FW: field burning. smoke, and health.

["Loreca Stauber" <lstauber@latah.id.us>]

Hello Visionaries,

Am forwarding a distressed e-mail from a Latah citizen describing her
concerns  about field burning, smoke, and the  harmful effects on her.  This
is an  issue made more urgent because the season of field burning is upon
the area.  While such a practice provide benefit for those in certain
sectors of the farming community, it is taking  a toll on  citizens' health.
The Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Air Quality encourages
any person who experiences ill effects of the smoke during days when there
is visible or verifiable field burning taking place in or around his/her
living or work area to call a hotline number in Coeur D'Alene:
1-800-421-8475 or Ray Roetman/DEQ in Lewiston at 1-208-799-4370; or you may
e-mail Ray at: rroetman@deq.state.id.us.  The solutions are there, but it
takes those with concerns to take the initiative and assist agencies
designated to protect air quality/environmental quality and ultimately human
health.  I believe that diligent and sincere efforts from both the
agricultural and health/environmental interests can provide adequate
solutions.  Loreca J. Stauber
-----Original Message-----
From: Loreca Stauber [mailto:lstauber@latah.id.us]
Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2000 3:44 PM
To: bocc@latah.id.us; rroetman@deq.state.id.us
Cc: sosterberg@latah.id.us; sduncan@turbonet.com
Subject: FW: field burning




-----Original Message-----
From: Tutti [mailto:tutti@idaho.tds.net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2000 3:22 PM
To: lstauber@latah.id.us
Subject: field burning


Dear Ms. Stauber, I wish to register a formal complaint with your office in
regard to field burning in Latah County and the surrounding area.
Yesterday, Sept. 18, I was in Moscow attending school at the university and
working until approximately 4 PM.  As I left my office to return to my home
in Kendrick, I was inundated with thick smoke which remained with me during
my entire drive home. I immediately rolled up all of my windows and closed
the car vent, but by the time I reached home, I was incapcitated with an
acute asthma attack.  I have three different types of inhalers as well as a
breathing machine that delivers a very strong dose of medication directly
into my lungs.  With the help of my friends and neighbors, I was able to do
back-to-back treatments and finally alleviate my distress by 9:00 that
evening.  This time I did not require hospitalization, but with the field
burning season upon us, I don't know how many more attacks I can head off
here at home.  This is a critically important issue and I hope that the
commission will address it before too many of us have to suffer the
consequences by either becomming sick or worse, killed by this insane
policy and total disregard for air quality. Thank you for your attention to
this matter.  Sincerely, Marilyn (Tutti) Sandmeyer, P.O. Box 7, Kendrick,
Id 83537