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by Darkseid
on Sat Mar 01, 2008 4:40 pm |
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Regulators want to ban fireplace blazes on 'Spare the Air nights'
Mercury News ^ | 3/1/08 | Paul Rogers
Mention air pollution, and what comes to mind? Factories. Oil refineries. Auto tailpipes.
Now Bay Area smog regulators are trying to crack down on another source that they say is just as significant, even if beloved: home fireplaces.
Citing growing medical research that soot causes more severe health problems than was previously realized, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District is proposing a ban on all wood burning in fireplaces and wood stoves in the nine Bay Area counties during winter "Spare the Air" nights.
--snip--
If approved, fireplace police would enforce the rules, and neighbors would be encouraged to report neighbors.
"We understand a crackling fire is a long-held tradition of American family life," said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the air district, based in San Francisco.
"But traditions need to be changed when there is information showing that our health and our neighbors' health are impacted."
--snip--
Supporters compare wood smoke dangers to that of cigarette smoke, and note natural gas fires are much cleaner. Critics call the proposal bureaucracy run amok.
--snip--
Kathy Voss-Jensen and Joel Jensen favor the rules. Three years ago, the Redwood City couple got a new neighbor who burns wood nearly every winter day despite their requests to limit it.
"It's very noxious and irritating," she said. "We have to keep our windows closed tight for several hours a day. And we have to keep them closed all night."
Others say the proposal goes too far.
"I think this is a precursor to banning all wood burning. It is a camel's nose under the tent," said Steve Drenker, a Los Altos sales manager whose 1950s ranch home has a fireplace.
Drenker burns only dry oak, he said, and his fires do not smoke up the neighborhood.
(Excerpt) Read more at origin.mercurynews.com ... |
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Darkseid
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by Darkseid
on Sat Mar 01, 2008 5:03 pm |
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Darkseid
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by smallbird
on Sat Mar 01, 2008 10:39 pm |
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And all these lawmakers still don't see the "slippery slope" and neither do a bunch of their constituents. Appalling!  |
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smallbird
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by Darkseid
on Sun Mar 02, 2008 2:38 am |
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Check this response in the 'comments' section:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
kato94027
Joined: Mar 2008
I like to run outside at night and have serious difficulty breathing for a minute after passing an area where someone is burning wood. It's usually bad enough that I have to slow down. If the law to ban burning on designated nights passes I'll report everyone on my running route that doesn't comply. People have to breath the air, there aren't any feasible alternatives (walking around with an air tank on your back isn't realistic). There are at least two feasible alternatives to heating your home, gas and electric. |
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Darkseid
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by gilster
on Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:08 am |
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I just checked the comment section again
This one is great:
Quote: This is so typical of the Leftist Agenda: "If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. If it stops moving, subsidize it." |
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gilster
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by mhedstrom
on Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:19 pm |
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JEEZ! Why don't we just go ahead and ban ANYTHING that ANYBODY finds annoying and then invade a few more countries to share our glorious freedom that we're told they're all jealous of?
This is not the America I was taught about in school. Has it moved. Did I sleep through the announcement? And who put Carrie's mother in charge?
IIIII gotta know. |
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mhedstrom
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by smallbird
on Fri Mar 14, 2008 12:00 am |
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Welcome to the lobby...
It's getting appalling all over 
Carrie's mother? Was this from a movie? LOL - I'm 61 years old and never watched those scary flicks...maybe I should have. |
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smallbird
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by mhedstrom
on Fri Mar 14, 2008 6:08 pm |
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Thanks for the warm welcome Snowbird. I live in Illinois and find myself angry all the time, ever since Jan. 1st.
Reading all the posts here has helped me see a few small rays of hope though. So I guess I'd have to thank everyone. |
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mhedstrom
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by runamok
on Sat Mar 15, 2008 2:34 am |
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mhedstrom wrote: Thanks for the warm welcome Snowbird. I live in Illinois and find myself angry all the time, ever since Jan. 1st.
Reading all the posts here has helped me see a few small rays of hope though. So I guess I'd have to thank everyone.
Illinois eh. Were you at The Wounded Rig on March 1st? |
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runamok
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by mhedstrom
on Sun Mar 16, 2008 5:25 pm |
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Sadly no. Didn't read about it here till after. 
I've heard of a number of places in my area that have chosen to ignore the new law but they haven't been quite as brave and open about it.
With any luck what happened there will inspire others. |
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mhedstrom
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