SAN FRANCISCO – The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is hosting a series of public workshops to discuss the agency’s proposed amendments to Regulation 6, Rule 3: Wood-Burning Devices.
In 2008, the Air District adopted Regulation 6, Rule 3 to protect Bay Area residents from the harmful health impacts of wood smoke. Under this regulation, it is illegal to burn wood, firelogs, pellets, or other solid fuels in your fireplace, woodstove, outdoor fire pit, or other wood-burning device whenever a Winter Spare the Air Alert is issued.
“While the Air District’s wood burning regulation has been very effective in reducing wintertime particulate matter since its adoption in 2008, wood smoke remains a significant health issue in the Bay Area,” said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the Air District. “In an effort to ensure that public health is protected, and that the Bay Area achieves state and federal air quality standards, the Air District is proposing to strengthen the rule.”
In brief, the proposed changes to Regulation 6, Rule 3 include:
Mandatory Burn Ban – To prevent regional wood smoke build-up, the Air District proposes to declare a mandatory burn ban when PM 2.5 is anticipated to exceed an unhealthy level within the next 3 days.
Sole Source of Heat Exemption –. The Air District plans to clarify the conditions for “only source of heat” exemption, specify the types of wood burning devices that qualify for exemption, address permanently installed heating devices that are non-functional, and allow a temporary repair exemption.
Visible Emissions Limitation – Following a 20-minute start-up allowance for new fires, visible emissions of greater than 20 percent opacity and aggregate to 3 minutes in any hour is considered an exceedance of the standard.
Manufacturing and Sales of New Wood Heaters – The Air District will adopt the most recent EPA emission ratings and compliance dates for devices sold in the Bay Area.
Requirements for Real Estate Properties – The Air District is proposing real estate requirements that would require the replacement of old uncertified wood burning devices. These requirements would become effective upon the sale and transfer of property, remodeling of a fireplace or chimney, commercial and residential rental property and new building construction.
Registration Program – The Air District is considering establishing a registration program requiring all residents claiming “only source of heat” exemption to register their EPA certified wood- burning devices.
A series of nine public workshops to review and discuss the proposed amendments will be held to seek public input on the proposed changes.
Workshop Dates, Times and Locations
- SANTA CLARA COUNTY – March 25, 6-8 PM at the City of Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center Hiram Room located at 17000 Monterey Street Morgan Hill, CA 95037
- SAN MATEO COUNTY – April 6, 6-8 PM at the Redwood City Public Library Downtown Branch 2nd Floor Community Room located at 1044 Middlefield Road Redwood City, CA 94063
- NAPA COUNTY – April 7, 6-8 PM at the Napa County Main Library Community Meeting Room located at 580 Coombs Street Napa, CA 94559
- ALAMEDA COUNTY – April 9, 6-8 PM at Livermore City Hall City Council Chambers located at 1052 South Livermore Avenue Livermore, CA 94550
- MARIN COUNTY – April 13, 6-8 PM at San Rafael City Hall City Council Chambers located at 1400 5th Avenue San Rafael, CA 94901
- SONOMA COUNTY – April 16, 6-8 PM at Santa Rosa City Hall City Council Chambers located at 100 Santa Rosa Avenue Santa Rosa, CA 95404
- CONTRA COSTA COUNTY – April 20, 6-8 PM at Walnut Creek City Hall City Council Chambers located at 1666 North Main Street Walnut Creek, CA 94596
- SOLANO COUNTY – April 22, 6-8 PM at City of Suisun City Council Chambers located at 701 Civic Center Blvd. Suisun City, CA 94585
- SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY* – April 24, 10 AM – 12PM at the Bay Area Air Quality Management District Offices 7th Floor Boardroom 939 Ellis Street San Francisco, CA 94109 *Meeting will be webcast
The public may submit questions or comments on proposed amendments to Regulation 6, Rule 3, by contacting the Air District’s Wood Smoke Hotline at (415) 749-4989, or via e-mail at [email protected].
For copies of the draft rule proposals and supporting documents, visit our website at http://www.baaqmd.gov/Divisions/Communications-and-Outreach/Air-Quality-in-the-Bay-Area/Wood-Burning/Wood-Burning-Rule-Information.aspx .
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (www.baaqmd.gov ) is the regional agency responsible for protecting air quality in the nine-county Bay Area.
4 comments
This Board needs to go away with their crazy ideas.
This is OVER the line! People wake up!!! Contra Costa Supervisor John Gioia sits on this board as well as the California Air Resources Board (CARB). It’s time to let them know they have over reached.
Enough is enough.
Remember when you couldn’t see across the Diablo Valley going over Ygnacio into WC? I do. Ever been to LA during a Stage III Smog alert? I have.
There are reasons for all this stuff…They do seem to go overboard at times, but I think it’s generally for the greater good.
I wonder if the smoke police drive polluting cars around to ticket people. I wonder if they hire people who smoke. Ironic huh
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