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Orange County <br />Hillsborough <br />North Carolina <br />7~faaagaa c O~iee <br />August 12, 1999 <br />Mr. Randy Bridges, Superintendent <br />Orange County Board of Education <br />200 E King Street <br />Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br />Dear Randy: <br />$ata6ftoled t?52 <br />Recently, I read in a newspaper article (Attachment 1), the decision of the Orange <br />County Board of Education to burn the wood debris resulting from clearing the new <br />Elementary School site. I wanted to strongly affirm along-standing concern of the Orange <br />County Commissioners regarding the practice of open burning as a method of disposing of <br />wood debris. In fact the Commissioners are pursuing legislation that would allow counties to <br />have the same authority that is now available to towns and cities to control emission of <br />pollutants and contaminants. The County's Commission for the Environment is exploring <br />alternatives to improve air quality as well. <br />In this context, I am sure you will understand the Commissioners' expression of great <br />concern to the School System's open burning as part of clearing the new Elementary School <br />site. As you may know, we are now in a season where air quality is affected by higher ozone <br />levels and is impacted by activities such as outdoor burning (Attachment 2). <br />Therefore, on behalf of the Orange County Commissioners, I am requesting that you <br />pursue an alternative to open burning of the wood debris. As we all learned from Hurricane <br />Fran, chipping is an environmentally sound alternative to burning. Though more costly, I <br />believe that all local jurisdictions understand the important advantages of chipping and <br />remain committed to it as the method of choice for disposing of wood debris. In that regard, <br />I understand that the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Grounds Division has a tub <br />grinder that the school system maybe able to lease. Kirk Pelland is the contact person. <br />Other companies that specialize in mulching or topsoil mining also exist. <br />I know that you and the Board of Education will carefully consider these concerns <br />and ideas; and we look forward to your positive response. <br />Sincerely, <br />John M. Link, Jr. <br />County Manager <br />DppffV <br />2 <br />cc: Orange County Commissioners <br />Legislative Delegates <br />