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Smoke Management Review committee to meet June 21, Salem
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Contact:
Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, rnichols@odf.state.or.us
The Smoke Management Review committee will consider proposed updates to Oregon’s Smoke Management plan when it meets on Thursday, June 21, in Salem. Last updated in 2005, the plan regulates prescribed burning on forestlands, with a twofold aim to safeguard public health and maintain forest landowners’ ability to employ burning as a management tool.
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 the Smoke Management plan. The Oregon departments of Environmental Quality and Forestry provide staff support to the committee.
A public comment period is scheduled for 11:15.
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
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in the Santiam Conference 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 can 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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