Statement by AG Schneiderman on EPA's Agreement to Finalize New Air Pollution Standards for Residential Wood Heaters
New York, NY - April 29. 2014 - Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman issued the following statement regarding today’s settlement in federal court requiring the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to finalize air pollution standards for new residential wood heaters by February 3, 2015:
“I commend EPA for acknowledging its overdue obligation to update its air pollution standards for wood heaters, and for agreeing to finalize those standards by early next year. My office will continue to engage EPA and the other states to ensure that the standards safeguard public health.”
In October 2013, leading a coalition of seven states, Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman filed a lawsuit against the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for violating the Clean Air Act by failing to adequately limit air pollution emissions from new residential wood heaters. In the legal papers, Schneiderman's coalition contended the EPA's existing emissions limits, which haven't been revised in 25 years, were outdated and left out popular types of residential wood heaters -- including outdoor wood boilers, which have proliferated in many areas of New York.
On February 3, 2014 EPA published in the Federal Register new standards to limit emissions from new residential wood heaters. The EPA is currently accepting public comments on those standards through May 5, 2014. The settlement announced today requires EPA to finalize its issuance of those standards by February 3, 2015.
Further information about the settlement papers entered by the court today can be obtained here. Further background information about the Attorney General’s lawsuit, including court filings, can be obtained here.