Fire Marshals from Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD), City of Spokane Fire Department (SFD), Spokane County, City of Cheney, City of Airway Heights, and City of Deer Park have all enacted the Fire Danger Burn Restriction. With high temperatures in the forecast, all Cities and Fire Agencies want to keep area communities safe from fire risk by reducing the number of human-caused wildfires.  This season in particular with so many of our citizens testing positive for COVID-19, we want to do our part to keep our air quality as smoke free as possible. Breathing smoke affects the respiratory system and is especially harmful to everyone and most especially, younger and elderly generations, and those with heart and respiratory conditions.

Unauthorized open burning and unauthorized recreational fires are restricted until this order is lifted or unless otherwise permitted by law enforcement or authorized agencies.  Details, including photos of devices allowed/not allowed can be found here.

The July HAZWOPER Challenge is now closed. Thank you for participating. Please come back August 1^st for our next HAZWOPER Challenge!

The July winner is Andrew Ruiz Congratulations!

The 2020 Safety Fest: North Idaho was held at the NIC Workforce Training Center in Post Falls, Idaho February 19 – 21, 2020. Spring Environmental’s staff presented 4 seminars during the event. The presentations are available for download via the links provided.  If you have any questions on the presentations, please reach out to Rory and Beth using the contact information included in the presentation or on staff page of this website.

• 2/19/2020 – Respiratory Protection (Beth Fifield Hodgson)
• 2/19/2020 – Silica Awareness (Beth Fifield Hodgson)
• 2/20/2020 – Chemical PFAS: Health and Remediation Update (Beth Fifield Hodgson)
• 2/21/2020 – Confined Space Awareness (Rory McKinnon)

This year you may notice some changes to Ecology’s online reporting tool TurboWaste: Ecology relocated TurboWaste to SAW, added security, and updated its forms to address dangerous waste regulations effective 4/28/2019.  New forms will allow you to report consolidation of SQGs into a company-owned LQG, episodic events, and hazardous secondary material.   Annual Dangerous Reports are due 3/1/2020.  Ecology has a new reporting guide available.  Read more about these changes or contact us.

Governor Inslee selected Laura Watson to serve as the new Ecology Director effective January 8, 2020. Ms. Watson has been an assistant attorney general supporting the Department of Ecology for over fifteen years. During this time, Ms. Watson represented every program in enforcement actions, rulemaking efforts, permit appeals, site cleanups, bill analysis, etc. And during the last five years, she been a member of Ecology’s Executive Leadership Team.

Ms. Watson graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and from the University of Washington in 1998 with her law degree. She has spent her entire legal career in public service at the Washington Attorney General’s Office.

More information on Ms. Watson is available on LinkedIn and will be published at https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Meet-our-director after January 1st.

The HIRE Vets Medallion Award is the only federal-level veterans’ employment award that recognizes a company or organization’s commitment to veteran hiring, retention, and professional development. Review the 2019 List of Awardees and the criteria for the 2020 award cycle.

Spring Environmental has been recognized in the highest level for the category of Small Employers [1 – 50 employees] based on our employment and community support of veterans.

Wood Heating and Outdoor Burning

Effective at 1 p.m., Thursday, October 31, 2019, a burn restriction is in effect.

Restrictions on outdoor burning and indoor wood heating take effect at 1 p.m. today, until further notice.

Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency issued the following restrictions because concentrations of air pollutants are increasing, putting residents at potential risk.

Stage 1 “yellow” burn ban: 

• The use of non EPA-certified wood stoves, fireplaces, inserts and other non-certified wood-burning devices is prohibited in the Smoke Control Zone, unless they are a home’s only adequate source of heat.

• EPA-certified wood stoves, pellet stoves and other certified wood-burning devices are allowed.

• All outdoor burning is banned throughout Spokane County.

Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency

Senators Introduce The Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances (PFAS) Act of 2019

This week, U.S. Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO), Gary Peters (D-MI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced legislation that would require FEMA to develop guidance for firefighters and other emergency response personnel on best practices to protect them from exposure to PFAS and to limit and prevent the release of PFAS into the environment.

“Our firefighters and emergency responders in Colorado and around the country risk everything to protect our communities, and it is our duty to make sure they are educated on the best ways to avoid and mitigate any PFAS exposure during emergency response and training activities,” said Senator Gardner. “This bipartisan legislation will provide resources to help educate our first responders and limit PFAS exposure. PFAS contamination is a serious issue facing our communities, and I will continue working to make sure Coloradans are provided with the most up to date information concerning PFAS as research regarding their effects on human health continues.”

“Firefighters are unfortunately exposed to extremely high levels of PFAS chemicals in the line of duty. Despite evidence linking PFAS to serious health problems, very little has been done to address the impact these chemicals can have on the health of the brave men and women who look out for our own safety,” said Senator Peters. “I’m proud to lead the way on this bipartisan initiative, which will encourage safer practices and raise awareness about the emerging public health risks that these forever chemicals pose to the heroes that keep our communities safe in emergency situations.”

“As Congress continues to understand and address the risks of certain PFAS chemicals to our first responders and the environment in which it’s used, I am glad to join a strong, bipartisan coalition focused on addressing this challenge,” said Senator Sullivan. “This bill is yet another important step toward employing safer practices, limiting exposure to our brave emergency personnel, reducing impacts on our communities, and exploring effective and responsible alternatives to PFAS.”

“Firefighters and first responders put their lives on the line every day to help others – and it is our responsibility to do everything we can to protect their health and safety,” said Senator Hassan. “Given the extensive health issues that can arise from exposure to PFAS chemicals, I joined my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan bill to help protect first responders from the risks of these dangerous chemicals.”

To view the press release on this bill please visit here.

The Cal/OSH Standards Board unanimously approved emergency protections for workers exposed to wildfire smoke. It applies to workplaces where the Air Quality Index reaches 151 – unhealthy – and when employers “should reasonably anticipate” that employees may be exposed to wildfire smoke. Exempted are indoor workplaces and enclosed vehicles with filtered air, firefighters engaged in wildland firefighting, and employees with short-term exposure to the foul air (no more than one hour).

Employers will have to monitor their worksites during fire season to check for particulate matter 2.5, the pollutant of concern. Employers would then have to move workers to an indoor location with filtered air or move them to a location where the AQI is below 151. If that’s not feasible, they will have to provide workers with respirators, such as N95s, for voluntary use and train them on the new regulation.

Only in extreme situations – an AQI above 500 – will respirator use be mandatory. Cal/OSHA says such situations are “very rare,” as Division of Occupational Safety and Health Deputy Chief for Health Eric Berg says. But employer representatives say they are not as rare as the Division characterizes them.

See the Cal-OSHA Reporter article here for more information on the Standards Board decision and the steps required to formalize this as a law.

Effective 8 a.m., Wednesday, July 24, 2019: Due to the current and forecasted hot, dry conditions, specified outdoor recreational fires (campfires, fire bowls, and fire pits) have been restricted throughout unincorporated and incorporated areas of Spokane County by order fire marshals and county officials. The restrictions will continue until further notice and are subject to change depending on conditions.

Citizens may still use backyard barbecues, manufactured portable outdoor fireplaces or other patio/deck warmers, provided the appliance has a spark arrester and a chimney, approved fuel is used, and weather conditions support safe recreational fires. Approved fuels include seasoned (clean/dry) firewood, briquettes, propane, or natural gas.

Details, including photos of devices allowed/not allowed are linked here.