Northern Utah--Thanks to big government, the days of “chestnuts roasting on an open fire” will soon be a thing of the past or levied a large fine. The Division of Air Quality in Utah is seeking to strip away the freedom of choice in Utah. Utah is about to institute a mandatory no burn action when they feel the pollution is building up to unhealthy levels during winter inversions. The regulations would cover nearly every county in Northern Utah including Box Elder County and Weber County.
Citizens would be prohibited from using wood fireplaces and stoves, coal stoves, charcoal grills, smokers, outdoor fireplaces and grills. The only exception would be homes that have this as a sole source of heat and are registered with the State. Officers would assess fines of up to $299 to households found violating the ban.
While this may seem like a great idea to get cleaner air, one must ask, what right does the state have to tell me how I can heat my home? Propane and natural gas are expensive and many seek to supplement the rising costs of winter heat. This mandate would affect the poor as well as those who maybe just love a nice fire in the winter time.
Box Elder County Commissioner Stan Summers and Fire Marshall Corey Barton have both voiced their objections:
BEC County Fire Marshall Corey Barton, who voiced objection, says too many people in the County rely on wood burning for alternative or supplemental heat. “I don’t think what we do here in BE county effects SLC very much,” said Barton “I think it should be up to our commissioners to decide what’s best for our County”
Barton said the ban which could be imposed as soon as Nov 1 would be a detriment to freedoms of BE county residents. “A guy is going to be burning his corn stubble field while the guy down range can’t burn his wood burning stove.”
BEC commissioner Stan Summers agreed with Barton, and said he has already reached out to elected reps of BEC and other official’s about the ban. “It’s interesting how they think they can just pass whatever they want. As long as it doesn’t affect them, they don’t care,” Summers said. “They say it’s the wood –burning stoves that causes the inversion; well, it’s not.”
In this reporter’s opinion, the bigger issue here is not the air, but rather the dirty truth that Utah is becoming a nanny state seeking to regulate and make decisions for its residents. Stripping away their freedoms bit by bit. What is next? Deciding which vehicles are acceptable for us to drive? Telling us what we can eat? After all, obesity is huge problem. I would urge everyone to speak out and stand for freedom that the Constitution affords us. There is an opportunity to voice your opinion at the hearing scheduled in Brigham City on Tuesday January 20 at 11:30 in a conference room at the Bear River Health Dept. located at 991 S 800 W.
Written comments can be mailed to Mark Berger, Division of Air Quality, and P. O. Box 144820, Salt Lake, UT 84114.
Now is the time speak out against bigger government, more surveillance (The Division of Air Quality vigorously enforces no burn actions. Compliance officers monitor neighborhoods using infrared cameras that can detect heat plumes even when there is no visible smoke), and a nanny state.
Petitioning Utah Department of Environmental Quality Mark Berger
This petition will be delivered to:
Utah Department of Environmental Quality
Mark Berger
2,603
Supporters
Governor Herbert and the Utah Department of Environment Quality have proposed a ban on all solid burning sources for the seven counties along the Wasatch Front. This ban would take place from November 1st to March 15th. Shortly after this announcement the EAP declared that Utah’s air was within the standards it had set.
It is true that some areas do have poor quality during the inversions but a complete ban on wood burning stoves is not the solution. Wood burning only contributes to about 4% according to the Department of Air Quality. Time and resources should be used towards larger contributors of the poor air quality. Why go after the individuals when the largest contributors to the pollution are not challenged first?
The financial and economic issues on this ban should be considered as well. Most families use wood stoves as their primary source of heat. It would take a significant amount of money to convert to another heat source or use natural gas and propane. It would also cost a significant amount to use it compared to fire wood. This ban would increase the use of natural gases, thus increasing the demand on the refineries to produce more and contribute more pollution to the environment. Wood burners pay to help clean up the dead fall in the forests. This would be a loss to the forest service and forest's eco system.
There are already regulations in place to help with the air quality during the inversions. Resources should be used to continue to promote and refine this. Some of the current monitoring stations are not adequately placed to give a true representation of the area. For example, the Box Elder County’s station is in the center of Brigham City, which does not give a true representation of such areas as Plymouth and Fielding, 30 plus miles away and in a completely different environment.
This is not just a 7 county issue but a state issue. The ban would have to start somewhere but where it ends is anyone’s guess. If you do not have a wood burning fireplace please consider the practical use of our tax dollars and state resources. Should they be used to go after the 4% or to go after bigger contributors?
Please sign the petition asking DEQ to withdraw the proposed burning ban.
www.change.org/p/mark-berger-withdraw-the-proposed-seasonal-burn-ban-r307-302
