Sacramento, CA (1888PressRelease)
September 28, 2007 - The Sacramento Metro Chamber supports a proposed rule on wood burning in Sacramento County to improve air quality, protect transportation funding and avoid draconian enforcement measures that would be imposed upon our region and would adversely affect businesses and residents of our community.
Rule 421 is proposed by the Sacramento Air Quality Management District to restrict word burning during winter months to reduce particulate matter in the atmosphere. The district board heard the matter today and will hold additional hearings in the future.
“We’re pleased to see the Sacramento Air Quality Management District take up this issue today and we urge them to quickly make a decision,” said Matthew Mahood, president of the Metro Chamber. “If we don't get consumers and residents to share in trying to reduce particulate matter, then regulators will look to put additional burdens on business. Businesses and residents alike need to do their fair share in improving air quality for our region.”
If the wood burning ordinance is not implemented, the Sacramento region is expected to be categorized as a nonattainment area by the federal government and would have to consider other enforcement mechanisms to reduce particulate matter, which would likely have significant economic impacts on the Sacramento region, including restrictions and fees on businesses, Mahood said. Those impacts could include the federal government cutting off funding for local transportation projects if the region’s air continues to be too dirty.
Michael Faust, the senior vice president of public policy and advocacy, in testimony today at the district hearing said, “The proposed wood burning rule is a proactive, moderate measure that will improve air quality and protect our transportation funding—with minimal impacts to our region’s economy.”
The rule will not affect people who use wood burning stoves for their primary source of heating or for cooking.
“This is a common-sense approach that will clean up our air quality so we can achieve attainment,” Faust said. “It is flexible enough for our region’s homeowners to easily comply with and still allow that friendly Geico caveman to cook his food and heat his cave.”
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