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Department of Ecology News Release - July 9, 2001
01-116
SPOKANE - Steve Mader of Pullman has received a $16,000 fine from the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) for allowing smoke to obscure visibility on a state highway.
On March 26, two State Patrol officers closed State Route 27 north of Pullman for nearly 30 minutes when the roadway filled with smoke and created a driving hazard.
The smoke came from wheat fields Mader was burning to remove residue from last fall's harvest.
Mader did have a valid burn permit and March 26 was designated as a "burn day" by local and state officials. However, all burn permits contain language that obligates growers to keep smoke away from populated areas and roads.
One condition of Mader's burn permit was that burning must only be conducted when "...wind takes the smoke away from roads, homes, population centers, or other public areas, to the greatest extent possible."
A second provision of the burn permit was that smoke must not cause emissions "...detrimental to the health, safety, or welfare of any person, or [that cause] damage to property or business."
Smoke contains fine particles that enter deep into the pulmonary system and may cause structural and chemical damage in the lungs. The particles act as a transport mechanism for toxic chemicals. The smoke contains a wide variety of toxic organic chemicals and other compounds.
Mader will have 15 days in which to show evidence of why Ecology should reconsider the penalty, or 30 days in which to appeal the fine to the state's Pollution Control Hearings Board.
Contact: Jani Gilbert, public information manager, 509-456-4464; pager, 509-622-1289
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
