COLUSA COUNTY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT

REGULATION VI - AGRICULTURAL BURNING

RULE 6.7 - RICE STUBBLE AND STRAW BURNING

a. RICE STRAW BURNING

1. All rice harvesting shall employ a mechanical straw spreader to insure even distribution of the straw with the following exception:

   A. Rice straw may be left in rows provided it meets drying time criteria prior to a burn as described in subsection b., of this rule.
   

b. DRYING TIME

1. After Harvest

   A. No spread rice straw shall be burned prior to a three (3) day drying period.

   B. No rowed rice straw shall be burned prior to a ten (10) day drying period.

   C. Subsections a., and b., above do not apply if the rice straw makes an audible crackle when tested just prior to burning with the testing method described in subsection c., of this rule.

2. After a Rain

   A. After a rain exceeding 0.15 inches (fifteen hundredths of an inch), rice straw shall not be burned unless the straw makes an audible crackle when tested just prior to burning with the testing method described in subsection c., of this rule.
   

c. TESTING PROCEDURES TO DETERMINE STRAW DRYNESS

1. When checking the field for moisture, a composite sample of straw from under the mat, in the center of the mat and from different areas of the field shall be taken to insure a representative sample. A handful of straw from each area will give a good indication. Rice straw is dry enough to burn if a handful of straw selected as described above cracks when it is bent sharply.