Ordinance No. 19715 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORDINANCE NO. ,,~ 7 / ,S'- A SPECIAL ORDINANCE GRANTING AN EXEMPTION To THE APPLICATION OF EUGENE CODE, 1971, SECTION 6.40; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The City Council of the City of Eugene finds as follows: 1. Eugene Code, 1971, Section 6.240 proscribes the practice of open burning within the City of Eugene with specified exceptions to this ban. This ordinance is a component of local measures designed to assure compliance with federal ambient air qualilty standards. Z. Maintenance and enhancement of air quality is critical to the health and welfare of metropolitan area residents, the area's ability to attract new businesses, and avoidance of sanctions for noncompliance. 3. The Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan Metro Plank adopted and acknowledged in 1982, identifies the Willaw Creek Basin as a major growth area far the City. A portion of the Basin is denominated "Parks and Open Space." That area is the habitat of several unique and rare species of plants ~Lomatium bradshaii, Erigeron documbens var. decumbets, Aster curbs -- common names Bradshaw's lomatium, Willamette . Valley daisy, white-top aster. These species at one time predominated in the Willamette Valley. Their habitat area is quite limited now. This special habitat area was identified in the July, 1982 Willow Creek Special Area Study. 4, Subsequent to these actions and pursuant to their terms, the Nature Conservancy became the managers of this sensitive habitat area and this area was annexed to the City. 5. Management of this habitat and preservation of the rare plant species requires periodic "species protection" open burning of vegetation for scientific purposes and to foster growth. This burning of these rare plants will restore the area to its historical prairie condition and replicate the indigenious environment for the rare plants. 6. A limited and special exception to the open burning ban in Eugene Code, 1971, Section 6.200 is necessary for this purpose. This limited exception is based upon the high casts and limited practicability of alternative vegetation control methods, the limited nature of the expected burns, air pollution control strategies that will be employed to prevent significant degradation of air quality, the special recognition given to this area and habitat in the comprehensive planning documents, the City's direct responsibility under those plans for preservation of the Ordinance -- 1