A Complete Ban Would Be Overkill

Do good neighbors ever burn yard waste? Modern clean-air purists contend that smoke - any smoke - is a health menace that government must stamp out. Nevertheless, the Spokane County Air Pollution Control Authority has tied itself in a knot over the question, because there is, in fact, another legitimate point of view.

Next month, SCAPCA’s board will settle the question. It will decide whether to approve a proposal to allow seven days, all in the spring, for the open burning of yard and garden waste. In 1998, the county allowed 10 days, five in the fall and five in the spring.

The proposal also would enlarge the area in which open burning is completely banned, year-round. The new no-burn boundary would include the metropolitan area plus its suburban growth boundary within which future development is expected. And, the no-burn area would coincide with the so-called “nonattainment” area, a government-defined area within which carbon-monoxide levels occasionally have exceeded federal air-pollution limits.

If this proposal is approved, only residents of the county’s lightly populated rural areas could engage in open burning, and they could do so only during the designated seven days. Even then, if air quality is poor, SCAPCA could revoke a scheduled burning day.

Purists consider this restrictive proposal appalling and have pressed for a total ban. SCAPCA’s five-member board has swung back and forth in search of a decision, depending on which members were absent from its meetings. We hope all five members attend in January - and bring their common sense.

Air quality has been improving in the metropolitan area where most of the policy-setting power resides. The amount of grass field burning is being reduced. The city and state have worked for years to reduce particulate and CO pollution. Early next year, Spokane is expected to be declared in compliance with the revised federal standard for PM-10 particulates.

The worst air pollution our region has experienced has resulted from wildfires, a menace in outlying areas where property owners have not always cleared away brush and pine tree debris. Those who live in distant rural areas on larger tracts of land have too much debris to make hauling or chipping affordable. For them, burning is the only reasonable solution. For them, and their neighbors, burning helps prevent disasters. The state allows burning to clear forests. The county must keep the burning option, too.

When outlying residents burn brush piles in the county’s remote rural areas, most city dwellers don’t even notice. We can afford to preserve their freedom, their safety and this economical, relatively harmless disposal method.