May 9, 2008

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• OLYMPIA OFFICE
• 2940-B Limited Lane NW
• Olympia, WA 98502
• (360) 586-1044 or
  1-800-422-5623 (WA only)
• Fax (360) 491-6308
• info@orcaa.org


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• 116 W. 8th Street, Suite 113
• Port Angeles, WA 98362
• (360) 417-1466


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• 301 Ocean Ave.
• Raymond, WA 98577
• (360) 789-3652


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• Monday – Friday, 8am – 4:30pm PT

NEWS RELEASE

December 9, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Dan A. Nelson, ORCAA Public Information Officer, Ext. 111

Agency Calls Land Clearing Burn Ban

With air quality diminishing, the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) today called a mandatory ban on all land clearing burning in four of the six counties within its region.

A period of air stagnation resulting from a stable high pressure system over Western Washington prompted the mandatory ban on the large land clearing burns in Clallam, Jefferson, Mason and Thurston Counties. ORCAA has also called a voluntary burn ban on all residential indoor and outdoor burning in the entire six-county region until further notice. These measure remain in effect until further notice.

A system of stable, high pressure over Western Washington, coupled with overnight temperatures well below freezing, caused air pollution levels to climb. A change in weather will be needed to restore cleaner air quality, but the current weather pattern is expected to remain unchanged through the weekend.

ORCAA monitors the situation continuously and will lift the burn restrictions as soon as conditions allow. To help maintain clean, healthful air, all residents should follow these simple guidelines:

When possible, do not use any woodstove or fireplace.

If you do have a fire in a certified stove or fireplace, consider using manufactured logs if you must burn. They are made from recycled wood products and burn cleaner than cut wood.

Always use your woodstove or fireplace properly to ensure the cleanest burning possible. Remember that excess smoke is always illegal.

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Limit your driving as much as possible, since vehicles are a big source of air pollution year round.

Check air-quality forecasts and current conditions at www.orcaa.org. The current and forecasted air-quality conditions are available via the links on the right.

To learn about the health effects of air pollution, check out the American Lung Association of Washington's Web site at www.alaw.org.

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The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency protects and enhances air quality for citizens in Thurston, Mason, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, and Pacific counties by enforcing federal, state and local air quality regulations. If you have questions specific to the topic above, or just general questions about local air quality, contact ORCAA at (360) 586-1044 or 1-800-422-5623, or visit ORCAA's website, www.orcaa.org.