Post by: Manedwolf on November 23, 2007, 06:09:28 PM
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Fireplace ban mulled in Southern California
By Janet Wilson
Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES Throwing a few logs on the fire on a nippy evening, or boosting a home's market appeal by advertising its wood-burning fireplace, could go the way of the coal chute and the ice box for many Southern Californians if newly proposed air-quality regulations are adopted.
As part of air pollution plans designed to meet looming federal deadlines, South Coast Air Quality Management District officials have proposed a ban on wood-burning fireplaces in all new homes in Los Angeles, Orange and portions of Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
In addition, on winter days when pollution spikes, wood-fueled blazes in all fireplaces would be banned in highly affected areas. That could amount to about 20 days a year, district officials said, noting that wintertime pollution is a major problem in a region known for summertime smog.
Another measure that would require closing off wood fireplaces or installing $3,600 pollution control devices before a home could be sold had been dropped as of late Thursday, an AQMD spokesman said.
Regulators say that with an estimated 5,400 premature deaths attributable to soot each year in the region, no source is too small to target. Numerous studies have shown that the fine particulate matter in soot sinks deep into the lungs, causing serious health problems. But critics, including homebuilders and real estate agents, say the regulations could hurt sales by robbing homes of one of their most enjoyable features.
By Janet Wilson
Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES Throwing a few logs on the fire on a nippy evening, or boosting a home's market appeal by advertising its wood-burning fireplace, could go the way of the coal chute and the ice box for many Southern Californians if newly proposed air-quality regulations are adopted.
As part of air pollution plans designed to meet looming federal deadlines, South Coast Air Quality Management District officials have proposed a ban on wood-burning fireplaces in all new homes in Los Angeles, Orange and portions of Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
In addition, on winter days when pollution spikes, wood-fueled blazes in all fireplaces would be banned in highly affected areas. That could amount to about 20 days a year, district officials said, noting that wintertime pollution is a major problem in a region known for summertime smog.
Another measure that would require closing off wood fireplaces or installing $3,600 pollution control devices before a home could be sold had been dropped as of late Thursday, an AQMD spokesman said.
Regulators say that with an estimated 5,400 premature deaths attributable to soot each year in the region, no source is too small to target. Numerous studies have shown that the fine particulate matter in soot sinks deep into the lungs, causing serious health problems. But critics, including homebuilders and real estate agents, say the regulations could hurt sales by robbing homes of one of their most enjoyable features.
Post by: Thor on November 23, 2007, 06:22:34 PM
Post by: cassandra and sara's daddy on November 23, 2007, 06:23:00 PM
Post by: Manedwolf on November 23, 2007, 06:30:01 PM
One wouldn't THINK that they might want to target the wildfires ?!?!?!?!? You know, burn the underbrush, etc ?? (controlled burns) There were So Cal nights that it would have been nice to have a fire going when I was out there. Looks like people's rights are slowly being taken away under whatever guise the socialists can come up with. Of course, LA's smog is terrible on some days. I recall it burning my eyes and rolling up the windows and using the a/c in the car was of little help.
Because banning fireplaces while allowing in Mexican trucks burning high-sulfur diesel will help fix that.
Also, talk about war on the rural poor...
Post by: Thor on November 23, 2007, 07:10:32 PM
Post by: wooderson on November 23, 2007, 07:29:51 PM
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Because banning fireplaces while allowing in Mexican trucks burning high-sulfur diesel will help fix that.
Is the South Coast Air Quality Management District responsible for Dubya's trucking plan?
Post by: Sergeant Bob on November 24, 2007, 04:02:36 AM
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Because banning fireplaces while allowing in Mexican trucks burning high-sulfur diesel will help fix that.
Is the South Coast Air Quality Management District responsible for Dubya's trucking plan?
Intrusive government is a fungible commodity.
Post by: HankB on November 24, 2007, 05:56:18 AM
Because banning fireplaces while allowing in Mexican trucks burning high-sulfur diesel will help fix that.
Maybe the proposed fireplace ban is intended to help compensate for the added pollution of the Mexican trucks . . . it's enabling legislation. And if we can't ask our own people to tighten their belts in order to help foreigners compete with fellow Americans, who can we ask?
Post by: Fly320s on November 24, 2007, 06:21:47 AM
Cut down some of those air-blocking mountains that are in the way so that all the polution is blown to the east into Nevada. There's no one in Nevada, anyway.
On those days when it's not windy, the government can use those large wind-generator farms to generate some wind. <tinfoil hat>
Post by: Manedwolf on November 24, 2007, 07:28:05 AM
Ironically, when these things go up, usually the only thing left is the fireplace and chimney stack standing in the ruins.
Post by: The Viking on November 24, 2007, 08:45:27 AM
I have the ultimate solution.
Cut down some of those air-blocking mountains that are in the way so that all the polution is blown to the east into Nevada. There's no one in Nevada, anyway.
On those days when it's not windy, the government can use those large wind-generator farms to generate some wind. <tinfoil hat>
Hey, gunsmith lives there! Don't you think he has enough problems already?Cut down some of those air-blocking mountains that are in the way so that all the polution is blown to the east into Nevada. There's no one in Nevada, anyway.
On those days when it's not windy, the government can use those large wind-generator farms to generate some wind. <tinfoil hat>
Post by: Finch on November 27, 2007, 07:40:01 PM
Cut down some of those air-blocking mountains that are in the way so that all the polution is blown to the east into Nevada. There's no one in Nevada, anyway.
So your nuclear waste isn't good enough, you want to dump your smog on us too? It's bad enough were are getting the people from California here.
Hmph!