CURRENT STATUS of PRESCRIBED BURNING in TEXAS D

CURRENT STATUS of PRESCRIBED BURNING in TEXAS D. Lynn Drawe, Ph. D. Chairman, Texas Prescribed Burn Board

OUTDOOR BURNING IN TEXAS n All burning in Texas is conducted under exemptions of TCEQ rules for outdoor burning as put forth in their bulletin RG-049 (August 2007).

Texas Prescribed Burning Coalition: Legislative success This is the original coalition that started the process at Kerrville in 1996. Prescribed Burning Bill HB 2599 (9/1999) n States right of every Texas landowner to burn on their property n n Unfortunately, not a right-to-burn law Set up prescribed burn manager certification system

Certified Prescribed Burn Manager n n CPBM -- individual w/ a bona fide CPBM license issued by TDA Why become certified? n n n Commercial license - Burn commercially Private license - Burn on your own land Training in the use of prescribed fire Burn during burn ban (HB 3315) Landowner can conduct a PB w/o CPBM Landowner can conduct a PB w/o license

TEXAS PRESCRIBED BURN REGIONS 1. Panhandle Plains 2. Edwards Plateau & Trans. Pecos 3. Rolling Plains & Cross Timbers 4. East Texas Pineywoods 5. South Texas Plains & Coastal Marshes

CURRENT STATUS n n 24 Commercial CPBMs 36 Private CPBMs

Can CCt allow exemptions under burn ban? n n Yes There is no such thing as a burn permit in Texas (except for Coastal Marsh burning) HB 1080 (2001) exempts CPBMs under burn bans However, does not require CPBM under burn ban

W/o CPBM, who is responsible for insurance? n n n Landowner responsible for liability insurance for Prescribed Burn on their property Check farm/ranch insurance & be sure of coverage you have & conditions that apply Even w/ CPBM conducting burn, landowner should check own insurance coverage

RE-CERTIFICATION n n n n Every 2 years, contingent upon providing annual proof of ins Annual proof of insurance, on TDA/PBB form (available on website), due 12/31 annually $500 fee due w/ renewal CPBM must obtain 6 CFTs during 2 -yr certification period CFTs earned 3+yrs ago do not meet req Req to furnish evidence of CFTs implied by 4 TAC Secs. If CPBM does not provide evidence of CFTs, TDA/PBB would ask for them.

Texas Alliance of Prescribed Burn Associations (PAPBA) NEW ALLIANCE

NRCS-Conservation Innovation Grant n Goal: Increase prescribed fire use through a community-based alliance of burning associations, and integration of web-based technology, particularly for education and training.

Prescribed Burn Associations in Texas

Texas Alliance of Prescribed Burning Associations (TAPBA) 9 of the 11 PBAs were represented at San Angelo Wkshp in June 2011 n PBA Leadership unanimously supported idea to estab state-wide alliance n Benefits of alliance n Unified approach to increase use of prescribed fire & support landowners n

TAPBA Goals Promote fuel reduction & address wildfire prevention n Promote use of safe prescribed fire practices n Fire mitigation through use of prescribed fire to reduce risk to residential & commercial areas n Address long-term sustainability of prescribed fire uses across landscape n

TAPBA Website http: //pfire. tamu. edu – Alliance Header – Horizontal navigation – Picture rotator highlighting events. – Viewing and reporting of p -fire burns – Adding on-screen digitizing feature. – New and Events tab, archive/date stamp – Log-in page, access to other website features

Current TAPBA Status § A draft Constitution has been drafted and is in the process of being finalized. § PBAs have nominated members to serve on the TAPBA Steering Committee. § Four Work Groups were formed to address: – – Alliance Structure/Organization and Alliance Constitution and/or charter Finances Education and Training Umbrella Prescribed Fire Insurance § PBA Leadership will reconvene within the next two weeks to further discuss the establishment of the TAPBA.

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