North Okanagan Air Quality Program
There are many environmental
issues in the world today, but here in the Okanagan Valley,
air quality has become a priority.
Air Quality is a direct determinant of our
quality of life in the North Okanagan. Our health and the
economy are directly influenced by Air Quality, which is
why it is an issue being addressed.
Air pollutants affect the health and well
being of all residents. Health risks associated with poor,
or degraded, Air Quality can range from minor irritations
to serious health problems. Furthermore, beyond health problems,
air pollution can affect vegetation, crop values and tourism.
Reports from the British Columbia Ministry
of Water, Land, and Air Protection have shown that there
are periods of poor air quality in the North Okanagan.
Concerns over Air Quality resulted in
the implementation of four (4) Air Quality monitoring stations
within the region. These stations produce information that
is being used for development of policies and actions to
improve air quality.
Monitoring Data:
Reports from the British Columbia Ministry
of Water Land and Air Protection show that there are periods
of poor air quality in the North Okanagan.
Monitoring data
is available online at:
wlapwww.gov.bc.ca:8000/pls/aqiis/air.summary?date_of=&time_zone=PST&station_id=E249492
Conclusions from this data, as determined
by British Columbia Ministry of Water Land and Air Protection,
are that air quality is an issue that needs addressing and
that pollution in the North Okanagan is attributable primarily
to two sources:
Open Burning Bylaws:
Before you burn, please take a look at
the burning Bylaw applicable to the area in which you live:
Areas B and C
North
Okanagan Regional District Burning Bylaw -
100Kb 
Vernon
Fire
Prevention Bylaw #4476 - 90Kb
Coldstream
Fire
Department and Fire Prevention Bylaw #1520
- 2.16MB
Armstrong
Fire
Prevention Bylaw #929 - 2.3MB
Fire
Prevention Bylaw #1193 Amendment
- 15Kb
Fire Prevention Bylaw #1390 Amendment
- 30Kb
Information for other areas will
be added soon.
The Ministry of Water, Land and Air
Protection also provides a Guide
to the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulations.
In British Columbia burning
on farm land (145Kb )
is regulated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries
but administered by the Regional District. (Please refer
to the Regional District of North Okanagan Burning
Bylaws for guidelines).
Initiatives to Date:
Many tools exist to manage Air Quality
and include, but are not limited to: regulations, permits,
fees and fines, emissions guidelines, air quality monitoring,
emission inventories, modeling, development of objectives
and standards, public education, legislation, and the creation
and implementation of air pollution reduction initiatives.
Initiatives generally focus on either a source of pollution
(point, area, or mobile), or a facet of the Air Quality
Management Planning process.
Key elements to successful air quality initiatives
are cooperative involvement between stakeholders and public
support.
Residents in the BX/Swan Lake Fire Protection Area must obtain a Permit from the RDNO office (9848 Aberdeen Road) to open burn, in accordance with the Regional District of North Okanagan Burning Bylaw - 30Kb PDF
- Open Burning Permit - 40Kb PDF
Complete and bring to RDNO Office to receive your permit number.
Soon you will be able to obtain these permits on line, but until this is available, the only option is to visit the RDNO office Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m and 4:30 p.m. up to one week before the burning season (March 15 - April 30 and November 1 - 15). There is no cost for this permit.
Links:
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