Province Takes Aim at Emissions
Prince George, B.C. – The provincial government is taking action to help improve air quality in this province.
Changes to the solid fuel burning domestic appliance regulation (SFBDAR) will improve air quality in communities throughout B.C. where there are higher levels of particulate matter due to residential wood burning.
“Wood burning appliances, such as wood and pellet stoves sold in B.C., will have to meet stricter emissions standards recently adopted by the US Environmental Protection Agency,” reads a government news release.
“This will result in an immediate 40% reduction in maximum emissions for new wood stoves.”
Under current regulations, several wood heating devices are exempt from meeting emission standards. Victoria says this update will ensure all appliances are subject to the same standards.
As an example, the government says “outdoor wood boilers, which emit large quantities of smoke, will not only have to meet the new standards, they will also have to be installed in a manner that minimizes risks to neighbours and the community.”
New outdoor boilers will also be subject to a specific setback from property lines which will limit installation of these high-polluting appliances to large lots in rural areas.
A sunset date has also been established for high-emitting outdoor boilers that will see them banned in 10 years, resulting in a reduction in pollution for rural communities and their residents.
Other regulations include:
- Clarifying what fuels can and cannot be burned in an appliance.
- Prohibiting the sale of appliances that are not certified to meet the emission standards.
- Requiring vendors to keep records demonstrating the appliances they sell are certified.
- Creating 15 new offences that can be penalized under the Environmental Management Act in the form of tickets, court-ordered penalties, and/or administrative penalties.
The government says the public, industry, local government and public health agencies were widely consulted about the changes.
Comments
Nice of this provincial government to increase wood burning emissions reduction standards that us citizens need to comply with. Just wondering if they are going to tighten up volatile organic & chemical air emissions from industry, as it is industry that contributes the greater amount to poor air quality.
Have volatile organic and chemical compounds produced by industry emission reduction standards been increased for say the following?
– Petroleum Refinery Air Emissions Reductions
– Air Emissions from Industrial Maintenance Coatings
– Commercial and Industrial Printing Facilities Air Emissions
– Air Emission Standards for Commercial Industrial Boilers and Heaters
– Air Emission Guideline for Cement Kilns
– Automotive Refinishing Air Emission Standards
– Vapour Recovery during Automobile and Jet Fueling Standards
– Air Emission Guidelines for Municipal and Industry Solid Waste Incinerators
– Reduction of Solvent Emissions from Dry Cleaning Facilities
etc. etc. etc.
Wonder if the gold plated city energy system meets the standards, just asking.
Yes, I too am wondering why we are following U.S. standards? We are not the U.S.
We rejected the U.S. many times when they tried to take over this part of the country. Now it seems that we are following along like a little puppy.
Really, we are much different than the U.S. and we have world respect because of it, so why would we choose to follow a country that is much despised around the world?
Are we not grown up enough to set our own standards?
If you are aware of other “standards” the U.S. has but do not uphold or enforce you will see that they are really quite two-faced,
Are we going to follow down that road too?
This is another money grab! How do they expect rural home owner’s to heat, homes, shops etc? Province must plan on running more Nat gas lines to rural places… this way they up the rates we all pay again. How will this affect the local pellet mills, who employee people for those who heat using pellet stoves?? My understanding is most of the pellets produced here, head to Europe for heating…last time I checked they have more pollution due to higher populations.
We don’t have the pollution of other countries, so why are we implementing more restrictive laws….money grab!
So when exactly were these ‘public’ consultations held? And where? Downtown Vancouver?
Were any of the public consulted who actually burn wood for heating their homes?
I’m just wondering because I had a discussion with someone who monitors air standards here, who told me that the newer EPA standard wood stoves actually put out more toxic emissions than the older stoves.
That’s when I knew she was either completely nuts or the EPA standards are just a big sham.
Its probably a bit of both.
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