Air Quality

• U.S EPA Region 7 Air Program
• National Association of Clean Air Agencies
• Code of Federal Regulations – Title 40
• American Lung Association – State of the Air
• Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
• AirNow
• Centers for Disease Control – Air Pollution & Respiratory Health
• Burn Permit Application

Asthma is a disease in your body's airways, which are the paths that carry air to your lungs. Asthma causes the inside walls of the airways to be inflamed or swollen. When this happens, people have repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, or nighttime or early morning coughing.

Asthma symptoms may include coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, and trouble breathing. When people have only some coughing, wheezing, or trouble breathing, they call it having asthma symptoms, or an ‘asthma episode’, or an ‘asthma exacerbation’. When asthma symptoms keep getting worse or are suddenly very severe, it is an ‘asthma attack’. During an asthma episode or attack, the sides of the airways in your lungs swell, and the airways shrink. Less air gets in and out of your lungs, and mucus clogs up the airways even more. Severe asthma attacks can be life-threatening.

Things that cause asthma symptoms, episodes or attacks are called triggers. Triggers are everywhere. Both indoor and outdoor air can be full of asthma triggers. If you or a loved one has asthma, it's important to learn what triggers an asthma episode. You should also learn what steps you can take to reduce these triggers.  

Asthma is common among children and teens (about 1 in 10 have asthma), but anyone can get asthma - people of all ethnic groups, male and female, young and old, city dwellers and rural dwellers. In the United States, more than 20 million people have asthma. While no one knows for sure why some people develop asthma and others don't, we do know that it is a combination of your family history and your environment. Currently, there is no cure for asthma. Once you have asthma, you will have the disease for the rest of your life.  

While there is no cure for asthma, asthma can be controlled when patients and doctors work together using medicines and management of environmental triggers. If you have asthma, it is recommended that you:

• Work with your doctor to identify your asthma triggers.
• Ask your doctor to write your Asthma Action Plan.
• Remove or reduce your exposure to your known asthma triggers.
• Take daily medicines as written on your Asthma Action Plan. Know your asthma warning signs to catch an episode before it gets worse. Follow your Asthma Action Plan.
• If your asthma seems to be getting worse, see your doctor. You may need to adjust your Asthma Action Plan.  

The most dangerous indoor air pollutant is carbon monoxide, a byproduct of combustion. Indoor sources of carbon monoxide can include: unvented kerosene and gas space heaters; leaking chimneys and furnaces; back-drafting from furnaces, gas water heaters, wood stoves, and fireplaces; gas stoves; generators and other gasoline powered equipment; automobile exhaust from attached garages; and tobacco smoke. Even at low concentrations, carbon monoxide can cause fatigue in healthy people and chest pain in people with heart disease. At higher concentrations, it causes impaired vision and coordination; headaches; dizziness; confusion; nausea. It can also cause flu-like symptoms that clear up after leaving home. At very high concentrations, it can be fatal.

The Air Quality Program recommends that, if you have any gas-fired appliances in your home (water heater, furnace, stove, etc.), you install a carbon monoxide detector. The EPA recommends placing carbon monoxide detectors about 5 feet above the floor on every floor of your home, but the detector may be placed on the ceiling. Do not place the detector right next to or over a fireplace or flame-producing appliance. Keep the detector out of the way of pets and children. If installing only a single carbon monoxide detector, place it near the sleeping area of your home, and make certain the alarm is loud enough to wake you up.

The most common allergens found in indoor air include bacteria, viruses, pollen, dust, dust mites, pet dander, mold, mildew, and cockroach debris. While most healthy individuals will not experience any health impact from such pollutants, people with asthma or allergies may be especially sensitive to their presence.

By controlling the relative humidity level in a home, the growth of some sources of biological pollutants can be minimized. A relative humidity of 30-50% is generally recommended for homes. Standing water, water-damaged materials, or wet surfaces also serve as a breeding ground for molds, mildews, bacteria, and insects. House dust mites, the source of one of the most powerful biological allergens, grow in damp, warm environments.

The Air Quality Program recommends that individuals with asthma or allergies take a look at the ‘Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value’ or MERV rating of their home’s furnace and air conditioning filter. A higher MERV rating translates to a higher efficiency at removing small particles (like the allergens mentioned above) from the air. If you’re considering installation of a filter with a high MERV rating, consult a heating and air conditioning professional to find out if your home’s system is compatible with such filters. It is important to note that all filters, regardless of rating, require periodic cleaning and/or replacement to ensure proper function of the home’s ventilation system. Always follow the manufacturer's recommendations on maintenance and replacement.

Fumes released from certain paints, pesticides, cleaning chemicals, building materials and furnishings, solvents and adhesives associated with hobby activities, and even fumes from personal hygiene products can contribute to poor indoor air quality. While the pollution resulting from such activities is typically intermittent in nature, concentrations can become elevated if proper ventilation isn’t provided for. Always read and follow all label recommendations from the product manufacturer. If you experience any health-related issues when using such products, ventilate the area. If the issues persist, it may be advisable to evacuate the area until the pollutant levels are reduced.

‘Environmental tobacco smoke’ (ETS), also called ‘secondhand smoke’, is the combination of smoke given off by the burning end of a tobacco product and the smoke exhaled by the smoker. People around the smoker inhale this secondhand smoke in a process that is referred to as "involuntary smoking" or "passive smoking". Involuntary smoking is just as harmful as direct smoking, and there is NO safe level of ETS exposure. Secondhand smoke contains thousands of chemicals, several of which are known to known to cause cancer in humans or animals.

Individuals with asthma or other respiratory ailments can suffer very negative health impacts as a result of exposure to ETS.

The LLCHD’s Tobacco Prevention and Education Program can provide more information about the dangers associated with tobacco use, and resources to help current users quit. The Air Quality Program works with the Tobacco Prevention and Education Program to enforce the Lincoln Smoking Regulation Act and the Nebraska Clean Indoor Air Act, thereby reducing the public’s exposure to ETS in public places and places of employment.

• Dust that becomes airborne in such quantities and concentrations that it remains visible in the ambient air beyond the premises where it originates is referred to as ‘visible fugitive dust’.
• Article 2, Section 32 of the LLCAPCPRS(PDF, 31KB)  establishes that no person may cause or permit a building or its appurtenances or a road, or a driveway, or an open area to be constructed, used, repaired, or demolished without applying all such reasonable measures to prevent visible fugitive dust. In addition, no person may cause or permit the handling, transporting, or storage of any material in a manner which may allow visible fugitive dust.
• Any person who fails to comply with the requirements of the LLCAPCPRS or who fails to perform any duty imposed by the LLCAPCPRS shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 per day per violation.

Lincoln Municipal Code (LMC) Section 8.06.150 prohibits ‘air pollution nuisances’, defined as the emission or release of smoke, ashes, dust, dirt, grime, acids, fumes, gases, vapors, odors, or any other substances or combinations of substances that:

• Endanger or tend to endanger the health, comfort, safety, or welfare of the public;
• Is unreasonably offensive and objectionable to the public; or
• Cause unreasonable injury or damage to property or interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of property or normal conduct of business.

Any person convicted of creating an air pollution nuisance may be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not to exceed six months or by a fine of not to exceed $500.00 recoverable with costs, or both.

Lincoln Municipal Code (LMC) Section 8.06.140 as well as Section 12 of the Lancaster County Air Pollution Control Resolution establish that it is unlawful to burn any of the following materials:

• Any garbage or salvage material.
• Gasoline, diesel oil, heavy oil, solvents, or other flammable petroleum products.
• Treated wood of any kind including railroad ties, treated posts, utility poles, wood paneling and particle board.
• Plastic and items containing plastic of any kind.
• Rubber and asphalt products including rubber tires, roofing shingles, tar paper, asphalt siding and sheeting and items containing rubber or asphalt compounds.
• Any material being burned for the purpose of salvaging all or part of said material.
• Any other chemical material which produces highly toxic smoke or fumes which may endanger the public or firefighters called to extinguish the fire.

In addition, it is unlawful to conduct any open burning that:

• Permits smoke from the fire to travel onto any street, road or highway in such a way as to obscure the vision of any person operating a vehicle on that street, road or highway; or
• Permits smoke from the fire to travel onto a neighboring property, park or recreational area where it becomes a public nuisance to people who occupy the neighboring dwelling, business structure, or are using the park or recreational area.

Any person convicted of creating an air pollution nuisance may be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not to exceed six months or by a fine of not to exceed $500.00 recoverable with costs, or both.

Lincoln Municipal Code (LMC) Section 8.06.130, as well as the Lancaster County Air Pollution Control Resolution establish that it is unlawful to cause or permit odorous emissions from any source (though exemptions are provided for animal confinement and feeding operations).

Any person convicted of creating an air pollution nuisance may be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not to exceed six months or by a fine of not to exceed $500.00 recoverable with costs, or both.

Lincoln Municipal Code (LMC) Section 8.24.090 establishes that it is unlawful to cause or permit noise disturbances. There is a variety of noise standards based on the type of activity generating the noise.

Any person convicted of creating an noise disturbance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and may be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not to exceed six months or by a fine to be determined based on the nature and severity of the violation.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides a fire and smoke mapping service that tracks the locations of satellite-detected fires and smoke plumes. This resource helps provide an indicator of how local air quality might be impacted. Click here to open NOAA’s Hazard Mapping System.

The Air Quality Program has created some downloadable documents containing facts on open burning, as well as guidance on how to reduce air pollution from your indoor wood stove or fireplace. Those resources can be accessed using the following links:

• Backyard Fire Pits, Open Burning, and Public Health Nuisances(PDF, 80KB)
• Reduce Air Pollution From Your Wood Burning Stove or Fireplace(PDF, 352KB)

Whenever you burn something, the combustion process releases a variety of air pollutants, many of which can cause health problems. By definition smoke is toxic, since it contains hazardous air pollutants, which are chemical compounds that are known to be harmful to human health, and some of which can cause cancer.

Smoke also contains very fine particle pollution, which can damage lung tissue and lead to serious respiratory problems. Scientific studies have linked exposure to fine particles to difficulty in breathing, aggravated asthma, increased emergency room visits and hospital admissions, and, in some cases, premature deaths. Those most at risk are children, the elderly and people with heart problems or existing chronic respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema.

In addition to the prohibitions on ‘Burning of Prohibited Materials’ described above, most open burning is prohibited within the City of Lincoln. There are, however, some open burning activities that are legal, provided they do not cause an air pollution nuisance. Open burning activities that are allowed by the Lincoln Municipal Code (LMC) Section 8.06.140 include:

• Fires set in structures (grills and fireplaces) for cooking and warmth as provided by the Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department.
• Fires of less than eight cubic feet in size that are used for cooking or ceremonial purposes provided such fires comply with Lincoln Fire Codes.

Other open burning activities allowed under LMC Section 8.06.140 require that the person conducting the burning obtain an ‘open burning permit’ from the Air Quality Program. Those activities include:

• Fires of a size greater than eight cubic feet to be used for cooking or ceremonial purposes.
• Controlled fires set for the purpose of burning vegetation waste accumulated as a result of land clearance projects or as required by agricultural/botanical research programs.

Any person convicted of violating the open burning provisions of the Lincoln Municipal Code and/or the Lancaster County Air Pollution Control Resolution may be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not to exceed six months or by a fine of not to exceed $500.00 recoverable with costs, or both.

In addition to the prohibitions on ‘Burning of Prohibited Materials’ described above, Lincoln Municipal Code (LMC) Section 8.06.140, as well as Section 12 of the Lancaster County Air Pollution Control Resolution establish the following limitations on open burning outside of the City of Lincoln:

• Any refuse burned shall be indigenous to the property of the owner or person in lawful possession of the land.
• Any person conducting open burning for residential, rural residential, agricultural, and common-carrier right-of-way purposes must obtain an open burning permit from the Air Quality Program if the nearest neighboring (i.e. not on the same property) occupied dwelling, occupied business structure, school or other institution, park or recreational area is within 100 yards of the burn site. If the nearest neighboring (i.e. not on the same property) occupied dwelling, occupied business structure, school or other institution, park or recreational area is more than 100 yards from the burn site, the person conducting the burning does not need a burn permit from the Air Quality Program, but may still need a burn permit from the State Fire Marshall.
• Any person conducting open burning for industrial, commercial (other than salvage operations), institutional (to include schools, hospitals, churches, and related facilities), governmental and community solid waste disposal purposes must obtain an open burning permit from the Air Quality Program.
• Any person planning to burn a house, barn, shed, or other structure must obtain an open burning permit from the Air Quality Program

Any person convicted of violating the open burning provisions of the Lincoln Municipal Code and/or the Lancaster County Air Pollution Control Resolution may be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not to exceed six months or by a fine of not to exceed $500.00 recoverable with costs, or both.

If you are planning to conduct open burning that requires a burn permit, you can obtain an open burning permit application from our Air Quality Program Forms & Applications page. If you are burning for industrial or commercial purposes, your application must be accompanied by payment of a fee for each day that you plan to burn. The fee is stated on the application.

Pollutants regulated under the operating and construction permit programs are as follows:

• Particulate matter less than 10 micrometers in diameter (PM10)
• Nitrogen oxides (NOx)
• Sulfur oxides (SOx)
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• Carbon monoxide (CO)
• Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs)
• Greenhouse gases (GHGs), including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

A construction permit must be obtained prior to constructing, modifying, or reconstructing an air contaminant source and is valid for the life of the emission units contained in the permit. The conditions set forth in a construction permit apply only to those emission units contained in the permit application. A source can elect limits in their construction permit that can allow them to avoid the requirement to obtain an operating permit.

An operating permit must be applied for within 12 months of startup of an air contaminant source and is valid for up to 5 years. Operating permits contain all applicable requirements for all emission points at a facility. This includes incorporating conditions from any construction permits issued to that source.

An emission unit is any part or activity of a stationary source that emits or would have the potential to emit any regulated air pollutant.

Potential emissions, also referred to as ‘potential to emit’ or PTE, are the maximum emissions that would result from operating the facility at full capacity 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year (8,760 hrs/year) taking into consideration any federally enforceable requirements that may apply to the source, or any limitations and/or emission control requirements imposed by a federally enforceable construction permit. The PTE must be calculated separately for each pollutant

Additionally, you can take into consideration certain process limitations or bottlenecks when calculating your PTE. A bottleneck is an activity or process that restricts the capacity of another operation. For example, a grain elevator dryer has a capacity of 45,000 bushels per hour (bu/hr). The facility has one conveyor leg that feeds grain to the dryer. The leg has a capacity of 30,000 bu/hr. Since the leg physically limits the amount of grain that can be dried, it is a bottleneck and 30,000 bu/hr can be used to calculate the PTE for the dryer.

Actual emissions are emissions produced by a facility, based on actual operating times and actual operating conditions.

The Air Quality Program’s permit applications are available on our Air Quality Forms & Applications page

A construction permit allows the facility to construct the emission unit(s) while protecting the ambient air quality. In addition to allowing construction, the permit will also establish operating, monitoring, and record keeping requirements. These requirements are necessary to assure the emission units are in compliance with the applicable regulations. The requirements are also necessary in the event the source isn’t required to obtain an operating permit. A construction permit is issued for the life of the emission unit(s).

Any source planning to install any kind of incineration or cremation unit must obtain a construction permit.

In addition, any source that is planning to construct, modify, or reconstruct an emission source must obtain a construction permit if the sum of the potential emissions associated with the new/modified/reconstructed emission units equals or exceeds the following quantities: 15 tpy of PM10; 40 tpy of NOx, SOx, or VOC; 50 tpy of CO; 0.6 tpy of lead; 2.5 tpy of any single HAP; or 10 tpy of a combination of HAPs.

Any source wishing to obtain a construction permit must pay a fee for each hour the Air Quality Program staff spend reviewing the permit application, providing technical assistance, writing the draft construction permit and the ‘statement of basis’ for the draft permit, and preparing a public notice for the proposed permit.

The fee for work associated with construction permits is established in Article 1, Section 6 of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Air Pollution Control Program Regulations and Standards (LLCAPCPRS). Click here to navigate to the LLCAPCPRS.(PDF, 136KB)

While there are no requirements stating that a source needs to demonstrate to the Air Quality Program that no permit is required, we prefer to be notified of ‘no permit required’ (NPR) determinations so that we can verify the information used to reach said determination.

To demonstrate you don’t need a permit, you should be able to provide the PTE calculation and any supporting documentation used in the calculation.

You must document what emission factors you used in your PTE calculation and the source of the emission factors. Emission factors may originate from continuous emissions monitor data, stack test data, material balance equations, industry/trade organizations, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) documents. You must use the emission factor(s) that best represents your emission unit(s).

You must also document the emission unit(s) design capacity. Manufacturer’s data can be used when the nameplate capacity is used in the PTE calculation. You must also provide documentation if you utilized any bottlenecks, permit limitations, or control equipment in your calculation and be able to explain how and why those were used in the PTE calculation. For instance, if a permit limitation was used, have a copy of the permit available. Be sure your calculation documentation includes the appropriate units (i.e. pounds/hour, Btu/hour, etc). It is also beneficial to provide the date that the PTE was calculated.

A source’s status as either ‘major’ or ‘minor’ is determined by its emissions, with the larger emitting sources being considered Major and the smaller emitting sources being considered Minor. The following are explanations of these terms:

• Class I Source: Any source that is required to obtain a Class I operating permit. The criteria is the same as that of a Major source;
• Class II Source: Any source that is required to obtain a Class II operating permit. The criteria is the same as that of a Minor source;
• Major Source: Any source that has the potential to emit 100 tons per year (tpy) or more of any of the following pollutants: PM10, NOx, SOx, VOC, or CO. Lower thresholds exist for hazardous air pollutants: 10 tpy of any single HAP; or 25 tpy of a combination of HAPs; and 5 tpy of lead.
• Minor Source: Any source that has the potential to emit below the Major Source criteria, but still have the potential to emit equal to or more than the following: 15 tpy of PM10; 40 tpy of NOx, SOx, or VOC; 50 tpy of CO; 0.6 tpy of lead; 2.5 tpy of any single HAP; or 10 tpy of a combination of HAPs.

You may need an operating permit based on your source’s potential to emit, or based on requirements set forth in federal regulations that apply to your facility. The Air Quality Program can offer technical assistance to help you determine whether or not you need an operating permit.

Generally, an estimation of emissions using emission factors will have to be done. However, emissions data, from testing on a similar unit, may be acceptable. For estimations, the Air Quality Program generally uses emission factors from the Compilation of Air Pollutants Emission Factors (AP-42) or from EPA’s web-based Factor Information Retrieval Data System (WebFIRE). These and other emission factor sources may be found on the internet at the EPA’s Clearinghouse for Inventories & Emissions Factors (CHIEF). Most emission factors are based on fuel usage, throughput or other quantifiable process information. When calculating emissions from your equipment, make sure you’re using the same throughput units as those specified by the emission factors. Depending on the process, you may also be able to calculate your emissions based on a relatively simple ‘mass balance’ equation process. The Air Quality Program has forms that can help you with mass balance equations.

General permits are issued to sources that fall within a category in which the emission units are all very similar. For example, grain elevators generally consist of pits to receive grain, elevator legs to move grain into storage bins, and shipping pits to load-out grain into railcars or larger trucks. Some may have grain dryers or other grain processing equipment, but for the most part, all grain elevators are very similar in their operations. General permits will contain identical conditions, and the source to which the permit is issued must determine which conditions apply to his/her source, and maintain compliance with those conditions. General permits significantly reduce the demand on the Air Quality Program staff resources. In addition, once a general permit has been issued for a source category, any source needing an operating permit in the following 5 years can be covered by that general permit without going through the individual public comment process, making the permit process much more streamlined for industry.

Because of the appeal of general permits, the Air Quality Program has developed specialized application forms for several source categories, including the following: grain elevators and fee mills, concrete batch plants, asphalt plants, concrete & asphalt reclaim plants, incinerators and crematories, and industrial/commercial/institutional steam plants (boilers). Because the Air Quality Program establishes criteria for coverage under a general permit and the permit conditions are uniform, the source doesn’t have very much flexibility in certain areas. If the source wishes to maintain flexibility, a specific permit may be a better option.

Specific permits are issued to sources that don’t fall into a general source category, or that want more flexibility than a general permit offers. These permits address the particular needs and issues at the source in question. Because they are “tailor made” for the source, they are much more labor intensive which increases the development costs and the associated administrative costs. In addition, all specific permits must go through a 30-day public comment period, so the timeframe, from application to issuance, is much longer. Therefore, individual permits can be more expensive to develop and require a much longer timeframe to issue.

There are currently no fees associated with operating permit application and issuance.

No. There are contractors in the Lincoln area who offer mold testing services. To find companies that offer mold testing services, look in your local area phone directory yellow pages, look for ‘Air Quality’ or ‘Mold'.

There are many species of mold that appear to be black or bluish in color, but color alone is not a reliable indicator of danger or toxicity. Molds are present in almost all indoor and outdoor environments, and only become a concern when chronic moisture is present. Most healthy individuals will not experience health impacts due to exposure to mold. If you have concerns about visible molds in a rental home in Lincoln, contact the Air Quality Program. Any questions related to health concerns that may be caused or exacerbated by molds (allergies, asthma, etc.) should be addressed by your health care provider.

It is impossible to get rid of all mold and mold spores indoors; some mold spores will be found floating through the air and in house dust. The mold spores will not grow if moisture is not present. Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem. If you clean up the mold, but don't fix the water problem, then, most likely, the mold problem will come back.

Cleaning mold off of hard surfaces can be done by simply scrubbing the surface with a mixture of detergent (soap) and water, then drying the surface completely. The use of harsher chemicals, like bleach, is typically not recommended as a routine practice. There may be instances, however, when professional judgment may indicate its use (for example, when immune-compromised individuals are present). In most cases, it is not possible or desirable to sterilize an area; a background level of mold spores will remain - these spores will not grow if the moisture problem has been resolved. If you choose to use disinfectants or biocides, always ventilate the area and exhaust the air to the outdoors. Never mix chlorine bleach solution with other cleaning solutions or detergents that contain ammonia because toxic fumes could be produced.

For more information on mold, click on the following links:

• EPA – Mold and Moisture
• EPA – Frequently Asked Questions on Mold and Moisture
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Mold

The LLCHD does not sell radon test kits, and does not perform any radon testing. Radon test kits are available for sale at a variety of home improvement stores. The long-term tests (> 90 days) are a better indicator than short-term tests (2-3 days) of your home’s average radon level, as it can vary significantly in response to weather and other conditions in the home. If you elect to perform a short-term test and results from that test indicate radon levels in excess of EPA’s recommended ‘Action Level’ of 4.0 picocuries/cubic meter, the EPA recommends homeowners conduct a 2nd short-term test. If a long-term test, or two short-term tests indicate radon levels in excess of the EPA’s action level, the Department can offer guidance as to how you should consider proceeding with addressing radon levels in your home.

There are also private contractors in our area who test for radon and install radon remediation systems. They can be found in the local telephone directory under ‘Radon’, or by visiting the following website. Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services – Radon Testing & Removal

No. The following link will take you to a pollen counting station located in Lincoln, which is hosted by a third party not affiliated with the Health Department.

Nebraska Wesleyan University Pollen Count 

Any time smoke from a fire travels onto a neighboring property and affects the health and safety of the neighbors it is a violation of the air pollution code. This is a public health nuisance condition.

No. It is illegal to burn any kind of garbage anywhere in Lancaster County, including the city of Lincoln.

It depends on where you live.

In the city of Lincoln, it is illegal to burn any kind of yard waste. Tree limbs and other woody waste materials can be disposed of by cutting it to manageable lengths (3-4 feet long) and either placing it in your garbage can, or bundling the limbs together and leaving them out with your garbage for your refuse hauler to pick up. However, leaves and grass clippings may only be included with household garbage between December 1 and March 31.

Outside of the city limits of Lincoln there are fewer restrictions on open burning, and it is legal to burn such materials, provided that town or village ordinances you may be subject to also allow it. However, burning these materials tends to create a significant amount of smoke, and can create a nuisance for your neighbors.

In the interest of reducing air pollution, the Air Quality Program prefers that citizens identify disposal methods other than open burning to get rid of yard waste. For more information on your disposal options, visit the City of Lincoln Recycling and Solid Waste Operations page on Managing Yard Waste.

Provided that the smoke does not travel onto your neighbor’s property and create a nuisance condition, then yes, you can have fires in your backyard fire pit. However, you must do so within the following conditions:

• You can only burn clean, dry wood. No treated lumber products.
• The fire cannot be larger than 8 cubic feet in volume, or more than 3 feet in diameter.
• Your pit must be located at least 25 feet from any structure or combustible material.
• A responsible adult must supervise the fire at all times, and must have a way to extinguish the fire available.

If you live in the city of Lincoln, you need to have an open burning permit for any fire larger than 8 cubic feet.

You can download a copy of the open burning permit application on our Air Quality Program Forms & Application page. You can also call (402) 441-8040 and request a hard copy. Once you’ve completed and signed the application, you can submit it in one of three ways:

• Scan a copy and e-mail it to lcook@lincoln.ne.gov. Be sure to enter “Open Burning Permit Application” in the subject line of your e-mail.
• Fax it to (402) 441-3890.
• Mail or personally deliver it to the following address:
  Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department
  c/o Air Quality Program
  3131 O Street
  Lincoln, NE 68510

For applications from commercial and industrial entities, you must submit payment of the open burning permit fee before your permit can be issued. The fee for open burning permits can be found on the open burning application form. Payment options include:

• Using your credit card over the phone by calling (402) 441-8040.
• Submit a check, either via mail or in person, to the Air Quality Program at the address provided above.
• If paying in cash, deliver in person to the Air Quality Program at the address provided above.

Lincoln Municipal Code (LMC) 8.24.150 does allow any person to apply for a noise variance to the strict application of the noise limits found under LMC 8.24.090. If you believe that your planned activities will exceed the noise limits in LMC 8.24.090, contact the Air Quality Program at (402) 441-8040 to determine whether a noise variance is appropriate. Keep in mind that the applicant must provide information demonstrating why complying with the noise limits is a hardship to them, the community, or other persons.

You can download a copy of the noise variance application on our Air Quality Program Forms & Application page. You can also call (402) 441-8040 and request a hard copy. Once you’ve completed and signed the application, you can submit it in one of three ways:

• Scan a copy and e-mail it to lcook@lincoln.ne.gov. Be sure to enter “Noise Variance Application” in the subject line of your e-mail.
• Fax it to (402) 441-3890.
• Mail or personally deliver it to the following address:
  Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department
  c/o Air Quality Program
  3131 O Street
  Lincoln, NE 68510

Before your variance can be issued, you must submit payment. The fee for noise variances can be found on the noise variance application form. Payment options include:

• Using your credit card over the phone by calling (402) 441-8040.
• Submit a check, either via mail or in person, to the Air Quality Program at the address provided above.
• If paying in cash, deliver in person to the Air Quality Program at the address provided above.

To find out if you need an air quality operating and/or construction permit, visit our Air Quality Permits page.

If it is determined that you will need a permit, the length of time that it takes to obtain one can vary greatly based on the complexity of your source, the number and complexity of regulations you are subject to, and how well-prepared you are for the permitting process. All permits must undergo a 30-day public comment period prior to issuance.

Generally speaking, simple permits (like those issued for portable concrete/reclaim equipment, incinerators and crematories, or small surface coating facilities) can be issued in less than 2 months from the time we receive your permit application. However, for larger and more complex sources, the process can be much longer.

You can download a copy of the appropriate application for your source on our Air Quality Program Forms & Application page. Once you’ve completed and signed the application, you can submit it in one of two ways:

• Scan a copy and e-mail it to gbergstrom@lincoln.ne.gov. Be sure to enter “Air Permit Application” in the subject line of your e-mail.
• Mail or personally deliver it to the following address:
  Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department
  c/o Air Quality Program
  3131 O Street
  Lincoln, NE 68510

There is a very specific set of steps that must be taken to properly package asbestos-containing waste materials. In Lancaster County, asbestos containing waste materials must be taken to the City of Lincoln’s Bluff Road Landfill (Hwy 77 & Bluff Road), and must be accompanied by a ‘Waste Shipment Record’. Click on the link below to download instructions on packaging asbestos-containing waste, and to obtain a Waste Shipment Record.

Asbestos Disposal Procedures & Waste Shipment Record(PDF, 160KB) 

We offer fact sheets, information on regulations, and notifications forms that must be completed prior to renovating or demolishing certain structures. These forms can be downloaded on our Air Quality Program Forms & Application page. Look for forms starting with “Asbestos NESHAP”.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NE DHHS), as well as the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) both administer and enforce asbestos-related regulations in Nebraska. You can visit their program pages using the links provided below.

• NE DHHS – Asbestos Program
• NDEE – Publications

For more information about asbestos, visit the following.

• EPA – Asbestos
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Asbestos
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Mercury spills can present a significant health hazard if not properly addressed. The following fact sheet provides guidance to homeowners on how they should handle a mercury spill in their home."Mercury In the Home(PDF, 86KB) "