Published: December 27, 2008 11:09 pm      

Emission limits proposed

Garrett commissioners considering implications of regulating heating devices

OAKLAND — With proposed regulations that would allow for the installation of outdoor wood boilers in Maryland that meet specific emissions standards, the Garrett County commissioners are going to have to consider how to enforce regulations.

“We have to be careful,” Ernie Gregg, commissioner, said during the group’s weekly public meeting. “We don’t want to have people deal with unhealthy conditions, but a lot of people rely on those to heat their homes.”

The proposed regulations would allow for Maryland homes to have the boilers on their property. While they have been legal to sell, the outdoor boilers are not legal to have on property in Maryland.

New regulations set to take effect April 1 would prohibit the sale, distribution and installation of only those wood boilers that do not meet an emission limit of .60 pounds of particulate matter per million Btu of heat.

There would also be requirements for acceptable and prohibited fuels for use in wood boilers. Acceptable fuels would include clean wood, wood pellets made from clean wood and heating oil. Fuels prohibited for use, which tend to generate complaints from neighbors as well, would include garbage, tires, manure and animal carcasses.

Existing units would be grandfathered in, said Steve Sherrard, director of environmental health at the Garrett County Health Department. As has been done in the past, Maryland Department of the Environment would require some form of enforcement based upon complaints. He said that although the boilers are illegal, the enforcement thus far has been on a complaint basis.

Once they are legalized, there would be the option to initiate some regulations for stack heights and setbacks at a local level. The local municipalities also have the option not to allow the burners within town limits.

“The one that formed my opinion (of the boilers) was someone who smoldered all year to heat their pool,” said Fred Holliday, commission chairman. “In the country it is not so bad, but in a municipality it is.”

John Nelson, director of Planning and Land Development, said he was unsure whether the county could set and enforce regulations without any form of zoning.

The commissioners questioned why there was a sudden move toward regulating the boilers when they had been around for years, despite being illegal.

“They are now moving down to Harford County,” said Rodney Glotfelty, director of the health department. “That’s why everyone’s worried about it now. It used to just be a Garrett County, Allegany County problem.”

Contact Sarah Moses at smoses@times-news.com.