News and Information
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Public Hearing Slated
Public Hearing Scheduled for Proposed Changes to ORCAA regulations
The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) encourages public involvement in its planning and policy-setting actions.
Toward that end, a public hearing is scheduled for April 14, 2010, in Olympia regarding changes to ORCAA’s air quality regulations. The hearing will take place at the regularly scheduled meeting of the ORCAA Board of Directors, commencing at 10:00 a.m. at Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA), 2940-B Limited Lane NW, in Olympia.
ORCAA serves as the administrator of state and federal clean air laws within the six counties of its jurisdiction, but also maintains a set of local regulations to best serve the health needs of the region’s residents. The April 14 hearing addresses proposed changes to those local regulations.
The proposed changes are available in PDF on the ORCAA website, here.
Anyone desiring to make comments shall submit a written statement to the agency within thirty (30) days of this notice or appear at the public hearing. The Agency operates under the provisions of ORCAA’s Regulations, laws and codes of record of the State of Washington and the United States Government. Information regarding the above hearing is available for review at the office of ORCAA. Notice is given by ORCAA’s Executive Director, Francea McNair. Phone: (360) 539-7610 or (800) 422-5623, extension 100.
Thurston Geodata Info Fixed
The Thurston Geodata Center provides a comprehensive parcel search website that is used by the public and ORCAA to determine if burning is allowed on a specific property. The recent updates that were incorporated into the website gave incorrect information for outdoor burning. Thanks to Thurston Geodata Center for their quick turn around in correcting the outdoor burning regulation information on the parcel search tool.
To do your own parcel search visit www.geodata.org
As a reminder; No burning is allowed in Olympia, Lacey, & Tumwater city limits. Only recreational campfires are allowed in Thurston County UGA’s (Urban Growth Area’s). If your property is in the unincorporated areas of Thurston County, Residential burning is allowed with a permit. Residential burn permits can be filled out and submitted on our website. Permit must be posted on site when burning.
Thurston County Geodata Center
Please be advised that there is a technical error on the Thurston County Geodata Center website. The website states that burning is allowed for everyone in Thurston County, including UGA’s and city limits, as long as you have a permit. The Geodata Center is currently aware of the problem and will fix it as soon as possible. If necessary, please verify your address through a different source.
As a reminder; No burning is allowed in Olympia, Lacey, & Tumwater city limits. Only recreational campfires are allowed in Thurston County UGA’s (Urban Growth Area’s). If your property is in the unincorporated areas of Thurston County, Residential burning is allowed with a permit. Please visit your local fire district to receive the free permit and be sure to obey all the conditions listed. Permit must be posted on site when burning.
Air Quality suffers from stagnant weather: Residents Asked to Reduce Burning
Air quality seems to be the first casualty from this week’s fog and stagnant air conditions.
Still, stagnant air held down by a high pressure system means any smoke we put into the air around us, stays in the air around us. The result is rapidly rising levels of air pollution.
Our region experienced unusually high levels of air pollution in recent days as a result of outdoor burning and home-heating with woodstoves and fireplaces. In the interest of public health and safety, all residents are asked to VOLUNTARILY refrain from burning unless absolutely necessary.
ORCAA asks that residents who have alternative forms of home heating refrain from use of their woodstoves and fireplaces at least until air quality improves throughout the region. We also ask that homeowners use alternative means of disposal to clean up their yards. Chipping and composting are the best option, though other alternatives to burning are also available. You can find more details on the options at www.orcaa.org or by calling your local waste disposal company.
Residents who must rely on fireplaces or woodstoves for home heating should burn as cleanly and as efficiently as possible. By using dry wood and burning small, hot fires, residents get more heat with less smoke.
To learn about the health effects of air pollution, check out the American Lung Association of Washington’s Web site at www.alaw.org.
New Permit Application Received
ORCAA regulations provide the public with an opportunity to comment on business applications for Notices of Construction (i.e. applications to operate). The public can express interest in an application during the noticing period and may request a public comment period. The list of current permit applications open for public comment can be found here.