Attention EPA wood stove & pellet stove owners…..

On September 25, 2007 the Sacramento Air Board heard the pros and cons regarding Proposed Rule #421, which would essentially take away your right to use clean burning EPA certified wood and pellet stoves to heat your home for up to 38 days this coming heating season.

After hearing from their staff on the proposed new rule, the Board listened patiently as many from the hearth industry, and recent consumers of these cleaner burning units plead their case to not have a curtailment imposed upon them.

After a lengthy discussion of the issue, instead of voting to accept the newly Proposed Rule #421, the Air Board recommended, by a nearly unanimous vote of 8 – 1, that their staff rewrite the Proposed Rule to INCLUDE EXEMPTIONS for EPA certified wood stoves and pellet units.

What the staff then came up with was a mess that was confusing at best. Instead of writing in the exemptions as they were simply asked to do, they cobbled together a 12 page list of options from which the Air Board could choose. To see the proposed options follow this link http://www.airquality.org/notices/Rules2007/RULE421-25Oct2007Options.pdf
Not only are these newer options lengthy and confusing, they are clearly not what was asked for. To see our response, and our suggested options, click here.

The Air Board will meet again on this issue on September 27, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. At that time they will decide which set of options they will vote on. We strongly urge you to call one of all of the supervisors and fight for your right to heat with clean, efficient EPA certified wood stoves and pellet units.

If you would like to attend the meeting on the 27th, please call 888-332-2472 for more information.