Check with your local fire department or appropriate tribal agency for any local burning requirements.

Under the Federal Air Rules for Reservations, EPA has the authority to call burn bans on reservations in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. When an EPA burn ban is in place it applies to all outdoor and agricultural burning, including camping and recreational fires within reservation boundaries. Ceremonial and traditional fires are exempt from the outdoor burn ban. There are also somereservations that have delegation to call their own burn bans and no burn days.

During burn bans, EPA requests that reservation residents reduce all sources of air pollution, including excess driving and vehicle idling, and the use of woodstoves and fireplaces, unless it is your only source of heat.

Air pollution can have significant health impacts. Cooperation from the community will help people who are at risk during this period. Those most at risk are children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with respiratory, cardiac or pulmonary diseases. Those at risk should avoid outdoor exercise and minimize exposure to outdoor pollution as much as possible.

Contact: Gary Olson (olson.gary@epa.gov) at 206-553-0977, or Keith Rose (rose.keith@epa.gov) at 206-553-1949.

Notes to media: Please repeat this message throughout your broadcasting day and weather portions of your newscast.

To receive burn ban announcements by email, please contact Gary Olson (olson.gary@epa.gov) at (206) 553-0997.

Under the Federal Air Rules for Reservations, EPA has the authority to call burn bans on reservations in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. When an EPA burn ban is in place it applies to all outdoor and agricultural burning, including camping and recreational fires within reservation boundaries. Ceremonial and traditional fires are exempt from the outdoor burn ban. There are also somereservations that have delegation to call their own burn bans and no burn days.

During burn bans, EPA requests that reservation residents reduce all sources of air pollution, including excess driving and vehicle idling, and the use of woodstoves and fireplaces, unless it is your only source of heat.

Air pollution can have significant health impacts. Cooperation from the community will help people who are at risk during this period. Those most at risk are children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with respiratory, cardiac or pulmonary diseases. Those at risk should avoid outdoor exercise and minimize exposure to outdoor pollution as much as possible.

Contact: Gary Olson (olson.gary@epa.gov) at 206-553-0977, or Keith Rose (rose.keith@epa.gov) at 206-553-1949.

Notes to media: Please repeat this message throughout your broadcasting day and weather portions of your newscast.

To receive burn ban announcements by email, please contact Gary Olson (olson.gary@epa.gov) at (206) 553-0997.

Contact: Gary Olson, 206-553-0977, olson.gary@epa.gov Keith Rose, 206-553-1949, rose.keith@epa.gov, (Seattle, Wash. – December 18, 2009)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 has called a continuation of the burn ban on all outdoor burning on the Yakama reservations in Washington due to continuing stagnant air conditions in the region. EPA will reassess the need to continue or terminate this burn ban on Monday, December 21.

The burn ban applies to all outdoor and agricultural burning, including camping and recreational fires within reservation boundaries. Ceremonial and traditional fires are exempt from the outdoor burn ban. EPA also requests that reservation residents reduce all sources of air pollution, including excess driving and idling of vehicles, and the use of woodstoves and fireplaces, unless it is your only source of heat.

Air pollution can have significant health impacts. Cooperation from the community will help people who are at risk during this period. Those most at risk are children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with respiratory, cardiac or pulmonary diseases. Those at risk should avoid outdoor exercise and minimize exposure to outdoor pollution as much as possible.

Please call 1-800-424-4EPA and ask for the FARR Hotline or visit the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR) website for the current burn status at www.epa.gov/r10earth/FARR.htm. NOTES TO MEDIA: Please repeat this message throughout your broadcasting day and weather portions of your newscast.

Gary Olson OAWT Suite 900 EPA Region 10 1200 6th Ave Seattle, WA 98101 206-553-0977

(Seattle, Wash. – December 14, 2009)  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 has called a continuation of the burn ban on all outdoor burning on the Yakama reservations in Washington due to continuing stagnant air conditions as a high pressure system remains in the region.   EPA will reassess the need to continue or terminate this burn ban on Wednesday, December 16, 2009

The burn ban for the following Reservation has been discontinued as of 10 AM Monday, December 14, 2009

Muckleshoot Reservation, Washington
Nisqually Reservation, Washington
Port Gamble Reservation, Washington
Puyallup Reservation, Washington
Stillaguamish Reservation, Washington
Port Madison Reservation, Washington
Tulalip Reservation, Washington

The burn ban applies to all outdoor and agricultural burning, including camping and recreational fires within reservation boundaries.   Ceremonial and traditional fires are exempt from the outdoor burn ban.

EPA also requests that reservation residents reduce all sources of air pollution, including excess driving and idling of vehicles, and the use of woodstoves and fireplaces, unless it is your only source of heat.

Air pollution can have significant health impacts.  Cooperation from the community will help people who are at risk during this period.  Those most at risk are children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with respiratory, cardiac or pulmonary diseases.  Those at risk should avoid outdoor exercise and minimize exposure to outdoor pollution as much as possible.

Please call 1-800-424-4EPA and ask for the FARR Hotline or visit the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR) website for the current burn status at www.epa.gov/r10earth/FARR.htm.

NOTES TO MEDIA:  Please repeat this message throughout your broadcasting day and weather portions of your newscast.

Gary Olson
OAWT  Suite 900
EPA Region 10
1200 6th Ave
Seattle, WA 98101
206-553-0977

 Explanation: The Air Pollution Control Officer of the Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency (YRCAA) has declared this burn ban due to impaired air quality and associated adverse health effects caused by high levels of fine particulate. The high levels of fine particulate, caused primarily by wood stoves and outdoor burning, are trapped close to the ground by persistent inversion and/or inadequate ventilation.

Air quality may worsen and is not projected to improve until Sunday afternoon. YRCAA staff will continue to monitor the situation to determine if and when the burn ban can be modified or lifted.

Please check our website for the latest information:

http://www.yakimacleanair.org , or call the YRCAA office at (509) 834-2050

Please Note: This applies to all areas of Yakima County except for Yakama Indian Reservation lands, which are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, under the Federal Air Rules for Reservations Regulations (FARR). For more information, visit the FARR website at www.epa.gov/r10earth/FARR.htm .

During a Stage 2 Burn Ban:

1. All Outdoor Burning, including Agricultural burning, is prohibited;
2. The use of any solid-fuel burning fireplace, stove or fireplace insert (including certified devices) is prohibited unless it is the only adequate means of heating a home;
3. No excessive smoke is allowed from any wood burning device beyond a 20-minute start-up; and
4. All violations of the burn ban are subject to civil penalty.

Note: The most commonly used “solid fuels” are wood, manufactured logs, pellets and coal.

The Air Pollution Control Officer strongly encourages all Yakima County residents to refrain from burning until air quality improves and the risk to public health is diminished.

EPA Continues Outdoor Burn Ban for Indian Reservations in Washington

Contact:
Gary Olson, 206-553-0977, olson.gary@epa.gov
Keith Rose, 206-553-1949, rose.keith@epa.gov,

(Seattle, Wash. – December 11, 2009)  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 has called a continuation of the burn ban on all outdoor burning on the following reservations in Washington due to continuing stagnant air conditions as a high pressure system remains in the region.   EPA will reassess the need to continue or terminate this burn ban on Monday, December 14.

The burn ban will be in effect for December 11 through December 14 for the following reservations:

Muckleshoot Reservation, Washington
Nisqually Reservation, Washington
Port Gamble Reservation, Washington
Puyallup Reservation, Washington
Stillaguamish Reservation, Washington
Port Madison Reservation, Washington
Tulalip Reservation, Washington
Yakama Reservation, Washington

The burn ban applies to all outdoor and agricultural burning, including camping and recreational fires within reservation boundaries.   Ceremonial and traditional fires are exempt from the outdoor burn ban.

EPA also requests that reservation residents reduce all sources of air pollution, including excess driving and idling of vehicles, and the use of woodstoves and fireplaces, unless it is your only source of heat.

Air pollution can have significant health impacts.  Cooperation from the community will help people who are at risk during this period.  Those most at risk are children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with respiratory, cardiac or pulmonary diseases.  Those at risk should avoid outdoor exercise and minimize exposure to outdoor pollution as much as possible.

Please call 1-800-424-4EPA and ask for the FARR Hotline or visit the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR) website for the current burn status at www.epa.gov/r10earth/FARR.htm.

NOTES TO MEDIA:  Please repeat this message throughout your broadcasting day and weather portions of your newscast.

Gary Olson
OAWT  Suite 900
EPA Region 10
1200 6th Ave
Seattle, WA 98101
206-553-0977