SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6180

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

          Agriculture & Environment, February 3, 1998

Title:  An act relating to solid fuel burning devices.

Brief Description:  Altering air quality standards with regard to solid fuel burning devices.

Sponsors:  Senators Swecker, Fraser, Schow, Rasmussen, Strannigan and Oke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Agriculture & Environment:  1/29/98, 2/3/98 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & ENVIRONMENT

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6180 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Morton, Chair; Swecker, Vice Chair; Fraser, McAuliffe, Oke and Rasmussen.

Staff:  Kari Guy (786-7437)

Background:  A person who has an adequate source of heat without burning wood may not burn wood in any stove other than a certified stove during the period of time that a first stage of impaired air quality has been declared.  A certified stove is a wood stove or pellet stove certified to meet minimum emission requirements.  The first stage of impaired air quality is declared when particulates of ten microns and smaller (PM₁₀) are at an ambient level of 75 micrograms per cubic meter.

No wood may be burned in an area when a second stage of impaired air quality has been declared.  The second stage is declared when PM₁₀ concentrations reach an ambient level of 105 micrograms per cubic meter.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The first stage of impaired air quality is declared when particulates ten microns and smaller in diameter are at an ambient level of 60 micrograms per cubic meter.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The requirement in the original bill to study the new federal ambient air quality standards is deleted.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 22, 1998.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This bill will improve air quality in the state and continue to protect public health.

Testimony Against:  The study of the new federal ambient air quality standards is premature; the standards are still being debated at the federal level.

Testified:  PRO:  Gary Smith, Independent Bus. Assoc.; Wade Winslow, Hearth Prod. Assoc.; Joe Williams, Ecology; Mike Ryherd, PSAPCA; Nick Federici, Lung Assoc.; CON: Scott Hazlegrove, AWB.