[ODF_Private_Forests] Smoke mgmt committee meets Oct. 24, Salem

[WEEKS Kevin]

The Oregon Dept. of Forestry issued this news release today.


Smoke management committee meets Oct. 24, Salem


Oct. 17, 2012                                                      Major media distribution
                                                                                Contact:
                                                                                Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, rnichols at odf.state.or.us<mailto:rnichols at odf.state.or.us>


The Smoke Management Review committee will discuss and vote on several topics concerning prescribed forest burning when it meets on Wednesday, Oct. 24, in Salem.   Items slated for discussion include:  Special Protection Zones, the audit program, and compliance and enforcement.  Items slated for voting on include:  Large burn smoke monitoring, burn plan timelines, and complaint procedures.

Subcommittee reports will be given on:

 *   Covering burn piles with polyethylene
 *   Tracking of burning alternatives
 *   Smoke data system improvements

The committee includes representatives of the public, federal agencies, the forest industry, air quality regulators and small woodland owners. The members are knowledgeable about smoke management issues and Oregon's Smoke Management plan. The Oregon departments of Environmental Quality and Forestry provide staff support to the committee.

Two periods have been scheduled to receive public comments - 10:30 a.m. and 1:50 p.m.

After timber harvest, forest landowners may reduce the risk of wildfire through controlled or "prescribed" burning of unmarketable tree residue commonly known as slash. This removes potential fuel for a wildfire. It also prepares the logged site for replanting by releasing nutrients and removing vegetation that would otherwise compete with the young trees.

Department of Forestry meteorologists monitor weather conditions throughout spring and fall as they coordinate hundreds of burning requests from private and public forest landowners. This oversight helps minimize smoke intrusions into communities. Management of forest fuels through prescribed burning greatly reduces the risk of large wildfires that can pump thousands of tons of carbon into the atmosphere.

More information on the Smoke Management plan can be found on the web, www.oregon.gov/ODF/FIRE/fire.shtml#Smoke_Management_Information<http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/FIRE/fire.shtml#Smoke_Management_Information>

The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in the Santiam Room of Building D at Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters, 2600 State St., in Salem.

Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services or assistance may be arranged by calling the department's Public Affairs Office at least 48 hours before the meeting, 503-945-7200, text telephone 503-945-7213.

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