One step closer to permanent wood heat ban in California?

[dave1949]

The EPA has nothing to do with California outlawing or attempting to outlaw all wood burning. I can imagine that other states that want to get rid of the outdoor boiler smokers will also have regs that attempt to do that. Before getting on an EPA rant, people should know the facts of the issue.

Yes, the EPA set a new particulate emission standard for most new wood burning appliances. The old standard dates back to 1988, with amended testing procedures in 1996. It doesn't apply to coal stoves. The EPA is not mandating that "poor" people upgrade or replace their existing wood stoves. A dealer cannot sell non-compliant stoves but they will be available on the used market--from California apparently.

There are many stoves in production now that will meet the new 2015 EPA standards of 4.5 grams per hour. Most of the currently certified stoves listed in the link below that have grams per hour of 2.5 or less already meet the Step 2 requirements that go into effect 5 years from now (2020): http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2013-08/documents/certifiedwood.pdf

FACT SHEET: Summary of Requirements for Woodstoves and Pellet Stoves | Controlling Air Pollution from Residential Wood Heaters | US EPA

 

[rmk700]

They tried banning burning here in Utah but so many poeple pitched a fit and determined the percentage was so low it was not worth banning.

 

[ultrarunner]

The EPA has nothing to do with California outlawing or attempting to outlaw all wood burning. I can imagine that other states that want to get rid of the outdoor boiler smokers will also have regs that attempt to do that. Before getting on an EPA rant, people should know the facts of the issue.

Yes, the EPA set a new particulate emission standard for most new wood burning appliances. The old standard dates back to 1988, with amended testing procedures in 1996. It doesn't apply to coal stoves. The EPA is not mandating that "poor" people upgrade or replace their existing wood stoves. A dealer cannot sell non-compliant stoves but they will be available on the used market--from California apparently.

There are many stoves in production now that will meet the new 2015 EPA standards of 4.5 grams per hour. Most of the currently certified stoves listed in the link below that have grams per hour of 2.5 or less already meet the Step 2 requirements that go into effect 5 years from now (2020): http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2013-08/documents/certifiedwood.pdf

FACT SHEET: Summary of Requirements for Woodstoves and Pellet Stoves | Controlling Air Pollution from Residential Wood Heaters | US EPA

The article did mention the impetus for the new regulation is failure to obtain EPA compliance.

Quote:



This new proposal goes much further.

It recommends that after Nov. 1, 2016, Bay Area homes and commercial buildings could not be sold if they contained old fireplaces, stoves or other wood-burning devices that failed to meet federal EPA emission standards.



Having a little knowledge of how things work it is not unusual for whatever group to lobby or convince the legislative body or public to implement enabling legislation and then come back and say new regulation is necessary to achieve EPA compliance... almost like one hand washes the other.

 

[ultrarunner]

Once they succeed in this, they will go after something else. Just a matter of time until they ban privately owned vehicles and force everyone to ride public transportation.


Eddie

Efforts are already underway...

The proposal to float toll lanes on bay area highways and a move to restrict pre 1976 automobiles along with a concerted effort to get old cars off the road to the point of public funds being used to pay $1000 to owners of "Older Technology" vehicles under the States Vehicle Retirement Program.

 

[byronlj]

Efforts are already underway...

The proposal to float toll lanes on bay area highways and a move to restrict pre 1976 automobiles along with a concerted effort to get old cars off the road to the point of public funds being used to pay $1000 to owners of "Older Technology" vehicles under the States Vehicle Retirement Program.

And another epa invasion into our lives that I read last week. The epa wants to limit the amount of time you take showers in a hotel. The article said most hotel systems are equipped to monitor this without too much modification.
Dave

 

[coobie]

Jesus Christ! :thumbdown:
Its difficult to understand how gun control legislation never gets any traction in the US yet these crazy proposed controls seem to get all kinds of traction...
Whats next!
Cheers,
Jon

Once they get your guns,HANG ON.

 

[cat fever]

I want to make sure I understand;
So the clean air people want to ban wood burning in a controlled burn. (fireplace/woodstove) And replace it with the out of control wild fires that will now have much more fuel since we cannot collect wood and burn in our stoves any more. I'm not sure I can see the logic in this, I need more education. One way or another the wood is going to burn. Heating our homes or larger wild fires.

 

[cat fever]

I want to make sure I understand;
So the clean air people want to ban wood burning in a controlled burn. (fireplace/woodstove) And replace it with the out of control wild fires that will now have much more fuel since we cannot collect wood and burn in our stoves any more. I'm not sure I can see the logic in this, I need more education. One way or another the wood is going to burn. Heating our homes or larger wild fires.

Next they will be saying we can't make dust with our tractors!

 

[tcartwri]

In our area it's the home owners insurance companies that have basically banned wood stoves in your home.

 

[jk96]

Once they succeed in this, they will go after something else. Just a matter of time until they ban privately owned vehicles and force everyone to ride public transportation.


Eddie

You may not be far off base Eddy. If they can go after BBQ grills and push to monitor shower times at hotels I don't see anything as out of reach for them.

WFB’s Harrington Breaks Down The EPA’s Focus on Drippings from Backyard Grills | Washington Free Beacon

Next they will be saying we can't make dust with our tractors!

They have already tried and the proposals were shelved a few years back.

EPA announces it will not tighten farm dust regulations | AgriPulse