01/23/1989 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e make it possible for DEQ to implement programs for local governments unwilling or unable to implement their own, or lobbying for removal of the exemption at the regional level. The council agreed to direct the City1s legislative delegation to lobby for a statewide removal of the exemption first but to leave open the possibility of a regional exemption. Deputy Director of Public Works Terry Smith gave a presentation on the Oregon Fire Marshal's proposed regulation of field burning along highways. He said the Oregon Fire Marshal has proposed adoption of permanent rules to increase safety along Oregon Highways affected by field burning. These rules govern both open burning and the use of propane flamers along highways. The proposed rules prohibit open burning within a half-mile buffer zone of Interstate 5 and a quarter-mile buffer along other major State highways. Minimum requirements for fire breaks, fire fighting equipment requirements, and the equipment used to ignite an open burn are specified. Propane flaming and open burning of baled straw would continue to be permitted within the buffer zones. In addition, the rules would revise the meteorological conditions under which the Fire Marshal completely bans all burning. Under the proposed rules, field burning would be banned when the temperature is 95 degrees or above, or the relative humidity is 30 percent or below, or wind speed is 15 miles per hour or more. Mr. Smith said these rules are an improvement over the past, but they still have serious flaws. He said it is not clear that the buffer zones are large enough, and continuing to allow propaning and bale-burning in the buffer zone will pose a substantial risk of future traffic accidents caused by smoke. Mr. Smith said the establishment of buffer zone will result in the need to dispose of 250,000 tons of straw. The proposed rules allow this straw to be burned in stacked bales adjacent to highways. There is currently very little regulation of stack burning by DEQ and the Fire Marshal's proposed rules provide no additional regulation. This represents a substantial increase in stack burning with an increased probability of accidents and seriously degraded air quality. Finally, Mr. Smith said the rules used to ban all burning have a serious loophole. It is possible for weather conditions to exist that would almost, but not quite, exceed any of the three criteria in the proposed rule. Mr. Smith cited an example in which the temperature is 92 degrees, the humidity is 32 percent, and there are 12-mile-per-hour winds, and yet burning would not be banned. He said from a fire-hazard perspective, such a condition is just as dangerous as a day when one or even two of the criteria are exceeded. Mr. Smith said the use of a flame-spread criteria would be a more comprehensive approach since the spread index takes into account all three weather factors simultaneously. Mr. Smith recommended that the council request that the Fire Marshal undertake a study in conjunction with the Oregon Transportation Safety Commission to determine the size of buffer zones needed; apply smoke MINUTES--Eugene City Council Work Session January 23, 1989 Page 8