SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6481

BYSenators Rasmussen, Pullen, Hansen, Nelson, Metcalf, Johnson, Patterson, Garrett, Benitz, Barr, McDonald and Moore; by request of Lieutenant Governor

Revising provisions relating to residential solid fuel.

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 3, 1988

Senate Staff:Henry Yates (786-7708)

AS OF FEBRUARY 1, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Last session the Legislature adopted E2SHB 16, which authorized a woodburning stove restriction program for the state. It included a provision that made it illegal to burn several materials in any residential solid fuel burning device (woodstove).  Plastics, rubber compounds, garbage, paints and other materials were specifically prohibited, unless allowed by Department of Ecology rule.

There are products on the market here and in other states that are sold as combustible fuel, yet have small amounts of plastic material in them.  Some of these products, which are usually found in the form of pellets, are essentially small pieces of wood compressed together and possibly treated to burn better. Sometimes, a small amount of plastic material is added to the wood to bind the material and suppress dust during handling.

Along with specifically banning certain material, there are emission limits that woodstoves must meet.  The "opacity" limit is set at 40 percent, which means that smoke coming from a woodburning stove can obscure no more than 40 percent of the area when looking at it through a clear medium.

SUMMARY:

Any person may burn materials such as garbage, treated wood, plastics, etc... so long as the burning does not violate the emission standards or opacity levels set in law for woodburning stoves.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested