Field Burning Bill passes!

This just in from the folks at the Western Environmental Law Center (WELC): SB 528 the field burning bill has passed in the Oregon legislature.

This is the biggest phase-down in field burning in Oregon since 1998. WELC expects the bill to be signed into law in the near future, Gov. Ted Kulongoski has expressed support for the bill in the past.

The bill will allow 20,000 acres of field burning on the valley floor in 2009—a reduction from the current 40,000 acres—with none allowed from 2010 onwards. Up to 15,000 acres of “identified species and steep terrain” grass fields may still be burned in the Silverton Hills region where farmers argue alternative methods to the smoky practice don't work.

Charlie Tebbutt of WELC said in this afternoon's press release: “People have been trying for over 40 years to protect the health of Oregonians by ending field burning. Passage of SB 528 represents a momentous victory for public health. We take this victory with the expectation that in the very near future the state will extend these same protections to Oregonians who live in the Silverton Hills area as well.”

See EW's last two feature stories on field burning for more information: Killing Fields and Blowing Smoke.