New Mexico's Smoke Management Program

SMP I Registration Form Instructions

The SMP I Registration Form is required for all burns over 10 acres per day or 1,000 cubic feet (cu ft) pile volume per day but less than one ton PM₁₀ or 5,000 cubic feet pile volume per day. The form is due to the AQB no later than 10:00 a.m. one business day prior to the anticipated start of the burn project. All information is required to be filled out, unless otherwise indicated. There may be several options presented; in those cases, check the appropriate box. At least one box must be checked when there are options. See the Smoke Management Program (SMP) Guidance Document for further information. This form may be submitted on-line at http://smoke.state.nm.us or to the AQB by phone at 1-800-224-7009 (ask for smoke management), fax at (505) 827-1543, or email at nmsmoke@gmail.com.

Explanation: This information is needed to estimate the potential total burning activity across the state, which allows the state Air Quality Bureau (AQB) to develop the Annual Emission Goal, and to aid in any necessary airshed coordination efforts.

The table below can be used by burners to determine if the acreage or pile volume of the burn project falls under SMP I.

Following are line-by-line instructions for filling out the SMP I Registration Form.

Burn Project.  Enter the name of the Burn Project (25 character limit including spaces). If you are submitting this electronically through the web site, write the ID number down right away. You will need this number for future correspondence with the AQB regarding this burn project.

Explanation: This is to help the AQB identify separate projects by the same burner. The burner assigns the burn project name. A burn project needs to be contiguous on the landscape and have similar burn objectives: e.g., one field, pasture, or orchard. If you do not typically name your burn project, a last name or some other descriptor will suffice, as long as each burn project name is unique. 

ID. Leave the ID space blank. It will be given to you once you submit the form.

Explanation: This ID number will be assigned by the AQB upon receipt of the Registration Form. Once AQB has assigned this number to a burn project, the number will be provided to the burner. This number will be unique to a burn project and will be used for Notifications, Cancellations, Waiver Requests, and the Tracking Form once the burn project is completed, and in any other communication with the AQB. 

Contact Information. Enter information for the primary contact for this burn; i.e., landowner, burn manager or burn boss. Give agency/company, name, address, phone, and fax and email if available.

Explanation: This enables the AQB to contact the burner if necessary.

Project Type. Fill in the appropriate project type: federal, state, municipal, or private.

Explanation: The project type will help the AQB characterize burning across the state.

Burn Location Information. Provide the name of the County in which the burning will occur. If the project overlaps two counties, provide the county in which ignition will take place. Provide the average elevation of the burn project. Provide at least one locator: latitude/longitude (use the Help button on the on-line form for entering different variations of latitude and longitude), Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM), or Township, Range and Section (TRS). Do not provide more than one location. Use the center of the burn project for the location information. If using Township, Range and Section, only provide the location information for the section closest to the center of the burn project. This information can be determined using USGS topographic maps. If unable to find this information, contact the AQB for help.

Explanation: This information allows the AQB to plot all burns on a map, assisting with the analysis of burning across the state or in a given airshed.

Vegetation Type. Check the appropriate box(s).

Explanation: This helps AQB identify general types of burning occurring throughout the state.

Maintenance Burn or Restoration Burn. (For Grasslands, Shrub Lands and Forests ONLY.) Indicate if the project will help restore the land to more healthy conditions, or if it will maintain existing healthy conditions. (See Appendix H for definitions of restoration and maintenance.) If you know the Fire Regime Condition Class of the burn the following may help; a condition class of 1 would equal a maintenance burn and a 2 or 3 would equal a restoration burn.

Explanation: This information helps the AQB predict future levels of emissions from fire.

Time of Year Expect to Burn. Indicate the time(s) of year the burn project is expected to take place.  For example, if it could be either a fall or spring burn, check both the “March-May” and “September-November” boxes. All four boxes may be checked.

Explanation: This information helps the AQB understand when burning is likely to occur in various airsheds.

Acreage and Pile Volume. Give the best approximation of total acreage or pile volume to be burned in this project. See SMP Appendix K for more help with determining pile volume. If this is only a broadcast burn only list acres. If this is only a pile burn only list cubic feet. If this is a combination burn list both acres and cubic feet and make a note of this in the comment section.

Explanation: This information helps AQB to forecast emissions produced in the various airsheds.

Date(s) Planning to Burn.  Enter the actual calendar date(s) you are planning to burn. Up to seven days of planned burning may be entered on this form. For each day, give the date, acres and/or pile volume to be burned.  If unsure of acreage or volume, give the maximum that would be burned on a particular day.

If more space is needed for additional days beyond the seven provided for on this form, use the "Notification Continuation Form" or "SMP I Notification Form." The Notification Continuation Form should be submitted just prior to the continued burning, not with the original Registration Form. If plans change after this form has been submitted and burning for a particular day will not occur, notify the AQB of the cancellation, using the "Cancellation Form" or by calling, faxing or e-mailing the AQB.  (See separate instructions for these forms.)

Explanation: The AQB uses the estimates given here for daily airshed assessments.  Having an underestimated value could lead to an overflow of airshed capacity. As with notification of planned days, cancellation of planned days is needed for the AQB’s daily assessment of airshed capacity.

Total Fuel Loading by Vegetation Type. Using the vegetation type of the burn, in the acres column, enter the acreage of the burn and tons per acre or, for pile burns, enter only the total cubic feet for the entire burn project. For hand-made piles, enter the total cubic feet as clean piles. The total acreage or cubic feet must equal the total project acres previously entered. The tons per acre must be entered as a single number, not a range. For help determining fuel loading see SMP Appendix K, or call the Smoke Management Program hot-line at 1-800-224-7009, extension 8038.

Explanation: In order to forecast as accurately as possible the emissions produced, it is necessary to have identified the vegetation type and estimated the fuel loading. This section provides that information to the AQB. 

Smoke Dispersion. Check the box that indicates which option you have chosen. See SMP Document, section 2.2 for an explanation of the options.

Explanation: One of the key methods of smoke management is burning under weather conditions that allow for good smoke dispersion. Both options provide ways to promote good smoke dispersion. The AQB has provided two options so as to provide flexibility to the burner.

Population(s) Within 1-mile Radius. Check this box if there are population(s) within a one-mile radius of your burn project. Population(s) within a one-mile radius of the burn trigger the additional requirements of conducting visual monitoring and public notification.  See SMP Appendix F and Appendix G for more information.

Explanation: Providing this information makes the burner aware of the people who could be affected by the burn project and notifies the AQB of the requirements for monitoring and public notification.

Public Notification. Enter the name of the local fire authority you have notified, and, if the burn is within a one-mile radius of populations, list the other method(s) of public notification used. See SMP Appendix G for more information.

Explanation: Public notification alerts the public so that precautions against smoke exposure can be taken.

Comments.  Enter any other comments that might help clarify or explain other entries.

All documents on this site are in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format unless otherwise noted.  To download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader, go to the Adobe web site at http://www.adobe.com. 

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For corrections to this web page, please contact Erik Aaboe of the Air Quality Bureau. This page was last edited on 06/14/2005