daily restrictions can exist for both forms of burning. Check to see if there are any active burning curtailments in effect on the burning restrictions webpage.

PERMITTING OVERVIEW

CLEANER AIR OREGON

TITLE V

ACDP

GREENHOUSE GASES

ACTIVE AIR PERMITS

FORMS & RESOURCES

LRAPA is responsible for issuing air permits to commercial and industrial operations with emissions above a certain threshold. Check to see if your business needs a permit by following our 5-step guide on our Permitting Overview webpage.

ASBESTOS OVERVIEW

WILDFIRE CLEANUP & ASBESTOS

FORMS & RESOURCES

Asbestos is the name of a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals that are heat-resistant, strong and extremely durable. Asbestos has historically been used in over 4,000 building products because of these properties.

Asbestos can cause lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. There is no safe level of exposure to friable asbestos.

PUBLIC CALENDAR

PUBLICATIONS & REPORTS

SUBSCRIBE TO EMAIL UPDATES

LRAPA regularly solicits public comment on proposed agency actions such as rule changes, proposed air permits, and the agency’s annual budget. LRAPA also hosts monthly Board of Director and Citizen Advisory Committee meetings.

Learn more about these public comment window and public meetings on our News, Notices & Public Calendar webpage.

COMMUNITY CENTER

SUPPLEMENTAL ENV. PROJECTS

NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY

WILDFIRE SMOKE

PRESCRIBED BURNS

INDOOR AIR QUALITY

The physical environment is a crucial component of any individual’s health and well-being.  Every community needs access to safe air, land and water.  LRAPA has curated together a collation of topics commonly asked about by the community to provide information, important details, and connect interested community members with resources.

Explore the many topics of information on our Community Center webpage.

LRAPA OVERVIEW

PUBLIC OVERSIGHT

REGULATIONS & RULES

RECORDS REQUEST

PURCHASING & CONTRACTS

CAREERS

STAFF DIRECTORY

LRAPA is the local air authority responsible for monitoring Lane County’s air and administering programs that protect and improve air quality. LRAPA was founded in 1968 as an intergovernmental agreement between the cities of Springfield and Eugene. Today’s intergovernmental agreement includes Lane County and the cities of Cottage Grove, Eugene, Oakridge, and Springfield.