Survey results cloud official smog index
By Brooks Dareff
CM the Emerald
When they scan the air for pollutants, Lane County
residents and the Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority
don't always see eye to eye, according to the results of a
survey conducted by the LRAPA at the Lane County Fair
last month.
The informal survey's purpose was to assist LRAPA in
better understanding how Lane County residents feel
about local air quality, says LRAPA spokesperson Marty
Douglass.
"Though the survey results are not absolutely con
clusive, they will give us an indication of how people view
local air quality, what they think are the major polluters,
and what should be done in controlling local air pollu
tion," Douglass says.
While field burning was identified most frequently by
the 192 people who completed the questionaire as the
worst cause of local air pollution, Douglass rates it fifth in
a list of six headed by industry, woodstoves (winter), and
road dust (summer).
Industry was last on the list of major pollutants cited
by survey respondents. After field burning came
woodstoves, automobiles, slash burning and industry.
Douglass was not surprised by the respective high (in
terms of pollution) and low statuses granted by
respondents to field burning and industry. Field burning
has been "a very visible issue" for the past fifteen years,
he says, while industry was "keyed on earlier" and is in
correctly perceived by the public as a "diminishing
pollutant."
The primary source of industry air pollution in Lane
County is the Weyerheuser wood products mill in Spr
ingfield, Douglass says.
However, Douglass was “pleasantly surprised" to find
woodstoves high on the survey results. LRAPA has been
talking publicly about woodstove pollution and the survey
indicates their education efforts have not gone up in
smoke, and that "our message has been received," he
says.
The message also has been received in Salem, where
the 1983 legislature passed House Bill 2235, which re
quires all new woodstoves sold after July 1, 1986 to meet
emission standards. The regulation will not apply to the
emission levels generated by the wood that is burned in a
stove, but it "represents the first concrete step toward
controlling woodstove residential heating," he says.
The cities of San Francisco, Boulder, Co. and
Missoula, Mt., have similar statutes, but HB 2235 may be
the first statewide woodstove emissions law.
LRAPA is not presently lobbying for any new
statewide legislation affecting air pollution, Douglass says.
Noticeably absent from the list of six major pollutants
were automobiles, though he says the LRAPA does not
disregard them as major pollutants. In fact, the carbon
monoxide emitted by automobiles is the most dangerous
of the three types of air pollutants designated by LRAPA.
Automobiles simply do not come under the jurisdic
tion of the LRAPA because county levels of carbon
monoxide and the second pollutant type, ozone — also
caused mainly by automobile emissions in concert with
high summer temperatures — "are not out of whack with
federal standards." Automobile pollution in Lane County
is regulated by the Department of Environmental Quality
in Portland.
The third pollutant type, particulate matter, is in
LRAPA's arena, and is caused by smoke, dust and any
kind of burning. Woodstoves generate both carbon diox
ide and particulate matter, and are therefore under the
LRAPA's jurisdiction.
Particulate matter causes the most irritating health ef
fects, such as burning in the eyes and throat, he says.
r
Air Pollution Index
Survey respondents thought more controls should be
placed on several of the generaters of all three pollutant
types — on slash burning, field burning, woodstoves,
automobiles, and industry, in that order — and that cur
rent controls should be maintained on backyard burning
and road dust. Few responding thought less control
should be placed on any sources.
Local air pollution control was identified as preferable
to state control by a wide margin.
By way of general evaluation of local air quality, of the
192 people completing the questionaire, 44 percent
described local air quality as "fair,” 32 percent said it is
"good," three percent said "very good," and eight per
cent said it is "very poor."
According to LRAPA's "Air Pollution Index," printed
Monday through Friday on page two of the Register
Guard, there were no "unhealthful" days this summer,
while there were two last winter. The Air Pollution Index
categories are "good," "moderate,” "unhealthful," "very
unhealthful," and "hazardous." LRAPA forecasts a daily
index number and a pollutant for Eugene, Portland and
Medford.
Cooler weather and higher winds contributed toward
improving air quality this summer, primarily because sum
mer's major pollutant type is ozone, which is increased by
higher temperatures.
Burning days begin
The backyard burning season begins in Lane Coun
ty October 1.
Under Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority
regulations, burning of yard clippings, leaves, tree
trimmings and other "domestic waste” material is
permitted on designated burning days through June
15,1984. However, a city ordinance prohibits burning
of such material year-round for residents living in
side the Eugene city limits.
Residents wishing to burn backyard material
should obtain a permit from their local fire district,
and telephone 342-1919 for the burning advisory on
the day they wish to burn. Residents living outside of
an established fire district can obtain a burning per
mit by calling the Lane County Department of Public
Works at 687-3881.
Open burning of backyard material is permitted in
Lane County through the fall, winter and spring mon
ths, on days when weather conditions are favorable
to the dispersion of smoke. Burning is generally pro
hibited on days of stagnant air in the valley.
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A dark and
stormy night
The sight of this hanging Carson
canine cartoon caricature went unnotic
ed to most passersby Monday morning.
For the beagle-eyed, however, the image
evoked feelings of anger directed at the
doer of this dastardly deed, obviously an
avid member of the Red Baron Disarma
ment Committee.
Along with with the "Dead Ken
nedys” symbol in the window and the
purloined "Mill Valley" city limits sign,
this poor pooch is no doubt intended to
brighten the lives of other dorm
residents. Wait until the SPCA catches
on.
A source who asked to remain
anonymous, shrugged the incident off as
"not meaning peanuts."
Photo by Jim Goodwin