The South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (department) has received many questions on how the state is dealing with open burning of solid waste and vegetative material such as trees, leaves, agricultural crop burning and prescribed fires to manage ecosystems. These questions have come from local governments and citizens of these communities concerned about open burning. The following information outlines what is prohibited by regulation, what types of materials are allowed to be open burned, guidelines discussing procedures and precautions to take while conducting an open burn, and alternatives to open burning.