ORCAA regulations provide the public with an opportunity to comment on business applications for Notices of Construction (i.e. applications to operate). The public can express interest in an application during the noticing period and may request a public comment period. The list of current permit applications open for public comment can be found here.
October 2009Monthly Archives
Outdoor burning allowed region wide
Outdoor burning of residential materials in Thurston County is prohibited July 15 through October 15 each year. This seasonal prohibition, crafted jointly by local fire agencies and Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA), has helped curtail wildfires in the county during the high fire danger period.
Where burning is allowed now allowed, a residential permit is required in Thurston County (available here). Outdoor burning is prohibited year-round for residents within the cities of Olympia, Tumwater and Lacey, as well as for county residents within the Urban Growth Area (UGA) boundary.
The restrictions on outdoor burning during the summer and early autumn has resulted in a significant drop in brush fires and property damage each of the past couple years, according to fire officials.
Just because you can burn yard waste doesn’t mean you should.
Burning at any time adds to the air pollution levels in your local neighborhood, and residents are encouraged to seek alternatives to burning throughout the year.
Residents must remember the only material they may legally burn is natural vegetation gathered on site. State law prohibits the burning of garbage and home-repair debris. Burn barrels of any kind are also prohibited by state law.
Unregulated outdoor burning of any kind can contribute to poor air quality, but burning garbage and other debris—even scraps of milled wood products—is particularly problematic. Most household garbage contains a great deal of plastics, chemicals, coatings and chemically treated materials. When burned, this garbage and waste material releases toxic fumes and particles into the air. This pollution can cause disease ranging from eye and respiratory irritation to potential cancers.
Board Meeting Slated for Oct. 14
The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency’s Board of Directors meets at 10 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month. The meetings are held at the ORCAA headquarters in Olympia, 2940-B Limited Lane NW.
The meeting’s agenda can be found online here.
You Burn It, You Breathe It
Recently, fire-danger burn bans were lifted in three of the counties within ORCAA’s jurisiction.
The fire danger in Mason, Pacific Counties.Clallam, Jefferson and Grays Harbor Counties dropped to “low” so the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and county fire marshalls rescinded the summer-long burn ban in those counties. Note that burn bans remain in effect in Thurston County.
But just because you can burn, doesn’t mean you should! Smoke from outdoor burning causes substantial air pollution in the area, according to the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA).
Burning wood and other plant material creates smoke composed of fine and very fine particles. This small particulate matter (PM) creates significant health risks, especially the very fine particles – smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5). These tiny particles can remain in that sensitive tissue for months, slowly causing tissue damage and chemical changes within the lungs. That means that exposure to wood smoke may, at the very least, cause breathing problems and can increase – sometimes substantially increase –the severity of existing lung disease, such as asthma.
Smoke also has been shown to aggravate heart disease. Carbon monoxide is also a component of wood smoke that can build up inside the residence during the use of wood stoves or fireplaces. Carbon monoxide may cause chest pain, strain on the heart, and even death.
Children and the elderly are particularly susceptible to problems associated with smoke. The types of problems associated with smoke exposure include lower respiratory infections, acute pneumonia, and bronchitis, as well as severe aggravation of existing conditions such asthma and emphysema. Substantial evidence also suggests a strong link between wood smoke inhalation and cancer. As with cigarette smoking, wood smoke includes components such as benzo-a-pyrene and coal tar – both of which were identified as substantial carcinogens in tobacco.
There are measures people can take to reduce the amount of smoke they produce. Instead of putting yard waste in a burn pile, it may be composted or disposed of at the local waste collection center (where it will be composted). Residents should also be aware that burning of household waste or any form of trash – whether in a woodstove or outdoors – is illegal under state law. Burn barrels are also illegal throughout Washington state.
New Permit Applications Received
ORCAA regulations provide the public with an opportunity to comment on business applications for Notices of Construction (i.e. applications to operate). The public can express interest in an application during the noticing period and may request a public comment period. The list of current permit applications open for public comment can be found here.
