Wood-burning ban at critical mass

Contra Costa Times ^ | 12/3/7 | Denis Cuff

[SmithL]

proposed rule

• Would ban wood fires in fireplaces, stoves or outdoor fire pits on Spare the Air nights when fine particle pollution is expected to reach unhealthful levels. As currently worded, the ban also would apply to EPA-certified stoves and fireplace inserts and boxes.

• Homes with no alternative to heating their homes with wood fires would be exempt.

• Would set a year-round limit for chimney smoke density at 20 percent opacity -- except for short periods during starting or refueling fires. Opacity could be accomplished by burning seasoned, or dry, wood.

• Would require commercial firewood to meet a dryness standard limiting moisture to 20 percent.

• Would ban burning of garbage, plastics or treated wood.

• Would ban installation of open hearth fireplaces without emission controls in new or remodeled homes. (Many cities and counties already do this.)

• Rule violators could be assessed a small fine or given the option to attend a clean-wood-burning class.

• No date for putting the rule into effect has been proposed, because the proposal has yet to come before the Bay Area air board.

  For more information, visit http://www.baaqmd.gov.

  Source: Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

[Red Badger]

Colorado already has banned fireplaces. Poor Santa, now he must use the HVAC vents!.............

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Rule violators could be assessed a small fine or given the option to attend a clean-wood-burning class.

OMG. Forced Re-education Camp

[Carry_Okie]

When (not if) the coastal mountains blow up into a holocaust taking thousands of homes with them, they'll call it "smoke" instead of "pollution."

Firewood sales are one of the few means of economically thinning these forests. Even without fire, if we don't thin, we'll get more mold spores in the air which are a vastly more powerful allergen than smoke.

No one quantifies these relationships, but the "air quality authorities" best remember that there's no such thing as a free lunch, or "naturally clean air."

[American_Centurion]

"What about my right to breathe clean air?"

It's co-located with your right to freeze your nads off in the pristine wilderness of Alaska. The air is awesome but the commute can be brutal.

[chaos_5]

Rule violators could be assessed a small fine or given the option to attend a clean-wood-burning class.

ROFL! Stupid libs are going to be bit in the ass by their own liberalism.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

If you want to stop this nuttiness, you have until December 10 to write to the BAAQMD. Go here for information on submitting a public comment. Or tell Eric Pop, Air Quality Specialist, 415-749-5172 what you think of this draconian rule that will turn citizens into snitches on their neighbors and give police the power to measure the Ringelman opacity of your chimney.

[Red Badger]

When I was a small child, wood and coal was what everybody used for heat in the winter and cooking all year round. I love the smell of wood burning from a stove ore fireplace on cold mornings......

[dennisw]

The air Q enforcement nazis don’t have the balls to enforce this is the lousy neighborhoods and Hispanic barrio type neighborhoods. But the Wilde middle class will bear the brunt of such enforcement captivities. Just wait ‘till the ratting out begins

[thackney]

pristine wilderness of Alaska. The air is awesome

Some years yes, once in a while you get a year with over six and a half million acres of forest fires.

http://fire.ak.blm.gov/content/aicc/stats/2005stats.pdf

[Mom MD]

and i like my gas fireplaces, they are easier and more convenient, but I would switch back to woodburning in a heartbeat if I could. There is something comforting about the sounds/smell of a woodfire.

[1Old Pro]

I love the smell of wood burning from a stove ore fireplace on cold mornings......

I love being able to warm up my home to 72 degrees or higher on cold winter nights. I simply could not afford burning home heating oil to maintain that temp. I figre I will save about $2,000 this year burning wood due to the high costs of heating oil - that green money savings smells great.

[Sloth]

"I don't want some fireplace Nazis telling me I can't burn," he said.

Dude, if you don't like Nazis, you chose the wrong place to live.

[tcrlaf]

Since they won’t allow powerplants or Infrastructure improvements, what do they intend to use for heat on cold nights when they run out of power?

These people don’t actually THINK much, do they?

[EggsAckley]

Wanna buy some wood?

Seriously, I’ve got a whole bunch of cords of oak seasoning right now. And last night with my power off, they would have had to pry my fireplace poker from my cold, dead fingers.

Heh.

[Gabz]

Nanny State Ping...............

[Ramius]

"What about my right to breathe clean air?"

There's no such thing. Of either a right, or "clean" air. Never has been, never will be.

[Ramius]

"When I come home from work at night, it's like walking into a cloud of smoke," the Redwood City resident said.

I simply don't believe this guy.

[Carry_Okie]

Wanna buy some wood?

I give my excess to my congregation. They sell it.

[traviskicks]

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