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Environmental Health Division: Air Quality - Current Issues

Environmental Health Division: Air Quality
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Air Quality - 2010 Regulation Changes History


On September 17, 2009 the Missoula County Air Pollution Control Board passed revisions to 5 chapters of the air pollution regulations. These were then ratified by the City Council and the County Commissioners.  On May 14, 2010 the MT State Board of Environmental Review approved the regulation changes and the changes are now in affect.

OR you can view each chapter separately:

 

Missoula City-County Health Department is proposing changes to the current Missoula City-County Air Pollution Control Regulations. Changes are needed to make sure we comply with the Federal PM2.5 health standard. Right now we are almost over the limit. Members of the public are invited and encouraged to participate in this process by learning more about why changes are necessary and making comments on the draft regulations.

Brief Summary of Proposed Regulation Changes

  • Require all new installations of woodstove and woodstove like devices to be cleaner-burning EPA certified or similar devices
  • Set levels and areas for Stage I Alerts and Stage II Warnings for PM2.5
  • Give a provision for Wildfire Smoke Emergency Episode Avoidance Plan
  • Require all new solid fuel burning equipment with capacity to burn more than 1 million BTU’s per hour to get a permit
  • Allow those outside of the Air Stagnation Zone inside Zone M to get a sole source permit with provisions.
  • During Stage I Alerts and Stage II warnings, set provisions for woodstoves and similar wood burning heating device restrictions.
  • Allow general public adversely affected by a permitting action to request an administrative review.

Please note, the draft regulations...

  • DO NOT require removal of existing woodstoves
  • DO NOT affect backyard barbeques or outdoor burning

These draft regulations are indented to protect the need to burn wood for heat by making sure that new installed devices are as clean burning as possible.

 Proposed Regulation Changes Fact Sheets (Summaries)

  • Chapter 4: Emergency Episode Avoidance Plan 
  • Chapter 6: Industrial Sources
  • Chapter 9: Solid Fuel Burning Devices (Woodstoves)
  • Chapter 14: Administrative Procedures

Public Hearings

As required by local regulations and State law, the following legal notices have been published in August and September in the Missoulian and the Independent to announce the public hearings and proposed decision date.

The Board held public hearings on the air regulations this year, on June 18, July 20, August 20 and September 17, 2009.  At the September 17, 2009 hearing the Air Pollution Control Board passed regulation changes for Chapters 2, 4, 6, 9 and 14.  The proposed changes are noted at the top of the page.  These proposed changes will now go to the City Council, the County Commissioners and the State Board of Environmental Review.

When the City Council, the County Commissioners, and the State Board of Environmental Review pass the proposed regulation changes, the new rules will go into affect.

Open Houses

In May and June, the Department held five Open Houses on the proposed regulations.  The open house posters and brochures are shown below.

Open House Brochures:

Open House Posters:

Public Comment

The following written public comments have been received by the department.  These are organized by last name and date when available.

Department Response to Public Comment #1, March - July 7, 2009

NEW: Department Response to Public Comment #2, July 7 - Sept. 9, 2009

 

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