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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 13, 1997
97-19
CONTACT: Jani Gilbert, Department of Ecology, Public Information
Office, (509) 456-4464
Tim Steury, WSU News Bureau, (509) 335-1378
MEDIA ADVISORY
Richland, WA - Agricultural wind erosion and the dust it creates will be discussed by scientists and researchers February 20-21 in Richland at the Red Lion Hanford House. Scientists and researchers will discuss health problems caused by dust, as well as new, innovative and "ground-breaking" approaches to controlling dust. Several of the projects are not only material for great science features, but also are quite photogenic.
Searching for ways to alleviate the problem, more than 40 soil scientists, engineers, economists, microbiologists, agronomists and others at WSU and across the state make up a project called the Columbia Plateau PM (particulate matter) project.
The following is a list of contact names and numbers and the projects with which these people are associated. If you attend the conference, some will be available for pulling aside at that time, or they can be reached independently at your convenience. For details about the conference itself, contact Nancy Mack at Washington State University at (509) 335-4097, or visit the web site at www.eus.wsu.edu/c&i.
Keith Saxton, US Department of Agriculture, based at Washington State University (WSU), (509) 335-2724. Coordinating the Columbia Plateau Project. Conducting research on wind erosion and particulate emissions from three sites located in the Horse Heaven Hills and near Lind and Ritzville, WA. during wind erosion events. This involves the use of a wind tunnel-- a large and unique research tool used in the summer months.
William Pan, WSU, (509) 335-3611. Studies how differences in ground cover, soil surface residue levels, etc. help control wind erosion.
George Lauderdale, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region X, (206) 553-6511. The federal perspective of the wind erosion problem. EPA lead for the Columbia Plateau Project. Also, proposed new federal standards for fine particles of dust. These new standards, which address the health effects of smaller particles, are being proposed in Congress this year.
Phil Wandschneider, WSU, professor of agricultural economics, (509) 335-1906. One of two researchers conducting a survey of what society is "willing to pay" to control agricultural dust.
Barbara Stuart, Washington State Department of Ecology, (360) 407-6869. Barbara will discuss the new federal "natural events policy" and what it means to Washington State. This policy concerns the way regulators deal with air pollution that is the result of a natural event, such as a wind storm, as opposed to an event caused by human activity.
Alan Felsot, WSU, (509) 372-7365. Conducting research into whether pesticides are "hitchhiking" onto wind-blown dust particles. This research is being conducted independent of the Columbia Plateau project.
Larry Stetler, WSU, (509) 335-3984. Working for years on identifying the particle size of different soils in the plateau and which of them are most easily eroded.
Bruce Frazier, WSU Crop and Soil Sciences Department, (509) 335-2381. Using satellite images to define land use and soils information.
Brian Lamb, (509) 335-5702, and Candis Claiborn (509) 335-5055, WSU Civil and Environmental Engineering Department. Both are overseeing graduate research using computer modeling to find out what happens to dust during high winds, e.g. how it is dispersed and where it lands.
Bill Schillinger, WSU Cooperative Extension, Ritzville (509) 659-0090, or in Lind (509) 677-3671. Several research projects, working with local farmers on ways to reduce the amount of dust that blows off bare fields in the summer, i.e. fallow management. An example is leaving more plant residue on the field. Also working on this issue is Edwin Donaldson, WSU, (509) 335-7255.
Frank Young, Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, (509) 335-1551. Coordinating a large project concerning the possibility of growing crops every year in the dryland areas of the plateau. Currently, in many areas, crops are grown every other year.
Bob Gillespie, Cooperative Extension, Ephrata, (509) 754-2011. Several projects concerning methods of keeping cover crops on fields in irrigated areas when cash crops are not being grown.
Alan Busacca, WSU soil scientist, Crop and Soil Science Department, (509) 335-1859. Researching whether or not more dust is being released since farming began in the area. He studies soil taken from core samples under Fourth of July Lake, going back up to 500 years.
Dr. Jane Koenig, University of Washington, (206) 543-2026. PM health study being conducted in Spokane. The study is currently in its third year.
Ann Kennedy, Agricultural Research Service at WSU, (509) 335-1554. Conducting "fingerprinting" work on dust particles, i.e. finding out from where dust particles are coming.
Bob Papendick, Agricultural Research Service, (509) 335-1553. Leads the effort to produce a book of best management practices (BMPs) for farmers on the plateau, to reduce or prevent wind erosion in the future.
John Homes, Franklin Conservation District, (509) 545-8546. Working on a project specific to potato crops and control measures for wind erosion in the field.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
