Residents Encouraged to Attend Hearing
on Proposed Wood Boiler Regulations
Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) is encouraging people concerned about proposed changes to state regulations for outdoor wood-fired boilers to speak out at a public hearing in Coudersport this week, Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) announced today.
The state Department of Environmental Protection and its Environmental Quality Board (EQB) will hold the hearing at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, at the Coudersport Area High School.
"I asked DEP to hold this hearing locally because so many people came to me to express their opinions about the proposal," Causer said. "I encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity."
Under the proposed regulations:
· A person may not purchase, sell, offer for sale, distribute or install a boiler unless it meets Phase 2 standards for efficiency.
· New boilers must be installed at least a minimum of 150 feet from the nearest property line.
· New boilers must have a permanently attached stack that must be at least 10 feet above ground and extend at least two feet above the highest peak of the highest residence located within 150 feet of the boiler.
· Existing boilers must also have a permanently attached stack that is at least 10 feet above ground and extend at least two feet above the highest peak of the highest residence located within 500 feet of the boiler.
· Only clean wood, wood pellets made from clean wood and certain home heating oil, natural gas or propane fuels can be used in the boilers.
People who have not already contacted the EQB to schedule their testimony may be able to register on the day of the hearing. Oral testimony is limited to 10 minutes for each witness, and witnesses are requested to submit three written copies of their testimony to the hearing chairperson at the hearing.
People who cannot attend still have time to submit written comment prior to the Feb. 12, 2010 deadline:
· Mail written comments to the address listed above. Express mail may be sent to the Rachel Carson State Office Building, 16th Floor, 400 Market St., Harrisburg, PA 17101-2301). No fax comments will be accepted.
· Send written comments via e-mail to RegComments@state.pa.us. A subject heading of the proposal and a return name and address must be included in each e-mail. If the sender does not receive acknowledgement that the comments were received within two working days, the sender should resubmit his or her comments.
The state Department of Environmental Protection and its Environmental Quality Board (EQB) will hold the hearing at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, at the Coudersport Area High School.
"I asked DEP to hold this hearing locally because so many people came to me to express their opinions about the proposal," Causer said. "I encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity."
Under the proposed regulations:
· A person may not purchase, sell, offer for sale, distribute or install a boiler unless it meets Phase 2 standards for efficiency.
· New boilers must be installed at least a minimum of 150 feet from the nearest property line.
· New boilers must have a permanently attached stack that must be at least 10 feet above ground and extend at least two feet above the highest peak of the highest residence located within 150 feet of the boiler.
· Existing boilers must also have a permanently attached stack that is at least 10 feet above ground and extend at least two feet above the highest peak of the highest residence located within 500 feet of the boiler.
· Only clean wood, wood pellets made from clean wood and certain home heating oil, natural gas or propane fuels can be used in the boilers.
People who have not already contacted the EQB to schedule their testimony may be able to register on the day of the hearing. Oral testimony is limited to 10 minutes for each witness, and witnesses are requested to submit three written copies of their testimony to the hearing chairperson at the hearing.
People who cannot attend still have time to submit written comment prior to the Feb. 12, 2010 deadline:
· Mail written comments to the address listed above. Express mail may be sent to the Rachel Carson State Office Building, 16th Floor, 400 Market St., Harrisburg, PA 17101-2301). No fax comments will be accepted.
· Send written comments via e-mail to RegComments@state.pa.us. A subject heading of the proposal and a return name and address must be included in each e-mail. If the sender does not receive acknowledgement that the comments were received within two working days, the sender should resubmit his or her comments.
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