  |
|
|
Department of Ecology News Release - November 18, 2002
02-205
SPOKANE - A slight increase in burning this fall has not doused the spirits of the Department of Ecology's (Ecology) agricultural "burn team," because overall burning has still decreased substantially, bringing relief to people in Eastern Washington with respiratory illnesses.
Approximately 60,000 acres of wheat stubble were burned this fall compared to the fall of 1998, when nearly 160,000 acres were torched in Eastern Washington. The 2002 figure is 14 percent higher than a year ago, when 53,277 acres were burned.
"Even with the increase this fall, the overall trend is down -- way down" said Grant Pfeifer, Ecology's air-quality manager in Spokane. "This is good news for air quality as well as a remarkable show of good faith on the part of the wheat farmers."
In January 1999, the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) voluntarily agreed with Ecology to reduce burning by 50 percent in seven years. Since then, growers have been trying different technologies to manage heavy residue and combat troublesome weeds and other pests.
"The increase this fall was likely due to heavy wheat-straw in some areas, such as in Walla Walla and Columbia counties, leaving more residue on the ground than usual," Pfeifer explained. "Burning will fluctuate as farm conditions and crop-rotation practices change."
Ecology's burn team reviews about 2,000 burn-permit applications each year and allows burning only when ventilation is adequate. In addition, the program is sponsoring research into alternatives to burning and aggressively enforcing the state's burn laws.
"While the law does allow agricultural burning, it does not allow smoke from fires to harm people," said Karen Wood, supervisor of the burn team. "The burn team walks a fine line to ensure that both parts of the law are followed."
Ecology's agricultural burn program has developed new and better ways to communicate to the public when and where burning will take place, Wood explained.
"Even a small amount of smoke can sicken people who have asthma, cystic fibrosis or other respiratory diseases," Wood said. "It is imperative for them to know when and where burning will occur."
During the primary burning seasons, the burn team posts burn/no-burn decisions (burn calls) on a Web site daily, along with a forecast for the next day. The site shows people where field burning will take place, how many acres may be burned and what hours during the day burning might occur. The site is http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/aginfo/agricultural_homepage.htm.
Ecology's toll-free line for complaints and comments regarding burning is 866-211-6284.
Contact: Jani Gilbert, public information, 509-456-4464; pager, 509-622-1289
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
