A Stage 1 Burn Ban has been declared for both the Upper and Lower Yakima County areas, to remain in place until 7:00 p.m. Friday, February 17, 2012.  This burn ban has been called due to poor ventilation, dispersion and a low level inversion for the Yakima Valley.

• PM2.5 levels are increasing and are Unhealthy (Orange) for the Upper and Moderate (Yellow) for the Lower Valley.
• Ventilation category is poor.
• Dispersion category is poor.
• Weather predictions are for improvement to good ventilation and dispersion by early Saturday morning.
• No Agricultural Burning –  allocations are 0 piles per request for both Upper and Lower County Areas while the burn ban is in place
• We will continue to re-evaluate the Burn Ban status.

 Please Note:  Restrictions may differ within the exterior boundaries of the Yakama Reservation.  The Yakama Nation is addressing air quality issues in conjunction with the EPA, under the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR).  For up-to-date information there, please call 1-800-424-4EPA (1-800-424-4372) 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 .

Reminder:

During a Stage 1 Burn Ban:

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

• PM2.5 Monitor values are currently Moderate (Yellow) in the Upper County area and Good (Green) in Lower County areas.
• PM2.5 Levels expected to improve in the afternoon
• Poor ventilation but wind speed will be about 6 to 7 mph tonight which should help in dispersion
• Agricultural Burn allocation level is 4 – up to 50 tons for Upper and Lower County areas (see Outdoor Burning, below)

Note: Burn Ban conditions are re-evaluated daily – for your convenience you can also sign up for our Burn Ban E-mail Updates at http://www.yakimacleanair.org .

Outdoor Burning:

 Agricultural Burning will be allowed to resume, but only with a valid 2012 Agricultural Burn permit and approved Daily Burn Allocations.  Please call the YRCAA Office (509-834-2050) to receive a burn allocation.

1. Reminder:  The period for Outdoor Residential Burning ended on the 15^th of October, 2011.  Outdoor Residential burning will not resume until March 15^th, 2012, with a 2012 Residential Burn Permit issued through this office.

 Please Note:  Restrictions may differ within the exterior boundaries of the Yakama Reservation.  The Yakama Nationis addressing air quality issues in conjunction with the EPA, under the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR).  For up-to-date information there, please call 1-800-424-4EPA (1-800-424-4372) 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 .

Thank you for your assistance in shortening the period of this most recent burn curtailment.

DATE:            Thursday, February 09, 2012

TIME:             4:30 p.m. PST

TO:                 Media and Reporting Fire Districts

FROM:           Dave Caprile, PIO, YRCAA

SUBJECT:      YAKIMA COUNTY – BURN BAN DECLARED

A Stage 1 Burn Ban has been declared for both the Upper and Lower Yakima County areas.

• PM2.5 levels are increasing and are currently Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (Orange) in both Upper and Lower County Areas.
• Weather predictions are for poor ventilation and dispersion for the next few days with calm surface winds; this may cause PM2.5 levels to continue increasing to Unhealthy levels.
• No Agricultural Burning –  allocations are 0 piles per request for both Upper and Lower County Areas while the burn ban is in place
• We will re-evaluate the Burn Ban status again tomorrow morning.
• Please      Note:  Restrictions may differ within the exterior boundaries of the      Yakama Reservation.  The Yakama Nation is addressing      air quality issues in conjunction with the EPA, under the Federal Air      Rules for Reservations (FARR).  For up-to-date information there,      please call 1-800-424-4EPA (1-800-424-4372) 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      .

Reminder:

During a Stage 1 Burn Ban:

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

Thank you for your cooperation.

The burn ban will be in effect for the following reservations:

Nisqually Reservation Wash.

Muckleshoot Reservation, Wash.,

Chehalis Reservation, Wash,

Puyallup Reservation, Wash.

Colville Reservation, Wash,

Spokane Reservation, Wash,.

Yakama Reservation, Wash.

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 difficulty breathing and with heart and lung problems. 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.

EPA Calls Burn Ban for Several Reservations in Washington Starting Friday, February 3 at 8 AM

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

The Stage 1 Burn Ban put into place last Saturday, January 28, 2012, for both Upper and Lower Yakima County areas has been REMOVED for all areas in YRCAA’s jurisdiction due to improved air quality conditions. 

• The PM2.5 levels have decreased dramatically in the last 24 hours and are now at a “Healthy” level in both the Upper and the Lower County areas.  Ventilation and Dispersion are Moderate to Good for Yakima County.
• PM2.5 Monitor values are Moderate to Good in Upper and Lower Valley.
• Poor to Fair ventilation and dispersion for today with poor to fair surface winds.
• Agricultural Burn allocations are up to 50 tons (Level 3) for Upper and Lower Valley (see below)
• Note: Burn Ban conditions are re-evaluated daily – for your convenience you can also sign up for our Burn Ban E-mail Updates at http://www.yakimacleanair.org .

Outdoor Burning: 

1. Agricultural Burning will be allowed to resume, but only with a valid 2012 Agricultural Burn permit and approved Daily Burn Allocations.  Please call the YRCAA Office (509-834-2050) to receive a burn allocation.
2. Reminder:  The period for Outdoor Residential burning ended on the 15th of October, 2011.  Outdoor Residential burning will not resume until March 15th, 2012, with a 2012 Residential Burn Permit issued through this office.      

Please Note:  Restrictions may differ within the exterior boundaries of the Yakama Reservation.  The Yakama Nation is addressing air quality issues in conjunction with the EPA, under the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR).  For up-to-date information there, please call 1-800-424-4EPA (1-800-424-4372) 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 .

Thanks to all who helped by observing this Burn Ban.