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State wants to clear the air over scenic spots By PAUL FATTIG Mail Tribune The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality wants to make sure the air stays clear over the state's top 12 scenic areas, including four in Southern Oregon. The agency is holding four hearings this week to gather input on suggested changes to Oregon's 1986 visibility protection plan. The Medford meeting begins at 3 p.m. today in the city annex, conference room 151/157, 411 W. Eighth St. Oral and written comments will be accepted. The dozen sites involved include Crater Lake National Park and the Diamond Peak, Mountain Lakes and Kalmiopsis wilderness areas in Southern Oregon. Other wilderness areas covered in the plan are Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington, Three Sisters, Gearhart Mountain, Strawberry Mountain, Eagle Cap and Hells Canyon. "Most of the (suggested) changes focus on different burning methods, both forestry and agricultural," said Brian Finneran, the DEQ's state visibility coordinator. "We want to make sure everything is coordinated, that everyone is talking to each other. "In terms of the air pollution level, we're talking about very small amounts of air pollution," he added. "But that's all it takes to affect visibility." The proposed changes include expanding the visibility monitoring network if funding is available, improving smoke management coordination, increasing the use of alternatives to burning and improving fire emission inventory and tracking. The changes were suggested by the visibility advisory committee representing the environmental, industry and land use agencies Copies of the proposed changes will be available at today's meeting. Deadline for commenting is Wednesday. If adopted, the amendments will be submitted to the federal Environmental Protection Agency as a revision to the plan as required by the Clean Air Act. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.