Comment on FR Doc # E8-09269

Dear Sirs, My wife and I both have breathing problems that are affected by smoke. We live in Spokane, WA about 35 miles west of Coeur d'Alene, ID. In past years we were caught by surprise and had runny eyes, and scratchy throats when we visited the lake there with friends. Once caught, there is no escape except to drive away as far as you can as fast as possible. Now, we avoid Idaho during the grass burning season because of the smoke, however, it occasionally makes it to our backyard in Spokane. We sympathize with the growers, but there are alternatives to field burning that have worked in the European Economic Community for nearly 20 years now, and also in Washington, and Oregon as well. The economic losses to the region as a whole, plus the impact of illness, or life and death for many residents of all ages should weigh more than the outdated agricultural practices of a handful of farmers. Please stop the practice permanently