This week, the ATS submitted formal comments to EPA opposing the agency’s proposal to delay implementation of rules to increase the efficiency and reduce emissions from wood stoves and wood furnaces. 

For some communities, wood stoves and wood furnaces are a significant source of winter-time air pollution emissions, including CO, NOx and particulate matter pollution.  In 2015 EPA finalized rules to improve the efficiency and reduce the emissions from wood stoves and furnaces.  EPA has now proposed to allow industry to sell non-compliant wood stoves and furnaces for an additional two years – effectively delaying implementation of the wood stove performances standard for two years.   

In the comments, we note with concern that EPA’s own analysis of the proposed delay implementation of wood heater rule shows that delay would have a negative total economic impact on the U.S. economy. The 2015 EPA rule was estimated to provide $100 of benefit for every $1 implementation costs.  Even the re-analysis done by the Trump Administration shows $10 to $20 of benefit for $1 implementation costs

More importantly, the proposed delay would postpone important health benefits to the public as a result of having more efficient and less polluting wood heaters and furnaces made available on the U.S. market.