December 18, 2007
 
To: Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee
 
Re: Support SB 284, Citations to Enforce against Open Burning of Solid Waste and Illegal Storage or Disposal of Waste Tires

The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin has a long history of supporting policies and programs designed to protect air quality in the State. Consistent with that history, we urge you to support SB 284 giving the DNR the authority to issue citations for illegal open burning as well as illegal storage or disposal of waste tires.

Open burning presents a number of serious health hazards to Wisconsin citizens.  According to the 2003 Report of the Stakeholder Steering Group on Open Burning and Backyard Dumping, open burning is the number one uncontrolled source of dioxin emissions, the number one cause of wildfires, and the number one source of citizen complaints to the DNR on air pollution matters.  Studies by both the EPA and Environment Canada have consistently identified residential burning of household garbage as a significant anthropogenic source of dioxins.

Although humans do not ingest dioxin directly by breathing smoke from a neighbor’s burn barrel, dioxin emissions from burn barrels land on feed crops and are concentrated in the bodies of farm animals.  The majority of dioxin intake to humans thus comes from food sources, especially animal fats and dairy products.  Because burn barrels are used predominantly in rural and agricultural areas, the danger is obvious.  Other air pollutants associated with burn barrels, such as volatile organics, fine particulate matters, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and heavy metals, are ingested directly by humans who inhale the smoke from burning garbage.

SB 284 provides an enforcement mechanism which is not an oppressive.  There is a one year delay in the effective date to allow for extensive publicity and education.  First offenses at a private residence are subject to only a $5 fine. 
 
There is no technological fix for the problems associated with open burning, such as burn barrel design.  The only solution is for people to stop burning garbage.  The fact that open burning continues to be a serious problem, despite a 25-year history of being illegal, points to the need for better enforcement.  SB 284 provides that. 
 
SB 284 also provides the DNR with an additional tool to deal with illegal storage or disposal of waste tires.  The July 2005 waste tire fire in Watertown highlighted a gap in existing statutory authority to deal with problematic waste tire storage.  SB 284 provides citation authority for these instances.
 
We urge the Committee to adopt SB 284 and recommend it for passage in the full Senate.  Thank you for the opportunity to share the views of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin.