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Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Environment - After 5 years of study, proposal to regulate outdoor wood-fired boilers moves to a preliminary hearing before the APBC

Here is the ILB's long list of entries on the regulation of outdoor wood-fired boilers. See in particular this entry from April 24, 2010, headed "Environment - Potential regulation of emissions from wood-fired outdoor boilers continues to "shock and surprise" some legislators."

Today the Air Pollution Control Board (APCB) wil hold its regular monthly meeting in Columbus (board meetings are held outside Indianapolis several times a year). Here is the June meeting agenda. Up for its initial formal public hearing before the board is:

Outdoor Hydronic Heater Rule. Preliminary Adoption of New Rule 326 IAC 4-3, Outdoor Hydronic Heaters. LSA#05-332
As with other draft rules, there will be an IDEM presentation of the poroposal, then a public hearing before the board, followed by board consideration of preliminary adoption of draft rule. But in this case, because of the interest in the proposal, a specific time has been set aside for this part of the meeting - 6 p.m.

The best source for details about the proposal is the Fact Sheet. Access it here. In addition, here is the text of the draft. And here is the 58-page document setting out IDEM responses to the most recent request for written public comments on the proposal.

Finally, here is a AP story today:

COLUMBUS, IN (AP) - Indiana's first proposed rules calling for limits on outdoor, woodburning furnaces found mainly in rural areas are getting a public airing.

The Indiana Air Pollution Control Board will hear from supporters and opponents of the proposed rules Wednesday evening at Columbus East High School.

The 12-member board won't be voting on the proposed rules drafted to address concerns that smoke and soot wafting from the furnaces can give nearby residents breathing problems. [ILB - this may be incorrect; the agenda indicated the board will be voting on preliminary adoption]

Jodi Perras of Indianapolis-based Improving Kids' Environment says her group is concerned that the draft rules have been weakened from an earlier version. Those changes include allowing wood furnace owners to use them later in the spring and earlier in the fall.

The rules won't go into effect until January 2011 at the earliest.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on June 2, 2010 09:47 AM
Posted to Environment