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Department of Ecology News Release - September 10, 2007
07-257
YAKIMA - New monitoring equipment installed at the Centennial Center in Cle Elum now measures the air pollution that poses the greatest health risk to people.
The portable air sampler measures the pollution caused by combustion sources such as woodstoves and outdoor fires and will provide baseline information on air quality in upper Kittitas County, according to the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology).
Air quality is of particular concern in the Cle Elum area where smoke becomes trapped during wood-burning season. Smoke particles are inhaled deeply into the lungs and can cause health problems for those with respiratory illness as well as for the very young and elderly.
"Cle Elum is a growing area, and air quality has the potential to worsen during the home heating season," explained Holly Myers, a smoke specialist with Ecology. "This monitoring information will give us a better picture of the air quality in the Cle Elum Valley and help us make accurate daily burn decisions for upper Kittitas County."
Residential and land clearing burning are not allowed inside the urban growth areas of Cle Elum, Kittitas, Roslyn, South Cle Elum, and Ellensburg. Outside the Urban Growth Areas, land clearing burning may be conducted with a permit from Ecology. Agricultural burning is allowed county-wide, with a permit from Ecology.
Ecology will use the air quality monitoring information along with weather and ventilation forecasts, to make daily burn decisions for burn permit holders and others. The data will also identify air quality trends in Kittitas County and help characterize the overall health of the airshed.
"The daily burn decision is a great tool for anybody who is thinking of lighting their woodstove or outdoor fire" said Myers.
Daily burn conditions are available by calling 1-800-406-5322.
Myers encourages residents to consider alternatives to burning, particularly when the air quality is bad. Alternatives to outdoor burning include composting, mulching and disposal at the local solid waste facility.
For larger land clearing development projects, chipping instead of burning can bring a breath of fresh air to surrounding neighbors. Wood-stove users can decrease emissions by burning only clean, dry fuel and allowing for complete combustion by keeping the damper open.
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Media contact: Joye Redfield-Wilder, (509) 575-2610
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
