December 2009Monthly Archives

Burn Ban LIFTED in Thurston County

Thanks largely to a change in weather, air quality in ORCAA’s jurisdiction has improved substantially . As a result, the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency has lifted its Stage 1 Burn Ban  in Thurston County effective immediately.

To ensure clean, healthful air for all, ORCAA encourages residents to be responsible and to burn only when absolutely necessary even when mandatory restrictions are lifted. Air stagnation is possible throughout the winter and early spring. Voluntary reductions on indoor and outdoor burning in the region can help prevent elevated air pollution levels and therefore reduce the need for stringent burn restrictions.

People who would like to do their part to ensure clean, healthful air might consider the following simple acts to help protect the air we breathe:

• When possible, do not use any woodstove or fireplace.

• If you do have a fire in a certified stove or fireplace, consider using manufactured logs if you must burn. They are made from recycled wood products and burn cleaner than cut wood.

• Always use your woodstove or fireplace properly to ensure the cleanest burning possible. Remember that excess smoke is always illegal. To learn more about clean burning techniques and to find a current list of certified woodstoves and fireplaces, visit www.news.orcaa.org and click on the Programs tab in the top menu and scroll down to Woodstoves.

• Limit your driving as much as possible, since vehicles are a big source of air pollution year round.

• Check air-quality forecasts and current conditions at www.news.orcaa.org. The current and forecasted air-quality conditions are available via the links on the right. To learn about the health effects of air pollution, check out the American Lung Association of Washington’s Web site at www.alaw.org.

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December 30, 2009
Burn Status, Health, News and Information, Upcoming Events
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Burn Ban EXTENDED until Tuesday evening

A Stage One Burn Ban has been EXTENDED for Thurston County and will remain in effect at least until TUESDAY EVENING. Conditions will be reevaluated at that time to determine when the ban can be lifted.

Under a Stage 1 Ban, no burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves, and all outdoor burning is prohibited, even in areas where outdoor burning is not permanently banned. Additionally, no visible smoke is allowed from any wood stove or fireplace, certified or not, beyond a 20-minute start-up period.

A system of stable, high pressure over Western Washington, coupled with cold overnight temperatures has resulted in air pollution levels climbing enough to raise concerns about the air quality and its impacts on health. A change in weather will be needed to restore cleaner air quality, yet that’s not forecast to occur until early Sunday.

While pollution levels in Thurston County warrants the Stage One Ban, other counties within the jurisdiction of the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) haven’t reached that level. To avoid bans in their areas, the residents of Mason, Pacific, Grays Harbor, Clallam and Jefferson Counties are asked to voluntarily refrain from all outdoor burning, and to use safe alternatives to wood heat if possible.

Of particular concern are fine particles released by smoke from wood stoves and fireplaces. The Washington State Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution limit time spent outdoors. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse. Air pollution is especially harmful to children, people with heart and lung problems, and adults over age 65.

Olympic Region Clean Air Agency staff will continue to monitor the situation to determine when the burn ban can be lifted. In the meantime, here are some other things people can do to help protect the air we breathe:

  • If you have a certified wood stove or fireplace insert, make sure you are using it properly so you don’t produce excess chimney smoke. Excess smoke is always illegal. To learn more about clean burning techniques or upgrading to a certified, pellet, natural gas or propane stove, visit http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/
  • To determine if your stove is certified, visit http://www.news.orcaa.org/sections/woodstove-program/
  • Limit your driving as much as possible, since vehicles are a big source of air pollution year round. Check air-quality forecasts and current conditions at www.news.orcaa.org. The current and forecasted air-quality conditions are available via the links on the right.

For more information about Burn Ban regulations, you may refer to Chapter 173-433 of the Washington Administrative Code.

For the latest news in ORCAA’s Six County Jurisdiction, please sign up for ORCAA’s email alerts to get latest news and updates: www.news.orcaa.org or call (360) 539-7610

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December 28, 2009
Burn Status, Health, News and Information, Upcoming Events
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Burn Ban EXTENDED in Thurston County

A Stage One Burn Ban has been EXTENDED for Thurston County and will remain in effect at least until Monday morning. Conditions will be reevaluated at that time to determine when the ban can be lifted.

Under a Stage 1 Ban, no burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves, and all outdoor burning is prohibited, even in areas where outdoor burning is not permanently banned. Additionally, no visible smoke is allowed from any wood stove or fireplace, certified or not, beyond a 20-minute start-up period.

A system of stable, high pressure over Western Washington, coupled with cold overnight temperatures has resulted in air pollution levels climbing enough to raise concerns about the air quality and its impacts on health. A change in weather will be needed to restore cleaner air quality, yet that’s not forecast to occur until early Sunday.

While pollution levels in Thurston County warrants the Stage One Ban, other counties within the jurisdiction of the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) haven’t reached that level. To avoid bans in their areas, the residents of Mason, Pacific, Grays Harbor, Clallam and Jefferson Counties are asked to voluntarily refrain from all outdoor burning, and to use safe alternatives to wood heat if possible.

Of particular concern are fine particles released by smoke from wood stoves and fireplaces. The Washington State Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution limit time spent outdoors. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse. Air pollution is especially harmful to children, people with heart and lung problems, and adults over age 65.

Olympic Region Clean Air Agency staff will continue to monitor the situation to determine when the burn ban can be lifted. In the meantime, here are some other things people can do to help protect the air we breathe:

  • If you have a certified wood stove or fireplace insert, make sure you are using it properly so you don’t produce excess chimney smoke. Excess smoke is always illegal. To learn more about clean burning techniques or upgrading to a certified, pellet, natural gas or propane stove, visit http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/
  • To determine if your stove is certified, visit http://www.news.orcaa.org/sections/woodstove-program/
  • Limit your driving as much as possible, since vehicles are a big source of air pollution year round. Check air-quality forecasts and current conditions at www.news.orcaa.org. The current and forecasted air-quality conditions are available via the links on the right.

For more information about Burn Ban regulations, you may refer to Chapter 173-433 of the Washington Administrative Code.

For the latest news in ORCAA’s Six County Jurisdiction, please sign up for ORCAA’s email alerts to get latest news and updates: www.news.orcaa.org or call (360) 539-7610

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December 26, 2009
Burn Status, Health, News and Information, Upcoming Events
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Stage 1 Burn Ban called for Thurston County

A Stage One Burn Ban is being called for Thurston county effective 2 p.m. today and continuing at least until Sunday morning.

Under a Stage 1 Ban, no burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves, and all outdoor burning is prohibited, even in areas where outdoor burning is not permanently banned. Additionally, no visible smoke is allowed from any wood stove or fireplace, certified or not, beyond a 20-minute start-up period.

A system of stable, high pressure over Western Washington, coupled with cold overnight temperatures has resulted in air pollution levels climbing enough to raise concerns about the air quality and its impacts on health. A change in weather will be needed to restore cleaner air quality, yet that’s not forecast to occur until early Sunday.

While pollution levels in Thurston County warrants the Stage One Ban, other counties within the jurisdiction of the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) haven’t reached that level. To avoid bans in their areas, the residents of Mason, Pacific, Grays Harbor, Clallam and Jefferson Counties are asked to voluntarily refrain from all outdoor burning, and to use safe alternatives to wood heat if possible.

Of particular concern are fine particles released by smoke from wood stoves and fireplaces. The Washington State Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution limit time spent outdoors. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse. Air pollution is especially harmful to children, people with heart and lung problems, and adults over age 65.

Olympic Region Clean Air Agency staff will continue to monitor the situation to determine when the burn ban can be lifted. In the meantime, here are some other things people can do to help protect the air we breathe:

  • If you have a certified wood stove or fireplace insert, make sure you are using it properly so you don’t produce excess chimney smoke. Excess smoke is always illegal. To learn more about clean burning techniques or upgrading to a certified, pellet, natural gas or propane stove, visit http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/
  • To determine if your stove is certified, visit http://www.news.orcaa.org/sections/woodstove-program/
  • Limit your driving as much as possible, since vehicles are a big source of air pollution year round. Check air-quality forecasts and current conditions at www.news.orcaa.org. The current and forecasted air-quality conditions are available via the links on the right.

For more information about Burn Ban regulations, you may refer to Chapter 173-433 of the Washington Administrative Code.

For the latest news in ORCAA’s Six County Jurisdiction, please sign up for ORCAA’s email alerts to get latest news and updates: www.news.orcaa.org or call (360) 539-7610

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December 24, 2009
Burn Status, Health, News and Information, Upcoming Events
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Give the gift of fresh air

Avoid dangerous – and illegal ­– practice of burning holiday waste

OLYMPIA – The holidays bring joy and happiness as families and friend gather together to celebrate the season. As fun and enjoyable as the get-togethers can be, however, there is a downside – trash!

When groups gather for food and drink, garbage can pile up. Parties produce sacks full of dirty paper plates, discarded decorations, gift-wrapping, and more. All too frequently, that waste overflows the household’s normal allotment of garbage cans and homeowners choose to burn the excess trash.

“That’s a bad solution for everyone,” says Dan Nelson, spokesman for Olympic Region Clean Air Agency. “Burning trash of any kind produces very toxic air pollution, as well as creating fire hazards. For these reasons, all trash burning is illegal in the State of Washington.”

Smoke from the burning of household waste contains dangerous chemicals that can cause health problems. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), trash burning is one of the nation’s largest known sources of dioxins – highly toxic compounds linked to several health problems, including cancer and reproductive disorders.

Because of the chemicals used in the manufacturing process, even the burning of plain paper releases these toxic compounds into the air. What’s more, in addition to the toxic compounds, trash burning creates particulate matter (PM) air pollution. That is, fine and very fine particles that can be absorbed deep into the lungs, creating immediate ­– as well as long-term – health problems.

Health problems that have been linked to exposure to air pollution that result from trash burning include respiratory illness (including aggravation of pre-existing cases of asthma and emphysema), kidney and liver damage, nervous system disruptions and reproductive and developmental disorders. Because of their small size and growing bodies, children are especially at risk. Pound for pound, they are exposed to greater pollutant concentrations than adults.

Rather than burning household waste, ORCAA reminds residents to recycle as much of the material in the waste as possible, and then dispose of the remainder through their regular trash service.

Excess holiday waste can be taken directly to waste disposal stations, or it may be bagged and disposed of the following week when the household’s waste stream is back at a normal level.

For additional information, visit www.news.orcaa.org or call (360) 539-7610.

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December 22, 2009
Health, News and Information
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