Imagine thick plumes of smoke that billow across entire counties, completely black out highways, cause traffic accidents and increased hospital visits for people with asthma. Wait a minute...there's no need to imagine this because it's happening right now!

But not for much longer. A federal judge in Idaho ruled yesterday that field burning in Idaho -- which is where grass seed farmers set acres on fire to encourage new growth without having to replant -- is illegal. Even though Washington, which has grass seed farmers as well, already bans field burning, and Oregon is considering doing the same, Idaho allowed this practice, a violation of reqauirement sunder the Clean Air Act to limit pollution.

Field burning is extremely polluting, and can be mitigated with certain farming tehcniques that have proven to be viable in other states. Earthjustice had challenged Idaho's State Implementation Plan last year and won the case in federal court. But even though a 9th Circuit judge ruled the plan invalid under the Clean Air Act, the EPA decided that it was still okay for field burning to occur. The court yesterday essentially made it clear to EPA and the Idaho state legislature that field burning is illegal and has to stop. Take a deep breath Idahoans, (and Montanans and Canadians as well...smoke doesn't follow state or national borders), the air is about to get much, much cleaner.