SENATE BILL REPORT

ESB 6506

BYSenators McCaslin, Amondson, Nelson, Johnson, Barr, Saling, Anderson, Bailey, West, Stratton, Rasmussen and von Reichbauer

Clarifying use of wood pellet burning stoves during periods of local impaired air quality.

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 30, 1990

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Metcalf, Chairman; Amondson, Vice Chairman; Barr, DeJarnatt, Kreidler, Owen, Patterson.

Senate Staff:Atsushi Kiuchi (786-7708)

                  February 12, 1990

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 10, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Residential and commercial solid fuel burning devices are major contributors to air pollution.  The state Clean Air Act was amended in 1987 to allow only wood stoves certified to meet new, more restrictive, emission standards to be sold in the state.

During state-declared "air pollution episodes" all indoor burning of wood stoves is banned unless the stove is the only source of heat in the house.

When regional weather and atmospheric conditions warrant it, local air pollution control authorities can issue a declaration of "impaired air quality" without a state-declared wood stove burning ban.  During the local "impaired air quality" periods, only certified wood stoves may be used.

Clarification is needed on the types of wood burning stoves that may be used during these periods.

SUMMARY:

During locally declared periods of "impaired air quality,"  both wood stoves and wood pellet burning stoves that carry federal Environmental Protection Agency or Oregon Department of Environmental Quality "certified" labels or federal "exempt from certification" labels may be used.

The requirement is deleted for the Department of Ecology to determine after July 1, 1991, whether there is quantitative evidence that wood stoves meeting state emission performance standards (RCW 70.94.457) are contributing to impaired air quality and, if so, the department or local authority may prohibit burning of all solid fuel burning devices.

The Department of Ecology and local air authorities shall publicly announce the effective date and time of a declaration of an episode or impaired air quality.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested January 25, 1990

Senate Committee - Testified: Jim King, Association of Fuel Pellet Industries (pro); Darrel Coney, Pellet Sales/Pacific Fuels/Pyro Industry (con); Jim Lukens, NW Pellet Stove and Fuel (con)