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45 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, April 14, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend March 18, 2004 Early morning haze hangs above the Rogue Valley Manor Tuesday, illustrating how stagnant air traps fine particles that could be harmful for people with respiratory problems. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Public sides with clean air More than 5,000 Jackson County residents have responded negatively to a DEQ proposal to let up on industrial polluters By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune A controversial proposal that could allow increases in industrial air pollution has generated more than 5,000 generally unfavorable responses from Jackson County residents. "A clear majority that we’ve received did not favor the proposal," said David Collier, air quality planner with the state Department of Environmental Quality. The proposal would eliminate a stringent emissions requirement on new or expanding industries that annually produce five tons or more of fine particle pollutants that cause haze. Pollution controls on local industry still would be the toughest in the state under the proposal. Under current regulations, industries must purchase so-called clean air credits from other existing industries that have installed emission devices to lessen pollution. 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 high-paying jobs. Advertisement In the past, the offset credits that were created haven’t generally brought in new industries or expanded existing industries, they say. Collier said it will take two to three months to sift through all the calls, e-mails, letters and testimony, which will have a bearing on the staff recommendation to the Environmental Quality Commission late summer or early fall. "The public comment can most definitely have an influence in the next round of decision making," said Collier, noting this is the largest response he’s seen in his 15 years at the department. "We will thoughtfully consider all of the issues to work toward the best decision." With so many negative responses, Jacksonville resident Cond� Cox said, "Why are they still pursuing this? That’s the $64,000 question." Cox, who has been one of the most outspoken critics of the proposal, said air quality in the valley is already a problem, and he cites existing industry as a likely culprit. "The DEQ not only proposes to make it worse, it has done a mediocre job of adequately measuring and dealing with the problem we currently have," said Cox. "Why are we going backward instead of forward?" Bill Eckart, executive director of the Fruit Growers League and a member of the Medford-Ashland Air Quality Committee that helped devise the proposal, said the time may have come to explore whether this valley wants these kinds of industries. "If we want them to leave altogether, that is something the community could discuss," he said. But Eckart also thinks emotions have gotten the better of many Jackson County residents, who want to penalize industry but ignore what are the biggest causes of present and future pollution — vehicles and forest fires. While Eckart originally supported the air quality proposal, he does agree that the offset issue is extremely complex, and he admits he doesn’t wholly understand it. "I don’t know enough about it, and I should," he said. He also acknowledged the offset credit issue was one of many the committee looked into, and the committee may not have had a full understanding of all its implications. "The group may have moved too quickly to say, ‘OK,’" he said. Even if the offset credits were done away with, Eckart doesn’t see a lot of industry knocking at Jackson County’s door, making him wonder how useful the proposal would be. County Commissioner Dave Gilmour, who is also on the air quality advisory committee, said he would like the DEQ to drop the proposal for now, pending new regulations anticipated from the federal Environmental Protection Agency. "It doesn’t make sense to come up with a new set of regulations that they’ll have to redo a year later," he said. Medford resident Gaylene Hurley, who helped gather 3,640 names on a petition opposing the proposal, said very few people she talked to supported any plan that would make the air worse. "A vast majority of people say they want the air to be as clean as possible," she said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times