WA Burn Bans

[January 28, 2012] Effective at 5:00 p.m. today, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is cancelling the air quality burn  ban issued for Pierce County.

The area of high pressure that calmed winds and dropped temperatures last night is leaving our region today. Agency forecasters expect evening winds tonight and tomorrow, which should disperse air pollution and restore good air quality in  Pierce County.

We appreciate the public’s  cooperation with the burn ban. We encourage people to  check current air  quality  and burn ban status before they burn. Conditions can change quickly this time of year. To check burn ban status:

1. Sign up for clean air              newswhere you can:
   1. Receive e-mail notification of burn bans
   2. Follow us on Twitter/Facebook
   3. Subscribe to R.P.I.N. and EnviroFlash
2. Visit our Web site www.pscleanair.org
3. Call our Air Quality InfoLine at 1-800-595-4341

For those who heat with wood,  please remember that it is always illegal to emit excess chimney smoke or  to smoke out your neighbor, burn ban or not. You know you are burning properly when you do not see  any smoke coming from your chimney. And burning garbage is always illegal.

For more information:

• Updated air pollution data and forecasts
• Frequently asked questions about burn bans
• How to heat efficiently and cleanly
• Sign up for clean air         news
• Learn about clean home heating with videos on our YouTube channel

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The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is an  air quality management agency serving King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish  counties. Created as a result of the 1967 Washington Clean Air Act, the agency  protects public health  by adopting and enforcing air  quality regulations, educating individuals and businesses about clean-air  choices and sponsoring voluntary initiatives to improve air quality.

Effective 12:00 p.m.., Saturday, Januyary 28, 2012:

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 Upper County Area and Moderate (Yellow) in the Lower County area, with worsening predictions by this afternoon.
• Weather predictions are for a low-level surface inversion with poor ventilation and dispersion for the next few days, including little or no 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.

To protect public health from rising air pollution levels, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is issuing a Stage 1 burn ban in Pierce County, effective at 12 p.m. today. This ban is in effect until further notice.

High pressure has been building over the Puget Sound region, resulting in very cold and stagnant weather conditions. Air pollution is building up in Pierce County, especially in communities where residential wood burning is common. With stagnant conditions expected to continue through tomorrow, pollution levels could reach the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” category at some locations. For details visit pscleanair.org.

Effective: 10:00 a.m. PST today, Wednesday, January 25, 2012:

 The Burn Ban 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 Poor to Fair for Yakima County.

•        PM2.5 Monitor values are currently Good (Green) in Upper and Lower County areas.

•        Poor ventilation and fair dispersion for today

•        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 .