05/31/1978 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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of the fields normally burned could not meet the limitation. The City had also proposed that one perennial grass (bent grass) be backburned and strip-lighted along with the annuals. There was concern about possible damage to the crop, and the Commission made the backburning of this perennial discretionary with the staff. The Commission also made two modifications to the acreage release system: That if extremely high ventilation days existed after the cutoff, burning could occur; also, the Commission addressed the problem of possible inequity for growers of late crops if the 150,000 cutoff was required because the expected improvement did not occur. The City proposed 15,000-acre discretionary amount be available if necessary, and urged that the Commission accept a further qualification to the effect that they not exercise their discretion unless 120,000 acres had been burned by August 15. Mr. Long noted usually 60,000 to 80,000 acres had been burned by that time. Mr. Long felt the 1978 Control Strategy should receive Council's approval and formal notification be sent to the state and federal agencies. However~ before Council took action on the matter, he wanted to make it clear that approving this control strategy does not guarantee no smoke in Eugene this summer. There will be smoke, but it may be from field burning and/or slash burning. However, he felt the measures recommended were practical alternatives to what has happened in the- past, a new approach of relating field burning to air quality. He said additional resources and attention are needed for improving efficiency of the state's meteorological rapid reporting system, and suggested Council stress this concern to the state. Concern was also expressed regarding the emission monitoring program. Many future actions will be based on data obtained this summer. It is essential that the monitoring system be as accurate and complete as possible. The staff felt more needs to be done to improve the system and sug- gested Council urge the state to consider bolstering their efforts in this critical area. Mr. Long continued that the meetings and negotiations recently held with the representatives of the grass seed industry did not produce a joint agreement, but there were beneficial aspects to the discus- sions. He suggested the City continue to combine talents in the area rather than work separately or in opposition, therefore estab- lishing a better relationship with the increase in contacts. It was suggested an effort by the City be made to establish some meetings between members of the Oregon Grass Seed Council and the Eugene City Council. In conclusion, Mr. Long said the recommendations were received by the EQC and staff suggested Council notify state and federal agencies that it approves the 1978 Interim Control Strategy; that it suggest the EQC be formally advised of the need for greater resources and effort to be spent on the rapid reporting and emission monitoring systems; and that an effort be made at both staff and governing body levels to continue direct contacts between the City of Eugene and the grass seed industry. 5/31/78--2 ~o~ - . -