EDITOR,
I am a resident of San Lorenzo Valley, and wish the rules for air pollution were enforced.
All winter long, I cannot open my windows for fresh air, because there is no fresh air. My neighbors burn wet unseasoned wood, which smokes up my neighborhood.
Your right to burn ends when it pollutes my fresh air.
The backyard burns are the worst. People find whatever they can scrape up to burn in the winter. They burn wet and green wood and waste products of any sort. A fee should be charged for backyard burns, and a fee for woodstove inspections every year to make sure the wood stoves are up to code.
The pollution created is so bad, it should be completely banned in SLV. The wood smoke just sits and lingers for days, and people do not realize all the fresh air created by the trees while they are growing is completely erased, and carbon monoxide and many other seriously bad pollutants are put in the atmosphere for our people and young children to breath. Leaving your child with lung disease and lung problems for the rest of their lives is not something you want to leave for our children.
Wake up, Americans — save our air. Charge fees for all wood burning of any sort.
Rick Goebel, Boulder Creek
Ok, Everybody turn your cars off and leave 'em off!
PG&E rates are out of control. Unless you live in a newer energy efficient home, or have an income large enough to update your old one... you pay big bucks. Personally, I'm all for families finding ways to stay warm through the winter.
This Spring, April I believe, there were a couple of days that were cold, with no wind where smoke in the valley was noticeable. I agree that's a problem.
Perhaps the Monterey Bay Air Pollution Control District can offer up alerts. Similar to the notices Zayante Fire Dept puts up on its sign in front of the station alerting people that fire risk is high, medium, or low.
But it sounds like the time is past for this rational discussion.
It really is too bad that Mark Stone's office and the Monterey Bay Air Pollution Control District did not make any effort to reach out to valley residents for input.
After all, elected officials and public agencies are in place to represent us. Not to supervise or regulate us on a whim.
Regarding the pollution readings, I wonder how thorough those data collection attempts were. How often they were taken, etc.
Boulder creek has alarming carbon monoxide levels, the statistics show what OCEA will barely allow for an 8hr shift. (35ppm carbon monoxide) In the valley air! Carbon monoxide is bad.. it can cause lung cancer and other health provlems over prolonged exposure. (for example living in SLV...)
http://www.homefacts.com/airquality/California/Santa-Cruz-County/Boulder-Creek.html
Boulder Creek has a fantastic green waste policy - it's unlimited removal with garbage service!, you can even use your own bins, turn it in people instead of burning it! :)
The previous commenters are correct, people in the area do not want to have harsher regulations, inspections, have to pay more, what we really need to do is educate people how to be more responsible, and try to have a better air quality for our families to grow up in.
Please everyone, try to burn less / keep the air clean.
As for the "green waste policy" have you actually used it? It is only unlimited if you have unlimited cans to put the stuff out for it. the garbage company only provides TWO cans per household. Try using those on even a quarter acre of redwood duff...
I agree with you on the fact that education is key; and subsidies for those who use wood fires for heat so that they can be switched over to the efficient stoves.
Time for a property owners group to form in the San Lorenzo Valley to advocate against these control freaks.
While I tend to agree with the "no regulation" statement, reality is "those who abuse the right are destined to cause regulations." Unfortunately, these people in Monterey are trying to severely restrict burns. It was unfortunate that the Press Banner published their article so late in this process. Now we have to fight even harder.
And Rich, Tom or whatever your name is, come out of the dark and admit you're just so full of anger over something.... something... anything!
Time for the smart and responsible residents/home owners of Boulder Creek and the surrounding areas to form a stop these idiots from ruining our lungs with their burn piles committee.
Are they really all "idiots"?
What would your "form a stop" do?
Advocate for inspections on people's land in their homes?
Do tell.
The REAL problem are the people burning illegally. we don't see anyone working to put a stop to that, and this nonsense certainly won't step up the enforcement, as someone else here apparently already tried to point out....
Unbelievable.
Spoken like a truly clueless individual.
"extremely high levels" based upon a couple of measurement stations set up in the last year.
Get a clue. Pay attention. Knowledge is power.