Fugitive Dust Prevention and Control#
Fugitive Dust Ordinance#
On May 3, 2016 the City of Fort Collins City Council unanimously passed Ordinance No. 044, 2016, which amended Chapter 12 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins. This ordinance, more commonly known as the Fugitive Dust Ordinance, creates new requirements for all owners and operators of dust generating activities to control off-property or off-vehicle transport of fugitive dust. A Dust Prevention and Control Manual has also been adopted which outlines required Best Management Practices (BMPs) for common dust generating activities. Enforcement of the dust control ordinance will begin on November 1, 2016.
- Dust Prevention and Control Manual
- Municipal Code Language
- Fugitive Dust Presentation
- Guía Práctica - Prevención y Control de Polvo
Enforcement of this ordinance began on November 1, 2016. If you are the owner or operator of a potential dust generating activity or source, it is your responsibility to ensure that dust levels are controlled to the best extent possible. Failure to comply with the Fugitive Dust Ordinance regulations could result in enforcement action, including civil penalties.
Fugitive Dust Training#
Watch this short training presentation regarding the impacts of fugitive dust and how to comply with the City’s ordinance.
FAQs#
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Dust, also known as particulate matter, is solid particles that often consist of dirt and soil but can also contain ash, soot, chemicals, and other materials. The term ‘fugitive dust’ refers to particulate matter, natural or man-made, that has become airborne and not entrained through a controlled exhaust such as a stack, chimney or vent.
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City residents have a high expectation for a clean environment and this includes air quality. The City has had a long-standing policy to “continually improve air quality” and residents have identified the Air Quality Program as being the single most important program for protecting their future quality of life in past surveys.
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Aside from being a nuisance and aesthetically unappealing, fugitive dust also poses a safety hazard and health risk. Unsafe conditions can be created when visibility is reduced near and around worksites where fugitive dust is being generated, obstructing views for drivers, bikers, and pedestrians. The health impacts can range from acute to chronic respiratory illnesses and infections such as asthma, bronchitis, and other diseases heart-lung diseases.
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Ordinance No. 044, which amended Chapter 12 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins, was unanimously passed on May 3, 2016. This created new requirements of all owners and operators of dust generating activities to control dust from leaving property or project boundaries, as well as off of vehicles that transport materials, by conducting Best Management Practices (BMPs) as outlined in the Dust Prevention and Control Manual.
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If you have a concern, comment or complaint, please use the City's complaint management system, Access Fort Collins, at www.fcgov.com/accessfortcollins--this will ensure the issue is addressed by the appropriate Staff and in a timely manner. If you would like additional information or have questions, please contact the Environmental Services Department at 970.221.6600.