|
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday,
October 8, 2002
| Contact: |
Craig Weckesser, Olympic Region Clean Air Agency PIO,
586-1044 |
|
Dick Small, Thurston County ROB Committee Chairman,
493-2455 |
|
John Tennis, Thurston County PIO, 709-3073 |
Resources
Available Regarding New Residential Outdoor Burning Program
OLYMPIA—A variety of resources
are becoming available to teach eligible Thurston County citizens about the
new, uniform residential outdoor burning permit program that begins in
mid-October.
The program’s rules will apply
only to residential outdoor burning of natural vegetation in all unincorporated
areas within the county, outside the Urban Growth Boundaries of Lacey,
Olympia and Tumwater. All eligible county residents must possess a free
program permit for these fires. The new program will begin October 16, unless
a burn ban for fire safety is still in effect.
Resources
already available include:
·
A pre-recorded Residential Outdoor Burning phone line for
up-to-date information on the program. That message line is 786-5447.
·
Citizens can determine if they are in a legal burning area by
(a) accessing the county’s Geodata website at http://www.geodata.org/
. This website also includes
information titled “Thurston County Guidelines for Residential Outdoor
Burning”. Soon, you will also be able to obtain program information by
calling or visiting your local fire district station.
·
Information on the program can also be obtained by
accessing the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) website, www.orcaa.org,
and clicking on the Outdoor Burning link.
Brochures and other information about the permit program
will soon be available at fire stations, the county’s permit assistance
center, and ORCAA.
A major focus of the new permit program will be
an emphasis on use of alternative disposal methods, including chipping,
grinding, composting, curbside yard waste collection, and self-hauling.
Information on alternatives is available from several sources, including the
county’s Alternatives to Burning hotline, 754-2953, or the county’s Water
& Waste Management website link, www.co.thurston.wa.us/wwm
and clicking on Solid Waste. You can also contact ORCAA (586-1044) for
its alternatives list.
|
