The Utah Division of Air Quality will spend October soliciting public comment on a proposed rule that would extend Tooele County’s new wintertime wood burning bans to businesses, industries, and institutions within the county.
Tooele Valley saw its first season of mandatory no-burn days over the 2013-2014 winter. But as currently constituted, the solid fuel ban only applies to residences.
No burn days are when the valley’s air quality degrades to the point that the division of air quality chooses to enact a 24-hour ban on burning wood, coal, charcoal, and other solid fuels.
Under the proposed rule, all businesses, industries, and other institutions, such as schools and churches, would be included in the ban during all mandatory no-burn periods, unless specifically excepted by the division of air quality.
According to documentation on the division of air quality website, the state has considered exempting food services from the rule.
The division has asked that residents send their comments, suggestions and questions on the proposed rule via email to Mark Berger at mberger@utah.gov.
Residents may also mail comments to Public Comment, Division of Air Quality, PO Box 144820, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4820. Those who wish to comment should indicate that they would like to respond to proposed rule R307-302, Solid Fuel Burning Devices in Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Salt Lake, Tooele, Utah and Weber counties.
The public comment period should remain open through the end of the month, according to Donna Spangler, a spokeswoman for the division of air quality.
The division expects to pass the new rule on Dec. 3.