****** There will be a public hearing on Wednesday, September 18th, 7:00 pm
in the Public Service Building, N. 310 Main St, Colfax, Washington. ******
You can also comment by telephone at: 1-800-501-0114 or 360-407-6000
Comments by letter, mail to: Melissa McEachron, Department of Ecology, N.
4601 Monroe, Suite 202, Spokane, WA 99205
* COMMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE SEPTEMBER 20TH *
The Issue: Most of the Kentucky Bluegrass seed produced in the U.S. is
grown in eastern Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. Burning the fields after
harvest is an inexpensive means of removing the straw residue and
maintaining seed yields but it also fills our skies with thousands of tons
of harmful particulate pollution each summer. According to Department of
Ecology calculations, on a burn day, grass burning is responsible for
between 13 and 54% of particulate air pollution in eastern Washington.
The Spokane Medical Society, the Washington Thoracic Society, the American
Lung Association, the Washington Department of Health and over 320
physicians have identified grass smoke as a health hazard. In response to
this information, the Department of Ecology called for an emergency 1/3
reduction in the number of acres burned this year. Grass growers are
currently using alternatives to burning on these acres. The Department of
Ecology has proposed another 1/3 reduction for next year.
Public Hearings will be held on the proposed regulation. Grass growers
will turn out in force. In the past, people opposed to grass burning have
remained silent, which has allowed the Grass Industry to argue that smoke
is not a problem. This is your chance to make your opinions count!
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Pam Palmer
Moscow City Council
P.O. Box 9203
Moscow, Idaho 83843
ppalmer@moscow.com
208-883-3741 voice
208-883-7018 fax
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"...a life that is fuller, more beautiful, more splendid, and above all,
more human. ...nobody can prepare it and hand it over to them. They must
get it themselves. it must come up through them and out of them, through
long and toilsome processes of development: for such is democracy."
Brand Whitlock, Independent Mayor of Toledo, 1905-1913