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Department of Ecology News Release - Sept. 8, 2003
03-178
YAKIMA - State and federal officials have agreed to better coordinate controlled burns in the forests around the Methow Valley.
In a joint resolution, the U.S. Forest Service and the Washington departments of Ecology (Ecology) and Natural Resources (DNR) have agreed to work together to improve forest health, reduce smoke in neighboring communities and improve communication among agencies.
As part of the agreement, Ecology rescinds a notice of violation issued to the Forest Service for smoke from a planned fire that drew complaints this summer from Methow Valley residents.
"We're pleased to be working in tandem with the Forest Service and DNR to help improve air quality in the Methow Valley when forest burning must take place," said Mary Burg, who manages Ecology's air quality program. "We respect the importance of safe and healthy forests, and we are mandated to protect the health of Washington's citizens."
"Lessening the effect of smoke and protecting communities from wildfires are very important issues for all three agencies," said Alan Quan, deputy forest supervisor on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests. "The most important achievement of the meeting is that the three agencies agreed to work together in furthering their communications and improving their relationships to better serve the public."
As part of the resolution, officials will review the Cub Creek/Rendezvous fires and make appropriate changes to reduce smoke in the Methow Valley during the 2003 fall and 2004 spring controlled-burning seasons, as administered by DNR under the state's smoke management plan.
"Working with Ecology and the Forest Service is the best way to make sure we do the important work needed to improve the health of forests and protect air quality in the Methow Valley," said Mark Kahley, director of DNR's firefighting and smoke management program. "We appreciate the support we've had in the Methow Valley, and we need to keep that support by ensuring that fire, natural or controlled, doesn't unnecessarily impact the people in that community."
"The primary objective of the resolution is to reduce impacts from smoke emissions from silvicultural burning in the Methow Valley," said Cal Joyner, director of natural resources in the Forest Services' regional office in Portland, Ore.
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Media contacts:
Joye Redfield-Wilder, Dept. of Ecology, (509) 575-2610
Paul Hart, U.S. Forest Service, (509) 662-4314
Todd Myers, Dept. of Natural Resources, (360) 870-3853
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
