03/17/05 Field burning bill sent to the Governor

A field-burning bill that passed the Idaho legislature is on its way to Governor Dirk Kempthorne. Laura Johnson of the Idaho Department of Agriculture says House Bill 33 defines 'an economically viable alternative' to field burning. JOHNSON "The director has made a determination in 2003. He did another one in 2004 and we created a definition that he's been using for the past two determinations. What this bill did was it codified that definition and put it into statute." ISDA director Pat Takasugi said economically viable alternatives are those that allow growers to achieve the same agricultural and financial returns that they'd get from burning. The bill also prevents the state from being sued by environmental groups over the 'alternative' issue. JOHNSON "That was one of the main reasons behind this bill actually. The department was sued over the 2003 determination, which was upheld by Judge Woodland in First Judicial court. The department was sued over the 2004 determination which just last week Judge McKee in the Fourth District gave an oral order from the bench also upholding the definition." In the meantime, the state and the University of Idaho continue their research into alternatives to north Idaho bluegrass field burning. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott