EPA provides brief summary of NSPS comments

At a wood smoke conference at the University of Montana last month, the EPA did a presentation of

the status of the NSPS that included one slide that summarized stakeholder comments on the NSPS.  This summary is the first one, to our knowledge, that gives some insight into how the EPA views comments from stakeholders and which topics it regards as some of the most important.

The conference was a major gathering of wood smoke experts, air pollution agencies and a few representatives of wood stove manufacturers.

The frequent reference to states infers that their views are playing a significant role, along with industry.  The multiple references to “some manufacturers” indicate that they are paying attention to issues where industry is not united.   The reference to “electronic reporting” is about the move from paper to electronic submissions of test and compliance data from the EPA approved test labs to the EPA.  

Larry Brockman, who represents the EPA's voluntary wood heat programs, was at the Montana conference and gave the presentation:

“* Environmental/health organizations, almost all states, most of the public and some manufacturers are very supportive.

* States oppose allowing the full 5 years for current certifications at 1988 NSPS levels.

* Industry wants grandfathering plus sell-through of inventory.

* States want standards for visible emissions, right-sizing (energy audits), hangtags and proper installation and operation.

* Industry and states want electronic reporting.

* Stakeholders agree that compliance test methods should use real world conditions, e.g., cord wood but some manufacturers question the adequacy of the current database.”

The full EPA presentation and the other presentations at the conference can be found on the EPA website. For our summary of stakeholder comments to the NSPS, click here.

The conference sponsors included the University of Montana Student Chapter of Air & Waste Management Association, Montana Department of Environmental Quality, American Lung Association of the Mountain Pacific, Missoula City-County Health Department, and the Center for Environmental Health Sciences. For more about the conference.