The state’s Environmental Quality Board (EQB), which develops regulations for the Department of Environmental Protection, is proposing significant new restrictions on the use of outdoor wood-fired boilers.
Under the proposed regulations:
- A person may not purchase, sell, offer for sale, distribute or install a boiler unless it meets Phase 2 standards for efficiency.
- New boilers must be installed at least a minimum of 150 feet from the nearest property line.
- New boilers must have a permanently attached stack that must be at least 10 feet above ground and extend at least two feet above the highest peak of the highest residence located within 150 feet of the boiler.
- Existing boilers must also have a permanently attached stack that is at least 10 feet above ground and extend at least two feet above the highest peak of the highest residence located within 500 feet of the boiler.
- Only clean wood, wood pellets made from clean wood and certain home heating oil, natural gas or propane fuels can be used in the boilers.
Read the full regulations here.
- Send written comments to Environmental Quality Board, P.O. Box 8477, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8477 (express mail: Rachel Carson State Office Building, 16th Floor, 400 Market St., Harrisburg, PA 17101-2301). No fax comments will be accepted.
- Send written comments via e-mail to RegComments@state.pa.us. A subject heading of the proposal and a return name and address must be included in each e-mail. If the sender does not receive acknowledgement that the comments were received within two working days, the sender should resubmit his or her comments.
>>> Read the letter from Rep. Causer and other lawmakers opposing the proposed regulations.
>>>Read comments from the Independent Regulatory Review Commission