Following up on a series of public workshops last spring, this week the Bay Area Air Quality Management District‘s board of directors unanimously voted to tighten exemptions and requirements related to its wood-burning rule. Originally adopted by the regional regulatory agency in 2008, the rule sought to protect public health against the hazardous effects of fine particulate matter by prohibiting residents from burning wood in fireplaces and stoves on days with unhealthy air quality forecasts.
According to an Air District press release, adopted amendments to the rule include:
Sole Source of Heat Exemption – The amendment provides an exemption to households with no permanently installed natural gas, propane or electric heating options. Households may qualify for the “sole source of heat” exemption if the only source of heat is a wood-burning device that is EPA certified and registered in the Air District’s registration program.
Non-Functional, Permanently Installed Heater – Households may receive a temporary 30-day exemption to repair a non-functional heater. Upon request by the Air District, claimants of this exemption must submit repair documentation for exemption verification.
Visible Emissions Limitation – Under the amendment, following a 20-minute start-up allowance for new fires, visible emissions of greater than 20 percent opacity and aggregate to 3 minutes in any hour would be considered an exceedance of the standard.
Manufacturing and Sales of New Wood Heaters – The amendment requires wood-heater manufacturers and retailers to comply with newly adopted EPA emission standards and compliance dates for all wood heaters sold or manufactured in the Bay Area.
Requirements for Remodeling a Fireplace or Chimney – All fireplace or chimney remodels that exceed costs of greater than $15,000 and require a local building permit are required to replace an uncertified wood burning device or fireplace with an EPA certified wood-burning device, gas-fueled or electric heater.
Requirements for New Building Construction – Under the amendment, wood-burning devices may no longer be installed in new building construction. New building construction must install cleaner and more efficient heating options, such as gas-fueled or electric heaters.
Disclosure Requirements for Real Estate Property – The amendment requires all real estate and rental properties to disclose the health hazards of PM2.5 [fine particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less] from burning wood or any solid fuel as a source of heat.
The rule amendments met with opposition from some homeowners, realtors, and the home-heating appliance industry. As for supporters, the amendments received endorsements from the American Lung Association, the Sierra Club, and the League of Women Voters of the Bay Area.
For residents whose homes currently depend on older wood-burning devices for heat, the Air District is developing a $3 million grant program to help offset the costs associated with installing better and more effective heating equipment. Expected to launch next spring, the grant program will prioritize low-income residents as well as those Bay Area locations most affected by wood smoke pollution.