Topline
A coalition of ten states intends to sue the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its failure to update residential wood-burning stove emissions standards, citing potential health and environmental risks associated with these appliances.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) logo is prominently displayed on a door at its headquarters.
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Key Facts
Ten state attorneys general have issued a 60-day notice of intent to sue the EPA if the agency fails to update its wood-burning appliance emissions standards.
In a letter of intent filed on Thursday, these states allege that the EPA has failed to timely review and revise its wood heater performance standards, which are required to be updated every eight years under the Clean Air Act.
The states involved in this action are New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, Minnesota, Washington, Vermont, and Alaska. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is also part of the coalition.
The letter refers to an EPA report from earlier this year, stating that the EPA’s residential wood stove program is “ineffective” and poses a hazard to both human health and the environment.
Under the program, the EPA has supported the replacement of older wood appliances with newer, cleaner models, and has distributed approximately $82 million in residential exchange grants between 2015 and 2021.
However, the letter argues that if the newer models do not meet emission standards, millions of dollars could be wasted. The EPA report found that many of the replacements did not meet these standards.
The report also revealed that the EPA’s allowance of the sale of wood-burning appliances that may not meet standards exposed people to particle pollution, posing a risk to their health.
Forbes reached out to the EPA for comment on the pending litigation, but the agency declined to provide a statement.
Crucial Quote
“Although the current emission standards for wood heaters have been in place since May 2015, EPA has not even started the required notice-and-comment rulemaking proceeding to review the scope or stringency of those standards and make the necessary revisions to ensure they result in actual emissions reductions,” wrote the attorneys general in the letter.
Key Background
Wood stoves and heaters emit toxins that can be detrimental to human health and the environment. Research conducted by Penn State indicates that burning wood results in carbon emissions 30% higher than coal and 2.5 times higher than natural gas. The smoke produced by these appliances contains fine particles and hazardous toxins such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling particulate pollution can cause irritation to the nose, eyes, and potential lung damage. Fine particles, which can penetrate deep into the lungs and even the bloodstream, are considered the most dangerous form of particle pollution. Studies have linked exposure to fine particles with an increased risk of chronic lung diseases and lung cancer. Certain populations, including seniors, pregnant individuals, people of color, smokers, and those with underlying conditions, are at an even greater risk. According to the American Lung Association, wood-burning is the primary heating source for a quarter of households in Vermont, the state with the highest wood appliance usage and the highest particulate matter emissions per capita.
Big Number
About 39% of households in the Fairbanks North Star Borough, located in Alaska’s Interior region, use wood-burning heaters during the winter months when temperatures often drop below zero. However, the area is prone to inversions that trap cold air near the ground, potentially causing pollution to linger for extended periods. Between 2010 and 2021, over 3,000 wood-burning appliances were replaced in the region, but according to the EPA report, residents are uncertain about whether their wood heaters meet the standards.
