Proposed fireplace ban spurs new ideas April 5, 2002 Posted: 05:15:05 AM PST By MELANIE TURNER BEE STAFF WRITER
Faced with a proposed ban on lighting fireplaces on certain days, people throughout the San Joaquin Valley came up with pollution-curbing ideas of their own Thursday night. Wayne Lehr, owner of Patterson-based Professional Chimney and Venting Services, suggested incentives to encourage people to heat their homes "in a responsible fashion." He said people who use cleaner-burning fireplaces, such as inserts or natural gas-burning units, should be exempt from no-burn days. "Don't give a fireplace a bad name just because it can be dirty-burning," Lehr said. For each hour of use, traditional fireplaces spew 35 to 80 grams of unhealthy particles, such as dust, smoke, soot and nitrates, according to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. Wood stoves and fireplace inserts certified by the Environmental Protection Agency emit less than 8 grams per hour. Lehr was one of a dozen people who went to the district's Modesto office to participate in a video teleconference; other people commented from the Fresno and Bakersfield offices. The workshop was the second in a series aimed at getting people's input on ways to toughen the valley's wood-burning fireplace and stove rule. As it stands now, it includes a prohibition on burning of certain materials, like garbage and treated wood, but only a voluntary limit on fireplace and stove burning. John Honnette of Turlock said he would like to comply with the Please Don't Light Tonight program. But, he added, in the six years that he has had a fireplace he has never heard a no-burn request. Air district officials said most areas north of Fresno do not get televised messages alerting them to the no-burn days. Dave Jones, planning manager, said the air district plans to change that. The EPA wants stronger burning rules in place, and the valley air district must comply or face sanctions, such as a loss of federal highway funds. Along with mandatory no-burn days, the air district also is proposing that when properties change hands, homeowners should be required to replace or retire wood-burning units that are not EPA-certified. Another proposal would limit the number of fireplaces and stoves allowed in new developments. Dave Smith of Linden, who sells firewood, said the air district needs to crack down on unlicensed wood dealers. "If you have green wood in the stove, you're going to have soot in the air," he said. The deadline for initial comments on the rule changes is April 19. The district will present a draft policy for discussion at public workshops in June and August.
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