SAFE - Safe Air For Everyone Safe Air For Everyone

Home

About SAFE

SAFE Newsletter

Alternatives to Burning

Health & Scientific Information

Real People / Real Stories

News

Images

FAQs

Links

Join Us

Photo report »
Images of the burn season


Let your voice be heard!
If you feel you have been affected by smoke from grass seed field burning, it's time to let your voice be heard! Call these numbers each time you are affected:


  • The Idaho Department of Agriculture Smoke Complaint Line
    1-800-345-1007

  • The Environmental Protection Agency/Region 10
    1-800-424-4372

  • Idaho Governor James Risch
    1-208-334-2100

    And always contact your local physician if you feel your health has been impacted.
  • End Grass Field Burning in North Idaho

    You can make a difference!
    Click here to join SAFE and help put an end to grass seed field burning in North Idaho.

    Agreement Reached on New Statute and Rule for Field Burning in Idaho

    SAFE, Idaho DEQ and Growers Agree on Plan

    Safe Air For Everyone (“SAFE”) today announced that an agreement has been reached to protect public health while allowing field burning to proceed under a new State Implementation Plan, or SIP in Idaho.

    The agreement process between SAFE, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and grower representatives began with mediation in July of 2007 and efforts continued through December. Once a core set of agreements had been reached, all groups came together to work out details of the proposed statute and rule. Both the statute and rule must be passed by the legislature and Board of Environmental Quality, respectively, in order for the SIP to be approved by EPA before burning can be restored.

    Read the press release here.



    "We see sicker people with more serious problems (during grass burning season) - it's undeniable. The industry's attempt to pooh-pooh this is like tobacco companies trying to deny their impact on health."

    Dr. David York
    Lung Specialist
    Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
    March 23, 1996

    "There's just too much at risk to continue the burning. Grass field burning in North Idaho must stop and alternative solutions found that will not harm the health of our citizens."

    Dr. Joyce Gilbert
    Pediatrician
    Sandpoint, Idaho
    November 5, 2001

    "For too many years this practice has adversely affected the health of citizens in our community and in outlying areas. Each summer we have seen our patients with lung and upper respiratory ailments suffer from the heavy smoke produced by grass field burning. We are now calling for an immediate end to this health hazard."

    Excerpt from a September 24, 2001 letter
    Signed by 30 physicians in
    Bonner County, Idaho

    2006 White Paper

    2005 White Paper

    Assessment of Idaho's 2004 Field Burning Program

    Assessment of Idaho's 2004 Field Burning Program

    Grass Field Burning & Public Health — The 2004 Burn Season White Paper

    Grass Field Burning & Public Health — The 2003 Burn Season White Paper

    Grass Field Burning & Public Health — The 2002 Burn Season White Paper


    Please call 208-255-1370 for more information or contact us by email - pattigora@gmail.com.

    SAFE. PO Box 1149 . Sandpoint . Idaho . 83864 . (208) 255-1370


     News
    January 30, 2007
    Court Faults EPA Approval of Field Burning in Idaho

    November 14, 2006
    SAFE Lawsuits Calling for Cleaner Air in Idaho Heading to Federal Court

    January 4, 2006
    State Smoke Management Officials Hold Meeting Closed to the Public on December 6-7, 2005 to Evaluate Burn Season

    December 19, 2005
    Groups File Opening Brief in Challenge to Idaho Field Burning

    November 11, 2005
    Field burning takes another life; state remains inactive

    September 9, 2005
    Lawsuit Filed Against EPA for Allowing Field Burning in Idaho

    June 7, 2005
    Safe Air For Everyone Challenges U.S. EPA's Federal Implementation Plan Governing Agricultural Burning on the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation

    May 20, 2005
    Local Citizens Seek to Halt Harmful Field Burning in Northern Idaho

    February 2, 2005
    SAFE petitons US Supreme Court to overturn 9th circuit court decision

    August 11, 2003
    Lawsuit charges Pat Takasugi, Director of Idaho Dept of Agriculture, broke the law.

    August 1, 2003
    Clean Air Group to document injuries during 2003 burn season.

    June 30, 2003
    Clean Air Act notice of intent to sue issued to Rathdrum growers
    Final 60 day notice letter

    February 11, 2003
    Field Burners Propose Special Protection from Liability for their Pollution

    September 17, 2002
    Farmers burn 1K acres

    Bonner residents feel effects of grass smoke

    Farmers burn fields, renew controversy

    September 13, 2002
    Supreme Court Decision Means Grass Burning Possible Next Week

    September 13, 2002
    Supreme Court Order

    August 31, 2002
    Judge orders field burning restrictions

    Judge shuts down field burns

    New suit blames field burns for woman's death

    August 20, 2002
    Rathdrum burning begins under close watch

    Growers' claims dismissed

    August 13, 2002
    Mitchell denies farmers motion to dismiss suit

    Frustration rises along with smoke

    August 8, 2002
    Safe Opens Rathdrum Field Office To Monitor Burning

     Letters
    Latah and Whitman Counties physicians letter

    Kootenai County physicians letter

    Letter to the North Idaho Farmers Association

     Opinion
    Stop grass seed field burning to protect public health