EPA sued over wood-burning boiler emissions

A lawsuit has been filed against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by seven US states relating to air pollution created by wood-fired boilers. The boilers have become a common form of heating for residential properties, resulting in high levels of air pollution that is damaging to human health.

Connecticut, Oregon, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island and Vermont have joined together to file the lawsuit, which calls for the EPA to update emissions limits for this form off boiler. The use of outdoor wood-fired boilers are closely regulated in some states and banned in others due to the levels of harmful air pollution they produce. 

According to Eric Schneiderman, New York attorney general, the emissions' limits put in place by the EPA have not been revised or updated in 25 years. He continued to say that the current limits only cover wood stoves and do not have limits in place for wood boilers. Mr Schneiderman quoted the EPA's own data, which says that 13 per cent of the soot pollution within the US is a result of wood burning devices.

The soot pollution that is created by wood burning devices has been linked to a number of human illnesses and health issues. It also contributes to climate change, which the world as a whole is working to reduce.

Mr Schneiderman said in a statement: “EPA’s regulations simply haven’t kept pace with the proliferation of wood-burning devices or the availability of cleaner-burning units. Smoke from residential wood-burning heaters poses a serious health threat, especially in New York’s rural communities. 

"This lawsuit aims to force the EPA to comply with the Clean Air Act and provide overdue leadership in requiring new wood heaters to meet stricter pollution standards – an action that will save consumers money, improve local air quality and safeguard public health.”

Although the EPA does not have any emissions limits in place concerning wood-burning boilers, they are banned or regulated by many states as a result of the large quantities of damaging air pollution they give off. Many states also offer subsidies to residents in an attempt to get them to switch to cleaner heating alternatives.