RON WYDEN 

OREGON 

CHAIRMAN OF COMMrrIF.E ON


FINANCE 

221 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFlCE BUILDING 

WASHINGTON, DC 20510 

(202) 224-5244

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COMMRTEE ON HNANCE 

COMMrrTEE ON BUDGET


COMMn"iFF ON ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES


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WASHINGTON, DC 20510-3703 

December 10, 2014 

The Honorable Oitta iVlcCarthy 

Administrator 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW 

Washington, DC 20460 

Dear Administrator McCarthy, 

I understand that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is in the process of issuing New Source 

Performance Standards (NSPS) for warm air furnaces. Residential wood heaters are currently regulated 

by the EPA, but this NSPS proposal represents the frst of such EPA regulations for residential warm air 

furnaces. While I believe this is an important step to reducing emissions to help combat climate change, I 

am concerned that the timeline set for the industry to comply with the new rules will have a negative 

impact on the warm air furnace manufacturers, consumers, and retailers in Oregon. 

The proposed NSPS for warm air furnaces represents the first update to the EPA's residential heating 

industry regulations since 1988, and will require the manufacturers of warm air furnaces to comply within 

60 days of the publication of the final rule in the Federal Register. Compliance will require furnace 

manufacturers to go through research and development, testing, certification, and EPA approval to ensure 

that the furnaces fit the new standards. The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires the EPA to finalize the 

proposed NSPS for warm air furnaces by February 3, 2015. At this time, it remains unclear what the final 

rule will require, barring manufacturers from beginning the research and development of new, EPA 

compliant furnaces. 

Additionally, the proposed NSPS does not allow a grace period fc 	`ailers to sell their remaining 

inventory of furnaces that do not comply with the new standards, so ieiailers will be left with inventory 

tha` cannot be sold and manufacturers may have to buy back unsold units. This leaves retailers without a 

prol l y -	sell and manufactures struggling to stay afloat as they work to develop new furnaces while 

sales	.t on hold, putting business and jobs at risk.

'-N	-wqi^ 

Eugene, Oregon is home to a United States Stove Company manufacturing facility which would be 

adversely impacted by the proposed timeline for compliance. I remain concerned that if manufacturers 

are not given enough time to develop furnaces that comply with the new standards, employees of the 

Eugene facility and others like them will face an undue and unnecessary risk of losing their jobs. In these 

tough economic times, it is imperative that the federal government do all it can to support businesses and 

foster success. The NSPS for warm air furnaces will most certainly have a positive impact on our 

climate, and I believe that the new rule is a great step toward protecting our environment for future 

generation. Extending the deadline for compliance will simply give the industry the time it needs to 

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develop furnaces that fit the EPA standards and allow retailers to sell their remaining inventory without 

taking a financial hit. This solution is good for the environment and it's good for businesses. 

I ask that you extend the compliance deadline to one year from the date of enactment of the new rules to 

allow manufacturers and retailers sufficient time to adjust. I would appreciate a response to my request 

within 30 days.

Sincerely, 

Ron ^yden 

United States Senator