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Thursday, January 07, 2010

Environment - Rules proposed again to regulate outdoor wood-fired boilers

Several years ago there was a lot of smoke over an IDEM proposal to solicit public comments about whether there was a need to impose some restrictions on the use of outdoor wood-fired boilers in Indiana. As a result, it seemed the idea was dropped. Thereafter, one community after another has tried to address the problem on the local level. The U.S. EPA has also become involved. All of this has been covered, over the years, in a long list of ILB entries. The most recent, from Feb. 26, 2009, begins:

The ILB has had dozens of entries, going back as far as Dec. 2005, on the regulation of wood-fired outdoor boiler in Indiana. IDEM originally was going to do it, then backed off and left local government to deal with the problem on its own.
Yesterday, over four years later, IDEM followed up on its Dec. 1, 2005 First Notice of Public Comments with a Second Notice. Some quotes:
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has developed draft rule language for a new rule, 326 IAC 4-3, concerning air emissions from outdoor hydronic heaters. By this notice, IDEM is soliciting public comment on the draft rule language. IDEM seeks comment on the affected citations listed and any other provisions of Title 326 that may be affected by this rulemaking. * * *

This rulemaking only applies to outdoor hydronic heaters, also referred to as outdoor wood boilers or outdoor wood burning furnaces. Indoor wood heating appliances are already subject to federal emission limitations for new units. Indoor wood burning appliances and other sources of wood smoke are sufficiently different in potential emissions, stack heights, design, operating conditions, or frequency of operation to distinguish them from outdoor hydronic heaters. After a delay in proceeding following the request for public comments on the First Notice of Comment Period, IDEM is now proposing to move forward with this rulemaking. The proposed requirements in this rulemaking will not be effective until the rulemaking process is complete. The rulemaking process includes two public hearings before the Air Pollution Control Board: preliminary adoption and final adoption. At a minimum, this rulemaking would not be effective until late 2010.

In an effort to control heating costs, Indiana citizens are increasingly turning to outdoor hydronic heaters to heat and provide hot water for their homes and other structures. Outdoor hydronic heaters are free standing appliances that burn wood or some other fuel to heat water. The heated water is pumped, typically through underground pipes, to the structure or multiple structures to be heated and the cooled water is returned to the outdoor hydronic heater for reheating. A unit typically looks like a small shed with a short smoke stack and is usually located in close proximity to the building to be heated. Outdoor hydronic heaters are much larger and differ in design, operation, and emissions produced from indoor wood stoves, pellet stoves, fireplaces, and barbecue pits.

According to sales data provided by outdoor wood boiler manufacturers, the Northeastern States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM) estimates that 7,518 units have been sold in Indiana since 1990. IDEM has received 41 formal complaints about smoke from outdoor wood boilers located around the state. Some local jurisdictions in Indiana have also received complaints about outdoor hydronic heaters, leading to local bans on the placement of new units in the cities of Indianapolis, Evansville, Petersburg, Loogootee, and Batesville. LaPorte has requirements in place to limit the emissions from new units. Currently, outdoor hydronic heaters are not regulated in Indiana at the state level, nor are they regulated at the national level.

The Notice continues, at length, and includes summaries of public comments from the First Notice, plus the text of the Draft Rule.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on January 7, 2010 08:07 AM
Posted to Environment