News Alert!

Proposed Wood-fired Boiler Ordinance

New Regulations May Affect Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks and the Mat-Su

The Municipal Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is proposing a new municipal ordinance regulating the sale and installation of wood-fired boilers in the Municipality of Anchorage. Because of air pollution problems, a number of states and local governments have recently passed laws regulating their installation and use.

Although very few have been installed in Anchorage to date, DHHS is proposing this new ordinance in attempt to avoid some of the problems experienced in other states. We have incorporated aspects of state regulations in Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts in the proposed ordinance.

Effective July 1, 2009 the proposed ordinance would:

Require that any wood-fired boiler be installed a minimum of 100 feet from adjacent property lines and 150 feet from any habitable structure. In addition, the boiler chimney would have to be constructed so that it is higher than the peaks of all roofs of buildings located within 300 feet.
Require that any wood-fired boiler installed in the Municipality of Anchorage meet EPA Phase 2 emission limits.
Limit the amount of smoke that can be emitted to 20% opacity or less.
Require vendors selling these units inside the municipality to report sales of these units to DHHS and inform buyers of setback and stack height requirement.
Require anyone who intends to install and operate a wood-fired boiler in the municipality to submit plans to DHHS showing that the wood-fired boiler installation will meet the property line setback and stack height requirements and document that it meets EPA Phase 2 emission requirements.

We expect that the proposed ordinance will be considered by the Assembly in late February or early March. If you have questions, please feel free to give me a call or e-mail. If there is sufficient interest in the community, we’ll hold a meeting to discuss and hear comments.

—Steve Morris
Air Quality Program Manager
Anchorage Department of Health & Human Services