09/27/1978 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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, . Mr. Smith said statistics for severe smoke intrusions for August 2/3 in Eugene from severe slash burning resulted in total suspended particulate concentration for Eugene of 150 tit micrograms per cubic meter, with a fine suspended particulate concentration of 72 micrograms per cubic meter. This was a very high figure for fine particulates. He said, however, there was no National Air Quality standard violated for these high intrusions, which indicated a serious weakness of EPA containment standards. Regarding the DEQ monitoring program, it was still underway and would continue through the rest of the field-burning season However, he noted since Eugene had a good year as far as air quality intrusions, the reports may indicate burning has had little impact on Eugene and Springfield. Mr. Smith reviewed experimental burning programs which include peripheral firing and into-the-wind strip lighting, both of which hold promise for possible burning of more acreage without encountering substantial air quality impact. He noted there would be a EQC hearing November 17, in Eugene, regarding the rules for the 1979-80 burning season and setting an acreage limitation. In response to a question from Mr. Haws, Mr. Smith said the EPA standards are set nation-wide, with studies usually made in urban areas to examine small numbers of sources. He said those standards may not be applicable to all cities; however, the State can set more stringent standards. He noted he was proposing some health effect studies, and it may be possible those could be used to establish new standards for the area. He said EPA had indicated e fine particulate standards should be ready in two years. ' Mayor Keller wondered where the problems occurred with strip lighting and the lack of cooperation between governmental agencies and the farmers. Mr. Smith said a number of factors might be involved, including new techniques with which the farmers are not familiar; DEQ enforcement by airplane, in which it was difficult to know which fields were experimental; and farmers not being convinced that this was a reasonable method to use. He said the fields for experimental burn were mostly selected by volunteers and avail- ability. Mayor Keller indicated it appeared that as the City reviews the SIP, this is an issue that should be addressed. City Manager introduced Bob Elfers, City representative on field burning for the legislative session, and Vern Atkinson, Director of LRAPA. Mr. Atkinson said he had been following the program with a great deal of interest, and indicated there was a great deal of vague data. The data interpretation is extremely important, and he welcomed the City's participation in that. He noted the data could be intrinsically altered by meteorological conditions. He has been in contact with representatives in the Willamette Valley to solicit their participation and to make them aware this is a valley-wide problem. He noted the cities of Eugene, Springfield, and Albany have asked the legislature for control of the automobile emissions. He stressed the importance of more data and more statistics. tIP 9/27/78--2 ''1'(,