2015 -- H 5672

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LC001195

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING HEALTH AND SAFETY -- AIR POLLUTION

     Introduced By: Representatives Handy, Williams, Morin, Maldonado, and Ajello

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2015

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 23-23 of the General Laws entitled "Air Pollution" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following sections:

     23-23-30.1. Findings of fact. -- The general assembly hereby finds as follows:

     (1) In 1988 the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) adopted

regulations requiring that wood burning stoves manufactured on or after July 1, 1988 be certified

by the EPA to meet Phase I emission limits, and further requiring that all wood burning stoves

produced on or after July 1, 1990 meet more stringent Phase II emission limits.

     (2) Wood burning stoves emit smoke that is hazardous to human health. Studies have

linked pollution from wood smoke to increased rates of cancer, lung and heart disease, asthma

and allergies.

     (3) EPA certified wood stoves emit seventy percent (70%) to ninety percent (90%) less

particulate matter (smoke) than older model non-certified wood stoves.

     (4) Older model wood burning stoves that are not EPA certified emit smoke to a degree

that interferes with the enjoyment and quality of life in densely populated residential areas.

     (5) EPA certified wood stoves are identifiable by a temporary label that indicates EPA

certification, efficiency, heat output, and particulate emissions, and a permanent label that

indicates EPA certification and the date of manufacture.

     23-23-30.2. Definitions. -- As used in §§ 23-23-30.1 through 23-23-30.7, the following

terms shall be construed as follows:

     (1) "Certified wood stove" means a wood stove which has been certified by the United

States Environmental Protection Agency to meet the Phase II emission limits for wood stoves

manufactured on or after July 1, 1990, and to which a valid certification label has been affixed.

     (2) "Clean wood" means natural wood that has not been painted, stained, coated.

preserved or treated with a chemical or synthetic substance, including, but not limited to, copper

chromium arsenate, creosote, or pentachlorophenol. "Clean wood" does not include driftwood

and does not include construction or demolition debris as defined in § 23-18.9-7(4). "Clean

wood" does not include wood that contains glue or resins as in plywood or other composite wood

products.

     (3) "Fireplace" means any permanently installed masonry fireplace or any factory-built

metal wood burning device designed to be used as an open combustion chamber without features

to control the air to fuel ratio.

     (4) "Residential area" means any area where a single unit or multiple unit dwellings exist,

including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and public housing.

     (5) "Residential dwelling" includes private dwellings of one or more units, nursing

homes, assisted living facilities, and public housing.

     (6) "Use" shall include the maintenance of a wood stove in an operable condition,

connected to a chimney, stack, or flue, regardless of whether or not fuel is burned.

     (7) "Wood" means all types of wood and wood products, including firewood, boards and

wood pellets.

     (8) "Wood stove" means any device, other than a fireplace, designed or intended by the

manufacturer to burn wood inside a private residence which has a firebox volume less than

twenty (20) cubic feet and weighs less than eight hundred (800) kilograms. "Wood stove" shall

not include any heating device manufactured after July 1, 1990 that is specifically designed to

burn wood pellet fuel with metered fuel and air feed, controlled combustion engineering, and that

burns only wood pellet fuel.

     23-23-30.3. Phase-out of wood stoves without EPA certification in densely populated

residential areas. -- (a) No wood stove shall be installed without having first obtained all

required permits, including all permits as may be required under the Rhode Island state building

code, under the Rhode Island fire safety code, and under local ordinances and regulations.

     (b) On or after January 1, 2016 no permit may be issued for the installation of and no

person shall install or allow the installation of a wood stove that is not a certified wood stove in

any residential dwelling or in any garage or structure ancillary thereto unless the chimney, stack,

or flue through which the products of combustion pass is at least:

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     (1) Fifty feet (50') from any lot line; and

     (2) Two hundred feet (200') from a residential dwelling of an abutting owner.

     (c) No person shall operate, use, or allow the operation or use of a wood stove that has

been installed in violation of this section.

     (d) On or after January 1, 2016, no property owner shall sell, rent, or lease or offer to sell,

rent or lease any residential dwelling or any garage or structure ancillary thereto in which a wood

stove other than a certified wood stove is installed unless the chimney, stack, or flue through

which the products of combustion pass is at least:

     (1) Fifty feet (50') from any lot line; and

     (2) Two hundred feet (200') from a residential dwelling of an abutting owner.

     23-23-30.4. Limitations on allowable fuels. -- No person shall cause or allow any

material to be burned in a wood stove except:

     (1) Clean wood;

     (2) Wood pellets made from clean wood;

     (3) Manufactured logs recommended by the manufacturer for burning in a wood stove;

     (4) Any other fuel approved by the director of the department of environmental

management pursuant to duly-promulgated regulations.

     23-23-30.5. Penalties. -- Any person violating §§ 23-23-30.3 or 23-23-30.4 of this

chapter shall be subject to a fine not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200) for each violation.

Each day during which a violation occurs or continues shall constitute a separate violation.

     23-23-30.6. Enforcement. -- (a) The responsibility for the enforcement of §§ 23-23-30.1

through 23-23-30.4 of this chapter shall be with the local municipal building inspector or such

other local building official as a municipality may designate by ordinance.

     (b) The local fire authority that performs smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector

inspections in residential dwellings shall, at the time of inspection, also inspect any wood stove

for an EPA certification label. The local fire authority observing any violation of §§ 23-23- 30.3.

or 23-23-30.4 of this chapter shall issue a notice of violation to the homeowner and send a copy

to the local building inspector or duly designated local building official. The homeowner shall

inform any prospective purchaser of the violation prior to a closing by delivering a copy of the

violation notice to the prospective purchaser.

     (c) The local building inspector or duly designated local building official shall, in

response to a complaint or upon receipt of a notice of violation from the aforesaid local fire

authority, investigate the complaint or the violation notice. The local building inspector or duly

designated local building official shall serve a citation upon any person believed to be in violation

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of §§ 23-23-30.3 or 23-23-30.4 of this chapter. The citation shall describe the violation and shall

direct the discontinuance or abatement of the violation. The citation shall be in writing and shall

be served by regular mail and certified mail, or by posting a copy of the citation in a conspicuous

place on or about the premises in violation. If the violation is not corrected within thirty (30) days

after service, the local building inspector or duly designated local building official may ask legal

counsel of the municipality to institute appropriate proceedings in a court of competent

jurisdiction, including municipal courts, to enforce the provisions of this chapter.

     23-23-30.7. Common law rights preserved. -- The operation or use of a wood stove in

any manner that creates a nuisance or interferes with the health, safety, or welfare of any person

is prohibited. All public or private rights of action in nuisance, negligence, or otherwise are

preserved.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING HEALTH AND SAFETY -- AIR POLLUTION

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     This act would regulate the phase-out of wood stoves without EPA certification in

densely populated residential areas.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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