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1
The Wood Smoke Activist Network December 2012 Newsletter
Educating the world about the health and climate impacts of wood smoke.
Editor: Shirley Brandie 1/12/2012
2
Welcome!
We hope that this newsletter will give you the information and inspiration
you need. Regain clean air to breathe and eliminate the wood burning that
is affecting your health and your home environment.
Please pass this issue on to others in need of help and suggest that they
send an email to [email protected] to be added to the mailing list.
**** A doctor’s letter verifying how wood smoke compromises
your health or public health in general would be beneficial in
showing that wood smoke truly is doing damage to you.****
Volume 4, Issue 11
December , 2012
Editor : Shirley Brandie
Co-Editor: Julie Mellum
Mission Statement
Our mission is to educate all citizens about wood smoke as a major form of hazardous air pollution that affects our health, our home, the use of our property, water, crops, livestock, the environment, and climate change. We urge citizens everywhere to work with their elected officials to name wood smoke a ‘nuisance’ and create bans/by-laws to finally end the devastating effects of residential wood smoke.•
Title
Fighting Wood Smoke Pollution from the
Grassroots to Government Level
3
Newsworthy Links
NASA earth observations
Fires can generate large amounts of smoke pollution, release greenhouse
gases, and unintentionally degrade ecosystems.
The colors are based on a count of the number (not size) of fires observed
within a 1,000-square-kilometer area.
Humans added plenty of greenhouse gases
According to NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, landfills emit
around 25 billion tonnes of methane per year; farm animals around 80
billion tonnes; and biomass burning between 10 and 50 billion tonnes.
Greenhouse gases from wood are a burning issue
Excerpt: The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has proven that
particles created by burning wood and other biomass—so called “black
carbon”—are a major contributor to global warming.
Wood smoke is new burning issue in Metro's crosshairs
Excerpt: "The options range from an outright ban in urban areas to things
like ensuring wood stoves meet certain emissions standards or having
burning limited to so many days per month," said Ray Robb, Metro's
environmental regulation and enforcement division manager.
4
The American Lung Association
Please visit The American Lung Association's "Public Policy" page. (Please
note that the policy document is for informational purposes only and should
not indicate an endorsement of products advertised on the site)
There is more information regarding "Residential Wood and Other Biomass
Combustion" on page 5 of the "Energy" PDF
Also, please visit their "State of the Air" site for even more information.
____________________________________________________
5
Assault on an American family An outdoor wood furnace smoke falls toward the ground and travels in a plume for up to 1/2 a mile, getting into neighbor's yards and homes. This video is from Nassau, New York. It shows what it is like for a family living near an outdoor wood furnace.
Watch the video at the link below http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO61TdrMMgE&feature=share&list=UUHa1V8g575EN8ECxo0B8Z9A
6
Smoke and Health
When people are not at work they typically spend 60-70 percent of
their time at home, (Szalar,1 1972; Chapin2, 1974; Sexton et al.3, 1986) and
if they heat their home with wood they are potentially exposed to fine
particle pollution. In addition to the smoke that can be released inside the
home, studies show that an estimated 70 percent of smoke from chimneys
can actually re-enter the home and neighborhood dwellings (Pierson4 et al.,
1989).
Numerous scientific studies have linked particle pollution exposure to
a variety of problems, including:
• increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the
airways, coughing, or difficulty breathing;
• decreased lung function;
• aggravated asthma;
• development of chronic bronchitis;
• irregular heartbeat;
• nonfatal heart attacks; and
• premature death in people with heart or lung disease.
People with heart or lung diseases, children and older adults are the most
likely to be affected by particle pollution exposure. However, even healthy
people may experience temporary symptoms from exposure to elevated
levels of particle pollution. For more information about particle pollution,
visit www.epa.gov/particles. For more information about asthma, visit
www.epa.gov/asthma.
1
7
B.C. Hydro slash & burn for megaenergyprojects
To do so, hundreds of kilometers of trees are being cut and burned in slash
piles from Terrace to Bob Quinn. This is not without controversy.
In just one year 3 forest Forestry Districts have handed out over 2300 permits for similar size burns in one airshed.
Please click on the link below for more information on this incredibly
unbelievable release of smoke into the air. In my opinion, they do not grasp
the reality of climate change.
http://www.cbc.ca/player/Radio/Local+Shows/British+Columbia/ID/2301110409/
8
Although inspired in part by real attitudes, behaviors, and situations, the following story is
fictional and does not depict any actual person or event. Any resemblance to people or
neighborhoods you have observed is purely coincidental.
Smoketopia Development Plans Holiday Ceremony
With Christmas fast approaching, holiday plans are abuzz in Soothaven, Smoketopia
County's premier dome-covered development for smoke lovers. The community will be
holding its first-ever tree lighting ceremony.
"New York has their famous Tree Lighting at Rockefeller Center, and we were inspired by
that to start our own tradition," says Mary Nunbright.
"It's going to be so special," she continues. "Every yard will have a tree, and there will be a
giant blue spruce put up in Creosote Square. The night of the tree lighting ceremony, we're
going to start at one end of Soothaven and sing carols along the way as each yard's tree is lit,
until all the Christmas trees are glowing with light, then we'll gather around the big blue
spruce tree in the square. Everyone will help decorate it and after it's lit up, we'll sing 'O
Christmas Tree.' "
Stewart Padidiette and Wes Pestergall were in charge of getting the blue spruce, but things
did not go as planned. Since there are no spruces in Smoketopia County, they had to look
elsewhere to find one.
"I knew the perfect tree," says Stewart. "There was a real big one in the front yard next door
to my old house from before I moved to Soothaven. The lady who lives there was at work,
so me and Wes borrowed Punky Sparkburn's flatbed truck and had him follow us with a
front-end loader. It was a slick operation, too. We almost had it."
"Yeah, we were smooth," adds Wes. "I chain-sawed the tree down and then Punky picked it
up with his front-end loader and put it on the flatbed, and Stew and I beat a path out of there
with the tree. But someone called the cops and Punky tried to flee in the front-end loader and
couldn't out-maneuver them in a low-speed chase."
"We'd like to know who the grinch was that dropped a dime on Punky. I guess some people
really hate Christmas, plus Wes is out a chain saw," says Stewart, not concealing his disgust.
He goes on to explain that after the police found spruce needles on the hydraulic grabs of
Punky's front-end loader, the tree was traced back to Soothaven and impounded as evidence,
along with the chain saw, front-end loader, and flatbed truck. "The police didn't know where
to impound the tree so they left it on the flatbed, which is a total waste of fuel," Stewart
complains.
"I've never felt so violated," says Punky. "They took my private property and the community
spruce, and all three of us got arrested! All I can say is thanks a lot for punishing Christmas,
people; and for reminding me why I moved to Soothaven."
9
But in the end, those grinches who impounded the tree were foiled. Yes, foiled by none other
than Erant Finn, the visionary developer who created Soothaven. He arranged to have
another tall blue spruce delivered to Creosote Square from Smoke Grove, Minnesota, where
he is currently putting the finishing touches on a second dome-covered community.
"Oh gosh, he's our Santa Claus!" Mary Nunbright says of Finn. "I just wish he could be here
to see all of these trees lit up at once, and the lighting of this grand, elegant spruce. Just
imagine how the flames will dance like sugarplums in our eyes as we watch it burn, with the
backdrop of the smaller Christmas trees in the yards already blazing away. Soothaven will be
aglow with fiery trees and holiday smoke filling the streets. As the fire is reflected in our
eyes, it will be a wonderful opportunity for each of us to reflect on how much we mean to
ourselves."
©Katherine Troidl, 11-17-12
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A constant worry
Sent by a friend in New York: It was the first crack of autumn here in NY and very warm. A beautiful clear and mild day.
This idiot 3 doors away who has a small ranch house and TWO freaking smoke stacks sticking out of the little roof (what a jerk)
I think he must have someone staying with him which ticks me off because when he's not home,
the renter burns the freaking stove!
So - we drove by and sure enough, the one stack was puffing away okay? And here comes this
big young guy (they're all young in that house) walking up the driveway to get the mail - picture this: smoke streaming from roof - looked like locomotive smoke!
He's wearing shorts and a tee shirt and BAREFEET! Why is he burning a wood stove for if he can walk around outside in shorts and no shoes?
This is the stupid mentality of these people. Meantime, they're polluting our air.
Oh, another thing - there used to be a Nursery down the road - about 1/2 mile away selling plants and soil etc.
They closed and guess who bought the place?
A Wood Stove Company!!!!!!!!! I almost died. If they start displaying (they already added a big
chimney) stoves and burn all winter I'm moving.
There's a big sign out front: for sale Granite and Wood Stoves! I'm holding my breath they
don't put up an OWB.
It's a constant worry.
**** I would really appreciate it if others would send me their stories to publish. Names
need not be used unless you wish to. Adding your town/city/province/state/country is a
useful tool, as well. You will be helping to show the horror that you live with day & night
and that helps to get the message out to those that can make changes but have no idea
how many people really are suffering. We need to get them moving on this issue of wood
smoke invasion!
Shirley
11
BOZO of the Month
In my opinion
Barrie, Ontario
Barrie’s web site states that: “Barrie is committed to providing residents with
opportunities to enjoy an enhanced and secure quality of life in a prosperous and
ecologically sustainable community.”
I’m certain that the last council meeting has shown the residents that, in no way, is their
quality of life supported by this Mayor and council, in my opinion.
Those who have suffered due to backyard burning and thought the nightmare was behind
them, when council announced that they were considering an end to this incredibly
ignorant behavior of many individuals, must be shaking their heads at the lack of caring
that the Mayor and council members have shown.
I can just imagine how the backyard burners will celebrate their victory. The smoke will
fill the air like it never has before!
Why has this council allowed this to happen? In my opinion, they now look like the
Bozos they are, giving false hope to their residents that smoke from backyard burning
was at an end.
I wonder if the council knows that their proposed ban was published world-wide on the
Internet and that their decision to allow people to foul the air with smoke is also there for
the world to see. They have taken their city to a new low! And, for that, they are truly the
biggest bunch of Bozos and should hang their heads in shame.
Shirley
12
Editorial
December… Well, here we are in the thick of things once again. The air is
filled with the choking stench of your neighbor’s wood smoke.
The holiday parties you have dreamed of having over the years are, once
again, impossible to have because your neighbor’s burning controls your
ability to entertain friends and relatives.
Do you think that maybe a ‘control issue’ is why they douse you in smoke?
Because they know that you have complained about the smoke but also
know that your complaints did not produce any action.
To pay you back they will burn even more and produce as much smoke as
they can so that you can never enjoy your own property again. I know
because I have lived through many years of a neighbor doing the same thing.
In our case it took years of litigation to end the bullying from our neighbor. I
don’t want any of you to have to go through what we did!
Searching for someone to help you is almost a useless effort because there is
not one person who can help you but yourself. Scary? Indeed! But, compare
that to years & years of attempting to get help before realizing that there is
none but your local municipality.
There is information online that can more than prove that wood smoke is
cancer-causing among other things. You need to start now to get all the
information that you can from reputable sources and put a package together
along with your dated, digital photos and take them before your next council
meeting. Get on the agenda and ask for a smoke bylaw to protect you and all
other residents from the hazards of wood smoke.
Easy? No, it isn’t. Necessary? Yes, it is!
Wishing you all a bright Holiday Season and a New Year that brings clean
air!
Shirley
13
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Residential Wood Smoke On The Rise - Worse Than Tobacco Smoke
The growing popularity of outdoor wood-fired boilers (OWB), also known as outdoor
wood-fired hydronic heaters or outdoor wood-fired furnaces, has been increasing at an
alarming rate, affecting areas of NY, CT, MN, WA, and other states. Although residents
voice concerns over health dangers attributed to excessive amounts of toxic smoke
emitted by OWBs, there is not enough being done by local and state officials to regulate
residential wood smoke.
Frustrated residents complain, “Our kids are getting sick. Officials are just not listening
to our cries for help.” In one Mid Hudson home, two garaged ferrets died after a six
month exposure to the smoke of a next door neighbor’s outdoor wood furnace. The
homeowners described the smoke as noxious and relentless, stating that it set off their
smoke alarm almost daily. “We finally had to disconnect it [our smoke alarm]. That’s a
fire hazard as far as we’re concerned.” Another complained she had to keep scrubbing
soot off her bedroom walls. Needless to say, when it comes to the issue of, to burn or not
to burn, arguments between neighbors and local officials have been cropping up in many
municipalities throughout New York and other states. “Canada is a step ahead of us in
bans and regulation of wood smoke,” states Victoria Valentine who is involved with USA
and Canadian groups fighting for wood smoke regulation. “We’re fighting for our
freedom to breathe clean air and right to quiet enjoyment of our homes and healthy
lifestyle.”
A group of concerned Mid Hudson Valley residents has been campaigning for clean air
by lobbying local and state officials and agencies, requesting stricter regulation of wood
smoke that is now flowing freely in our air, polluting and promoting illness. “Along with
our request for regulation, we are asking New York to follow the lead of Connecticut’s
recent attempt to protect residents from wood smoke,” states Valentine, HB 6616, AN
ACT ESTABLISHING WOOD SMOKE TO BE A PUBLIC NUISANCE, if passed, would
redefine wood smoke as a public health nuisance and allow action to be taken to protect
people in their own homes, Margaret R. LaCroix of the American Lung Association of
New England reports.
“We don’t want to deprive anyone of the right to burn wood but believe oversight is
necessary to protect health and environment. Burning wood should never be the primary
source of heat and hot water for any home. Limitations would help alleviate some of the
high concentrations of wood smoke affecting many areas where residents are gravely
affected.” Valentine insists, “Wood smoke is more than an annoyance; it can become a
severe health hazard when fine particulate matter is inhaled and lodges in your lungs. We
want the public to know.”
15
Valentine herself was treated last fall for serious respiratory damage resulting from wood
smoke inhalation when her next door neighbor tried to heat his home solely with wood.
Involuntarily breathing the excessive smoke caused what her doctor called internal
sunburn complicated by a staph infection.
Burning wood for heat and hot water is not GREEN as the wood stove industry and other
proponents proclaim. It blankets the atmosphere with black carbon soot that contributes
to global warming. Wood smoke contains carcinogenic particulates along with some of
the greenhouse gases the Obama Administration is pushing to control: carbon dioxide,
methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride
that negatively impact our planet.
When you live in close proximity to a wood burning device you may be exposed to 24/7
smoke inhalation, which is as bad as or worse than breathing second hand tobacco smoke.
Exposure to wood smoke causes an array of symptoms such as headaches, burning eyes,
nose, throat and chest. The American Lung Association and the EPA agree that wood
smoke exposure worsens or can cause asthma and respiratory illness along with a host of
other illnesses. Scientific studies find pregnant women, children and the elderly to be
most at risk. Wood smoke has been linked to SIDS [Sudden Infant Death Syndrome] and
may weaken healthy immune systems leading to premature death, and the list goes on.
“Inhalation of wood smoke should be avoided,” states the EPA website which recently
provided information on wood stove swap-outs. This concerns Valentine. “On one hand
they warn of the dangers of wood smoke and on the other they offer tax credits for those
who want to swap an old wood stove for a new one. Smoke is smoke. Why not swap
wood stoves for clean burning gas or electric stoves?”
Wood smoke crosses property lines, hovers and surrounds homes, infiltrating through
closed doors and windows, walls, electrical outlets and normal air exchange. Even if you
don’t see or smell the smoke, if you live next door to or near an operating OWB or wood
stove, toxic smoke is more than likely entering your home, affecting the health of your
family. “We have tobacco smoke restrictions,” Valentine argues, “why not wood smoke?
You can avoid cigarette smoke, but you can’t avoid breathing contaminated air in your
own home that’s being bombarded by your neighbor’s wood smoke. Would you give
your kids a carton of cigarettes and tell them to chain-smoke? Exposing them to wood
smoke on a daily basis is just as bad, if not worse.”
Sources: http://BurningIssues.org , www.nescaum.org , http://www.epa.gov ,
http://www.lungusa.org
VictoriaSky
16
Legal Help
**Note to any legal firm that can provide help with residential wood
smoke issues and wishes to add their name to this page.**
Please email Shirley with your state/province, name of firm, who to
contact (email address & telephone)
NOTICE of FLORIDA and KENTUCKY ATTORNEY WILLING TO CONSIDER
WOOD SMOKE CASES, perhaps on a contingency.
Attorney Sherri Myers is a Florida attorney who is also licensed to practice in
Kentucky and in 2 federal courts. She specializes in the rights of persons with
disabilities, many of whom may be protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA, the civil rights law that is intended to ensure that citizens with disabilities such as
asthma, for example, have “access” to public spaces such as city parks, streets and
sidewalks. A federal court in northern Iowa ordered the town of Mallard, Iowa, to
disallow wood and leaf burning, because the smoke presented a physical barrier to a
small child with severe asthma, making her unable to use city streets and sidewalks.
Sherri is interested in legal issues that impact persons with multiple chemical sensitivity
and other environmental illnesses. She also serves on the Pensacola City Council and in
that role is working to influence governmental policies on environmental issues. She is
the Advocacy Coordinator for the Center for Independent Living Disability Resource
Center. Sherri lives in Pensacola, which is located in the panhandle of Florida. Contact
her at [email protected]. Phone: (850) 484-0902
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Legal Help
Outdoor Wood Boilers have the potential to create nuisances or harm human health by
releasing unsafe levels of Particulate Pollution and other cancer causing air contaminants.
Scientific studies and lab testing have shown that some Outdoor Wood Boilers exceed
EPA safe air thresholds at levels that can cause both short and long term health problems,
even death.
The American Lung Association states that anyone can be affected by particle pollution
but several groups are most at risk:
Children under 18
Adults 65 and older
Anyone with chronic lung disease, such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema
Anyone with a cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure, coronary artery disease,
or congestive heart failure and diabetes.
Joe Ritch an attorney in Corpus Christi Texas who specializes in nuisance and product
liability believes everyone should be able to live in their home and enjoy their property
without fear of harm.
If you or someone you love is being adversely affected by the contaminants emitted from
an Outdoor Wood Boiler you may be eligible for representation with no out of pocket
expenses. To have your case evaluated please call 361-885-7500 and ask for Joseph
Ritch.
18
Wood smoke: Know the Facts
Wood Smoke…
1. Violates the property rights of others to use and enjoy their property smoke-free.
2. Contains many of the same toxins that are in tobacco smoke. These
include lead, mercury, arsenic, benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), carbon monoxide and dioxin(s), “some of the most insidious chemicals known to man.” (Harvard School of Public Health). They also accumulate in the environment.
3. Is implicated in asthma attacks, heart attacks and premature death in
people of all ages, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
4. Violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Guidelines by presenting a “barrier” to those with disabilities such as asthma, preventing them from accessing public spaces. Parks, bike paths, playgrounds, sidewalks, outdoor sports and public gatherings are often inaccessible and unhealthy, due to wood smoke.
5. Stresses everyone’s immune system. Children, the elderly, and those
with asthma, lung or heart issues, diabetes or other disabilities are among the most vulnerable.
6. Is a major source of black carbon soot fine particulates, which are bundled
with cancer-causing and hormone-disrupting chemicals.
7. Is implicated in reproductive birth defects and childhood diseases including asthma, pneumonia, cancer, autism, Asperger's Syndrome, allergies and other disorders.
8. Interferes with the seeding of rain and moisture in clouds, and also
accelerates the melting of glaciers (www.burningissues.org/car-www/science/Climate/index.html) and www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/apr/20/black-carbon-emissions).
9. Burning wood is an increasingly serious fire hazard. Please don’t burn
wood!
For more information, contact [email protected] Website: www.takebacktheair.com
19
JOIN OUR NEW NETWORK! Our cause has gained great momentum, with more people joining the
anti-wood smoke efforts weekly. Our focus now is to help everyone
connect with others near us nation-wide in the US and Canada.
We must unite in pressuring our municipalities and governments
toward wood smoke regulations as soon as possible.
Therefore, I am looking for Volunteer Wood Smoke Coordinators in
EVERY STATE & PROVINCE to field and manage wood smoke
complaints and issues in their own state or province.
The goal is to share information nation-wide and to focus on wood
smoke regulation.
I think it’s safe to say that anyone reading this newsletter probably has
issues with wood smoke.
If you are willing to give your name and email address so we can form a
visible network please email Shirley or Julie.
Perhaps you would be willing to help with letter writing, flyer passing,
etc. No money is required, just a willingness to be someone others can
contact for support or more involvement.
Contact Julie at [email protected] if you would like your name
to appear on our state/province–wide contacts page or if you’d like to
become your state or province’s “representative” to coordinate contacts
within your state or province. Contact Julie, also, if you’d like to learn
who else is fighting wood smoke in your area and if you want concrete
suggestions on how to get results.
Network Representative List
To find a list of representatives in your area or to volunteer for your
State or Province please refer to the “LINKS” page on my web site.
20
All burning results in very fine micro particulates and there is no safe level of this asbestos sized, dangerous air pollutant. Solid fuels, such as pellets and especially wood, produce more smoke and emit more fine particulate air pollutants than cleaner fuels such as gas and electricity.
21
Bylaws & Bans
**I am beginning to compile a list of municipalities that are
acting on wood smoke emissions. Please send me a link to any
that you find to be added to the list.**
Golden, BRITISH COLUMBIA- passed a bylaw prohibiting the
installation of any solid fuel burning appliance (Bylaw # 1150).
Hampstead, QUEBEC - banned all new installations of wood stoves and
ordered existing wood stoves to be removed within 7 years. (Bylaw # 729-2)
Montreal, QUEBEC (Apr. 29/2009) - no further installation of any wood
burning stoves or fireplaces.
Suffolk, NEW JERSEY - bans all OWBs within 1000 feet of another house.
Stillwater, MINNESOTA - bans all wood burning or boiling stoves -
existing and future (March 11, 2010).
Pleasant Prairie, WISCONSIN - bans all new outdoor wood furnaces and
wood boilers.
Savage City, MINNESOTA - prohibits outdoor wood boilers (OWBs).
Burnsville, MINNESOTA - banned OWBs December 2008.
New Prague, MINNESOTA - total ban on OWBs.
Grand Forks, BRITISH COLUMBIA - The bylaw states that “no person
shall create a nuisance using a wood burning appliance in such a way as to
disturb the health and comfort of two or more persons from separate
dwellings.” Enforcement would be complaint driven and fines could be up
to $500.
Houston, BRITISH COLUMBIA - requires uncertified appliances to be
removed by 2010.
St. Thomas, ONTARIO - prohibits the use of outdoor fireplaces including
wood boilers and chimeneas.
22
Sarnia, ONTARIO - has set stringent restrictions on setback distances for
outdoor boiler operations from the nearest dwellings and property lines.
Nation, ONTARIO - outdoor wood boiler specifications have been set
which include minimum lot sizes, distance from property lines and
distances from property buildings.
Elmira, NEW YORK - Ban on smoke and other deleterious fumes that
cross property lines onto the property of another. Fines are $250 for a
second offence or a jail term. Best ban in the country!
Marion, IOWA -prohibits new outdoor wood-burning boilers within city
limits and to regulate existing setups. All existing boilers must be
registered by Jan. 1; have smokestacks two feet higher than any residential
roof within 300 feet of the system; and be removed when the property
changes hands.
CONNECTICUT - Avon, Granby, Tolland, Hebron, Woodbridge, South
Windsor, Portland, Norfolk, Ridgefield, Haddam, Cheshire, West
Hartford, Hamden, North Haven and New Fairfield – 17 towns have
banned outdoor wood furnaces in order to protect the health and property
values of their citizens.
Inver Grove Heights, MINNESOTA - Nov. 15, 2010 - council bans all
OWBs. All OWBs must be removed from properties by Oct. 01, 2011.
The STATE of WASHINGTON - has laws to address neighbor's wood
smoke. According to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, “generating
excessive smoke is not only unneighborly, it’s illegal. Under state
regulations, smoke from a person’s chimney cannot exceed 20 percent
opacity for six consecutive minutes. Greater smoke densities could result in
fines from air pollution control officials. It is always illegal to smoke out
your neighbor. Everyone has a right to breathe clean air. If smoke from
your fire is affecting your neighbors, it is considered a nuisance and
subject to enforcement action.”
Salmon Arm, BRITISH COLUMBIA - No person shall install an Outdoor
Solid-Fuel Combustion Appliance in or about any premises.
23
Huron East, ONTARIO - Bylaw passed - all new OWB's to have minimum
setback allowances and lot sizes. A great improvement over what they had
before – nothing.
Nappanee - Bans Outdoor Wood Furnaces
Twinsburg, OHIO - Council voted 7-0 in favor of adding outdoor wood-burning furnaces or boilers to a list of items that are restricted.
Marion County, INDIANA – OWB ban.
Evansville, INDIANA – OWB ban.
Long Beach, INDIANA – OWB ban.
City of LaPorte, INDIANA – OWB ban.
Michigan City, INDIANA – OWB ban.
Butler, Indiana – Bans OWBs within city limits.
Waterloo, ONTARIO - No person shall set or maintain an open air fire.
Hamilton, ONTARIO - No person shall conduct an open air in a manner
that creates a nuisance....
Caledonia, WISCONSIN - Bans all new OWB installations except in
agricultural areas.
Port Alberni, BRITISH COLUMBIA – (2012) All newly installed wood
burning appliances must be EPA listed. Beginning in 2017 (5 years from
now) all existing wood burning appliances must be EPA listed.
Prohibition of unpermitted fuels. $200 fine for non-compliance, per
violation. Inspectors have the right to enter to determine compliance with
bylaw.
Grand Forks, BRITIH COLUMBIA – No person shall create a nuisance
using a wood burning appliance….
24
Photos and Videos
To see some photos that victims of wood smoke have sent click here
To have your own photo listed, send an email to: [email protected]
Click here for links to more information
Just a few photos to show to your public officials and others you want to convince that only a ban on smoke release will change this!
Click here for videos
25
26
Canadian Action Activities
Wood smoke is a major problem in all of America and Canada.
National efforts are gaining momentum. Regardless of where we live,
our actions should focus on getting our national governments to
regulate wood smoke. To make an impact, if each reader calls or emails
each of these contacts, we can move mountains.
Go for it now!
Health Canada assesses scientific evidence about the health effects of wood smoke
and makes this information available to Canadians. Health Canada is also working
with other government departments to determine the best ways to minimize risks
associated with wood smoke.
In addition, Health Canada is a contributor to the Burn it Smart! Campaign
sponsored by Natural Resources Canada.
Environment Canada: www.ec.gc.ca/cleanair
Health Canada: [email protected] Air Health Effects Division, Safe Environments Program, Health Canada
400 Cooper Street Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9 Telephone: (613) 957-1876
Natural Resources Canada Burn it Smart! Sir William Logan Building,
11th Floor, 580 Booth Street, Ottawa, ON K1A 0E4
Write or email to your local council & MPs to request that they create or amend a
bylaw to cover nuisance smoke. Preferably, a ban on all wood burning in residential
areas.
____________________________________________________________
The Ontario Ministry of the Environment has released the latest news on Smog
http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/air/smog/index.php
____________________________________________________________
Click here for the Canadian Bill of Rights You can apply for a review here.
27
U.S. Action Activities
URGENT—Immediate Action ALWAYS Needed
A new EPA-certified wood stove promotion gives a 30% tax credit and a
huge discount to the public. It is being funded by stimulus money from
the US government. This flies in the face of the known hazards of wood
smoke that the EPA acknowledges on their website. If we don’t stop our
states’ stimulus money from funding this major promotion, it will be
next to impossible to regulate or ban wood burning in any form.
If you have never protested wood smoke or called your public officials
before, this is the time to do it!
Contact your US Senators and Representatives, as well as your state
Senators and Representatives and City Council members. Ask them
to see that the stimulus money does not go towards this
promotion. It is crucial to let your elected officials know that you
don’t want the stimulus money used for this promotion in your
community—but only to apply to gas or electric
technology. (California has a change-out program that only allows
swap-outs to gas or electric.)
Let them know that wood smoke is a major health hazard and is a major contributor to global warming.
Send an email to others and ask them for their help too. (See
suggested email below).
Be sure to call your US legislators and State legislators and City
Council Members, to alert them to the problem and asking for their
help too in keeping new EPA certified wood burning equipment out
of your community, even if a state-wide promotion allows them.
If we don’t stop this unthinkable promotion, there is little hope for a
healthy legacy for our children and grandchildren.
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Action #1- Suggested message for calling and emailing U.S. legislators
and state legislators. Please also relay on to others and urge them to
contact others.
_________________________
Date:
Dear (elected official):
Please use your influence to disallow stimulus money to be used for EPA
wood stove promotion in (your state and/or your community.)
According to the EPA’s own website, wood smoke is a killer responsible
for premature deaths nation-wide at a rate of 3% of the total deaths
every year from fine particle pollution. (Harvard School of Public
Health). That is close to 73,000 people in the U.S. each year--an
epidemic! Wood smoke is extremely hazardous for children, the elderly
and especially those with asthma. Asthma is already the number one
reason for school absenteeism. It is even implicated in sudden infant
death syndrome.
Our states are looking for ways to limit fine particulate pollution and
better air quality. This should be a “no-brainer.” Wood smoke emits
over 9,600 % more lead than natural gas, according to the EPA’s own
data. It also emits arsenic, mercury, formaldehyde, polyaromatic
hydrocarbons and dioxins, persistent organic compounds that do not
break down in the environment or in human lungs, crops, soil and water
supply. See http://BurningIssues.org for the facts.
Please do not allow stimulus money to be used for promoting more
pollution.
(Sign your name and contact info)
_____________________________
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About the Editors:
Shirley Brandie
Ontario Director of Canadian Clean Air
Alliance http://canadiancleanairalliance.ca
She is retired from a medical laboratory
and currently doing in-depth research on
the effects of wood smoke on health and
the environment.
Web site: http://WoodBurnerSmoke.net
Minneapolis Julie Mellum
Julie is a Realtor who knows that wood smoke devalues real
estate as a “material fact” that can affect a potential buyer’s
use and enjoyment of your property. She continually
researches the latest science on wood smoke and is a member
of the Edina, MN Community Health Committee.
Web site: Take Back the Air
If you would like to have your wood smoke story published, click here to
email it.
* We do not accept responsibility for errors in articles submitted for
publication. It is the responsibility of the author to ensure the facts are,
to the best of their knowledge, correct. **
** Please note that articles submitted for publication may be edited for
grammar, punctuation and sentence structure.
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