ANDERSON COUNTY — Anderson County took the first step toward restricting open burning Tuesday night.

The ordinance is designed to mirror state law so Anderson County staff can enforce open burning laws. It provides exemptions for agricultural burning, camp fires, training fires and ceremonial fires.

The ordinance passed on first reading 4-2-1 with Larry Greer and Cindy Wilson opposed and Ron Wilson abstaining. It is expected to help improve the county’s air quality and standing with the Environmental Protection Agency.

In March, the EPA announced a new primary ozone standards of 0.075 parts per million (ppm) — a ratio much lower than current Upstate readings. Should Anderson County not meet those standards, it would lose federal grant funding until it reached compliance. Local industries also would be required to do more to clean the air.

“It will have a crippling effect on economic development,” said County Attorney Tom Martin. “Instead of locating here, they’ll locate in Greenwood County where they don’t have air quality standards. … They’re simply going to go where they can build their plant cheaper.”

The S.C. Department of Health and Environment Control will allow individual counties to show that factors beyond their control contribute to their ozone levels. For example, just the ground level ozone generated naturally from pine trees would put Anderson County over the new EPA standards.

This ordinance would help to show DHEC that Anderson County is doing everything it can to improve the air quality, Martin said.

Greer and Cindy Wilson opposed the idea of using county resources to enforce what is already state law and should be the state’s responsibility. In past presentations to the council, DHEC officials said they only have two officers to enforce open burning laws in Anderson and Oconee counties.

“I think we can find other ways of dealing with air quality that might be more effective and far less burdensome to county taxpayers,” Wilson said.

Council member Gracie Floyd said the ordinance will affect her as much as anyone else. But if it gives Anderson County a chance to continue receiving grant funds, she’s willing to stop burning in her yard.

“It’s better to pay now,” she said. “If we don’t we’re going to pay more at a later point in time.”