Homeowners may have sources of dust which include:
- Horse corrals
- Driveways and parking areas
- Home improvement projects
- Yard maintenance
- ATV Tracks
Title 17 of the Pima County Code, Section 17.16.070.A states in part, "No person shall cause, suffer, allow, or permit a vacant lot, or an urban or suburban open area, to be driven over or used by motor vehicles, trucks, cars, cycles, bikes, or buggies, or by animals such as horses, without taking reasonable precautions to limit excessive amounts of particulates from becoming airborne."
Homeowners need to ensure that these types of activities do not create excessive dust. Learn how
Homeowners can control dust at home.
Vacant lands may generate fugitive dust in several ways:
- Winds may cause dust from unstabilized soil
- Vehicles may park on the vacant lot, creating loose soil material
- Weed removal may create dust and leave disturbed, uncovered areas of soil
Title 17 of the Pima County Code, Section 17.080.B states in part, "No vacant lot, housing plot, building site, parking area, sales lot, playground, livestock feedlot, or other open area - other than those used solely for soil-cultivation or vegetative crop-producing and harvesting agricultural purposes - shall be used or left in such a state after construction, alteration, clearing, leveling, or excavation that naturally induced wind blowing over the area causes a violation of Section 17.16.050."
Owners of vacant land may consider applying ground cover such as gravel to stabilize the surface, or restrict access of vehicles to the property. Learn about dust control for Vacant Lands (English) and Vacant Lands (Spanish).
Off-highway vehicles (OHV) generate fugitive dust:
- When operated at higher speeds on dirt roads
- Traveling over areas with powdery, silty soil
- Near residential areas or businesses
Title 17 of the Pima County Code, Section 17.16.070 states in part, "No person shall operate a motor vehicle for recreational purposes in a dry wash, riverbed or open area in such a way as to cause or contribute to excessive amounts of particulate matter from becoming airborne into a residential, recreational, institutional educational, retail sales, hotel or business premises."
Learn more about OHV restrictions, how riding can affect others, the environment and air quality, and how
Riding Responsibly (English) and
Riding Responsibly (Spanish) will help control dust.
New OHV laws promoting common sense and responsible riding are discussed in this
2009 PDEQ News Release.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has provided information on
OHV Laws and Places to Ride.
Links to other sites with off-highway riding information:
Arizona Game and Fish
(602) 942-3000
http://www.gf.state.az.us/
Arizona State Land Department
(602) 542-4631
http://www.azland.gov/
Bureau of Land Management
(520) 258-7200
http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/recreation/ohv.html
Public Lands Information Center
(602) 417-9300 or
(800) 986-1151
http://www.publiclands.org/
Landscapers using leaf blowers need to know:
- Leaf blowers should be not be used for cleaning dust
- Blowers should not be oversized for the work being done
- Vacuum type equipment with dust collection attachments should be used
- Manual rakes and brooms should be used when possible
- Water or other wetting agents should be used to control dust
Title 17 of the Pima County Code, Section 17.16.050 states in part, "No person shall cause, suffer, allow or permit operations or activities likely to result in excessive amounts of airborne dust without taking reasonable precautions to prevent excessive amounts of particulate matter from becoming airborne."
Anyone creating dust with a leaf blower is subject to the requirements of Pima County Code Title 17. For more information is available on dust control for
Leaf Blowers (English) and
Leaf Blowers (Spanish).
Additional information is available on
Dust Control Methods for Landscaping (English) and
Dust Control Methods for Landscaping (Spanish).
Fugitive dust is generated on dirt roads by:
- Traffic which does not abide by posted speed limits
- Grading without using controls for dust such as water application
Title 17 of the Pima County Code, Section 17.16.090.A states in part, "No person shall cause, suffer, allow or permit the use, repair, construction or reconstruction of a roadway or alley without taking reasonable precautions to prevent excessive amounts of particulate matter from becoming airborne."
Dust from dirt roads can be reduced by applying surface material such as gravel, and posting low speed limits. Controls for dust, such as water, should be used when grading or other maintenance activities are conducted. More information is available about
Dirt Roads and Dust, including how to determine the status of your dirt road .
Sandblasting or other abrasive blasting creates dust which can be controlled by:
- Applying water to suppress dust
- Working within an enclosure
Title 17 of the Pima County Code, Section 17.16.100.D states, "Emissions from a sandblasting or other abrasive blasting operation shall be effectively controlled by applying water to suppress visible emissions (wet blasting), enclosing the operation, or use of other equivalently effective controls."
Concrete cutting or brick cutting generates fugitive dust which can be controlled by:
- Using water while the saw is in operation (wet cutting)
- Shrouding the operation to contain visible emissions
Title 17 of the Pima County Code, Section 17.16.050 states in part, "No person shall cause, suffer, allow or permit operations or activities likely to result in excessive amounts of airborne dust without taking reasonable precautions to prevent excessive amounts of particulate matter from becoming airborne."
Fugitive dust from concrete or brick cutting is subject to the dust rules even though the dust generated is not from earthen materials. Dust control measures should be taken whenever concrete or brick cutting is conducted.