Lawmakers doubt need for tighter woodstove rules

OLYMPIA – A week after the Senate passed a local lawmaker’s bill allowing tighter woodstove burning restrictions in Spokane County, other local lawmakers say they’re unconvinced that the measure’s really needed.

“I think Spokane needs to have time to study it,” said Rep. Lynn Schindler, R-Otis Orchards. Yes, the region has a problem with stagnant air in winter, she said. But due to good management by local air quality officials, she said, wood smoke hasn’t been a “medically harmful” problem in the area for about a dozen years.

“I think we have a lot of people that would like to be able to continue to use their wood heat,” she said.

The state Senate recently passed Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown’s bill to allow Spokane officials to try to meet new stricter federal air-quality rules by ordering several more “no burn” days each winter. The House version of the bill, which passed on Wednesday, also calls for a study of how to reduce air pollution throughout the state.

“We are not taking your woodstoves,” said Rep. Tom Campbell, R-Roy. “We will proceed carefully.”

Local Rep. John Ahern, R-Spokane, said he’s also unconvinced the measure’s needed.

“I don’t like to have Big Brother looking over all of us and coming up with regulations,” he said.

Brown and air quality officials say that if Spokane doesn’t meet stringent new federal rules about particulates in the air, it could threaten the region’s federal highway money.