Comment sought on Columbia Gorge clean-air planning proposal

Washington State Department of Ecology

Department of Ecology News Release - June 19, 2001

01-103

Comment sought on Columbia Gorge clean-air planning proposal

OLYMPIA - Washington and Oregon air-quality agencies are seeking public comments on a proposed a multi-year plan to create a clean-air strategy for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (NSA).

The plan was developed at the request of the Columbia River Gorge Commission, which is working to protect and enhance air quality, and foster economic development in the gorge.

Preliminary research indicates that haze is noticeable in the gorge's natural scenic area 90 percent of the time and is severe 15 percent of the time. Researchers also have found signs that air pollution affects gorge vegetation.

The draft work plan was developed by the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology), the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and the Southwest Clean Air Agency (SWCAA), with assistance from the U.S. Forest Service, the six scenic area counties and other interested parties.

"This is a first step and not the clean-air strategy itself," said Annette Liebe, DEQ airshed planning manager. "Before we offer this process to the commission, we want public feedback. Do people think we've proposed a good way to develop this strategy and enough public involvement opportunities?"

The work plan outlines research into gorge air quality and describes a strategy-development process that relies heavily on public participation. Comments on the plan will be accepted during two public workshops slated for June 28 in Hood River.

Sessions will be held from 2 to 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Best Western Hood River Inn, 1108 E. Marina Way, Hood River, Ore.

Each session includes a panel presentation, a question-and-answer session and public comment. Additional comments are welcome until 5 p.m., July 17. A final plan will be submitted to the Gorge Commission at its Aug. 14 meeting.

"This process recognizes the economy in the gorge as a central concern," said Bob Elliott, SWCAA executive director. "The federal law that created the natural scenic area says to protect the scenic, cultural, recreational, and natural resources while protecting and supporting the gorge's local economy. The clean-air strategy must unite those aims with the objectives of state and federal clean-air laws."

The proposal contains three main parts:

Scientific study: Researchers would continue their efforts to understand the gorge airshed's physics and chemistry and how they affect air-quality concerns there. The studies also would examine effects of pollution both from within and outside the gorge. Scientists would create computer models to help decision-makers see the effects of different clean-air strategies. The science projects may take three to five years to complete.
Advisory committee: A broad-based panel would be established in 2002 to propose visibility and other air-quality goals for the gorge and strategies for achieving them and to evaluate each option's cost and benefits to the gorge's economy. The committee would represent the six gorge-area counties, the four tribes with treaty rights in the natural scenic area, the U.S. Forest Service, environmental and industrial interests outside and within the scenic area, local economic development organizations, and other interests potentially affected by the plan. Ecology, DEQ, and SWCAA will provide staff assistance, but not serve on the committee.
Public involvement: Ecology, DEQ and SWCAA will keep the public informed about the project's progress and seek public comments at key milestones throughout the process.

"This process will give us some of the most valuable information ever assembled for making management decisions about this airshed," said Myron Saikewicz, an air-quality manager for Ecology. "We expect to work closely with the public during the next few years so the commission can receive a strategy that all parties can accept and be willing to carry out."

Copies of the work plan and other information will be available at:

Public library systems (may not include all branches) and county commission offices in Hood River, Multnomah, Wasco, Clark, Klickitat and Skamania counties; all local clean-air agencies in Washington, including Southwest Washington Clean Air Agency, 1308 N.E. 134th St.; Ecology regional and field offices, including the Vancouver field office, 2108 Grand Blvd. U.S Forest Service, 333 SW 1st Ave., Natural Resources, 5th floor, Portland; DEQ, 811 SW 6th Ave, 12th floor front desk, Portland.

Copies are also available on the Internet at www.gorgeair.org.

For more information or to comment on the work plan, call 503-229-5359, or send comments by e-mail to Information@gorgeair.org. Also, people may contact individual agencies of the Columbian Gorge Air Quality Project: Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division, 811 SW 6th Ave, Portland, Ore. 97204, fax: 503-229-6575 or 400 E. Scenic Dr., Suite 307, The Dalles, Or. 97058; Southwest Clean Air Agency, 1308 N.E. 134th St., Vancouver Wash., 98685, fax: 360-576-0925; Washington Dept. of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, Wash. 98504-7600, fax: 360- 407-6802

Contacts: DEQ: Annette Liebe, Airshed Planning Manager, 503- 229-6919
Ecology: Myron Saikewicz, SW Regional Manager, 360- 407-6325
SWCAA: Robert Elliott, Executive Director, 360-574-3058
For more information: www.gorgeair.org