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CLEAN AIR NEWSLINE

November 2007 Edition

In this issue:

 

Air quality is degrading – burn ban is possible

A major shift in weather patterns is taking place, contributing to stagnant air conditions that may compel the Clean Air Agency to issue to a Stage I Burn Ban in the next day or two (Nov. 22 or 23), according to Puget Sound Clean Air Agency data. These conditions are expected to last through Sunday.

If a Stage I Burn Ban is issued, it would prohibit burning in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves, unless this is the only adequate source of heat. All outdoor burning is prohibited during a Stage I Burn Ban, even in areas where outdoor burning is not permanently banned.

Puget Sound Clean Air Agency staff will continue to monitor the situation.

For more details on the latest forecast conditions, visit www.pscleanair.org/fcstdisc.aspx .  For more information about Burn Bans, please visit www.pscleanair.org/airq/burnban/default.aspx .

 

Save money, help clear the air --
Wood stove replacement program begins in Marysville, Tacoma and areas of Pierce County

If you or someone you know has a pre-1995 wood stove or fireplace insert and lives in Marysville, Tacoma or certain areas of Pierce County, you or they could save big this winter by changing out to a much cleaner-burning heating device.

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and many partners recently launched two Wood Stove Replacement Programs.  The programs are intended to help clean the air and bring these communities into compliance with federal air quality standards that are being exceeded, such as in Tacoma and surrounding areas of Pierce County (see the public hearing announcement below), or have the strong potential to be exceeded, such as Marysville.

“In many residential neighborhoods, on certain nights of the year, up to 80 percent of the fine particle pollution is from residential wood fires,” says Dennis McLerran, Clean Air Agency executive director.  “We know that wood smoke pollutants are associated with premature mortality, are harmful to breathe and can cause other health effects.  For anyone who suffers from asthma, chimney smoke can be a trigger for serious breathing problems. This program offers new, cleaner heating choices and cleaner neighborhood air for residents in areas highly affected by wood smoke pollution.”

This program offers significant point-of-sale discounts towards the purchase of a new, cleaner-burning heating device such as a new freestanding stove, fireplace insert, natural gas furnace or electric heat pump when these new devices replace a pre-1995 wood stove or fireplace insert. 

  • $750 for installing a natural gas or propane stove or fireplace insert, high-efficiency gas furnace or electric heat pump
  • $500 for installing a pellet stove or insert
  • $400 for installing a wood-burning appliance with emissions up to 50% of the Washington State emission standard
  • $200 for installing any other Washington-approved wood-burning appliance
  • Some program partners are offering additional savings on heating devices and/or home weatherization
  • Additionally, low-income qualified households in the Tacoma-Pierce County area can qualify for $2,500 in discounts if they opt for a natural gas, propane or pellet stove or fireplace insert, high-efficiency gas furnace or electric heat pump.

More than $250,000 is being made available for the two programs through grants from the Washington Department of Ecology and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.  The funds are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, so don’t delay.  You have until February 29, 2008, or until funds are exhausted, whichever comes sooner.

Program details are available on our agency Web site at www.pscleanair.org/woodstove.replacement .

To apply:

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is not alone in this effort.  In both communities we have partnered with Puget Sound Energy, the Northwest Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association and the American Lung Association of Washington.  In Tacoma-Pierce County, partners also include the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, Pierce County, the City of Tacoma and Tacoma Public Utilities.  In Marysville, partners include the City of Marysville and the Snohomish Public Utility District.

 

Public hearing scheduled regarding non-attainment designation for Tacoma-Pierce County

The Washington Department of Ecology is holding a public hearing on Wednesday evening, December 5, 2007 in Tacoma to receive comment on recommendations the state of Washington is considering submitting to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These recommendations are on designations and a non-attainment area for the federal 24-hour standard for fine particulate matter.

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency developed the proposed non-attainment area for Tacoma and several surrounding Pierce County communities, which is within the Clean Air Agency’s jurisdiction, on the basis of the nine factors in EPA guidance and with input from a variety of organizations.  Details of the recommendation can be found at www.pscleanair.org/news/library/reports/default.aspx#PM2.5_Tacoma .

EPA revised the air quality standard for fine particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in size (PM2.5) in December 2006. The reason for changing the standard was to better protect public health. EPA changed the standard from 65 micrograms per cubic meter to 35 micrograms per cubic meter.  Click to www.pscleanair.org/airq/basics/criteria/particulate.aspx to learn more about the health and air quality impacts from fine particle pollution.

When EPA changes an air quality standard, states can make recommendations to EPA on whether areas in the state should be designated “attainment” (meeting the standard), “non-attainment” (not meeting the standard), or “unclassifiable” (there is not enough information to determine if the area meets the standard).

The hearing to receive public comment will be held:

Wednesday, December 5, 2007 beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Pierce County Library and Administrative Center (PAC Building)
3005 112th Street East
Tacoma, WA 98446

Additionally, comments can be submitted by mail, e-mail or FAX until 5:00 p.m., December 10, 2007, by sending them to:

Doug Schneider
Department of Ecology
P.O. Box 4700 Olympia, WA 98504-7600
FAX: 360.407.7534
E-mail: dsch461@ecy.wa.gov

If you need special accommodations for the Dec. 5 public hearing, please call Tami Dahlgren of the Department of Ecology Air Quality Program at 360.407.6800 by November 28. If you have a hearing loss, call 711 for Washington Relay Service. If you have a speech disability, call 1.877.833.6341.

 

 

Monthly air quality data summary: September*

Air quality in September was in the “Good” category for 25 days and in the "Moderate" category for 5 days.  There were no days in either the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” or “Unhealthy” categories.

For the month, temperatures recorded at SeaTac Airport averaged 59.9 degrees, 1.2 degrees below normal.  SeaTac rainfall for the month totaled 3.16 inches, nearly twice the average of 1.63 inches.

For data summaries of air quality monitored throughout our four-county region, click to www.pscleanair.org/airq/aqsumm/07-09.aspx .

* Because of the time it takes to review data for quality assurance and process data for reports, our air quality discussions in each “Newsline” edition will be two months previous.  Thus our report for this edition is for September 2007.

 

Announcements

Permits open for comment

The following Puget Sound Clean Air Agency permit is now open for public comment:

Nucor Steel Seattle Inc., Permit #10281  (Air Operating Permit Modification)
Comment period:  Nov. 13, 2007 to Dec. 12, 2007

All comments relevant to the proposed permit conditions will be considered. Instructions for submitting comments are included in the "public notice" posted with the permit application. Visit www.pscleanair.org/announce/permits/openpermits.aspx for permit details.

To receive notice about permitting; proposed Orders of Approval, Regulatory Orders, Variances and Operating Permits; hearings on those actions; extensions of comment periods; and final actions; simply sign up or change your profile to receive e-mail notification at www.pscleanair.org/news/agencynews.aspx .

 

 

About the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency serves the people of King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties.  We work together to clean the air we breathe and protect our climate through education, incentives and enforcement.  To learn more about our work, and how you can be a part of it, too, visit us at www.pscleanair.org .

 

 

About the Clean Air Newsline

Clean Air Newsline is a monthly electronic newsletter to provide air quality information to the residents of King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Subscribers receive the latest on air quality news, trends and projects that affect our local communities and the air we breathe. Feel free to pass the information along to others.

We also use the Newsline as needed to send timely and important messages about burn bans, Smog Watches and early calls to action when air quality deteriorates.

If this newsletter was forwarded to you and you would like to subscribe, you can do so at www.pscleanair.org/news/agencynews.aspx . Be sure to select Clean Air Newsline to be added to the e-mailing list.