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.

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.

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.

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S&H Logging (Stroupe Family Farm)	Application withdrawn	24800 NE Boones Ferry Rd, Aurora, OR 97002 14711 SE Wallace Rd, Dayton, OR 97114​		RA Summary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

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

 

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.