DEP Issues Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Jan 31

DEP Issues a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day Forecast for January 31, 2016 for Eight Counties in South-central PA

HARRISBURG, PA — The Department of Environmental Protection and its regional air quality partnerships have forecast a Code Orange air quality action day for particle pollution on Sunday, January 31, 2016 for Berks, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Northampton, and York Counties.

On air quality action days, young children, the elderly and those with respiratory problems, such as asthma, emphysema and bronchitis, are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollution and should limit outdoor activities.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s standardized air quality index uses colors to report daily air quality. Green signifies good; yellow means moderate; orange represents unhealthy pollution levels for sensitive people; and red warns of unhealthy pollution levels for all.

Over the weekend, with a ridge of high pressure building in the south-central region of Pennsylvania from the southeastern US, warmer air will begin to build in over the commonwealth. On Sunday, the clear skies during the early morning hours coupled with the thick snowpack across eastern PA will allow for the formation of a strong surface inversion. The inversion will help to limit mixing near the ground, forcing an increase in particle pollution concentrations. Particle levels are expected to remain elevated during the afternoon as the winds remain light as they turn more out of the southeast. Overall, the daily average concentration of particle pollution should peak in the Code ORANGE range.

To help keep the air healthy, residents and business are encouraged to voluntarily restrict certain pollution-producing activities by:

• Limiting the use of wood stoves in the overnight hours;
• Setting thermostats to a lower temperature
• Carpooling or using public transportation; and
• Combining errands to reduce trips.

These forecasts are provided in conjunction with the Lehigh Valley-Berks Air Quality Partnership and the Susquehanna Valley Air Quality Partnership.

For more information, click here or visit www.dep.pa.gov.

Support clean burning wood-heaters

Less wood smoke means healthier air

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed new limits on harmful air pollution from new wood-burning devices. These devices, such as boilers, furnaces, and stoves, can subject a neighborhood to dangerous air pollution. Wood smoke, which contains soot, carbon monoxide, and other toxic air pollutants, can trigger asthma attacks, cause cancer, and even cut short lives.

Wood smoke can pollute a neighborhood and can travel miles away. That means people who live nearby and far away can suffer from inhaling wood smoke. Strong standards will help ensure that new wood burning devices are much cleaner and do not further pollute our air. EPA needs to adopt these long-overdue standards to protect our health and our neighborhoods from harmful wood smoke-related air pollutants.

To send a comment to EPA, click on the American Lung Association link: http://bit.ly/Rowbtg

Clean Air Board Community Meeting, June 2, 2011, 7 pm

“Reducing Diesel Particulate Emissions from Construction Projects”

CAB will look at successful projects which reduced particulate emissions from diesel engines at construction sites.

The presentation will be held at the Second Presbyterian Church, 528 Garland Drive, Carlisle, PA 17013, on June 2, at 7 pm.   Join us for a discussion of this important topic.

Mt. Holly passes burning ordinance: Sentinel News

September 15, 2009: Sentinel News

Mt. Holly passes burning ordinance

By Staff Reports

Be careful what you burn in Mt. Holly Springs.

Borough council passed an ordinance Monday regulating outdoor burning. According to the ordinance, it is intended to promote the health, safety and welfare and to safeguard health, comfort, living conditions and property values by regulating outdoor and open burning.

Council voted 4-2 to approve the draft without comment. Councilman Jim Collins and Councilwoman Suzanne Cornman voted against the ordinance. Councilwoman Deborah Brophy was absent.

According to the regulations, outdoor burning is defined as open burning or burning in an outdoor wood-fired boiler. Open burning means, “maintaining a fire where the products of combustion are emitted directing into the ambient air without passing through a stack or a chimney,” including a burn barrel.

Open burning is permitted in the borough under certain conditions. No trash may be burned. Leaf waste may be burned, but only in a non-combustible container and only a safe distance from a building, vegetation or other combustible material.

Burning ordinance debate heats up: Sentinel News

September 8, 2009: Sentinel News

Burning ordinance debate heats up

By Staff Reports

Excerpt:

The steel sheds that house outdoor furnaces look innocent enough. Most are fairly small structures with one door and a metal pipe protruding from the roof.

But proposed regulations governing the hydronic heaters used to heat many rural homes across Cumberland County are raising the temperatures of stove owners and putting some local officials on the hot seat.

Outdoor wood burners pose concerns: Sentinel News

September 8, 2009: Sentinel News

Outdoor wood burners pose concerns

By Andrea Ciccocioppo

Excerpt:

Outdoor wood-burning furnaces have become more common, especially in rural areas in the last few years. According to statistics from the state Department of Environmental Protection, in 2005 there were 12,000 of the burners across the state. Since heating fuel prices have increased, more residents are buying the burners as a way to save on costs.

DEP officials have not completed an official count since 2005 but estimate there are probably close to 20,000 of the units statewide today.

Hydronic heater emissions are cause for concern. Residential wood smoke contains fine particles, which can affect both the lungs and the heart.

“We have concerns about the amount of soot – or fine particulate matter – that comes from these burners, especially the older models,” said DEP Secretary John Hanger. “The older models in particular are a real threat to air quality.”