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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 31, 2000
00-055
Contact: Jani Gilbert, Public Information Manager, 509-456-4464
PASCO -- Developers of Town and Country Village in Pasco, W.T. Harrison and E.L. Ray of Harrison-Ray, Inc., will receive an Environmental Excellence award from the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) Monday night at the regularly scheduled Pasco City Council meeting, beginning at 7 p.m.
Ecology's eastern regional director, Tony Grover, will present the award to acknowledge the pair for their work to prevent air pollution from dust at construction sites.
In preparing and leveling their property for installation of up to 53 new manufactured homes, Harrison-Ray voluntarily planted wheat and irrigated the entire area to ensure no dust problems were created while the land was unimproved.
"This significantly improved air quality for those living around the new development," Grover said. "We applaud their progressive initiative in solving what can be a tremendous problem for many people, especially those with breathing difficulties."
Breathing small particle matter such as dust can cause lung damage and aggravate existing respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis or emphysema. Children, pregnant women, people with respiratory diseases, and people engaged in strenuous activity outdoors are especially susceptible to the effects of dusty air. Excessive dust also can interfere with the use and enjoyment of property, outdoors and inside.
In addition to preventing air pollution, planting wheat means it takes far less water to control the dust than if the wheat had not been planted.
"The rise in construction is a good economic sign for the region, but builders have the added responsibility of being good neighbors and controlling dust emissions at their sites especially during dry years, like 1999 was," Grover added.
As a result of Harrison & Ray's work, the city of Pasco recently adopted an ordinance making these dust control measures a requirement in the city of Pasco.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
