FINAL BILL REPORT
2SHB 16
C 405 L 87
BYHouse Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Grimm, Walker, Rust, Allen, Jacobsen, Winsley, Brekke, Locke, Unsoeld and Belcher)
Regulating wood stoves emissions.
House Committe on Environmental Affairs
Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations
Senate Committee on Parks & Ecology
SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED
BACKGROUND:
The use of wood for residential heating purposes has rapidly increased in Washington over the past decade. Less than 2 percent of Washington's residents used wood as their primary source of heat in the early 1970s. By 1980, this figure had increased to over 10 percent. Since 1980, the number of wood stoves and fireplace inserts in use across the state has doubled.
In addition to increased use of wood heating, there have been significant increases in population and density in many of Washington's communities. The result has been a significant deterioration of residential air quality due to wood smoke emissions. A recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study concluded that residential wood combustion emissions contributed from 65 to 84 percent of the fine particulates in the air of certain residential areas of Seattle and Spokane. Unusually high levels of the fine particulates associated with wood smoke have also been reported in Yakima, Olympia, Bellevue and other areas.
Residential wood smoke emissions are not currently regulated in Washington. Oregon and Colorado have adopted wood stove certification programs. The EPA is currently developing a new source performance standard for wood stoves, but the effective date at the retail level will not occur until the early 1990s.
SUMMARY:
By January 1, 1988, the Department of Ecology must establish: 1) statewide emission performance standards for new wood stoves; 2) a program to approve wood stoves that meet the emission performance standards; and 3) statewide opacity levels for wood stoves and fireplaces for the purposes of education and enforcement. Opacity levels will be set at 20 percent for educational purposes, 40 percent for enforcement purposes until July 1, 1990, and 20 percent for enforcement after July 1, 1990.
The burning of wood is prohibited during specified times of increased air pollution. All wood stoves and fireplaces must curtail burning during "air pollution episodes" called by the Department of Ecology. Certified wood stoves are exempt from "impaired air quality" curtailment provisions called by local authorities or the department. Any residence or commercial establishment that does not have an adequate source of heat without burning wood is exempt from these curtailment provisions.
The Department of Ecology is directed to establish a public education program to educate the public and wood stove dealers about the effects of wood stove emissions, methods of achieving better emission performance, the benefits of replacing inefficient wood stoves, and wood stoves that have been approved by the department. The education program will be funded by a flat fee not to exceed $5 on the retail sale of wood stoves. An advisory committee is established to assist the department in setting the fee, designing the education program, and participating in the development of wood stove regulation.
After January 1, 1988, it is unlawful to sell, offer to sell, or knowingly advertise to sell a new wood stove in Washington that has not been approved by the Department of Ecology. Violations are subject to the criminal and civil penalties of the Clean Air Act.
Unless allowed by rule, the following materials may not be burned in any residential solid fuel burning device: garbage, treated wood, plastics, rubber products, animals, asphalt products, waste petroleum products, paints, or any substance, other than properly seasoned wood, which normally emits dense smoke or obnoxious odors.
VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:
House 65 31
Senate 35 13 (Senate amended)
House 70 28 (House concurred)
EFFECTIVE:July 26, 1987