Clean Air Newsline March 2009 In this issue: * Rule change proposed to phase out land-clearing burning in Kitsap County * Clean Air Agency supports U.S. EPA's new plan to slash global shipping pollution * Think fresh - Learn about air-friendly yard care equipment and techniques * Kitsap County offers Yard Waste Amnesty Days in April * Wood Stove Replacement Program nears its end. Don't miss out! * Announcements: * Public hearing on April 23 * Employment opportunity: Attorney Proposed Outdoor Burning rule change - Phasing out land-clearing burning in Kitsap County The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is proposing the phase out of land-clearing burning throughout Kitsap County beginning September 1, 2009. Land-clearing burning applies to fires to clear land for development, such as building a new structure or subdivision. The agency's Board of Directors adopted a permanent ban on land-clearing burning in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties last February 2008 which became effective July 1, 2008. At that time, Kitsap County was not included in the proposal because reasonable alternatives were not then available. Agency staff have found that reasonable alternatives are now available so are proposing that Kitsap County be included in this permanent ban on land-clearing burning. State law [RCW 70.94.745(6)] requires the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency to prohibit residential burning and land-clearing burning in areas outside the Urban Growth Areas when the agency has determined that an alternate technology or method of disposing of the organic refuse is available, reasonably economical, and less harmful to the environment than burning. Wood smoke is a health hazard and a nuisance. Wood smoke is composed of fine particles and a toxic mix of other carcinogens that are hazardous to human health. Fine particles are associated with serious health effects, as the tiny size of these pollutants allows them to be easily inhaled, bypassing the immune system and proceeding deep into your lungs, where they can cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems, including premature death. There are several ways for you to participate in the rule-making process. * Go online for more information: www.pscleanair.org/actions/outdoorfires/rule_change_2009<http://www.pscleanair.org/actions/outdoorfires/rule_change_2009> * Review the proposed rule: www.pscleanair.org/actions/outdoorfires/rule_change_2009/outdoor_burning_text.pdf<http://www.pscleanair.org/actions/outdoorfires/rule_change_2009/outdoor_burning_text.pdf> * Attend a public workshop on April 6 from 7 - 9 p.m. at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds in the Eagles Nest; 1200 NW Fairground Rd. in Bremerton * Provide comments in writing by April 22, 2009 * By e-mail: outdoorburningcomments@pscleanair.org<mailto:outdoorburningcomments@pscleanair.org> * By fax: 206.343.7522 * By regular mail: Lynn Sykes Puget Sound Clean Air Agency 1904 Third Ave., Suite 105 Seattle, WA 98101 * Come to the public hearing before the Board of Directors on April 23, 2009 at 9:15 a.m. at the agency's Seattle office. Conference Center, Fourth Avenue entrance Securities Building 1913 Fourth Ave Seattle, WA 98101 Clean Air Agency supports U.S. EPA's new plan to slash global shipping pollution More than 87 million Americans live near ports and coastal communities that are not meeting basic federal public health standards for air quality, concludes a new report released Monday by the Clean Air Agency and partners. The report, "Protecting American Health from Global Shipping Pollution," attributes this in part to the pollution emitted by container ships, tankers and other large sea-going vessels that dock at more than 100 U.S. port cities. These vessels burn low-grade "residual fuel" or "bunker fuel" that is a major source of air pollution, containing high levels of sulfur and particulate matter (soot). Breathing these pollutants can impact your health, causing respiratory and cardiac issues. In fact, a recent study by two leading researchers on shipping pollution found that shipping-related particulate matter emissions contribute to approximately 60,000 global deaths annually, with impacts concentrated in coastal regions on major trade routes. That's why the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency supports the plan announced March 30 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to markedly reduce air pollution from shipping through the establishment of an "Emission Control Area" for U.S. coastal waters. The Emission Control Area would extend about 200 nautical miles from U.S. coastlines. Ships entering the Emission Control Area would be required to make drastic cuts in the pollution they emit, for example by burning cleaner fuel or installing technologies to "scrub" exhaust gas to remove sulfur. The EPA plan has been submitted to the International Maritime Organization for consideration, with an outcome expected in July. Approval of the plan stands to greatly benefit air quality near port communities -- including our local ports of Seattle and Tacoma. Improving air quality will in turn improve public health. For a more in-depth overview of the public health benefits of reducing pollution from global shipping through the establishment of an Emission Control Area, please read our report, jointly released with the American Lung Association, National Association of Clean Air Agencies, and Environmental Defense Fund. The report is available online at www.pscleanair.org/news/newsroom/releases/2009/03_30_09_IMO-ECA.aspx<http://www.pscleanair.org/news/newsroom/releases/2009/03_30_09_IMO-ECA.aspx> . A link to EPA's announcement, "U.S. Proposes to Slash Harmful Ship Emissions Along the Nation's Coastlines to Save Lives," is online at http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/B7129C28691A2B8685257589005BA9AF . A link to the EPA's Overview of the Regulatory Announcement: Proposal of Emission Control Area Designation for Geographic Control of Emissions from Ships is available at www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/nonroad/marine/ci/420f09015.htm<http://www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/nonroad/marine/ci/420f09015.htm> . Think fresh - Learn about air-friendly yard care equipment and techniques Big yard or small yard - what matters most to air quality is how you maintain it. Emissions from yard work are a significant source of pollution - as much as 13 percent of our region's summertime ozone, which can result in smog. Consider air-friendly yard care equipment and techniques so that your yard can be a private, environmentally-friendly oasis. 1. Recycle your gas mower and go electric or manual instead. Today's gas-powered lawn mower emits as much pollution as driving a new car 140 miles. Electrically-powered, including cordless, lawn and garden tools produce essentially no pollution from exhaust emissions or through fuel evaporation. Of course, a push mower generates no emissions, but you'll surely burn up some calories! FREE gas mower recycling is available for City of Tacoma residents on May 2-3, 2009 < www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=1431<http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=1431> >. For more event information and for other lawn mower recycling options, visit http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/naturalyardcare/mower.asp . 2. Avoid spilling gasoline. Spilling a shot-glass (1 ounce) of gasoline creates the same amount of smog-forming volatile organic compounds as driving a car 25 miles. 3. Keep it tuned. If you're sticking with gas, keep it well maintained. Change the oil and replace air filters regularly. Get periodic tune-ups, maintain sharp mower blades, and keep the underside of the deck clean. 4. Use natural yard care products. Most of the synthetic landscape products are harmful to people, animals and the environment. You can find many air-friendly yard care products and tools on sale at select stores throughout the Puget Sound region during Northwest Natural Yard Days, April 15-May 15. Visit www.yarddays.com<http://www.yarddays.com/> for a list of participating retailers near you. Learn about natural yard care directly from experts: * In Pierce County, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department is sponsoring a series of workshops: www.tpchd.org/news.php?id=399<http://www.tpchd.org/news.php?id=399> . * In King County, workshops are offered by the City of Bellevue, www.ci.bellevue.wa.us/pdf/Utilities/NewsSplash_Spr09_FINAL.pdf<http://www.ci.bellevue.wa.us/pdf/Utilities/NewsSplash_Spr09_FINAL.pdf> , and PlantAmnesty, www.plantamnesty.org/festival/participants/workshops.aspx<http://www.plantamnesty.org/festival/participants/workshops.aspx> . * In Kitsap County, get yard waste disposal options at www.kitsapgov.com/sw/burning.htm<http://www.kitsapgov.com/sw/burning.htm> . * In Snohomish County, get yard waste disposal options at www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/Departments/Public_Works/Divisions/SolidWaste/<http://www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/Departments/Public_Works/Divisions/SolidWaste/> . To learn more about air-friendly yard care, visit: www.pscleanair.org/yard<http://www.pscleanair.org/yard> . Other "fresh" ideas for clean air and a healthy climate can be found at www.pscleanair.org/thinkfresh<http://www.pscleanair.org/thinkfresh> . Kitsap County Yard Waste Amnesty Days in April Kitsap County residents can dispose of their yard and woody waste for free on two days in April. Yard Waste Amnesty Days is an ongoing effort by Kitsap County Public Works to provide recycling alternatives to outdoor burning. Burning yard waste is illegal in many parts of the state, and actually puts your health - and that of your family and neighbors - at risk. Even where burning is allowed, we recommend taking advantage of alternatives - such as Yard Waste Amnesty Days - to help keep our air spring-time fresh so spending time outdoors is both healthy and enjoyable. Residents may bring yard waste for free disposal to North Mason Fibers from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday, April 18. North Mason Fibers is located at NE 431 Belfair Yard Road (on the Highway between Gorst and Belfair). Residents may bring yard waste for free disposal to Emu Composting Facility from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday, April 26. Emu Composting Facility is located at 7890 Ecology Road (between Kingston and Hansville) off the Hansville Highway. Materials accepted include: * woody debris * stumps & branches * brush * grass * lumber: plywood, OSB, and painted wood okay Remember to secure and cover your load. This event is sponsored by Kitsap County Public Works in cooperation with Emu's Topsoil and North Mason Fibers. For more people- and planet-friendly alternatives to burning debris, click to www.pscleanair.org/actions/outdoorfires/alternatives.aspx<http://www.pscleanair.org/actions/outdoorfires/alternatives.aspx> . Wood Stove Replacement Program nears its end. Don't miss out! Time and funds for the Puget Sound Wood Stove Replacement Program offered in Darrington, Everett, Tacoma and certain Pierce County communities are running out. And funds are now spent for the Marysville program. This program has focused on Tacoma and surrounding Pierce County communities to help bring them closer to meeting federal air quality health standards, and to keep Marysville and Darrington from violating these standards. Everett is included in this program because of funds designated through a settlement for an air-quality violation. The program is open to people living in eligible communities who want to replace their uncertified wood stove or fireplace insert with a cleaner-heating device. Fireplaces without inserts and pellet stoves are not eligible for replacement under this program. Replacement options include both zone heating appliances, like freestanding stoves and fireplace inserts, and whole-home heating systems, such as furnaces and heat pumps. To date, over 520 households have taken advantage of this year's program and are enjoying cleaner, more efficient heat. While the program is set to end April 30, funds are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, so could run out before the end of April. Qualified households can receive an "instant rebate" coupon for $750 - $1,500 off the purchase and installation of a new heating device. Higher discounts, $2,800 - $3,000, are available to income-qualified applicants. Utilities may provide additional incentives, such as $200-$350 rebates for a high-efficiency natural gas furnace and between $200-$850 for an electric heat pump. Weatherization funds are also available through select partners. Federal tax credits may also be available www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits<http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits> . So if you or someone you know has an uncertified wood stove or fireplace insert and lives in Darrington, Everett, Tacoma or certain areas of Pierce County, act now! Time and money are running out! Program details can be found at www.pscleanair.org/woodstove.replacement<http://www.pscleanair.org/woodstove.replacement> . ANNOUNCEMENTS Public Hearing The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is proposing to make changes to our regulations at the Board of Directors meeting on April 23, 2009: (1) To consider changes to Regulation I, Article 8 (fire department training exercises). NOTE: This is a continuance of the March 26, 2009 hearing. (2) To consider changes to Regulation I, Article 8 (outdoor burning). To see the text of the proposal and for hearing information, click to www.pscleanair.org/announce/hearings/publichearings.aspx<http://www.pscleanair.org/announce/hearings/publichearings.aspx> Employment Opportunity The agency is seeking an attorney to perform general civil legal work, with an emphasis on environmental and regulatory law. For information, click to www.pscleanair.org/about/employment.aspx<http://www.pscleanair.org/about/employment.aspx> . About the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency serves the people of King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties. We work together to clean the air we breathe and protect our climate through education, incentives and enforcement. To learn more about our work, and how you can be a part of it, too, visit us at www.pscleanair.org<http://www.pscleanair.org/> . About the Clean Air Newsline Clean Air Newsline is a monthly electronic newsletter to provide air quality information to the residents of King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Subscribers receive the latest on air quality news, trends and projects that affect our local communities and the air we breathe. Feel free to pass the information along to others. We also use the Newsline as needed to send timely and important messages about burn bans, Smog Watches and early calls to action when air quality deteriorates. If this newsletter was forwarded to you and you would like to subscribe, you can do so at www.pscleanair.org/signup<http://www.pscleanair.org/signup> . Be sure to select Clean Air Newsline to be added to the e-mailing list. Bill Smith Senior Environmental Specialist City of Tacoma Solid Waste Management 3510 S. Mullen Street Tacoma, WA 98409 253-593-7719 Phone 253-591-5547 Fax