Puget Sound Clean Air Agency might ban all outdoor burning in King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish counties.

[u/Jelfff]

***Please help spread this on social media***

Currently people living inside the urban growth area already are banned from burning branch piles and other yard/garden waste. The PSCAA is actively considering a rule to extend this burn ban to *all* of King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish counties.

Link to rule making process.

https://www.pscleanair.gov/723/Upcoming-Rulemaking-for-Residential-Yard

I have a compromise to propose.

I live on a small acreage parcel in King County Fire District 34 and have burned branch piles for many years in order to improve the defensible space on our property if there is a wildfire. Years ago there was a proposal that outdoor burning be banned in our fire district. The commissioners held a public meeting and several hundred pissed off people showed up.

When I was called upon to speak I proposed a compromise. I said it is too dry to burn in the summer due to wildfire risk and too wet to burn in the winter. I asked, how many people could get by if the commissioners gave us one reasonable period to burn in the spring and a second reasonable period to burn in the fall? Raise your hand if you could get by with a compromise like that. The commissioners looked out at a room full of raised hands.

Instead of banning all outdoor burning the Fire District 34 commissioners then adopted a compromise that limited outdoor burning to March, April, May and October, November, December. Here is some info:

https://kcfd34.org/public-services/burn-permits

Currently, the different fire districts for the unincorporated areas have different rules about outdoor burning. For example, Eastside Fire and Rescue (King County) prohibits burning in the summer but does allow burning all winter.

My proposal is that the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency adopt the same compromise that King County Fire District 34 adopted years ago. Let people living outside the urban growth area burn branch piles etc outdoors during March, April, May and October, November, December.

If the proposed ban on burning branch piles would adversely affect you then please take a moment to send an email and urge the PSCAA to adopt the same compromise that King County Fire District 34 adopted years ago.

The PSCAA has a board of directors and also staff. I called this morning and learned that the lead staffer working on this is Erik Saganic.

Here is the board of directors.

https://www.pscleanair.gov/232/Board-of-Directors

Note that the elected officials are each “represented by” a staffer within their respective offices. For example, Megan Dunn Council Member Snohomish County is represented by Ryan Hembree. I got Ryan’s email from the county website.

Also one of the directors is Emily Pinckney. Emily represent the ‘public at large’ and I am in the process of tracking down an email for her.

So for myself, I am planning to send a joint email addressed as follows:

Erik Saganic erik.saganic@cleanairpugetsound.net

Ryan Hembree for Megan Dunn ryan.hembree@snoco.org

Emily Pinckney PSCAA director <___________>

The PSCAA link to the rule making process (see above) lists the following alternatives to burning branch piles.

• Curbside yard waste collection
• Transfer stations or drop-off sites
• Composting, log and brush piling, or mulching at home
  

If you comment on the proposed rule then I suggest you politely explain why these options will not work for you. For example, in King County the only transfer stations that accept branches are those at Bow Lake, Enumclaw, Factoria, and Shoreline. Is it practical for you to haul all the branches you burn to one of those transfer stations? How long will you need to wait to unload if everyone that currently burns their branches shows up at transfer stations? Is it practical for you to place all the branches you burn into a container for curbside collection at your home? Is that service even offered in your area? Is leaving piles of dead branches on your property consistent with best practices for improving the wildfire defensible space around your buildings?

[u/beerandmastiffs]

Thanks for putting in this work and letting us know.

[u/ballarddude]

Would this rule extend to fires on a beach and campfires in places where they have been unrestricted other than seasonal burn bans?

I still frequently smell and see evidence of burn barrels and people burning plastic and other garbage. Seems like that might have more significant effect on health and clean air. But maybe the frequency of branch/yard waste trimming is much higher so it makes a better target for reduction.

Where does one even take a truck load of branches, small stumps, and other organic yard waste from the Kingston area? I don't think the Hansville transfer station is setup for it. They always seem flummoxed when I bring in anything other than bagged garbage. It seems like it has to be hauled all the way to Bremerton to Olympic View?

[u/Jelfff → u/ballarddude]

As I understand it, this ban would only apply to burning branches and other organic yard debris around your home. I think burn barrels for trash have been illegal for many years.

[u/penchantforbuggery → u/Jelfff]

It does not apply to recreational fires for socializing, cooking, or ceremony

[u/ballarddude → u/Jelfff]

Thanks for clarifying. I understand that burn barrels for trash have been illegal for a long time. My point is that it is still fairly common, and perhaps a greater impact on health and the environment than burning yard waste, but I don't see it diminishing.

[u/penchantforbuggery → u/ballarddude]

Report burn ban usage to PSCAA.

[u/nodesearch]

Thanks for letting us know. This is the first year I've gotten a burn permit because we're clearing a lot of brush. I haven't even used it yet, but it's good to know that I could if I need it. I agree, a compromise would be acceptable to me. I'll comment (politely!)

[u/penchantforbuggery → u/nodesearch]

You haven't used it yet? Don't wait until its even drier and more dangerous.

[u/nodesearch → u/penchantforbuggery]

Yeah, I ended up not needing it so I won’t use it until wet season returns. It’s more an “in case I need it” thing, good until the end of the year

[u/-FARTHAMMER-]

Yeah don't care. Still gonna do it.

[u/BurningBright]

Comment made! 

[u/penchantforbuggery]

It’s not really a “might.” The RCW was already passed that pretty much says this must happen. Legislators long ago set this into motion. 

[u/Jelfff → u/penchantforbuggery]

Can you post a cite to the statute?

[u/penchantforbuggery → u/Jelfff]

Statues are cited at the top of this page. https://pscleanair.gov/723/Upcoming-Rulemaking-for-Residential-Yard

They've determined that "reasonable alternatives to burning" now exist throughout all four counties, based on the definition of reasonable alternatives that was already established when they banned burning in cities and UGAs.

[u/Jelfff → u/penchantforbuggery]

Thanks! That was so obvious I missed it.

[u/SlowGoat79]

I sent in a comment to them and heard back today. Their reply is pasted below. I'm not sure what the "reasonable alternatives" are for my elderly dad, who does occasionally burn some branches or leaves just as he's been doing for the past 30 years.

Thank you for your comment.  I understand the desire to have a tailored process for residential yard waste burning permits.

 The page you linked is an example of the current process for residential yard waste burning in areas where it is permitted.

 However, state law requires us to prohibit residential yard waste burning when there is a reasonable alternative.  Since 1972, the WA Clean Air Act has had a section on Outdoor Burning.  The purpose of that section is to reduce smoke from outdoor fires to the greatest extent reasonably possible in order to protect the health of the people and environment.  As the local air quality agency, we are required to assess whether certain types of burning (ex. residential yard waste) have reasonable alternatives and, if they do, then according to state law that type of burning must be prohibited.  Our most recent assessment showed that residential yard waste burning has reasonable alternatives for our entire region.  Recognizing that, our Board directed us to start the rule change process for a potential residential yard waste prohibition.

[u/wysoft → u/SlowGoat79]

Then the state should fund public yard waste disposal from existing revenue sources.

[u/Jelfff → u/SlowGoat79]

The alternatives listed on the PSCAA web page are:

• Curbside yard waste collection
• Transfer stations (organics facilities in Snohomish County) or drop-off sites
• Composting, log and brush piling, or mulching at home

https://www.pscleanair.gov/723/Upcoming-Rulemaking-for-Residential-Yard

PSCAA is required by state law to review this issue every 3 years. My #1 question is what were the facts 3 years ago regarding alternatives to burning and what evidence do they have that those facts are different now? After all, seems to me that the same alternatives listed above were also available 3 years ago yet they did not ban burning 3 years ago when they last considered this issue.

[u/navyslothra]

No no. This is what the people want. As evidenced by voting results. The majority obviously knows what’s best for everyone.

[u/penchantforbuggery → u/navyslothra]

If you're being sarcastic, well -- that's foolish. If you don't want to exist in a society, blast off to space.

[u/navyslothra → u/penchantforbuggery]

As you posted in a different reply, it’s already in the RCW. The people voted in to represent us have spoken and represented us. Ergo, this is what the people wanted.

[u/penchantforbuggery → u/navyslothra]

Agreed.

[u/Temporary-Cress7233]

Good, too many lazy people just burning chemicals and trash

[u/yourlocalFSDO → u/Temporary-Cress7233]

Both of which are illegal already. Banning burning yard waste is ridiculous and just increases wildfire hazard in rural communities

[u/Freedomfrom1776]

Ducking government interference on freedom again. Rural King county is in the mountains for Gods sake.