Clive Stott
I would like to share emails between myself, the FPA and the EPA in regards to unsatisfactory levels of environmental smoke throughout the whole of the Tamar Valley on the 3/4/09 during this forestry burn season.

I will give readers a bit more credit as to what was going on, than was afforded to me in the responses.

If as they say, someone burnt some tyres illegally, then they should be dealt with in an appropriate manner, but they should not have to be the scapegoat for the forest industries vegetation smoke that stunk out our 2nd largest city and its whole surrounds. This certainly wasn’t burning rubber!

Seeing it is acknowledged there were no other burns taking place, it would seem to me to follow that the smoke came from the three high intensity FIAT burns mentioned at Surry Hills in the NW on the 2nd and 3rd of April, and the three high intensity FIAT burns just to the west of the Tamar valley on the 2nd. It is acknowledged the wind was blowing in the right direction to smoke out this large area with the furthest burns only 120 Km away. This particle pollution travels over 1000Km! (see http://www.cleanairtas.com)

According to the method used for monitoring and visibility, the day in question was categorized as ‘VERY UNHEALTHY.

So much for smoke modeling, cleaner air, and all the ‘it is going to be better’ spin. The new smoke guidelines are a failure. Pictures and lungs do not lie.

http://www.cleanairtas.com/outwards/EPA%20Warren%20Jones11.4.09.doc

http://www.cleanairtas.com/inwards/warrenjones22.4.09.doc

Clive Stott
[email protected]

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SMOKE HAZE IS EVIDENCE OF CLIMATE CRIMES
Call for Moratorium on Logging High Conservation Value Forests as Markets Slide
Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader
Thursday, 23 April 2009

www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today described the high intensity burns ringing Hobart today as ‘Climate Crimes’, and accused Premier David Bartlett of lacking the moral authority necessary to take control of the forest industry in Tasmania.

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said that with global markets for woodchips declining rapidly, and workers at woodchip mills being stood aside, the government should introduce a moratorium on roading and logging in Tasmania’s high conservation value forest estate.

“In the current market conditions there is no excuse for Mr Bartlett to continue to allow the forest industry to trash and burn globally significant forests. Any responsible leader would insist on a moratorium while working on strategies to transform the forest industry into one Tasmanians can be proud of.”

“Today’s smoke haze is a stark reminder that our forest industry under Mr Bartlett’s policy settings is a significant contributor to the greatest environmental catastrophe ever to face humanity.”

“In this day and age there is simply no excuse for the kind of climate vandalism represented by these burns.”

“There is no doubt that once a cost is attached to carbon, Tasmania’s forests will be worth more as carbon banks than as woodchips and smoke, and Forestry Tasmania should be working on a long-term strategy to protect Tasmania’s forests for the good of our environment and our economy.”

Mr McKim also said that the haze around Hobart would also impact on human health.

“Smoke from forestry burns hits people like the elderly, children, asthmatics, and people with heart/lung conditions particularly hard. Indeed, for some Tasmanians, simply going outdoors at this time of year is life-threatening.”