EPA Burn Wise Leveraging Partnerships National Tribal Forum on Air Quality Tulsa, OK May 24, 2012 1U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA Burn WiseLeveraging Partnerships

National Tribal Forum on Air Quality

Tulsa, OK

May 24, 2012

1U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Leveraging Partnerships• Burn Wise Basics• Tools Available• Case Studies

– Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point (ME) Marvin Kling, Sr.

– Swinomish Wood Stove Changeout (WA) Tony Basabe, PhD.

• Potential Partners• Additional Case Studies• Qs and As

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2

Burn Wise Campaign Objectives• To promote responsible wood-

burning techniques and educate users on the connection between what they burn, how they burn, and the impacts on their health and the environment.

• Promote safety, savings, and energy efficiency.

• EPA is fuel neutral. If you choose to burn, Burn Wise.


Why is Wood Smoke a Concern?Wood smoke can be harmful to health and the environment.

• A primary source of exposure to fine particle pollution (PM2.5)

• Contains other toxic (and some cancer-causing) compounds sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene, formaldehyde and dioxins

• It reduces how far you can see and creates haze

• EPA currently regulates newly manufactured wood heaters (e.g. wood stoves) and coordinates voluntary programs for fireplaces and hydronic heaters

• Certain states have established wood heater regulations that go beyond the EPA wood heater regulations (e.g. Washington)


Wood Smoke Can be Harmful to Your Health• Triggers asthma attacks

• Causes watery eyes, stuffy noses, and chest tightness;

• Irritates the airways causing coughing or difficulty breathing;

• Decreases lung function;

• May lead to: – Chronic bronchitis; – Irregular heartbeat; – Nonfatal heart attacks; and – Premature death in people with heart or lung disease.


Children under 18, elders, people with diabetes, heart disease, asthma or other

lung diseases are the most vulnerable.

Benefits of Wood Stove Changeouts• Reduces indoor and outdoor

pollution by 70%

• Uses 1/3 less wood

• Burns 50% more efficiently

• Wood smoke reduction programs may require more than appliance changeouts to significantly reduce PM 2.5

• Pellet stoves, fuel oil and gas appliances are cleaner burning than EPA-certified wood stoves and should be considered when the goal is PM 2.5 reduction


Tools You Can Use


Tribal Wood Smoke Brochure: Split, Stack, Cover and Store


Wood Moisture Meters•Moisture content is the amount of water that is in the wood, but not part of wood molecules

•Moisture meters are inexpensive ways to measure water in wood

•The meters use metal prongs to send an electrical current through the wood and determine how much water is present


Wood Shed Diagram and Item List

Social Media

• Subscribe to RSS content

• Join us on Facebook

• Follow us on Twitter

• Discuss best practices on our state, tribal and local blog- http://blog.epa.gov/woodsmoke/


http://blog.epa.gov/woodsmoke/

Additional Materials


• Widgets – small graphics that can be placed on your own website. Every week there’s a new wood burning tip.

• Public Service Announcements (15, 30 and 60-second) – scripts that can be used by local media to promote proper wood burning.

• “Dirty Little Secrets” Brochures and Posters – provide valuable information about the benefits of changing out old wood stoves.

• Contact Leigh Herrington, [email protected] or go online to www.epa.gov/burnwise/burnwisekit.html

http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/widgets.html

http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/burnwisekit.html

http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/pdfs/dirtysecretbrochure2011.pdf

http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/pdfs/dirtysecretposter.pdf

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/burnwisekit.html

Wood Stove Changeout,Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant

Point

Marvin Kling, Sr.


Wood Stove Changeout and Health Study, Swinomish Indian Tribal

CommunityTony Basabe, PhD.



• HUD: Block Grants

• USDA: Rural Development Grant/Loans

• DOE: Weatherization

• HHS: Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), CDC Tribal, CDC Asthma

• EPA: Pilot projects, Indoor Air, Community Grants, Research and Development, EcoAmbassador, Children’s Health, Supplemental Environmental Projects

• Health Departments

• American Lung Association

• Hearth Industry Discounts

• Possible state tax credits

Possible Partnerships and Funding

Additional Case Studies

• Makah Tribe, WA

Contact: Dana Sarff, [email protected]

• Nez Perce Tribe, IDContact: Johna Boulafentis, [email protected]

• Oneida Nation, WIContact: Jeff Mears, [email protected]

• Tulalip Tribe, WAContact: Gillian Mittelstaedt, [email protected]


Want More Information?

[email protected], 919-541-0882

www.epa.gov/burnwise


http://www.epa.gov/burnwise

Documents

EPA Burn Wise Leveraging Partnerships National Tribal Forum on Air Quality Tulsa, OK May 24, 2012 1U.S. Environmental Protection Agency