NEWS RELEASE
November 26 , 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Dan A. Nelson, ORCAA Public Information Officer, Ext. 111
Burn Restrictions Lifted
Last week's call for voluntary reductions in outdoor burning and the use of woodstoves proved that residents do care about air quality.
Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) issued the voluntary burn restriction notice the day before Thanksgiving to try to curb rising levels of fine particular matter pollution (PM2.5). The region’s citizens responded and the pollution levels never rose to the level that a full burn ban would need to be called. The return of rain this week, meanwile, ensures that the air will stay clean for the near future, so all burn restrictions are lifted, effective immediately.
"We have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season,' said ORCAA spokesman Dan Nelson. "While conditions were perfect last weekend for the development of poor air quality through the region, the residents of western Washington really came through to help ensure our air quality didn't degrade into unhealthful levels."
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.