Grass Seed Growers Fined For Burning Excess Acreage

Washington State Department of Ecology

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dec. 16, 1997

97-194

CONTACT: Jani Gilbert, Public Information Officer, (509) 456-4464
Grant Pfeifer, Air Quality Supervisor, (509) 456-3284

Grass Seed Growers Fined For Burning Excess Acreage

SPOKANE, WA - Six Columbia Basin grass-seed growers have been fined a total of nearly $91,000 for burning more than the allowable acreage during the 1997 season.

The state Department of Ecology issued the penalties after conducting ground and air field investigations this fall. The growers failed to observe the burning reduction that was required for the 1997 season. Ecology regulations call for burning two-thirds fewer acres than in 1995.

"Nearly 200 farmers complied with the burning restriction, but several others continued burning as usual," said Grant Pfeifer, air quality supervisor for Eastern Washington. "We cannot ignore those violations."

The following growers have received penalty notices:

Alleged Violator                     Violation        Penalty*
                             (illegal acreage burned)

Mr. Charles Sayre Pasco, WA          266 acres        $19,734



Mr. Eugene Andrews Mesa, WA           32 acres         $6,456 


Mr. Robert Schuh Mesa, WA            113 acres        $10,000 


Mr. Phil Rathbun Connell, WA         233 acres        $14,792 


Mr. Rodney Cronin Othello, WA        107 acres         $9,893 


                       Totals        1331 acres       $90,875

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* Penalties are based on the Air Quality Program guidelines and the Clean Air Act statutory limit of $10,000 per day per violation. Penalties are adjusted for permit-fee refunds, where appropriate.

Because smoke from grass-field burning has been linked to increased patient loads for local doctors and greater suffering by people with respiratory problems, Ecology adopted a regulation in 1996 that reduced by two-thirds the number of acres allowed to be burned in 1997.

Meanwhile, Ecology is analyzing research results, data and other information to determine what alternatives to burning fields exist, and whether they are "reasonably available," based on logistics, economics and the law. The agency's goal is to have alternatives certified in June 1998. Washington's Clean Air Act specifies that burning will stop when suitable alternatives are found and certified by Ecology.

Penalties may be appealed to the Pollution Control Hearings Board.