Residential Wood Burning Smoke is a Public Nuisance & Health Hazard in the U.S. from Outdoor Wood Boilers and wood stoves

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States Other (A-L)

AL, AK, AR, AZ, (CANADA), FL, GA, HI, ID, KY, KS, LA


http://rawsep.spaces.live.com RAWSEP Residents against wood smoke emission particulates. RAWSEP-WI is a group of private citizens organized to pass a wood burning emissions law in Wisconsin. Join today. Join RWSM Reduce Wood Smoke Madison also.

2009 Oct. 2: CEJAAPA: Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act: Senate Climate Bill: Boxer-Kerry Bill: in 5 min. it has more money devoted to carbon capture. It also includes some sweet stuff for natural gas, to try to encourage coal companies to switch over.

2009 Sept. 28: U.S. Senate passes Black Carbon Study Act 77-21: requires report back to congress 1 year after law enacted

2009 May 15: Sen. Carper's bill (S. 849) calling for study of Black Carbon and report within a year, passes out of committee go to RAWSEP to email your senator in support of this U.S. Senate Bil

2009 Sept. 22: WI State Assembly passed 61-32 WI Independent DNR Secretary

2009 June 26: RAWSEP helped pass the Black Carbon Reduction Act of 2009! The Black Carbon Reduction Act of 2009, part of the ACES American Climate, Energy & Security Act (Waxman-Markey bill) was passed by the U.S. House of Reps. It now goes to the Senate, then to conference between House and Senate, then to the President

Until 2009 July 13 submit public comments to EPA about wood burning devices (in California) Please submit your public comments, your wood burning stories to the EPA at this site by July 13, 2009. The EPA wants public comment on PM10 from wood burning devices (this is about California and not about PM2.5)

email President Obama email the President your story of wood smoke pollution

2009 May 15: Contact Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) in support of Black Carbon Act Email or phone. Don't send Postal Mail.

Ban Outdoor Wood Boilers and Wood Smoke Nuisance Please sign this petition

2009 May 2: "vent" to the American Lung Assoc. Have your "vent" about particulate pollution in your life displayed on the American Lung Assoc. site. Read other "vents" on the site.

2009 April 29: Amer. Lung Assoc. petition to the EPA sign this petition to ask the EPA to toughen particulate standards. The ALA also has a forum to "vent" about the particulate pollution in your life.

2009 April 22: email THIS to congress! Suggest wood smoke burning explicit wording in the Climate change bill!

2009 April 6: Sign a petition to cut wood smoke particulate emissions in half In 2009 the EPA is reviewing its wood smoke particulate emission standards. Sign this petition to present to the EPA during its comment period.

2009 April 5: Petition: The Senate caved, but Obama can still lead on climate‏ Petition to Pres. Obama to use his executive power with the EPA to reduce carbon emissions

Sign petition v. Outdoor Wood Boilers and Wood Smoke Nuisance here care2website petition

Click on this http://woodgasification.spaces.live.com sister site with mostly WI information http://woodgasification.spaces.live.com

click on this http://woodsmokeworld.spaces.live.com for international news on wood smoke pollution

RWSM Reduce Wood Smoke Madison Madison, WI organization began in 2009. Will appear at Commission on the Environment April 20, 2009 to ask for city recognition of wood smoke as a health hazard

Click on this to email wood burning pollution facts to EPA & White House Educate the people who can change the law NOW

2009 April 30: AL Shelby County & 11 other counties: open burn ban begins

2009 April 24: AK Anchorage: Indigenous people call for action on climate change including fast tracking Black Carbon agreements (ask) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to conduct a fast track assessment of short-term drivers of climate change, (black carbon), with a view to initiating negotiation of an international agreement to reduce emission of black carbon.

2009 Nov. 27: AK Fairbanks & North Pole: Voluntary wood burning halt asked & comment, exceeds EPA standards Nov. 20-27

2009 Nov. 20-26: AK Fairbanks: Air pollution exceeds federal standards in Fairbanks

2009 Nov. 20: AK Fairbanks: Air quality alert for particulates, use oil furnace or don't let wood smolder

2009 Nov. 16: AK Fairbanks: Wood stoves foul the air

2009 Nov. 14: AK Fairbanks: Fed report says Fairbanks air unhealthy, wood burning device use contributes significantly to pollut

2009 Nov. 10: AK Fairbanks North Star Borough: Luke Hopkins declared Mayor after vote count ends

2009 Nov. 5: AK Fairbanks Borough: Mayor's race runoff votes still being counted

2009 Nov. 2: AK Fairbanks: Fairbanks comments about wood burning

2009 Oct. 18 to Aug. 21: AK Fairbanks: Wood stove regulation & transition to natural gas spell cleaner air Nov. 3, 2009 mayoral election with pro-natural gas candidate Luke Hopkins & Oct. 6 vote for passage of local wood stove regulations

2009 July 30 to May 12: AK Fairbanks: Run up to Oct. 6 passage of local wood stove regulation control

2009 March 28 to 2008 Sept. 21: AK Fairbanks: Run up to wood stove regulations & OWB moratorium

2008 Dec. 18: AK Fairbanks: Particulates Alert help by burning wood or coal without smoldering

2009 Oct. 21: AK Juneau (Mendenhall Valley): Wood smoke bans may be in effect

2009 April 12: AK Juneau: Tax credits for clean air property tax credits for improvements that help improve air quality. Eligible cities would be those that fail to meet federal air quality standards governing emissions of particles less than 2.5 micrometers in size, also called PM 2.5s.

2009 Jan.: AK Mendenhall Valley: wood burn ban enforced Nonattainment" of EPA AQS warning to local lungs. more work for city and state regulators, write and implement a plan for improving the air. any projects that use fed. funding extra environmental review before money ,not adding to the problem.

2009: AK Skagway: wood burning in valley causes pollution The smoke from one home’s wood-burning stove moves across the entire valley in this December photo

2009 Nov. 9: AZ Maricopy County: EPA includes firepits and chimineas in changes in MCAQD SIP

2009: AZ Maricopa County: education in public schools on particulates Stop Burning Wood, one lesson

2009 Jan. 6: AZ Mesa: editorial v. wood stoves this sunny day, by afternoon, when I walked above the city, a haze had settled into the valley and the sky above the cliffs was tainted with brown haze.

2009 Jan. 25: AZ Mesa: editorial v. wood stove smoke All you need to do is step outside and take a deep breath to know what the real pollution problem here is. I always smell wood smoke. If Mesa County wants cleaner air, enforce a no-burn policy. who burns every day, no matter what the air quality.

2008 Dec. 25: AZ Phoenix (Maricopa County) wood burning ban on 1st pollution advisory of the winter season wood burning restriction ordinance. If you see someone burning wood during a restricted time, please call the department at (602) 372-2703 or visit www.maricopa.gov/aq.

2009 April 24: Canada, New Brunswick, Neguac: OWB shut down

2008 June 4: CANADA, British Columbia on OWBs emit more than four times the particulate matter of a heavy duty diesel truck. Particulate matter is a small solids and liquid droplets, much smaller than th cross-section of a human hair. They are the primary pollutant in most of B.C.

2008 Sept. 11 CANADA Granisle, village of: Mayor's rationale for OWB ban It’s time for people to look at the whole picture. The outdoor wood boiler that Daniels and Cummings bought was killing themselves, as well as Archambault, the neighbour.

2009 Jan. 13: CANADA Montreal smog: St Leonard & St. Laurent bans on wood burning "People are not actually aware in urban areas of some of the health impacts."Quebec's Environment Dept a new law llegal to sell any wood stove not meeting standards established by the Canadian SA or the U.S. EPA. fines of up to $25,000.

2008 June 19 CANADA Montreal: stop wood burning The Montreal public health department estimates burning a wood stove for nine hours is the equivalent of driving a midsize car for a year, or about 18,000 kilometres of driving.

2008 April 30 CANADA, Ontario, Burk's Falls on OWBs I stated that the smoke from this furnace has forced my family and I to lose the outdoor enjoyment of our property,our windows (not)open anymore. people opening their windows for fresh air we have to keep ours sealed to keep out the thick choking smoke.

2008 March 25 CANADA, Ontario, Uxbridge lawsuit v. OWB In ordering the boiler shutdown, Justice Fred Graham of the Ontario Superior Court cited medical concerns under review in Canada and the United States.

2008 CANADA smoked out: opinion one should be able to sit outside, dry our clothes on the laundry line, plant our garden, sit indoors, sleep and even use our clothes dryer without having to tolerate the thick choking smoke from any neighbours’ outdoor wood-fired boiler furnace.

2009 Sept. 9: FL Jensen Beach: Dr. calls wood smoke & H1N1 health risks

2009: FL: letter on effect of wood burning on resident main cause of smoke particle pollution in the winter is from wood burning fireplaces and stoves. particles from wood smoke are only the tenth of the size of grain of salt. Invisible to the eye these particles are a silent killer in our homes.

2007 Jan.: ID Boise: wood stove burns down trailer home

ID Boise Municipal Code: solid fuel heater wood burning ban At the onset and during the pendency of a wood burning ban, the following additional restrictions apply: A. No person shall cause or allow, after a three (3) hour "burn down" period, the operation of a solid fuel heating appliance or open fireplace

State CA (Northern)


2009 Nov. 25: California Takes Step to Limit Emissions

2009 Oct. 21: CA Chico: Letters to the editor v. wood burning My daughter has suffered from asthma for many years, effects of wood smoke on her breathing are obvious. board is mandated to protect public health and should be urged to enforce whatever regulations are necessary to improve our abysmal air quality.

2009 Oct. 21: CA Chico: Voluntary wood burning regulations considered by Air Quality Board

2009 Oct. 2: CA Chico: Chico city ban on some winter wood burning possible in future Chico and Butte County are in danger of losing federal highway funds if air quality conditions are not improved.

2009 Oct. 1: CA Chico (Butte County): BC Wood smoke ban fails, reactions “What about the freedom to breathe?” Luke Anderson,grassroots Chico Healthy Air Alliance. moved to Chico 5 years ago having never before respiratory problems, recourse if the pollution from a business, powerless if smoke is from his neighbor’s fireplace.

2009 Sept.: CA Chico(Butte Cty):BC Winter wood burning ban fails (but passed years ago in Sacramento, San Joaquin Valley & Reno)

2009 June 26: CA Chico: Fireplace restriction process moves forward

2008 Dec. 28: CA Chico: Deaths fall after woodburning bans

2009 Nov. 12: CA Davis: Farmers embrace air quality program (particulate reduction)

2009 Nov. 25: CA Contra Costa & Walnut Creek: restrictions on wood burning in effect through Feb. 28

2009 Nov. 5: CA El Centro: PM2.5 levels unhealthy

2009 Nov. 1: CA San Francisco Bay Area: Spare the Air begins

2009 June 26: CA Bay Area: Spare the air day avoid commuting

2009 Nov. 27: CA Fresno: Valley fireplace use down; bad air still on rise

2009 Nov. 2: CA Fresno, Kings, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and parts of Kern counties: Ban on fireplace use including wood pellets

2009 July 17: CA Fresno: Editorial: How much can folks be expected to endure?

2009 Nov. 12: CA Los Altos: Spare the Air days begin

2009 Nov. 2: CA Marin county: Wood burning ban takes effect today, $400 fines for violators

2009 March 20: CA Bay Area: Opinion: Spare the Air not just in Bay Area wintertime second-hand wood smoke from fireplaces accounts for more soot than diesel trucks, generators and power plants combined—sometimes totaling 30 percent to 40 percent of the total particulate matter

2009 Nov. 14: CA Modesto: Check air before lighting fire

2009 July 31: CA Mt. Air mobile home park: wood burners permitted, neighbor complains

2009 Nov. 3: CA Mountain View: Some wood burning illegal

2009 Jan. 23: CA San Francisco: pellet wood stoves will be restricted

2009 Nov. 26: CA Bay Area: Spare the Air in effect

2009 Dec. 1: CA Bay Area: Wood smoke produces 1/3 of particulate pollution on a winter night

2009 Jan. 23: CA San Francisco Bay Area: Looking back at 2008-09 Spare the Air burn bans Fifty years ago, Bay Area residents were furious when backyard burning of household trash banned.3 months ago, the regional regulators had to take the same kind of heat when banned wood-burning stoves and fireplaces on winter bad-air days in 9 counties.

2009 Jan. 30: CA (Bay Area) Spare the Air Alert Day wood burning banned

2009 Jan. 23: CA San Francisco Bay Area: email comments on look back at Spare the Air 2008-09 The usual fools here who are too feeble-minded to absorb information, and too selfish too care about anyone else. I hope your smoke goes back down your chimney.

2009 Jan. 18-19 CA (Bay Area) Spare the Air Alert Days wood burining illegal on Spare the Air Days

2009 Jan. 15 CA (Bay Area) Spare the Air Alert day illegal to burn wood on Spare the Air days

CA (Bay Area) 2008 Rebate for fireplace inserts

2008 Jan. CA (Bay Area) comments v. wood burning Solar panels on every roof for a new clean energy economy. That should be the planet's goal for the next 10 years.

2008 Nov. 18: CA (Bay Area) Wood Stove Insert rebates $200 rebates to residents toward reducing the cost of switching to natural gas fireplace stoves and inserts.

2008 Nov. 20: CA (Bay Area) Spare the Air Alert emails v. wood burning Fireplaces are so good...that when people have had the choice for the past 100 years, they opt for central forced air heating, steam heat and gas heat.

2008 Nov. 20-26: CA (Bay Area) CBS on Spare the Air Alert Days First-time violators will receive a written warning, and a second violation could result in fines ranging from several hundred to several thousand dollars.

2008 Dec. 8, 11 CA (Bay Area) Spare the Air Alert illegal to burn wood on Spare the Air days

2009 Jan. 4 CA (Bay Area) Spare the Air Alert Day illegal to burn wood on Spare the Air days

2008 Nov. (Youtube Video) CA Berkeley Spare the Air "There should be complete ban" Think of all the kids out there who have to breath this stuff. It is amazing how some people cannot see beyond their own self-interest. I am glad that some common sense is being brought to the air quality rules.

2008 Oct. CA Berkeley Wood Smoke Nuisance Ordinance establishing a nuisance condition for wood smoke for the immediate and confronting neighbors of an indoor wood burning device.

2009 May 4: CA Palo Alto & Santa Clara County: Amer. Lung Assoc. gives failing grades. Also email comments

2009 Nov. 4: CA Rancho Cordova (Sacramento County): Check before you burn program starts

2009 Nov. 3: CA Sacramento: Wood burning rules

2009 Nov. 2: CA Sacramento county: Burn rules revived "Check before you burn"

2009 June 26: CA Davis (Sacramento County): Wood Smoke Study to City Council

2009 July 7: CA Davis (Sacramento County): Should Davis have a woodburning ban part 1 of 2

2009 July 7: CA Davis (Sacramento County): Should Davis have wood burning ban? Part 2 of 2 (comments)

2009 July 13: CA Sacramento: Air panel on tougher fireplace burning rules

2009: CA Sacramento: burn bans in summer 2009 due to ozone alerts

2009 Nov. 26: CA Silicon Valley: Wood Smoke/black Carbon Soot: a Major Cause of Global Warming

2009 Nov. 13: CA Vacaville (Yolo & Solano counties): New phone line to advise on evening wood burning

2009 Nov. 19: CA Woodland: "Don't light tonight" program

State IL (Illinois)


2009 Dec. 1: IL Chicago: Industrial wood fired boiler fined by EPA for excessive particulates

2009 Nov. 23: IL Elgin & Dundee (Kane County): leaf burning, fire pits, & fireplaces cause particulate pollution and health haza

2009 May 19: IL Staunton: OWB causes fatal fire

2008 Jan. 15 IL lawsuit v. OWBs Smoke seeping into the house, Laws says, gave them headaches and sore throats. Melissa's mother, who has asthma, refused to visit. Their clothes smelled of soot.

2008 Jan. 15 IL lawsuit v. OWBs: story by IL Sierra Club turned their white-sided home y e l l o w. Next, constant sore throats, coughing and headaches started. The only way to relieve the symptoms was to leave the house.

IL Rock Falls ban on OWBs 2008 Sept. Outdoor Wood Furnaces. Motion made by Alderman Vandersnick and seconded by Alderman Thurm to accept ordinance as presented. Upon roll call, Vandersnick, Reitzel, Snow, Kuhlemier, Arduini, Hand, Folsom and Thurm voted aye. Vote (8) ayes, motion carried.

IL Sterling OWB ban on agenda 2008 Nov. 3 Ordinance No. 2008-11-12 Prohibiting outdoor wood fired boilers

State IN (Indiana)


2009 Nov. 10: IN Evansville: Particulate alert

2006 July: IN Air & Waste Management Assoc.: Newsletter: continuation of public comment period on OWBs or OWFs

2007: IN: ALA position paper on OWBs

2009 April 30: IN Ann Arundel County: D for particulate pollution

2009 Nov. 11: IN Evansville: Fine Particulate Advisory, what does it mean?

2006 Sept. 11: IN Evansville OWB ord.

2007 Nov. 21: IN LaPorte OWB Ord.

IN LaPorte OWB 2004 October of 2004 we had to shut our home up because the resident living next door installed an outdoor wood-fired boiler.

IN 2006 Indiana Law Blog on OWBs his experience in driving through a fog caused by smoke from wood furnaces.smoke that comes into the house make her dwelling area almost unliveable. similar to open-burning laws and sewage laws, cause a smoke nuisance to others.

2008 Sept. 16: IN Rushville: discusses existing OWB ord.

2009 April 14: IN Terre Haute: Vigo County Air Quality Dept. could be funded This [Vigo County] agency predates IDEM and predates the federal Clean Air Act and local inspectors have been implementing air ordinances for many years

State MD (Maryland)


2009 Nov. 9-10: MD Baltimore: Air quality Alert (particulates) (Orange)‏

2009 Feb. 11: MD Oakland: OWB regulations proposed

2008 Dec. 30: MD Oakland (Garrett County) on OWBs

2008 Dec. 30: MD (Allegheny, Garrett & Harford counties) on OWBs

MD Harford County OWBs illegal to operate MDE issued a Corrective Order to the owner of an (OWB) in Cumberland, cease operation. MDE responding to several citizen complaints about heavy smoke and odors from the unit. OWBs can produce large amounts of dense smoke and nuisance odors.

State NH (New Hampshire)


2008 Oct. 16: NH Augusta (Lebanon) on OWBs requirements for outdoor pellet boilers, such as setbacks from neighboring properties and minimum stack height and a replacement and a buy back program to remove nuisance outdoor wood boilers

2008 Aug. 14: NH Concord on OWBs installed no closer than 200 feet from abutting residence.

2009 Sept. 29: NH Keene: $1000 Wood stove replacement program

2008 Sept. 7: NH Rockingham County on OWBs The EPA site said they "create heavy smoke and release it close to the ground, where it often lingers and exposes people in the area to nuisance conditions and health risks."

2009 March 10: NH Rye: Voter Referendum on OWBs: Sample Ballot sample ballot

2009 April 29: NH: neighbor "vents" to Amer. Lung Assoc. I thought I was working very hard the way my breathing was! Actually, I was!!!!!! I was trying to breathe!!How it affects me now is not good!!! I now have pulmonary hypertension with leg edema!!!! I need oxygen!!!!Keep our air clean!!! Please!!

NH State OWB law on Orange Tag Orange Tag OWB still releases massive amounts of PM2.5 particulates

2008 Aug. 17: NH AMA on OWBs "We would wake up in the middle of night coughing and have to go around our home and close the windows,"

NH OWB laws change 2008 Tagged OWBs still release massive amounts of PM2.5 particulates

2008 Dec. 18 NH new rules on OWBs (tags, but emissions from OWBs are still massive) it must be placed at least 200 feet from the nearest abutter

2008 Aug.: NH OWB cost to air quality wood burns dirtier than gas or oil and spews more toxins and "fine particulates" into the air. These particulates can be embedded deep in the lungs and cause respiratory problems.

2008 NH physician v. OWBs Outdoor wood boilers can be inefficient and dirty. At their worst, at low temp., smolder, release soot and smoke close to the ground, and burn trash, commercial waste, animal carcasses, and other dirty fuels unsuitable for residential combustion.

2008 Aug. 12: NH press release on OWBs no closer than 100 feet from the nearest property line

2008 Aug. 17: NH sets standards for OWBs if they are deemed a nuisance or health hazard, the state or community will "abate" the problem or require the boiler be shut down if the problem can't be remedied, DES said.

2007 Aug. 14: NH: Concern about OWBs

State OH (Ohio)


2009 Oct. 8: OH: some counties in non-attainment of EPA particle pollution (24-hour) standards

2008 Sept. 9: OH: reponse to an OH state senator's support of OWBs OWB emissions exceed what existing Ohio EPA air pollution laws allow for visible emissions

2009 Feb. 26: OH Bath Township (suburb of Akron)(Allen & Greene & Summit counties) March 16, 2009 public hearing called for OWB zoning regulations changes: to require permit, 2.5 acres, 200 foot setback & be 15 feet from principal (owner's) building

2009 June 17: OH Brecksville: OWB regulations passed

2008 Nov. 16 OH Canton OWB ban heavy smoke affected the breathing of his infant niece last year. "I had to take her to the hospital," he said. "We had to give her breathing treatments and everything. My whole house was filled with smoke.

OH Canton 2008 Nov. 18 OWB ban proposed he lives next to a home with an outdoor furnace, which "can smoke out" neighbors, to blame for a chronically sore throat . Singo also said the wood-fired boilers can be a problem for asthma. "When you get one in your backyard, you'll care," Singo said.

2008 April 21 OH Columbus on OWBs This past winter, the stack belched smoke from a wood-burning boiler according to Waddy, polluted homes, cars and offices.

2008 OH EPA new rules for OWBs *Be placed at least 200 feet from the closest property line.

2009: OH Fairlawn: OWBs prohibited

(VIDEO) OH Hartwell on OWBs (VIDEO) (VIDEO)others with breathing problems say when the boilers are working they almost can't go outside. "Makes me mad like I said I been here 21 years and all of a sudden I should have to move? I told my landlord I might have to move because of it."

2009 Oct. 8: OH LaCroft: Zoning of outdoor wood furnaces

2009 April 7: OH Lacroft: OWB zoning regulations public hearing May, ballot Nov.

2009 Feb. 4: OH Malta: OWB useless without electricity rendered useless without electricity to power the fan to heat the house. Two days into the power outage, they were able to obtain a generator which helped to heat the house and provide water to the bathroom.

2008 Dec. 4: OH McDonald on OWBs The boilers emit a lot of smoke, which can be a problem or health concern for neighbors, said Seitz, who also heads council’s planning commission.

2007 March 10 OH Nimishillen County OWB ban affected entire neighborhoods. Due to air pollution concerns and the city's existing ordinances, we have no choice but to disapprove the use and operation of outdoor wood-burning boilers."

2009 July 30: OH Northfield Center (Orrville OWB rules mentioned): OWB rules within 3 months also decided to ask township trustees to extend a six-month moratorium on the installation of the heating devices as they work on the new measure.

OH State regul. OWB comment 2008 March 7

2009 April 14: OH Sagamore: moratorium on OWBs passed

2009 June 25; OH Tallmadge: sets OWB regulations

2009 May 22: OH Toledo: Opinion: Climate rhetoric heating up recession is no excuse for inaction," retired Air Force Gen. Charles Wald said. "already paying a penalty for not looking into the future." Retired Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, agreed that energy, security, economics, and climate change are all connected.

2009 June 12: OH Twinsburgh Township: OWB ban passed

States Other (M-Z)

MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NM, NC, ND, OK, OR, (PANW), RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, (WADC), WV, WI, WY


Click on this for woodgasification.com sister site with mostly WI information http://woodgasification.spaces.live.com

click on this for http://woodsmokeworld.spaces.live.com click on this http://woodsmokeworld.spaces.live.com for international news on wood smoke pollution

Stop Wood Burning for Residential Heating in the United States Please sign this petition at the Change.org Global Warming site

2009 May 15: Contact Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) in support of Black Carbon Act Send email or phone. Don't send Postal Mail.

sign petition v. Outdoor Wood Boilers and Wood Smoke Nuisance here care2 petition site

Click on this to email wood burning pollution facts to the EPA and White House Educate the people who can change the law NOW

2009 Feb. 17: MO Town of Republic: Judge orders woodburning furnace turned off VIDEO, story & comments

2009 April 7: MO St. Louis: Clean Air St. Louis reports that 8 counties in MO survey show 7% increase in air quality awareness

2009 April 29: MO: neighbor "vents" to Amer. Lung Assoc. about wood burner Here in this ""quaint"" little town of about 12K you can burn you trash right in your front yard...no ordinance

2009 Dec. 1: MT: UM Undergraduate Research: Student research on health effects of residential wood stoves

2009 Dec. 1: MT: UM article about particulates includes information on wood stoves' contribution to ill health

2009 April 30: MT Gallatin County & 3 other counties: F for particulate pollution

2009 Nov. 10: MT Libby: Residents told to turn off wood stoves

2009 Nov. 25: MT Missoula: Burning snuffed as new air quality rules pass city, county muster

2009 Sept. 17: MT Missoula: Air quality regulations tightened with regard to wood stoves Missoula County air-quality alerts much earlier this winter.new regulations approved Thursday by the City-County Air Pollution Control Board.effort to comply with tightened federal regulations for particulate pollution caused primarily by woodstoves.

2009 Aug. 21: MT Missoula: Wood burning regulations near final

2009: MT Missoula: Air quality regulations discussed

2009 April 7: MT Missoula: regulation of wood stoves discussed

2009 April 23: MT Missoula: Clean air input from residents Chapter 9 of the county's air pollution control regulations, which has gained a lot of public input because of the impact it would have on wood burning stoves.

2009 March 30: NE Nebraska: (VIDEO) OWB may have caused grass fire

2008 July 2: NV Washoe County: Air Quality Alert for particulates issued

NV Washoe County need 1 acre to have 1 wood burning appliance. Appliance can't stay when you sell property.

2008 July 1: NV: certified wood stove pollution inspectors

NM Albuquerque No Burn Days The No Burn season lasts from October 1st through February 28/29th.

2005 Dec. 1: NM Albuquerque: wood smoke brown haze pollution problem wood stove pollution

2009 Nov. 11: ND: North Dakota: Wood smoke harms the youngest lungs

2009 Nov. 10: OR Jackson & Josephine Counties: "Yellow" day burning, do not use woodstoves that produce visible smoke

2009 Sept. 24: OR: Red level air quality alert

2009 Aug. 6: OR Bend: Backyard burning ban passed

2009 June 30: OR: Statewide field burning ban passed part 1 of 2

2009 June 30: OR: statewide field burning ban passed part 2 of 2

2009 July 3: OR: Governor wants to clean Oregon's air, by removal of wood stoves when house is sold

2009 June 2: OR: statewide law requires removal of old, polluting, non certified wood stoves and other solid fuel devices When a home is sold in Oregon, removal of old, polluting, noncertified wood stoves and other solid fuel devices is required.

2009 Oct. 8: OR Klamath Falls & Oakridge: non-attainment for particle pollution (24-hour) by EPA

2009 April 29: OR Klamath Falls, & 4 others, particulate capitols of OR

OR Oakridge 2008 Dec. 23 non-compliant for particulate pollution Once declared a federal nonattainment area, communities must develop a 5-year implementation plan to outline strategies and steps to bring the area into attainment.Warm Homes, Clean Air program, visit www.lrapa.org/projects/warm_homesclean_ air_project.

2009 July 8: OR: Wood smoke creates top cancer risk in Oregon's air, EPA says

OR burn advisories include prohibition of home wood burning prohibited days for wood burning in the State of Oregon: check website. For example home wood heating prohibited in Oakridge on Jan. 18, 2009 (Code Red)

Pacific NW: Indian Reservations: rules for wood waste burning, 2002

2009 Oct. 22: RI (RIFCA): Rhode Islanders for Clean Air wants you to email in support of their H 5242: state OWB bill like WA St Please send it to both her e-mail addresses. Please bcc us when sending. sen-paivaweed@rilin.state.ri.us SenPW@aol.com Thank you, RIFCA

2009 March 9: RI: non-EPA wood stoves illegal, draft of proposed law

2009 March 25: RI, Foster: residents testified before the Rhode Island House Environment and Natural Resources Committee North Smithfield and Woonsocket passed ordinances. Smithfield, North Kingstown & Narragansett are considering. Connecticut and Massachusetts have enacted regulations. Now, the Rhode Island House says it plans to act with its own legislation.

2008 Nov. 18 RI Foster on OWBs sickened his 2-year-old twins, given his wife a pounding headache, and fouled his neighborhood. The boiler's smoldering wood, Charette said, has spewed noxious smoke that seeps into his house through windows, cracks, and crevices.

2009 Feb. 22: RI: House hearing on OWBs

2009 Jan. 22: RI Narragansett: OWB ban may happen Resident Russell J. Matuszek affected by a nearby outdoor wood burner, but he still can’t find the source. “All summer long when the wind is blowing from the southwest, someone’s burner causes soot to land on my deck and patio furniture,” Matuszek said.

2008 Sept. 13: RI N. Smithfield on OWBs constant clouds of thick smoke he says has made it impossible for his family to enjoy their backyard.

2008 Sept.: RI Woonsocket on OWBs neighbor complaints about the sometimes smoky emissions they create.

2009 Sept.: SC Aiken: County considers wood burning ban

2008 Sept. 24: SD Brandon: Fire pit complaints

2008 June 13: SD Fergus Falls on OWBs “We thought by doing an ordinance we could regulate them, take care of the environment and keep the neighbors happy at the same time,”

2009 Jan. 16 SERBIA Wood burning in Eastern Europe in response to Russian natural gas blockage Resorting to dirtier fuels darkens skies (VIDEO)Smog, unhealthy conditions from burning "dirtier fuels" because of natural gas blockade: wood, coal, etc... burning in residences in Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia, Hungary and Bulgaria

UT Utah Moms for Clean Air 2008 Jan. 25 stop wood burning on bad air daysThe penalty for most residential solid fuel burning violations is $25 for the first violation and doubling each time thereafter until the maximum of $299 is reached.

2009 Feb. 18: VA Roanoke County: Fire caused by OWB the flu pipe from the furnace became so hot that it ignited the wood constructed outbuilding. The fire then spread to house, which was about 35 feet away, causing only the vinyl siding to melt. Damage estimates are figured to be $28,000

2003 Oct. 31: UT: winter snow signals start of wood burning regulations

2009 April 21: VT Lyndon: OWB sparks fire which destroys house

2009 Sept. 29: VT Montpelier: $1000 wood stove replacement program

2009 April 30: VT Rutland: particulate forecasts begin, email alerts possible

2009 Nov. 9: WA Seattle: new Mayor was formerly a Sierra Club leader

2009 Nov. 6: WA: Wood fires can harm the youngest lungs

2009 Sept. 22: WA Centralia: Wood stoves to be regulated by Air Quality Station

2009: WA King County: All new or remodeled homes must have source of heat other than wood, and any existing wood stoves must be

2009 Jan. 18: WA Kitsap: email comments on burn ban (against wood burning) chokes some people...they can't breathe it. For many it is life or death.

2009 Sept.: WA Mason County: Burn barrels to be replaced by composting

2009 July 10: WA: Opinion: wood burning violates my constitutional rights

WA Puget Sound on wood burning During a Stage 2 burn ban, no burning is allowed in ANY wood-burning fireplaces, wood stoves or fireplace inserts (certified or uncertified) or pellet stoves,

2009 June: WA Puyallup: wood stoves cause premature death

2009 April 29: WA Seattle: neighbor "vents" to Amer. Lung Assoc. on wood burning smoke envelops our house and enters our house whenever a door or window is opened.

2009 April 14: WA Seattle: emails about Man fined for wood burning

2009 Nov. 4: WA Spokane: Pollution, but wood burning allowed

2009 June 8: WA Spokane: Illegal burn barrels can be swapped for free compost bins

2009 Oct. 8: WA Tacoma: on EPA list of non-attainment for particle pollution (24-hour)

2009 Jan. 6: WV Bayard: bans OWBs

2006 Oct. 16: WV Keyser complaint about OWB by neighbor the smoke was so bad it strangled me,I had to stop and come indoors. I was unable to work in my own yard I was coughing and choking on the thick smoke blowing onto my property.20 feet from her property,she cannot open her windows or hang clothes outside

2009 April 30: WV Martinsburg (Berkeley county): F for particulate pollution

2009 April 29: WV: neighbor "vents" to Amer. Lung Assoc. about wood burner They had a fire in the yard for over 2 years that burnt 24 hours a day.

2009 Feb. 4: WV Paden City: city council discusses OWBs The EPA told me my only recourse is a nuisance complaint. I want to be out on my deck and I want to open my windows when I want to. I don’t want to stuff a towel under my door so the smoke doesn’t come into my house.

2009 July 15: WV Parkersburg: Wood burning stoves & furnaces complaint, asks for regulation

2009 Feb. 8: WV Parkersburg letter to editor v. wood burning

2009 Jan. 22 to 23: WI 51 counties under Particulate Air Quality Alert minimize outdoor wood burning

Air Particulate Alerts WI 2009 2009 Jan. 12 3:36 to 12:59 Air Particulate Alert in Brown, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Outagamie, Racine and Waukesha counties. Minimize outdoor wood fires.

WI municipalities in 37 of 72 counties have passed OWB ords. Dec. 2008 see also: http://woodgasification.spaces.live.com

2008 May 27: WI Pleasant Prairie moratorium on OWBs Some residents might use the structure to heat water year-round, so the fire is constantly smoldering and creating smoke

2009 Oct. 8: WI: some counties in non-attainment of EPA particle pollution (24-hour) standards

State CO (Colorado)


2009 Nov. 26: CO Summit County: Wood burning regulations

2009 Nov. 23: CO Grand Junction (Mesa County): Valley has bad air days from particulates

2009 Sept.: CO Boulder: Letter about wood smoke pollution

2009 June 25: CO Denver: Fire pits illegal, possible 6 months in jail

2009 April 30: CO Denver County: F for particulate pollution

2009: CO Telluride: Open fireplaces banned in new construction, and wood stoves must be retrofitted

CO 5% of Denver's wintertime brown cloud caused by wood burning These particles get inhaled into our lungs. Breathing wood smoke can increase cardiovascular problems such as angina, irritate lungs and eyes, trigger headaches, hinder judgment, slow reflexes, and worsen asthma, emphysema and bronchitis.

State ME (Maine)


2006: ME: wood smoke toxins ignored by legislature

2009: ME: Woodstove use in rural Maine: Health hazards Woodstove smoke health hazard (Naeher et al., 2007). Fine particle air pollution (<2.5 μm - PM2.5) generated by wood smoke and other sources, increase child asthma hospitalizations(Sheppard et al., 1999) decrease life expectancy (Pope et al., 2009).

2008 Sept. 13: ME ALA and Health Dept. increased air pollution problems in isolated spots as more Maine homeowners attempt to fight off record-high oil prices by lighting up the old stove or fireplace.

2009 Jan. 10: ME: an act to regulate OWBs (state legis.)

2009 Jan. 16: ME, August : pellet wood boilers emission hearing set lawmakers directed the dept. to expand those rules to outdoor boilers that burn pellets rather than cord wood. BEP seeking public comment on a proposal to require setback requirements of 100 to 270 feet depending on the emissions rating of the unit.

2008: ME August: establishing OWB buyout fund , discussion we urged that DEP be granted the necessary authority to protect the public by shutting down nuisance OWBs when there is credible evidence of serious impact to local, ambient air quality.

2009 Jan. 16: ME Augusta: outdoor Pellet wood burners regulations discussed setback of pellet OWBs

2009 Aug. 14: ME Bangor: Natural gas urged instead of wood burning to avoid pollution Waterville resident Ernest Grolimund warned that older wood stoves and fireplaces pump large amounts of soot into the air, which threatens the health and safety of people. advocates "moving forward" encouraging the expansion of natural gas in Maine.

2008 Dec. 15 ME Bangor more pollution caused by wood smoke and car exhaust than industrial pollution in Maine two schools in the small Aroostook County town southeast of Presque Isle were ranked among the worst nationally. In fact, Easton Elementary School was projected to have the 10th highest pollution levels out of 127,800 schools.

2008 Sept. 16: ME Blethen on OWBs Restrict dealers, from selling units that don't meet new federal emissions guidelines. By April of 2010, boilers must meet stricter state limits. •minimum setbacks, minimum stack heights to at least 10 feet, set limits on visual smoke.

2009 Feb. 6: ME Brunswick Radio transcript on OWB complaints in Maine

2008 ME creates fund for buybacks of most polluting OWBs The legislature also created an Outdoor Wood Boiler Fund (LD 2263) for the purpose of upgrading, purchasing, and replacing existing wood boilers that are causing a public health nuisance. Funding could come from a variety of sources.

2008 Jan. 16: ME Farmington on OWBs Farmington will look to enforce its wood-burning stove ordinance, and violators could face a fine. Violations to the town ordinance to regulate outdoor wood-burning furnaces were brought to the attention of the Farmington Town Board

2009: ME: Homeowner's insurance non-renewal because of woodstove in garage Mr. Sirois uses a woodstove in the garage attached to his house. The current stove, which replaced a prior model, was installed in 2001.

2008 Dec. 15 ME Kennebec on wood smoke near schools

2008 Feb. 7: ME Kennebec: OWB smoke brings fire dept. February 2008

2008 Sept. ME legislature created OWB buyback fund Fund used to buyback most polluting OWBs in state of Maine

2006 Nov. 26: ME Millinocket OWB ord.

2009 Feb. 6: ME Millinocket: retraining order on OWB owner

2009 Feb. 19: ME Oakland & Kennebec: trespassing wood smoke health effects on neighbors I was most impressed by the quality and seriousness of testimony by residents, one whose family had to abandon their home and another who can't do simple yard work and once even thought her house was on fire & American Lung Association representative.

2009 Feb. 11 : ME Oakland: Outdoor Wood Burning Furnace to be switched to propane heat Mr. Ernest Grolimund of Waterville, presented a detailed packet stating the danger of the outdoor wood boiler being operated. Also, Tim and Cindy Herman of 47 Fairfield Street presented their health issues experienced since October 1, 2008 to current.

2008 Sept. 5: ME offers buybacks of OWBs The DEP also will maintain a list that ranks problem boilers by the level of threat they have to public health or safety, and the boilers’ proximity to neighbors or sensitive populations.

2008 May 12: ME OWB Fire destroys workshop, tools at Farmington dairy farm he believes a spark from his outdoor wood-fired furnace started a fire that destroyed his entire workshop and thousands of dollars worth of tools over the weekend.

2008 July 2: ME Statewide on OWBs “We are expecting there are not going to be a good number of EPA-approved stoves brought into use,” said Ed Miller of the American Lung Association in Maine. “There will be more complaints. More people with concerns about their kids’ asthma.”

2009 April 16: ME Wales: outdoor furnaces ashes ignited home, destroyed it

2008 Aug. 14: ME Waterville: letter by Waterville resident about Canada, Ontario, Amherstville wood smoke pollution Both of us and many others have been smoked out and ignored by local and state or provincial governments. The Brandies have been fortunate in being able to get legal help but many others can not afford the tremendous legal fees.

2008 July 23: ME: wood stoves (pellets included) pollutes more than oil The study concludes that although pellet stoves burn much cleaner than older wood stoves, they generate more particle pollution and air toxics than oil furnaces.

State MN (Minnesota)


2009 Oct. 27: MN: (VIDEO) Wood smoke from neighbor

2009 March: Minnesota Air Emissions Report shows that residential wood burning contributes almost 30% of the PM2.5 in Minnesota’s ambient air. 2005 data:major sources of PM2.5 components, biomass burning contributes to both elemental and organic carbon sources. table p.15, pie chart p.16.

2009 Jan. 28 & 9: MN Burnsville: city council discusses OWB complaint Giles' unit is one of the older models that emits more smoke. Typically, he said, such units are used in a rural setting where the property owner has 5 acres or more of land.

2009 Jan. 9 MN Burnsville OWB complaint "We have to be cognizant of how this affects the neighbors living around him," Kautz said. "It's about living in a community and being respectful of the neighbors around you.

2009 Feb. 4: MN Crosslake: editorial: OWB moratorium explained I was the one who made a motion to ask the city council to enact the moratorium

MN Even "cleaner" woodstoves emit 100X particulates of natural gas furnace "Even the cleaner EPA certified stoves still emit up to 100 times the particulate matter that oil and gas burners do," says Beresford.

MN Eyota OWB ordinance

MN Forest Lake OWB ord. discussion

2009 May: MN Maplewood: an ord. may cover some wood burning

2007 Aug. 28: MN Forest Lake OWB ord.

2008 Nov. 13: MN OWB manufactuer sued by MI Henrietta township (Jackson) couple "Northwest Manufacturing has known about the dangerous emissions and smoke generated by the (outdoor wood boiler) in question and others like it for some time and has failed to warn the public

2008 Sept. 18: MN Kenyon City on OWBs “detrimental to the health, comfort, safety, welfare and prosperity of” New Prague.

2008 Sept. 8: MN Madison, city of: Discussion of OWBs The proposed ordinance would prohibit the use of any exterior solid fuel heating device in the City of Madison

2009 Sept. 14: MN Minneapolis: Wood fire ire: Con wood burning & comments

2008 Oct. 12: MN Minneapolis: backyard wood fire pit pollution: emails v. I have asthma and my neighbor's fires do make me ill I keep my windows closed all summer but it still seeps in since the air conditioner has to take in air. many peoples' neighbors are not nice and don't have sense.

2007 Dec. 4: MN Minneapolis: Opinion: wood smoke is not delightful

2009 April 29: MN Minneapolis: neighbor "vents" to Amer. Lung Assoc. about wood burner I have had to quit gardening and riding my bike in the evenings when the weather is nice because too many people have fires going

2007 June 19: MN Morris OWB ord. Granger asked about homemade wood burners. Kuchenreuther indicated there is nothing in the draft ordinance regarding homemade wood burners, but it might make sense to have them included.

2009 Oct. 12: MN Oak Grpve: (VIDEO) Neighbor burns wood at 70 degrees after agreeing not to Neighbor has burned for last 10 days from Oct. 02-12, 2009

MN Oak Grove neighbor of OWB owner (gas masks in backyard) We were told by one of the former members of The Council that the OWB owner was going to be told to put in a higher smoke stack. If this is the case, they either haven't done so or as suspected, a taller stack makes no difference at all.

MN Oak Grove 2008 OWB photos The same smoke plume is hitting the back of our neighbor's house, then going around and over, enveloping it in smoke. Depending on the wind direction, somebody gets dealt the bad hand every day.

2009 April 29: MN Oak Park Heights: passed OWB ord.

2009 March 25: MN Oak Park Heights: OWB ban discussed resources for understanding the ordinance included in article

2009 March 25: MN Oak Park Heights: upcoming public hearing for OWB ord. discussion public hearing notice

2009 March 4: MN Oak Park Heights: OWB ban discussed City Planner Scott Richards researched regulations in Burnsville, New Ulm, New Prague, Forest Lake, Battle Lake, and several cities outside Minnesota.

2009 Jan. 29: MN Public radio transcript: EPA, Swackhamer, on soot emissions change at EPA, EPA campus talk, visit to MN The U.S. could play a key role in coming to grips with black carbon when climate talks begin in Denmark later this year, according to Pai-Yei Whung, the chief scientist for the Environmental Protection Agency

2009 Nov. 24: MN Princeton: OWB restrictions coming

2009 Oct. 29: MN Princeton: OWB (AKA OWF) ord. considered

2008 Nov. 16: MN St. Cloud: MN public radio on wood burning health concerns Jamie O'Link of St. Cloud was surprised earlier this year when her doctor told her she had emphysema. O'Link says the doctor told her to stop smoking, but O'Link has never smoked. sick from from the wood her neighbors were burning to heat their home.

2009 April: MN Saint Paul: Opinion: smokiest city St. Paul MN blog about wood burning pollution

2009 May 28: MN Savage OWB ord. passed May 18, OWBs called nuisance

2009 July 7: MN Scandia: OWB ord. amended to require less than 20% opacity smoke, permit, stack height, only Oct. 1 to March 31

2008 Nov.: MN: Soot up to 30% cause of global warming

MN 2008 Top concerns ozone and PM2.5

(Video)MN warnings about wood burning Experts say fine particulate matter from wood smoke can cause asthma, emphysema, or bronchitis.

State NY (New York)


2009 Nov. 15: NY: New York State Timeline of OWB regulations, 1988 to present

2009 Nov. 10-11: NY: Dauphin, Lebanon, Cumberland, York, Lancaster: Air Quality Alert expires on 2009 Nov. 11 9:30 a.m.

2009 Nov. 9: NY Albany: downstate NY & Montvale NJ: Air quality action day (particulates)

2009 April 30: NY: OWB ban proposed to help lower ozone level

2009 Sept.: NY Albany: NY to regulate open burning more & comments

2008 Sept. 19: NY Albany on OWBs Tupper Lake, opts for a ban. "We wanted to care of this before it became a problem," said Tupper Lake Mayor Mickey Desmarais. "

2009 Jan 3: NY Amsterdam: (Montgomery County): OWB moratorium passed, NY state regulations stricter

2009 June 1: NY Antwerp: OWB OWB used to burn spycam & computer

2009 June 9: NY Bayville & Huntington: Opinion: OWB should be banned, also bonfires

2009 July 14: NY Weedsport & Town of Brutus: OWB Outdoor furnaces proposed Local law No. 3 for Brutus includes monitoring by EPA

2009 April 30: NY Buffalo: F in particulate pollution The report also recommends individuals do what they can to reduce pollution, by driving less, using less electricity and not burning wood or trash.

2008 Sept. 16: NY Canandaigua on OWBs “I’m glad it’s over after all these years,” said Betty Singer, the neighbor who filed the complaint. “Hopefully now we will be able to breathe more clean air and be able to sleep through the night without thinking our house is on fire.”

2009 Nov. 14: NY Caroline: Open burning regulations issued

2008 Sept. 5: NY Chester on OWBs "I'm not directly against these units, but as a municipality, we have to look for the betterment of the entire community,"

2009 July 17: NY Clifton Park: OWB hearing on July 20

2009 Oct. 23: NY Crawford, town of: OWB law enacted

2009 Aug. 28: NY Dutchess County: Refering to Cuomo's report on OWBs

2009 July 17: NY East Hampton Town: Beach bonfires to be regulated, perhaps banned

2009 Nov. 11: NY East Nassau: Village Board discusses OWB regulations

2009 Oct. 12: NY Elizabethtown, Jay, Moriah, Wilmington: Adirondack Council applauds OWB regulations in towns, since no action b "We appreciate the acknowledgment of all the hard work and recognition for trying to do the right thing," Elizabethtown Supervisor Noel Merrihew said about his community's outdoor-boiler restrictions.

2009 Aug. 28: NY Elizabethtown: Sept. 16 public hearing on OWB ban As outlined in the proposed law, the ban is for "securing and promoting the public health, comfort, safety, welfare and prosperity of the town and its inhabitants."

2009 Jan.: NY Elizabethtown: 2nd public OWB hearing Moisan said in the hamlet of Elizabethtown houses are very close together. like individuals who bought stock those who bought outdoor oilers "made a bad decision. That's how life goes. They should be out within 30 days or at least by springtime."

2008 Oct. 26: NY Elizabethtown: on OWBs She likened it to sewage into the River and trash into the forest. valley would hold particulate matter and look like pre-World War II Pittsburgh."Two hundred feet is nothing. The smoke will hang here in the valley. I would not come here to shop.

2008: NY Elizabethtown: blog about passing OWB state legislation

2009 Sept. 7: NY Elmira: Wood smoke illegal, fire marshall says: email comments

2009 Sept. 7: NY Elmira: Wood smoke illegal, fire marshall says

2009 Aug. 5 : NY Esopus: OWB regulations considered by Town Board

2008 Nov. 21 NY Fair Haven on OWBs if emissions interfere with reasonable enjoyment of life or property, cause damage to vegetation or property, or are harmful to health.

2009 Jan. 8: NY Fulton: Bans OWBs

2008 Oct. 7: NY Gardiner on OWBs concerned with fire safety, specifically with sparks coming from the boiler. Some towns have required spark arresters, but they tend to cause more pollution. There are significant health concerns in highly populated areas.

2009 Aug. 13: NY Gloversville: OWB amendments proposed for next meeting

2009 July 30: NY Gloversville: Council deadlocked on OWBs

2009 July 7: Gloversville & Perth: OWB restrictions considered by town

2009 May 18: NY Gloversville: OWB ord. scheduled to be discussed by Common Council

2008 Oct. 17 NY Howell OWB ord. concerned for some time about safety issues as well, one resident who installed a wood-burning boiler in his garage, to heat the interior of his home. responsible for all fire suppression costs and liability from damage by a fire. also a fine.

2009 Sept. 15: NY Hudson Valley: Reply to a wood burner

2009 May 25: NY Huntington bans OWBs

2008 Aug. 20: NY Town of Jay on OWBs The Town of Jay is looking for residents to serve on an ad hoc committee regarding possible regulations covering outside wood boilers.

2009 March 26: NY Town of Jay and Hamlet of Au Sable Forks: OWB ban passed The punishment for violating the law is a fine of up to $250 and up to 15 days in jail. Subsequent violations carry a fine of up to $1,000 and 15 days in jail.

2009 Nov. 11: NY Kinderhook: OWB moratorium continues, possibly another vote Dec. 9

2009 Nov. 10: NY Kinderhook: OWB regulations to ban new, regulate old

2009 Aug. 25 & 21: NY Kinderhook: 6 month OWB moratorium passed (2 articles) The installation of new outdoor wood boilers banned in the town of Kinderhook Wednesday Town Board. members voted unanimously for a new local law establishing a six-month moratorium on the devices, which experts say cause serious health risks.

2009 July 23: NY Kinderhook: Towns tackle issue of OWBs

2009 June 18: NY Kinderhook: OWB informational meeting July 23, 2009 April board meeting, which was attended by several members of the community that thought their quality of life was being brought down by the acrid smoke of the boilers

2009 May 12: NY Kinderhook: OWB ban discussed

2009: NY Lake Placid on OWBs An optical device will be used for measuring woodsmoke in the air because, Miller said, the carbon component of the smoke absorbs some types of light more than others. It does not pick up emissions from cars or other sources of air pollution.

2008 Aug. 16: NY Lewisboro moratorium on OWBs The town’s Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) supports the Town Board’s planned move to impose a moratorium on the installation of outdoor wood burning furnaces in Lewisboro.

2009 July 27: NY Lockport: Outdoor furnace ban considered

2007: NY Longmeadow: discussion about OWB legislation

2009 March 26: NY: Lung Assoc. says harm outweighs any positives about OWBs Outdoor wood boilers are wreaking havoc across New York, polluting the air and making breathing difficult for New Yorkers forced to breathe the smoke they produce.

2008 Sept. 23: NY Lysander “The kids can't go out and do snow forts without getting smoked out,” says Sue.

2009 Feb. 17: NY Lysander: OWB ord. public hearing called Lysander will hold a public hearing March 9

2007: NY Manhattan: Bono bothered by neighbor's wood smoke

2009 July 27: NY Moriah: adopts outdoor stove law

2009 May: (VIDEO) NY Mount Sinai Hospital: Robert Kennedy Jr. on environmental toxins allowed to harm children Start on minute 6 of (VIDEO)

2009 Oct. 9: NY Nassau: Opinion v. wood smoke pollution

2007: NY New York City: Bono & Mitch Miller bothered by neighbor's wood smoke emissions tests have confirmed unsafe levels of smoke

NY Newark Valley 2008 OWB sets house on fire Crews battled the flames at 3912 Wilson Creek Road. (VIDEO)They believe the fire started near an outside wood furnace... And say the flames spread quickly to the house.

2009 Sept. 10: NY town of N. Elba & village of Lake Placid: temporary OWB bans discussed at 1st (Sept. 8) of 4 public meetings

NY Ogden 2008 March 5: OWB moratorium considered “I get short of breath.” “The smoke is so terrible, it just seeps in,” Henry usually stays inside with the doors and windows closed, whatever the season. I could not go outside to take care of the birdfeeders, to weed in my garden,” she said.

2009 Sept. 15: NY Oneida: 3 acre OWB requirement and setback of 200 feet from neighbor

2009 June 17: NY Oneida County: Town of Lee: letter to the editor: OWBs cause health problems We live approximately 200 feet from an outdoor wood-burning furnace. It has caused me extended health issues . a family member asthma attack excessive smoke in yard, can’t open windows without smell filling house, sit on our porch, walk in our yard.

NY Ogden 2008 OWB moratorium considered New Hampshire is the third state to adopt rules regulating the outdoor, freestanding furnaces used to heat a home or a pool.

2009 June 19: NY Oneida County: Tug Hill 7 forums on OWBs, energy and changes in the farming community: 1000 surveys completed Forums on OWBs etc... Tug Hill June 16, town of Lee June (May 2009?), Boonville May 2009, Redfield & Martinsburg June 25, 2009

2009 Aug. 7: NY Perth:Town officials will look to review a possible seasonal ban

2009 June 28: NY Peru: finalizing OWB regulations

2009 June 11: NY Peru: OWB loophole closed

2008 Oct. 1: NY Peru on OWBs Peru officials have passed a law regulating the use of outdoor wood boilers throughout the community.

2008 April 19: NY Peru: Public hearings on OWB ord. Hearings held. No action taken as of 2008 April 19

2009 Jan. 10: NY Plattsburgh: eyes OWB ban vote Jan. 20, 2009 Only 2 acres permitted to install OWBs Chimneys at least 20-feet tall Boilers must be at least 200 feet from the nearest property line Penalties up to $500 in fines or 10 days prison 1st off., $1,000 in fines up to 30 days prison subsequent

2009 March 4: NY Port Henry: man's foot crushed under OWB

2009 Aug. 19: NY Poughkeepsie (Dutchess County): OWB regulations proposed after 2 days of questionable air quality this summer

2009 Aug. 12: NY Putnam Valley: OWBs discussed

2009 Aug. 19: NY Putnam Valley: Hearing on OWB regulations

NY Verona, Rome OWB laws in March 2008 banned in Barneveld, Holland Patent and Prospect. Towns in Oneida County which have placed zoning guidelines on outdoor furnaces include Trenton and Verona. I did a walk-on-the-beat a house burning cereal boxes, milk cartons..."I burn everything.’"

2008 Sept. 12: NY Rosendale on OWBs It's my mistake for not thinking of it sooner, but maybe a moratorium earlier would have been a better idea," the supervisor said.

2009 Feb. 22: NY Rosendale: ready to deal with OWBs Rosendale will hold March 4 public hearing on OWBs

2008 Oct. 26: NY Rutland: OWB causes house to burn down he heard a loud bang and noticed the flames. Investigators are focusing on an outdoor wood furnace

2008 Sept. 1: NY Saranac Lake on OWBs Two out of three villages in the Tri-Lakes now restrict outdoor wood boilers.

2009 Nov. 17: NY Schenectady: Wood smoke from burn barrels needs to be cleared up

2007: NY: (scientific poster) Seasonal wood smoke markers in fine particulates in NY area

2009 March 30: NY: State on right track with OWB regulations some burn cleaner as a result. But not all. cleaner really isn’t clean enough: The units still produce about three times more smoke and up to three times as much fine particulate matter as traditional wood stoves (equipped with catalytic converters).

2009 March 22: NY Statewide OWB complaints Michigan-based Hawken Energy, boiler company, organized letter campaign in response

2009 Nov. 19: NY Syracuse: Public meetings on trash burning scheduled Nov. 23 & 30

2008 Aug. 26: NY Tupper Lake on OWBs often require them to be at least 200 feet from a structure on anyone else's property

2008 Sept. 29: NY Tusten on OWBs spew particulate matter into the air During the moratorium, the board will study the issue, look at regulations in place in the towns of Delaware and Neversink and come up with regulations for Tusten.

2009 Jan. 6: NY Van Buren: passed OWB ord.

2006 March 15: NY Warwick, village of: OWB ban

NY Wellsboro "shallow bowl" shape of municipality traps smoke Central Boiler again resorted to attorneys to try to get this last report withdrawn, you can see the exchange of letters, including NESCAUM's pointbypoint refutation, at http://www.nescaum.org/documents/assessmentofoutdoorwoodfiredboilers/

State PA (Pennsylvania)


2009 Nov. 10: PA: Statewide OWB law discussed

2009 Nov. 10: PA: Statewide regulations of OWBs to go into effect in January: comment

2009 Nov. 30 & Dec. 1, 2, 3: PA: Public Hearings on Phase 1 OWB ban: Also calls for comments: Find the gov. web site to comment Comments may be submitted electronically to the Board at RegComments@state.pa.us and must also be received by the Board by January 4, 2010. A subject heading of the proposal and a return name and address must be included

2009 Oct. 17: PA: PA outlawing 1st generation OWBs APCA authorizes the Board to adopt regulations more stringent than Federal requirements when the control measures are reasonably necessary to achieve and maintain the ambient air quality standards.

2009 Nov. 9: PA Allegheny: Air quality alert (particulates) (Orange)

2009 Nov. 24: PA Arentsville (Gettysburg): Arendtsville plans to restrict outdoor wood burners

2008 June 4: PA Bakersville (Jefferson Township) on OWBs “We were having trouble right in the village of Bakersville, where you have houses close together.” “We’ve had very few of them installed. They’re really sort of suitable for out in very rural areas.”

2009 Oct. 5: PA Bell township: OWB ord. to be reviewed meeting on Sept. 12 to discuss details about an ordinance regulating outdoor wood and coal fired heaters. At Saturday's meeting, supervisors Kenneth Voris and Edward Elling approved sending the completed ordinance to Solicitor Ann Wood for review.

2008 Sept. 6: PA Bellwood on OWBs several states have restricted the use of the boilers or recommended that the public consider other alternatives

2008 Sept. 9: (VIDEO) PA Berrysburg borough on OWB ban enforcement outdoor wood burning appliances, which are essentially home furnaces that are outside. Neighbors had complained that smoke from one already in use in the community was a nuisance.

2009 Aug. 13: PA Birdsboro: OWB causes asthma hospitalization, complainant says

2009 July 3: PA Brockway: considers OWB regulations

2009 Feb. 6: PA Brockway borough: OWB ord. considered The council is asked to consider how far away from the property line the furnace is, how far away it is from the structure it is serving and how far it is from the neighbor's occupying structure. Ferraro suggested 50 feet, 25 feet, and 300 feet,

2009 Feb. 17: PA, California, town of: Hearing on OWBs yellowish-brown acrid smoke from the boiler gets into houses in the area. she can't wear her contact lenses her 4-year-old wakes up in the middle of the night because of it. The smoke reached the Orchard Street Preschool, on occasion.

2009 Nov. 23: PA Carlisle: Clean Air Board of Central Pennsylvania focuses on particulate polltuion, diesel, idling

2008 Sept.: PA Cranberry township large amounts of smoke, which then entered the open windows of surrounding homes Cranberry residents raised concerns about being smoked out of their homes.

2009 June 9: PA Clarion: OWB ban passed use of any new outdoor fuel burning appliances and devices is prohibited

2009 March 17: PA Cressona: restricts wood furnaces outdoor furnaces are allowed only on properties no less than five acres in size and may not be located less than 50 feet from the nearest adjacent property. It also allows for only natural gas, propane, home heating fuel, coal or wood to be used as fuel

2009 May 12: PA Cumberland Township (Greene County): public notice of intent to ban OWBs DEFINING CERTAIN TERMS USED HEREIN; PROVIDlNG FOR REGULATIONS, EXCEPTIONS, ENFORCEMENT ORDERS, RESPONSIBILITY OF OWNERS AND OPERATORS, PENALTIES, UNLAWFUL CONDUCT, PUBLIC NUISANCES, AND VALIDITY.

PA Delano (Butler Township) Freeland, Weatherly, Orwigsburg and Mechanicsville OWB bans 5 acre requirement: passed ords.

2009 Oct. 19: PA Dickinson Township: OWB ord. passed, run up to 10 articles from Feb. to Oct. 2009

2009 Sept. 8: PA Dickinson: Carlyle, Hampden, Middlesex, Monroe, Newville, N. & S. Middleton, Silver Spring, W. Pennsboro news Carlisle, Monroe, Newville, W. Pennsboro don't yet have OWB ords. but may have other restrictions. Hampden, Middlesex, N. & S. Middleton, & Silver Spring have OWB ords.

1948: PA Donora "We started clean air" VIDEO of town where 20 died in 1948. 2008 museum about where the Clean Air movement started.

1948: PA Donora smog of 1948

2008 Nov. 30 : PA EPA leaves OWB rules up to locals better safeguards for neighbors,” said Charles McPhedran, a lawyer with a statewide environmental group. PennFuture wants DEP to help 21 counties which fail fine particulate standards.

2009 Oct. 21: PA Franklin township: OWB ord. passed

2009 & 2008 PA GASP newsletter on wood burning & auto emission particulates Thank you burningissues.org Allegheny County: visible smoke emissions not greater than 20% opacity for 3 minutes in 60 minute period. 60% opacity never allowed.

2009 March 6: PA Goldenrod & Lawrence Township: complaints lead to discussion on OWBs receiving a lot of complaints about the operation of outdoor furnaces, and William Lawhead asked if the township should place restrictions on them to keep people from placing them in densely populated residential neighborhoods, such as Goldenrod.

2009 Oct. 5: PA Greencastele borough: close to decision on OWBs

2009 June 2: PA Greencastle: OWB regulations additions mulled

2009 April 9: PA Hamilton Township: OWB ord. $25,000 fine tabled "That's what I've had to live with for the last 10 years," said Brian Shaffer, of Spangler Road, pointing to the photos. "Why should I have to breathe the unhealthy air so someone can save money on heating his apartment houses."

2009 March 26: PA Hamilton Township: OWBs treated as trespass & nuisance in draft legislation making misuse punishable by $2,500 per day in fines or time in jail, and giving the township authority to issue civil penalties up to $25,000 for violations.

2009 March 25: PA Hamilton Township: OWB owner jail time? fines?

2008 Aug. 13: (VIDEO) PA Harrisburg on OWB ban enforcement The EPA believes the particulate matter these things put out is far beyond that of a normal chimney“I think it was pretty well drafted, except that I’d like to see them banned completely,”

2009 June 8: PA Hegins: OWB ban mulled The stuff stinks, my laundry stinks, my dog stinks, my patio furniture stinks. It’s not fair to me to deal with the stink.

2009 June 11: PA Kingston Township: OWB ord. applauded residents on the street complained of respiratory problems from heavy smoke that was emitted from a nearby wood burner.

2009 Oct. 4: PA Lawrence Township: Zoning rules including OWBs DEP, studies have shown that one outdoor wood burning furnace produces particulate emissions equivalent to 205 oil burning furnaces or 8,000 natural gas furnaces

2009 March 6: PA Lawrence Township: OWB ord. discussion outdoor furnaces came up. As of the moment the closest ordinance on the books to dealing with furnaces, according to Code Enforcement Officer Zachary Lawhead, is one that forbids starting fires on township roads.

2008 Aug. 8: PA Lehman Township on OWBs unit must be 150 feet from all property lines and 300 feet from residences not located on the lot.

2008 Oct. 7: PA Ligonier on OWBs Considering the dimensions of a majority of properties in the 2.2-square-mile municipality, one ordinance provision makes use of any such appliances by homeowners virtually impossible.

2009 Sept. 28: PA Lower Nazareth: OWB regulations in draft

2008 Aug. 27: PA Mahanoy township on OWBs no fewer than 50 feet from the nearest property line

2008 Oct. 9: PA Mechanicsville & Port Carbon on OWBs only on properties measuring a minimum of five acres.

PA model OWB ord.

2009 Aug. 3: PA Middleport: OWBs prohibited on less than 2 acres

2009 Oct. 11: PA Monroe County: Editorial v. OWBs a burner one family was using year-round, including during warm weather to heat swimming pool water. Nearby residents complained the smoke and fumes forced them to keep their windows closed

2009 Sept. 14: PA Mount Holly Springs borough: OWB ord. passed requires boilers to be set back at least 500 feet from the nearest residential structure that is not on the lot on which the boiler is located

2008 Sept.: PA Muncy borough past concerns about smoke coming from outdoor furnaces

2009 March 10: PA North Cambria: bans OWBs other area jurisdictions that either ban them or have outdoor-furnace regulations. Ebensburg. Nanty Glo, Somerset Borough, Berlin and Salisbury ban outdoor furnaces altogether.

2008 Oct. 22: PA North Heidelberg prohibit them in as-yet unspecified zoning districts

2008 Nov. 18 PA North Londonderry on OWBs least two-acre lots for outdoor wood boilers

2008 Dec. 16: PA North Londonderry Township: 2 acres required for OWB The law requires a two-acre parcel for use of outdoor wood boilers

2008 Sept.: PA Oakland on OWBs set backs from adjourning property. There was also a question on insurance issues.

2008 Sept.: PA Oil City on OWBs "acrid and putrid-smelling black smoke" I want to breath the air "This issue needs addressed quickly."

2008 Nov. 30: PA OWB ordinances vary by county, municipality Patton, Ebensburg or Windber need land. Municipalities throughout Cambria and Somerset counties have adopted regulations. Salisbury grandfathered "the whole town is a smog."

2007 July 3: PA Paint Township OWB ord. must have a lot 40,000 square feet or larger under the new ordinance. Additionally, the furnace can not be placed closer than 60 feet to the nearest neighboring property line.

2009 Jan. 23: PA Palmerton: OWB ord. no person shall install or use any furnace or heating apparatus that is not installed entirely within the building which it is heating. The includes free-standing furnaces and boilers where the heat is transported to other structures.

2009 Jan. 26: PA Palmerton: OWB ord. discussed revised the borough burning ordinance, which bans outdoor furnaces, boilers and any heating equipment not built entirely inside the building it's warming.

2007: PA Pittsburgh: Letter to EPA asking for wood burning in the city to be outlawed The neighbors, who burn for "ambience", told us to move or get newer windows and more air purifiers. Finally, but not until March 14th, 2008, Allegheny County Health Department gave an emergency verbal cease and desist to the offending neighbors.

2009 April 7: PA, Pocono township & Tannersville: OWB regulations, but expansion of outdoor bur supervisors voted to enact a new ordinance for OWFs. passed 3-0 and requires the furnaces to be 150 feet from property lines and roads and 200 feet from occupied structures on other lots. "grandfathering", residents apply for a no charge permit.

PA Port Carbon & Orwigsburg & Pottsville Orwigsburg:“We’re concerned about the nuisance caused by their smoke,”ordinance will cut off at the pass an influx of outdoor furnaces. PA Port Carbon passed furnace restriction Nov. 13.Pottsville restrictions last month

2005 Nov. 12: PA Portage: OWBs debated

2008 Aug. 15: PA Salisbury on OWBs “But do you want to breathe somebody else’s smoke?”A municipal ordinance has snuffed a Salisbury man’s outdoor furnace

2009 June to March: PA Sandy township: OWB ord. passed, run up to 10 articles

2009 March 3: PA Sandy Township: OWB 2nd draft Asked if that will apply to wood for other furnaces as well, such as woodburners in houses, Castonguay said, "Yes, we will not discriminate."

2007 April 3: PA Smithfield on OWBs: DEP, where are you? A consistent environmental standard should be applied and that's the DEP's job.

2008 Dec. 23: PA South Middleton OWBF ord. passed 3.25 acres required only on lots of at least 3.25 acres

2008 Dec. 20: PA South Middleton Township on OWBs furnaces must be placed no less than 500 feet from the nearest residential structure not on the lot where the boiler is located, and they must be set back at least 200 feet from the front lot line and 100 feet from the side and rear lot lines.

2009 June 18: PA South Strabane: complainant wants OWB declared a nuisance one wood fired boiler in her neighborhood is a nuisance because the smoke doesn't dissipate, resulting in an odor.

2009 June 10: PA South Strabane: OWB ord. mulled The board was responding to complaints from residents upset with the smoke and odor caused by their neighbors' burners.

2009 Nov. 9: PA Susquehanna Valley: Air Quality Action Day (particulates) (Orange)

2008 Aug. 12: PA Tyrone borough on OWBs "safety" is one of the borough's biggest concerns that prompted the new ordinance. He said that a house could be burnt down with an outdoor furnace.

2008 Nov. 28 PA Upper Mount Bethel Township Township supervisors want to regulate outdoor wood-fired boilers and plan to review a law for the water heaters next month. The township attorney is to prepare legislation for review at the supervisors' next meeting, Dec. 8.

2009 Aug. 21: PA Upper Nazareth: OWB regulations from Planning Comm. awaited

2009 Jan. 24: PA Wellsboro: editorial v. wood burning by betterwellsboro.org Because we are located in a shallow bowl, with hills closely grouped around the town, any smoke (or other air pollution) that is emitted here stays here a long time.

2009 March 3: PA West Penn Township: OWB ord. adopted

2009 Dec. 3: PA Williamsport: OWB regulation hearing will be held Dec. 3 at 1 p.m., last of 4 statewide hearings

State CA (Southern)


2009 April 30: CA Bakersfield: worst air in U.S.

2009 Oct. 28: CA Brawley (Imperial County): Particulate (PM10) Air quality not good

2009 Nov. 20-21: CA Calexico (near San Diego): Air Quality Alert for Particle Pollution

2009 Nov. 11: CA Calexico (El Centro): Air quality alert (particulates) (near Mexican border)

CA Delano & Alpaugh: CRPE Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment link to Assoc. of Irritated Residents

2009 May 23: CA Fresno & other S. CA: $ spent on messages about wood-burning ban instead of enforcement?

2009 May 3: CA Los Angeles: Wood burning fireplaces, beginning of the end Riverside, San Bernandino, Orange and Los Angeles counties

2008 March CA: LA Times on soot pollution In Europe and the U.S., diesel fuel, wood-burning fireplaces and barbecues are major sources of black carbon.

2008 CA Los Angeles ban on new fireplaces: comments If you must use a fireplace or stove for heat, convert your woodstoves to natural gas, which has far fewer polluting emissions.

2009 Nov. 10: CA Merced & Madera Counties: Fireplace ban goes into effect today

2009 July 12: CA Palm Springs: What is PM 10? (Caused in part by wood burning)

2009 April 19: CA Redding: Hoopa tribe leads fight against wood smoke's health effects

2009 Jan. 9: CA San Joaquin Valley: EPA sued to make stricter laws on particulates PM 10 particulate emissions includes fireplace wood burning

2009 Sept.: CA San Luis Obispo: Wood smoke from wildfires health problems & 1 comment

2009 April 19: CA Southland: AMQD extinguishes wood-burning fireplaces

2009 Nov. 1: CA Visalia: Wood burning rules in effect

2005 June: Assoc. of Irritated Citizens and Sierra Club in Washington D.C. challenge farm pollution allowed under EPA(noenforce) Environmental Integrity Project; Barclay Rogers, attorney, Sierra Club; Mark McDowell, independent hog farmer and member of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement; and Tom Frantz, president, Association of Irritated Residents.

2006 Association of Irritated Residents sue the EPA EPA sued because it is not enforcing air pollution laws

2008 Nov. 13: CA "Bad air costing state of CA billions" dirtiest regions account for billions of dollars a year in economic losses because of premature death, chronic illness, hospitalizations and missed school and workdays

2008 Nov. 13 CA CRPE on Obama's Energy Plan "This energy plan is not just about environment, climate change, energy prices, or supplies individually," Hendricks says. "It's an overarching plan that embodies Obama's approach to national service, energy security, and economic stability.

CA CRPE publications on environmental justice

2008 Oct. 16: CA CRPE "will oceans be our best source of energy?" this summer the world's first commercial offshore wave power project was launched off the coast of Portugal.

2008 Nov. 22: CA Rep. Waxman new head of Global Warming Legislation (Black Carbon an interest) Waxman, who on Thursday wrested the Energy and Commerce Committee away from Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich.

State CT (Connecticut)


2009 July 22: CT Ridgefield: houses in Ridgefield are in close proximity to one another and there are very few locations within the town where the furnaces can be placed to operate without smoke intruding into neighboring properties.”

2009 July 20: Environment and Human Health Inc. site has information on wood smoke Environment and Human Health, Inc. asks the Connecticut Legislature to help the many people in the state who are being made sick from breathing their neighbor's wood smoke on a continuous basis

2009 March 8: CT Ashford: OWB regulations discussed Charette provided a video of the smoke billowing from his neighbor’s boiler. “It’s not just a nuisance, it’s terrorism,” said Charette. He said he has taken his neighbor to court.

2007 March 7: CT Atty General demands OWB maker withdraw threat to sue CT scientist for paper exposing health dangers of OWBs A lawyer for Central Boiler of Greenbush, Minn. sent David Brown of Health Risks Consultants, Inc., a letter in Jan. threatening to sue him about his scientific paper severe health dangers of OWBs. Feb"Human & Ecological Risk Assessment"

2009 Feb. 19: CT East Windsor & Hebron: wood stove smoke drives residents from homes her neighbor installed a wood-burning stove a few years ago. Now she has been ill for six weeks, she wakes up coughing in her sleep and her two young kids are plagued by breathing problems.

2009 April 23: CT Hartford: Statewide CT nuisance wood smoke bill failed because didn't include: Washington state’s law language specifies when a public nuisance, but that language not in the bill. “smoke cannot exceed 20% opacity visible for 6 min.” and “smoke crossing property lines verified by a local health department confirmed again.”

2009 Feb. 22: CT Hartford: concern about wood stoves and health When I open the bay window in front, I can smell the smoke. It's coming in my house, and it's making us sick

2009 Feb. 16: CT Hartford: proposed State Law on wood smoke nuisance SB 399, would classify wood smoke as a public nuisance, which could put the onus on local health officers and police or fire services to deal with complaints.

2008 Sept.: CT Litchfield on OWBs (the 75 feet away and minimum height of two feet over the roof peak restrictions),

2009 March 6: (VIDEO)CT legislature considers wood smoke nuisance statewide enforecement (parents and) their young son, Evan, have been breathing smoke that comes into their house from a neighbor’s fire pit and they claim it makes them ill. extreme levels of particulates for as little as two hours produce significant adverse health effects.

2008 Aug. 7: CT Old Saybrook on Town OWBs thick smoke that contains unhealthy amounts of particulate matter, carbon monoxide, hydrochloric acid and other toxic pollutants.

2008 Oct. 16: CT Public Radio (AUDIO): Wood stoves polluting Residential wood smoke has come up on the radar screen in a big way because it is the largest source of fine particulate matter in the US”smoke and soot can pass through closed doors and windows increased cardiac disease, asthma, and shortened life span

2009 Feb.: CT Radio (AUDIO) news on wood smoke nuisance state law advocates in CT CT state law on wood smoke nuisance will pass this spring, introduced by East Hartford State Senator, Gary LeBeau

CT Ridgefield 2008 June OWB ban considered they produce so much smoke, are not appropriate for a dense residential area.”The town proposes taking a simpler approach, and banning them altogether.

2009 June 8: CT Salisbury: OWBs heated issue the boilers — and associated complaints — may become more numerous. “We thought of it as a health situation that concerned the whole town,”

2009 March 6: CT state legislature: Bill to make wood smoke a public nuisance H. B. No. 6616 (RAISED) AN ACT ESTABLISHING WOOD SMOKE TO BE A PUBLIC NUISANCE.

State IA (Iowa)


2009 Nov. 23-24: IA Eastern: Jackson, Clinton, Scott & Muscatine counties: Air Quality Alert for Particulate Pollution

2009 Nov. 23: IA Cedar Rapids (Linn County): Wood burning causes air pollution is old news in Linn County

2009 Aug. 31: IA Linn County: Working session where OWBs discussed

2009 Aug. 31: IA: Iowa puts halt to Linn County OWB exemptions

2009 Aug. 17: IA: Comments on OWB wood smoke pollution

2009 Sept. 2, Aug. 31 & Aug. 26 & Aug. 18: IA Linn County: OWB hearings

2009 July 16: IA Linn County: Draft revisions for Air Quality Ord. AFT Registration Permit - Residential Heaters (COMING SOON) Public hearing on OWBs August 18, 2009

2009 May 27: IA Linn County: OWB Ord. passed

2009 April 5: IA Cedar Rapids (Linn County): Jackie Moore, Harold Hensel testimony v. OWBs; Jim Hodina, Air Quality Spec. Wood smoke is an air pollutant," he said. He warned of dangerous dioxins, another byproduct he called "brain fog," and the mustard gas produced when some treated materials are burned. he mentioned global warming

2008 Nov. 11: IA Central City: moratorium on OWBs

2009 May 27: IA Linn County Board of Health meeting to consider draft OWB ord. 3) The residential heater shall either: a) be no closer than 200 feet to the nearest property zoned USR, RR1, RR2, or RR3 not served by the residential heater

2009 April 5 & 6: IA Linn County: Public Hearings on OWBs Monday's meeting we begin with hearing from individuals in the community who are concerned about the negative impact that outdoor wood boilers can have on health. Tuesday is for present wood burners.

2009 March 26: IA Linn County: Gov. site email v. OWBs incomplete combustion gives off horrendous hazardous particulates and gases. Dioxins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. carbon monoxide, sulffur dioxide,hydrochloric acid, formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide , benzene These gases travel miles.

2009 March 24: IA Linn County: OWB ord. discussed County health officials said pollution by the furnaces cause respiratory and heart problems. county has been close to EPA limits on particulate matter in the air. If they eclipse those limits, residents could face tougher emissions regulations.

2009 March 23: IA draft ord. on OWBs

2009 March 19: IA Linn County: Editorial v. OWBs It is a health hazard and a violation of rights. drive people out of their yards. headaches, sore lungs, sore eyes smoke inhalation. sets off smoke detectors. no way to keep the smoke outdoors. It comes through doors, closed windows, attics drier vents.

2009 March 17: IA Linn County: OWBs may be outlawed in county Linn County officials may outlaw most smoky wood-burning furnaces out of concern they could pose health hazards.

2009 March 16: IA Linn County: Officials throw water on OWB owners "particulate matter" they produce. units' air intake designed to close when the water in the boiler reaches a certain temperature, the units smolder for hours at a time, 5 wood-fired boilers in a 1/4 radius as much particulates s a coal-fired boiler

2008 Dec. 22: IA Scott & Muscatine counties in non-attainment of particulate pollution levels

2009 Jan. 24: IA Toledo (Central Iowa): OWB ord. discussed The council's only concern was smoke emission.

2009 March: IA DNR on OWBs We’ve received a number of complaints about the OWBs, and our investigations have revealed that many of the concerns raised are valid.

2008 Oct. 27 IA Iowa DNR on OWBs OWBs can create heavy smoke that may impact the health of Iowa’s residents, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officials caution. OWBs may also adversely impact neighboring property, may harm the environment, prohibited under local ordinances.

2005 Feb. 2: IA Des Moines: Air Quality Alert for particulate pollution

State MA (Massachusetts)


2009 Nov. 21: MA Attleboro: Garage wood stove causes fire and levels garage, wood stove in garage is illegal

2009 Jan. 5: MA Beechertown: OW stoves compared with state rules

2008 Dec. 31: MA Boston on OWBs

2008 Nov. 20: MA "burn wood not lungs" : opinion many outdoor wood boilers flunk that test. The result can be noxious emissions that are hard on the nose, the lungs, and the heart.

2006 MA Chicopee lawsuit v. OWB Neighbors say that they create smoke so thick that children cannot play outside, and that it seeps into homes, irritating eyes and throats and leaving a foul stench.

2008 Sept.: MA Clarksburg on OWBs

2008 Dec. 31: MA Clinton on OWBs

MA 2008 Engineer on wood burning costs I feel that the public should know that returning home in a gas guzzling SUV to their glass enclosed family room heated with a wood stove and a redwood Jacuzzi heated with wood from an 80 year old red oak tree may not be environmentally friendly.

2008 Aug.: MA EPA on OWBs

2009 April 5 & 1: MA Freetown: OWB ord. but some "grandfathered in", toxins explained (2 news articles) Regulations say that boilers 50 feet from property line, 75 feet from the nearest occupied dwelling not served by the unit. limit height of the smokestack, depending on their distance from neighbors. Commercial units 275 feet fpl, 300 feet fnodnsbu.

2009 March 29: MA Freetown: Board of Health voted for inspection fee of $50 for those who install outdoor wood boilers or furnaces in town.

2009 March 14: MA Freetown: OWB ban discussion delayed

2008 Dec. 31: MA Greenfield on OWBs

2007 Dec. 2: MA Hampden OWB ord.

2009 July 24 & 22: MA Holliston: OWBs debated

2009 July 6: MA Holliston: July 23 OWB hearing on regulations of OWBs set

2009 June 18: MA Holliston: OWB ban passed Now needs state DEP approval

2008 Sept. 16: MA Leicester on OWBs adopted regulations or are working on them are Ashburnham, North Brookfield, Douglas, Oakham, Petersham and Athol,

2006 MA Martha's Vineyard OWB complaints "These units are spilling out six of the major carcinogens that are listed by the EPA emissions control," he said. The particulates the OWFs produce are too fine for a mask to filter, he added.

2008 Dec. 31: MA Martha's Vineyard on OWBs

2009 March &: MA Monson: OWB regulations reviewed by Health Dept. In some cases, the state's rules are more restrictive that Monson's regulations but in other cases are less restrictive

2008 Dec. 27 MA new rules on OWBs (setback, etc...)

2008 Dec. 23 MA New rules for OWBs

2009 Oct. 16: MA Pittsfield: Wood stove fire causes home $12,000 damage was the second the fire department responded to since Tuesday, in addition to some minor wood stove incidents.

2009 Oct. 1: MA Quincy: 911 operator learns of own house on fire from neighbor's outdoor wood fireplace

2009 Aug. 17: MA Rutland: BOH enacts OWB regulations

2009 July 16: MA Rutland: Health Dept. restricts OWBs

2009 July 15: MA Rutland: OWB nuisance (comments)

2009 July 15: MA Rutland: Board of Health tells owner to turn off OWB until Sept. 30

2009 July 8: MA Rutland: (Opinion) Health is affected by OWBs

2009 July 8: MA Rutland: Editorial: Wood boiler should be tested by the state

2006: MA N. Springfield: OWB ord. document

2008 July 25: MA State Senator on OWBs Reducing heating costs should not override the importance of public health and our constitutionally protected rights to clean air. When clean air is at stake, a good fence will not save you from expensive doctor bills and asthma medications.

2008 Dec. 31: MA Swansea, Somerset, Dighton, & Berkley on OWBs

2008 Nov. 18: MA N. Tonawanda OWB discussed concerns exist about dense smoke possibly causing either nuisance or health concerns.

2008 Sept.: MA Westminster on OWBs complaints regarding outdoor wood boilers already operating in town.

2008 Nov. 20: MA Wilmington on OWBs n September, Jay enacted a five-month moratorium on wood boiler permits. The town of Chesterfield has had regulations in place since May 2007. Wilmington’s regulations will take effect as soon as the law is filed with the New York Secretary of State.

State MI (Michigan)


2009 Sept. 30: MI: Stimulus funds for research on wildfire particulate pollution

2009 Oct. 1: MI: some counties in non-attainment of EPA particle pollution (24-hour) standards

MI government site on OWBs (photos)

2008 Sept. 4: MI Belding (Ionia County) on OWBs residents have complained about smoke. Belding certainly doesn't want to be a city layered in smoke. “The whole secret is this is more a health issue than anything else,” Russell said. “There's a lot of people who physically can't stand the smoke.”

2009 Nov. 14: MI Bemidji: Wood boiler stove on fire

2009 Oct. 23: MI Petoskey (Emmet County): Wood boiler opposed by neighbor who fears pollution He claimed that smoke produced by the equipment has caused health problems for him and his wife.

2009 Oct. 5: MI Emmet county: potential county OWB buyers told of lawsuit from resident Soldano details his concerns about the effect smoke from such boilers has on the health of neighbors and discussed how he successfully obtained a court order forcing his neighbor to stop using a similar boiler unit.

2009 Sept.: MI Fenton: Numerous complaints about open burning Fire Chief Robert Cairnduff spoke to the City Council at its worksession on Tuesday about the ordinance regarding open burning in the city. According to councilwoman Cheryl King, there have been numerous complaints.

2008 July 7: MI Grand Rapids on OWBs limit outdoor furnaces to 100 feet from the nearest neighboring building

2009 March 16: MI Green township: OWB ord. (legal document) Outdoor Wood-Fired Boiler, Stove and Furnace Ordinance for Green Township, Michigan. Ordinance No. 45 of 2009

2009 Oct. 21: MI Hartland township: OWB ord. passed & comments

2009 May 25: MI Henrietta Township OWB prohibition ruling & comments (final comments) NO BURNING OF WOOD WHAT SO EVER...NO BURNER HAS THE RIGHT TO CAUSE HARM TO ONES HEALTH NOR TO HARM THE ENVIRONMENT. Burners be aware, wood smoke can also cause brain damage along with many other health problems. LONG LIVE JUDGE CHAD SCHMUCKER!

2009 May 22: MI Henrietta Township (Jackson County): Judge prohibits OWB: comments included When smoke trespasses onto another property and affects the health of the neighbors it has to be stopped. At long last the precedent is set and we will see more of these selfish smokers stopped

2008 Nov. 13: MI Henrietta township (Jackson county) lawsuit v. MN OWB manufacturer couple is suing a Minnesota outdoor wood boiler manufacturer that they allege knowingly creates and sells heating devices proven to be harmful to human health.

2009 Aug. 7: MI Kalamazoo: New Outdoor Furnace Regulations Adopted

2009 July 20 &18: MI Kalamazoo: Outdoor furnace strict rules proposed

2008 June 1: MI Kalamazoo Township on OWBs "a threat to public health"

MI Liberty Township OWFB ord.

2009 March 22: MI: Michigan-based Hawken Energy, OWB maker organized letter campaign in response to complaints from NY statewide at the Lung Association, we’re receiving calls from the public,” Seilback. putting out pollutants. trigger wheezing. linked to premature deaths.a nuisance. public health issue

MI model OWB ord.

2009 June 26: MI Manistique (Schoolcraft County): undecided on OWBs

2009 Jan. 15: MI Napoleon township: passed OWB ord. must be at least 300 feet from the nearest residence that the furnace user does not own. Heaters must be at least 20 feet away from the nearest structure and 50 feet from any property line.

2008 Sept. 8: MI Oronoko burn barrel lawsuit restitution to neighbors Ron and Arlene Watson for medical expenses associated with Ron Watson’s emphysema.

2009 Nov. 11: MI Oshtemo Township: OWF ord. approved in 1st reading

2009 Feb. 11: MI Parma township (Jackson County): OWB causes fire The fire apparently started at the rear, east corner and was burning on the side of the house near an outdoor wood-burning furnace when the home owner got outside, he said. The blaze shot through the walls and roof, gutting the small house.

2009 Sept. 22: MI Petoskey (Jackson County): Resident to sue if OWBs used by Road Commission Buildings his successful bid to obtain a court order barring his neighbor from using an outdoor wood boiler. also filed a lawsuit v. Minnesota-based mfgr. of the boiler.claiming that smoke from neighbor’s boiler caused health problems for him and his wife.

2008: MI Sault Ste. Marie bans OWBs reported in EPA publication

2009 March 23: MI Seymour (Jackson County): OWB regulations ord. passed

2008 MI smoke robs you of your home: opinion we experienced sore throats and headaches from smoke that drifted constantly, often in sheets, across our yard. We could smell it in our house and couldn't get away from it. Being outside for minutes a smoke smell in hair, on clothes.

2009 Oct. 19: MI Spring Lake: OWB ban passes, previously 1 year OWB moratorium was passed

2009 Aug. 25: MI Spring Lake: OWBs discussed Weds.

2009 Feb. 18: MI Spring Lake township: OWB ord. public hearing Feb. 18 We're looking at putting some minimum standards on them

2008 Dec. 2: MI Spring Lake 1 year moratorium on OWBs many insurance companies have a surcharge for residents who operate such a system. "They almost double the chance of a house fire." smoke and odor are also concerns. "The smell is a big concern because you can burn anything in them," Ferguson said.

2008 Nov. 29: MI Spring Lake on OWBs complaints from neighbors about the smoke from the outdoor home-heating devices.

2009 May 26: MI Tallmadge considers a "nuisance" approach to OWBs and other problems

2008 June 1: MI Texas Township on OWBs "But why should the environment and the neighbors suffer?" said Cavanaugh, who said his home is about 300 feet downwind from a neighbor's furnace. "This isn't just a public nuisance. It's a public-health issue."

2009 Nov. 10: MI Traverse City: Public meeting about wood burning power plant, public comments made

State NJ (New Jersey)


2009 May 23: NJ Woodbridge: Wood stove smoke email comments guess they don't care they were making other people sick. Why would all of the people that surround your house have a problem with you? Because you are the problem, The township wouldn't be writing a new ordinance if (not).

2009 May 23: NJ Woodbridge: Wood stove causes neighbors respiratory illnesses The health department complaint is the most the township can do, officials said, because there is no law on the books regulating smoke from home chimneys or kind of wood. The neighborhood dispute has prompted township officials to discuss new regulation.

2009 Feb. 17 EPA to enforce co2 limits on coal burning

2008 Dec. 30: NJ emails v. OWBs There are hundreds of environmental groups in New Jersey, and if you called all of them up, I think 99.5 percent of them would say that Jackson is a great pick,"

2008 Dec. 4: NJ Lambertville & Washington hearings on OWBs

2008 Dec. 15 Lisa Jackson named Fed. EPA chief (she was NJ EPA chief) who has launched and initiated efforts to reduce pollution and therefore the cancer and health impacts in communities of color, " said Monique Harden, co-director of Advocates for Environmental Human Rights, a nonprofit legal advocacy group in New Orleans.

2008 Jan. 16: Lisa Jackson U.S. EPA head promises 30 days after confirmation will act to control air pollution near schools The consensus among scientists is that children are especially susceptible to toxic chemicals, cause respiratory illnesses, cancer . USA TODAY identified 435 schools the air outside more dangerous than an Ohio elementary school shut down 3 years ago.

NJ OWB law 2008 N.J.A.C. 7:27-3, “Control and Prohibition of Smoke from Combustion of Fuel.” This regulation mandates that stationary indirect heat exchangers, such as outdoor woodburning boilers, produce no smoke, except for three minutes in any 30-minute period.

2008 May 20: NJ Plainfield on OWB ban fines up to $1,000 for violators.

2008 Nov. 2 NJ relaxes rules for asking to inspect OWBs allowing wood burner examinations "for those discovered through routine inspection, anonymous tips or other means of discovering outdoors wood burner installation locations."

2008 NJ Smoke from OWBs prohibited requirement of no visible emissions makes it most likely that operating an outdoor woodburning boiler at a residence can violate state regulations. There are substantial fines associated with any visible smoke. $300 first offense.

2008 Oct. 20: NJ Sussex County: Outdoor wood boiler advisory

2008 Oct. 27: NJ Wanaque OWB ord. at least two acres and requires a 300-foot distance between the device and the property line

2008 Dec. 18 NJ Warren & Hunterdon counties discuss EPA oversight of OWBs "We decided to do something before it gets crazy and we have complaints with no one to deal with it,"

2008 Dec. NJ Warren & Hunterdon Counties discuss OWB ban

2008 Oct. 21 NJ Warren City OWB ord. voted in favor for an amendment to the Property Nuisance Code which would prohibit any activity, act or use which is noxious or objectionable by reason of emission of smoke, ash or dust.

2009 Feb. 6: NJ Woodcliff: OWB regulations passed

State VT (Vermont)


2009 July 22: VT Rutland: OWBs: Appropriate technology or deadly device? she distinctly recalls smelling a foul, burning odor when she got out of the car. Inside the house, she found her mother lying unconscious on the floor. Her brother, slumped over in his wheelchair, looked blue.

2008 VT faces OWB regulations Most outdoor wood boilers are primitive from an engineering perspective Choking off the air supply, however, is an inefficient way to get heat out of fuel and also a very dirty one: these stoves were generating a lot of smoke and pollution

2008 Sept. 21: VT on OWBs "I cannot any longer purchase units that are legal in New Hampshire,"

2008 June 28: VT urban areas on OWBs The state Department of Environmental Protection requires that outdoor wood-burning furnaces be at least 200 feet from the nearest residence,Ridgefield proposes taking a simpler approach, and banning them altogether.

VT Vermont Woodsmoke slideshow