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One of OTA's major campaigns is to ban the practice of field burning in the state of Oregon. Since the Olympic Trials are going to be in Eugene starting next week on June 27th, grass seed farmers have agreed to not burn for the sake of the elite athletes that will be in town.

However, the Oregonian reported today that "The Eugene-based Western Environmental Law Center has asked Gov. Ted Kulongoski for a broader burning ban, using the logic that if it's good for athletes, why isn't it good for regular folk too?"

"It's not fair to protect only elite athletes," said Charlie Tebbutt, staff attorney at the law center. "Those of us who live here the rest of the time deserve the same protection."

Grass seed farmers in the state are feeling ambushed. "We were asked by Olympic organizers in Eugene and the county government if we would voluntarily not burn during the trials," Dave Nelson [executive director for the Oregon Seed Council] said. "We agreed. Absolutely." Now, he said, they've opened themselves up to the possibility of more restrictions.

Governor Ted Kulongoski has already proposed a field burning phase down. At the urging of Oregon Toxics Alliance and its members, Governor Kulongoski has instructed the DEQ to submit a proposal to his office that would phase-down field burning in the Willamette Valley. The DEQ has asked OTA to participate in a “stakeholder process” during the summer and fall. We will go up against the Seed Council and other Big-Ag lobbyists.

This issue has been in the forefront of Willamette Valley residents with OTA holding townhall meetings last summer to raise more awareness about the health hazards.

Watch the videos below and check out the information page on the OTA site.