Field Burning

[Tom Trail <ttrail@moscow.com>]

  Yesterday I attended a meeting in Lewiston.  We heard a report from Jim
Bellatty, DEQ Regional
Director, about field burning.  DEQ received a $100,000 grant to monitor
air quality in the Moscow,
Lewiston, Grangeville areas.   Balloons were launched in the Moscow area to
determine air
quality.

  During this summer about 40,000 acres were burned.   This includes grass,
wheat stubble, and
CPR land.  All growers are required to register fields for burning.

  From July 1st to the present DEQ received 62 complaints.   Over the
entire period there were 5 days
which registered over 40 on the meter (indicating poor air quality).
Several of these days were
impacted by forest fires, dust storms, and smoke from field burning in
Washington State.

Rep. Tom Trail

Dr. Tom Trail
International Trails
1375 Mt. View Rd.
Moscow, Id. 83843
Tel:  (208) 882-6077
Fax:  (208) 882-0896
e mail ttrail@moscow.com