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### JUN 19 2008 OFFICE OF AIR QUALITY PLANNING ANDSTANDARDS Dan Johnson Executive Director WESTAR 500Union Street Seattle, Wt*ington 98101

son: Thank you for your letter ofApril 29, 2008, in which you urged the U .S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update and develop regulations relating to a variety ofwood combustion devices. You expressed concern that current federal regulations are out ofdate and target limited types ofwood burning sources, leaving a number of devices unregulated and contributing to high ambient concentrations offine particles in many communities across the country . We share your concern about wood smoke emissions and have started a review of the technical information that would be needed to revise the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for residential wood heaters. As you know, EPA has worked for the past few years to address emissions from wood burning sources by supplementing the NSPS for residential wood heaters with strongly supported voluntary measures. We have worked with states, communities and industry to create the Great American Woodstove Changeout Program to provide incentives to replace older woodstoves with cleaner-burning technology. Since 2005, we have worked with over 30 communities to replace nearly 7,500oldwood stoves and fireplaces. This has resulted in a reduction of more than 200tons offine particle emissions per year and an estimated $50million per year of health benefits. We also have worked with the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM) to develop a voluntary programwhich has facilitated the development of cleaner burning outdoor wood heaters faster than we could by developing a federal regulation. To date, 19 manufacturers have signed agreements to develop much cleaner units. Eight units have already been tested by EPA-accredited test laboratories to qualify at the Phase 1 emission level (70percent cleaner), and two additional models have already qualified at the Phase 2 emission level (90percent cleaner) . We also

Intemet Address (URL) " http://www .epa.gov Recycled/Recyclable . Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on Recycled Paper (Minimum25% Postconsumer)supported NESCAUM's development of a model rule that states can adopt to address

emissions fromthese units. Several states have already adopted rules and many are in the midst of the regulatory development process. We are working with industry on a similar partnership targeting low-mass fireplaces which will result in the manufacture of much cleaner fireplaces and should yield substantial reductions ofwood smoke emissions. In addition, we are working with the industry and others to develop a burn smart campaign thatwill target new owners as well as existing owners ofwood-burning devices. We believe that an education campaign promoting proper burn techniques can bring about significant improvements in air quality.Your letter indicated a concern with small wood boilers being marketed to schools and hospitals and asked that we direct resources towards gathering technical information. We have started gathering such information to the extent our resources allow . We have a meetingwith the U

.S. Forest Service fromJuly 22-24 in Washington, D .C. to share technical information about wood burning in small boilers, such as those used in schools. We welcome your participation. Please contact Karen Blanchard at (919) 541-5503 or blanchard.karen&epa.gov for additional information. We are examining all options available to us to reduce wood smoke emissions, both regulatory and non-regulatory. We look forward to continuing to work with you in our efforts to comprehensively address wood smoke emissions.

Stephen D

: P Director Office ofAir Quality Planning and Standards cc: Rob Brenner Gregory A

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### JUN 19 7_008 OFFICE OF AIRQUALITY PLANNING ANDSTANDARDS Arthur Marin Executive Director NESCAUM 101 Merrimac Street, lOth Floor Boston, Massachusetts 02114

n: Thank you for your letter ofApril 29, 2008, in which you urged the U .S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update and develop regulations relating to a variety ofwood combustion devices. You expressed concern that current federal regulations are out ofdate and target limited types ofwood burning sources, leaving a number of devices unregulated and contributing to high ambient concentrations of fine particles in many communities across the country. We share your concern about wood smoke emissions and have started a reviewof the technical information that would be needed to revise the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) forresidential wood heaters. As you know, EPAhas worked for the past few years to address emissions from wood burning sources by supplementing the NSPS for residential wood heaters with strongly supported voluntary measures. We have worked with states, communities and industry to create the Great American Woodstove Changeout Program to provide incentives to replace older woodstoves with cleaner-burning technology. Since 2005, we have worked with over 30 communities to replace nearly 7,500 old wood stoves and fireplaces. This has resulted in a reduction ofmore than 200 tons offine particle emissions per year and an estimated $50million per year of health benefits. We appreciate working with you and others at the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM) to develop a voluntary program which has facilitated the development ofcleaner burning outdoor wood heaters faster than we could by developing a federal regulation. To date, 19 manufacturers have signed agreements to develop much cleaner units. Eight units have already been tested by EPAaccredited test laboratories to qualify at the Phase 1 emission level (70percent cleaner), and twoadditional models have already qualified at the Phase 2 emission level

Internet Address (URL) " http://www .epa.gov Recycled/Recyclable . Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on Recycled Paper (Minimum25%Postconsumer)(90percent cleaner) . We also supported NESCAUM's development of a model rule that

states can adopt to address emissions fromthese units. Several states have already adopted rules and many are in the midst of the regulatory development process. We are working with industry on a similar partnership targeting low-mass fireplaces whichwill result in the manufacture ofmuch cleaner fireplaces and should yield substantial reductions ofwood smoke emissions. In addition, we are working with the industry and others to develop aburn smart campaign that will target new owners as well as existing owners ofwood-burning devices. We believe that an education campaign promoting proper burn techniques can bring about significant improvements in air quality. . Your letter indicated a concern with small wood boilers being marketed to schools and hospitals and asked that we direct resources towards gathering technical information. We have started gathering such information to the extent our resources allow . We have a meeting with the U

.S. Forest Service fromJuly 22-24 in Washington, D .C. to share technical information about wood burning in small boilers, such as those used in schools. We welcome your participation. Please contact Karen Blanchard at (919) 541-5503 or blanchard.karen(ckpa.Pov for additional information. We are examining all options available to us to reduce wood smoke emissions, both regulatory and non-regulatory. We look forward to continuing to work with you in our efforts to comprehensively address wood smoke emissions.

Stephen D

. Page Director Office ofAir Quality Planning and Standards cc: Rob Brenner Gregory A

. Green