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Department of Ecology News Release - June 19, 2003
03-120
YAKIMA - The Washington Department of Ecology has issued a "notice of violation" to the U.S. Forest Service because prescribed burning is creating smoke that is harming the health, safety and welfare of residents in the Methow Valley.
Since May 19, the Forest Service has ignited 3,000 acres in the Cub Creek/Rendezvous area in the Okanogan National Forest, some of which is still smoldering. Recent smoke levels in the Methow Valley were in conflict with the Washington State Clean Air Act. Citizens have asked Ecology to carry out its duty to enforce that air pollution law.
"When the smoke from the prescribed burns rolled into town, people began calling us," said Sue Billings, an Ecology air quality manager. "Citizens and businesses in the Winthrop area say they are suffering from the smoke from prescribed burning. Some have had to increase their respiratory medications, while others had to remove batteries from their smoke alarms to keep them from going off."
In response to citizen concerns, Ecology sent air quality specialists to the Methow Valley to interview affected residents and businesses. Billings said her staff viewed video tapes, photographs, the Forest Service's air-quality monitoring data and other information.
"We understand the importance of forest health management, but this is not right," said Shane Ruoss, a resident near Cub Creek. "We feel like lab rats in the hands of a government experiment."
"Tourism and recreation are the economic generators of this Valley", said Rob Thorlakson, sales manager for Sun Mountain Lodge in Winthrop. "A smoke-filled valley is a death blow to these industries."
The Forest Service has 30 days to respond to the notice of violation.
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Media contacts: Joye Redfield-Wilder, public information manager,
509-575-2610; pager, 509-574-0490
Sue Billings, air-quality manager, 509-575-2486
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
