Washington state Department of Ecology updates rules for woodstoves

The Department of Ecology (Ecology) is updating the statewide rule and plan for solid-fuel burning devices like wood stoves, fireplaces, pellet stoves, and masonry heaters.

The Department of Ecology (Ecology) is updating the statewide rule and plan for solid-fuel burning devices like wood stoves, fireplaces, pellet stoves, and masonry heaters.

The updates reflect recent changes to state law, meet federal requirements from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and will help improve air quality.

Washington’s clean air rules govern how air pollution is managed. Ecology incorporates many of these rules into a federally required statewide plan for meeting clean air standards.

The proposed changes will:

  • Adjust the threshold for calling burn bans in at-risk areas for “nonattainment”.
  • Meet EPA requirements.
  • Help improve air quality in areas affected by wood stove pollution.
  • Include “housekeeping” changes identified through the update process.

Air pollution managers will use the updates to help reduce levels of fine-particle pollution in all areas of the state. The updates also will support efforts to help the city of Tacoma and a portion of Pierce County continue to meet national clean air standards.

Ecology and Washington clean air agencies have been conducting burn ban programs consistent with the legislative changes in order to meet clean air goals, although Ecology’s current rule is outdated.

Ecology will hold two consecutive public hearings, one for the rule update and one for the plan update. The hearings begin at 7 p.m. on Nov. 7. Participants can attend in person at Ecology’s Lacey headquarters building, 300 Desmond Drive SE or through a webinar.

The documents and instructions to join the webinar are available online at the Department of Ecology website.