08/02/1978 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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. Preliminary results with experimental burning techniques have been mixed. with the results of backfiring not very encouraging. However, the experiments with strip lighting have been positive. With some - refinement. it appears this technique may be a useful tool. Experi- ments have been limited, and additional experimental burning will be necessary before a final judgment can be made. One of the standards accepted by EQC was that to August 15 there would be no burning of seed fields ~hat contained more than 12 percent moisture. DEQ moisture-content testing appears to be positive. A simple in-field manual IIcrackle test." to determine moisture content. appears practical. This will allow growers to test the moisture content without the difficulty or expense of sophisticated measuring devices. Mr. Smith said next week there would be an increase in aircraft traffic over the valley as the EPA-equipped airplane will be in the area, with DEQ aircraft and helicopter to conduct heavy samplings. Meteorological and tracer studies will be part of the program. The tracer study will attempt to identify the changing character- istics of smoke plumes. The meterological study will attempt to identify factors affecting smoke transport. On the ground. the experimental burning crews will be doing more work on burning techniques. and emission testing is expected to again be underway. I In response to Mayor Kell er' s concern about the use of DEQ IS data- gathering program for the chemical-element balance measurement, Assistant Manager said staff had indicated through the discussion e with DEQ the need for adequate staffing and equipment. and had been assured by DEQ this would be provided. However. it was recognized the DEQ staff had a tremendous workload. Mayor Keller requested the City's concern be relayed to the DEQ once again about the col- lection of these data. II. Request from Councilor Lieuallen Re: Council Position on Use of Herbicides Containing TCDD--Memo distributed. Mr. Lieuallen said the memo outlines some concerns~ data available, and what various agencies are doing about the problem. He clarified for Council that the herbicides are those which are contaminated by dioxin, a material which is an unwanted but inherent by-product of producing herbicides. He said EPA was now studying a 2,4,5-T to determine the toxicity of dioxin and whether or not it exceeds the risk factor. He said there was a question of whether EPA should suspend the use of this herbicide until the study is completed. There will be a hearing before the State Board of Forestry Thursday and Friday, August 3 and 4, on pro- posed rules regarding the use of this herbicide. Two proposals to be made at that hearing would be: 1) From Governor Straub, that there is a need for a buffer strip between the areas sprayed and streams; and in addition, a need to post the area for a specific period of time before spraying is done; and 2) A proposal from the Oregon Environmental Council to support a 200-foot buffer strip with longer posting before, and main- tained six months after, an area was sprayed. e 8/2/78--4 SLl3 I