Alabama Administrative Code Chapter 390-X-6 — Prescribed Burning Certification and Prescription

390 Alabama Forestry Commission

Ala. Admin. Code r. 390-X-6-.01 Training Required For Certification

A training program has been established to meet the training requirements of the Alabama Prescribed Burning Act. In order to be certified, candidates must complete a training course sponsored or approved by the Alabama Forestry Commission and apply for certification within two years of completing the training course. This course will include discussion of fire behavior, burning methods, safety, planning, smoke screening and Alabama fire laws.

History

• Author: John Goff
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §9-13-270, et seq.
• New Rule: Filed April 15, 1996; effective May 20, 1996. Amended: Filed October 15, 2003; effective November 19, 2003. Amended: Filed May 19, 2015; effective June 23, 2015.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 390-X-6-.02 Equivalent Or Prior Training

Training equivalent to the courses outlined and taught by qualified instructors will be accepted as meeting the training requirements. The determination as to the acceptability of any particular training will be made by the Alabama Forestry Commission or its designee.

History

• Author: John Goff
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §9-13-270, et seq.
• New Rule: Filed April 15, 1996; effective May 20, 1996. Amended: Filed May 19, 2015; effective June 23, 2015.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 390-X-6-.03 Certification Process

(1) Application. Submit an Application for Prescribed Burn Manager Certification (FC-18A) along with proof of training completed within the past two years and a non-refundable processing fee to:

Alabama Forestry Commission Attn: Prescribe Burn Certification Program P.O. Box 302550 Montgomery, AL 36130-2550

(2) Certification Term. Prescribed Burn Manager Certifications will have a five (5) year term, requiring renewal prior to the expiration of that term. Each certified prescribed burn manager (CPBM) must, over that five year period, earn six (6) hours of continuing education credit directly related to prescribed burning. A CPBM’s five (5) year term will be defined from the date that he/she becomes certified until September 30 of the fifth year from that date. (Example: John Doe becomes certified on July 15, 2014. He will be required to earn six (6) continuing education credits prior to October 1, 2019.) Burn managers who do not meet this standard and apply for recertification pursuant to Rule 390-X-6-.04 will have their certifications expire.

History

• Author: John Goff
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §9-13-270, et seq.
• New Rule: Filed April 15, 1996; effective May 20, 1996. Amended: Filed October 15, 2003; effective November 19, 2003. Amended: Filed May 19, 2015; effective June 23, 2015.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 390-X-6-.04 Recertification Process

Submit an Application for Prescribed Burn Manager Certification (FC-18B) proof of continuing education accomplishment, and a non-refundable processing fee to:

Alabama Forestry Commission Attn: CPBM Program P.O. Box 302550 Montgomery, AL 36130-2550

(a) In the event that a certified prescribed burn manager meets his/her continuing education requirement but fails to apply for recertification by his/her renewal date, he/she will be allowed a grace period of one (1) year to apply for recertification.

(b) Certifications that have not been renewed within one (1) year of the expiration date will be considered nonrenewable and the burn manager must begin the process again by meeting the educational requirements for initial certification and reapplying for CPBM status.

(c) Continuing education credits must be earned before the certification expires to be applicable for recertification purposes. Any continuing education credits earned after a certification expires will not be considered for meeting the educational requirements for recertification.

History

• Author: John Goff
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §9-13-270, et seq.
• New Rule: Filed May 19, 2015; effective June 23, 2015.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 390-X-6-.05 Training And Certification Fees

The State Forester shall annually set the fees to be charged by the Alabama Forestry Commission that year for training and certification of prescribed burn managers. Such fees shall not exceed the following:

$300 For initial 32-hour CPBM training (including certification processing fee)

$200 For 6-hour CPBM continuing education training (including recertification processing fee)

$100 Certification or recertification processing fee (if CPBM training is not received through the Alabama Forestry Commission)

History

• Author: Scott L. Rouse
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§9-3-9, 9-13-273 (c),(d).
• New Rule: Filed April 15, 1996; effective May 20, 1996. Amended: Filed October 15, 2003; effective November 19, 2003. Repealed and New Rule: Filed May 19, 2015; effective June 23, 2015. Repealed and New Rule: Filed May 19, 2015; effective June 23, 2015.
• Editor's note: Rule .04 was renumbered .05 as precertification filed May 19, 2015 effective June 23, 2015.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 390-X-6-.06 Minimum Standards For Prescribed Burning Plans

(1) Personal Information to include:

(a) Name of property owner

(b) Owner’s mailing address

(c) Owner’s phone number

(d) Same information on individual preparing the plan and/or executing the burn

(e) Prescribed burn manager certification number

(2) Description of area to be burned to include:

(a) County

(b) Section, township, range

(c) Acres to be burned

(d) Type and size of overstory

(e) Type and size of understory

(f) Fuel type and amount

(g) Topography

(3) Purpose of burn

(4) Pre-burn information to include:

(a) Needed manpower and equipment

(b) Firing techniques to be used

(c) List of areas around site that could be adversely impacted by smoke from burn (as determined by the publication “A Smoke Screening System for Prescribed Fires in Alabama.”)

(d) Special precautions taken

(5) Range of desired weather information to include:

(a) Surface wind speed and direction

(b) Minimum and maximum relative humidity

(c) Maximum temperature

(d) Transport wind speed and direction

(e) Minimum mixing height

(f) Dispersion index

(6) Starting time and completion of ignition

(7) Sketch of area to be burned

(8) Signature of Burn Manager, dated and notarized or witnessed

(9) Burn Permit Number

History

• Author: Alabama Forestry Commission
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §9-13-270, et seq.
• New Rule: Filed April 15, 1996; effective May 20, 1996. Amended: Filed October 15, 2003; effective November 19, 2003. Repealed and New Rule: Filed May 19, 2015; effective June 23, 2015.
• Editor's note: Rule .05 was renumbered .06 as precertification filed May 19, 2015 effective June 23, 2015.