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Public to get its say on air pollution By PAUL FATTIG,Mail Tribune Dec 27, 2003 12:00 AM A A Meeting scheduled for Jan. 21will allow more testimonials Intense public interest in a proposal to change air pollution regulations in Jackson County has prompted the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to extend its comment period from Dec. 31 to 5 p.m. Jan. 30. The agency also scheduled another public hearing Jan. 21 in Medford to allow more people to testify. A Dec. 16 hearing drew about 250 people, but many were not allowed to testify because of time constraints. As a result, those who signed up to testify in December but were unable to make their comments will be given the first opportunity to speak at the January hearing, officials said. That hearing will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the South Medford High School auditorium. Written comments also will be accepted that day. — Department staff members will be available beginning at 5 p.m. to provide an overview of the proposed plan. They also will be in the school's entryway to answer questions regarding the plan during the formal hearing in the auditorium. We are really trying to listen to the public, said John Becker, DEQ regional air quality manager. We're pleased we're getting the attention ' the more time the public can spend on this issue, the better it will be for everyone, he added. During the December hearing, a show of hands demonstrated that the lion's share of those attending opposed the proposal. Fewer than 10 hands were raised in support. The proposed plan is designed to assure that the area will continue to meet federal and state air quality standards for PM-10 particulate matter through at least 2015, officials said. The DEQ's proposal is based on computer modeling of pollution trends and population growth. Particulate matter includes waste particles produced by vehicles, wood burning and industrial activities. PM-10 stands for minute particulate matter — particles that are less than or equal to 10 micrometers — about one-seventh the diameter of a human hair. Air quality that violates federal PM-10 standards is considered a risk to human health because of the body's inability to effectively filter out particles that small. The plan proposes to continue the open burning, residential woodstove curtailment and street cleaning strategies that are currently in place, as well as strict emissions-limit rules for specific industries. Most local interest has centered on DEQ's proposal to eliminate a stringent emissions requirement on new or expanding industries that produce five tons or more of pollutants annually. These industries must purchase so-called clean air credits from other existing industries that have installed emission devices to lessen pollution. However, business leaders and the DEQ say that in practice there are no credits available, making it impossible for industries to locate in Jackson County and create more jobs. The proposal, which ultimately will require federal Environmental Protection Agency approval, still requires new industries to install state-of-the-art pollution equipment. We have state and federal standards we have to maintain in this valley, Becker said. We're not talking about anything that would violate those standards. Comments on the DEQ's proposal can be sent via regular mail, fax or e-mail. Written comments may be mailed to: David Collier, Oregon DEQ, Air Quality Division, 811 S.W. Sixth Ave., Portland, OR 97204-1390. Comments may be faxed to Collier at 503-229-5675 or e-mailed to [email protected]. The DEQ's proposed plan is available at Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at