Amendments to Oregon Smoke Management Plan and the Oregon State Implementation Plan for Air Quality   Oregonians have the chance to comment on the Oregon Smoke Management Plan, a document that outlines ways to manage and minimize the impacts of smoke all across the state. The plan specifically aims to reduce the public health risks caused by prescribed forest burning, while at the same time trying to reduce forest fuels that can cause major wildfires.   Each year the Department of Forestry manages approximately 150,000 acres of prescribed forestry burning across the state, much of which in close proximity to populated areas.  Many residents contact DEQ about smoke in their community, and this is an opportunity for people to comment on the proposed changes to the plan.  Some of the proposed changes include: Additional provisions to protect visibility at Crater Lake National Park and the Kalmiopsis Wilderness, both Oregon Class I areas. Additional provisions to encourage greater use of alternatives to burning and emission reduction techniques. Eliminating the La Grande Special Protection Zone and reducing the size of the Medford SPZ boundary. Smoke monitoring for prescribed burns over 2,000 tons. DEQ and ODF will hold several public hearings at these locations on this rulemaking: La Grande, Oregon The La Grande Library, 2006 4th St Time:  6 p.m. Date: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 Bend, Oregon DEQ Eastern Region Office 475 NE Bellevue, Suite 110 Time:  6 p.m. Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 Veneta, Oregon Lane Fire Authority, 88050 Territorial Hwy Time:  6 p.m. Date:  Tuesday, March 4, 2014  White City, Oregon Jackson County Roads & Parks, 200 Antelope Rd Time:  6 p.m. Date: Wednesday, March 5, 2014 Klamath Falls, Oregon CU Auditorium, OIT, 3201 Campus Dr. Time:  6 p.m. Date: Thursday, March 6, 2014  Click here to view the rulemaking documents. Oral and written comments will be accepted at the hearing. There will be a brief presentation of the proposal before inviting your spoken or written comment. Written comments may be submitted anytime to DEQ through the online comment forms accessible through the website or as described in the rule package, but comments must be received no later than 5:00 pm on March 12, 2014. This email was sent to calkins.larry@deq.state.or.us using GovDelivery, on behalf of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) · 811 SW 6th Avenue · Portland OR 97204 · 503-229-5696