Association considers woodstove aid

By BRENT SHRUM Western News Reporter

A trade association representing the woodstove industry is showing strong interest in helping the Libby area meet new air quality standards, county sanitarian Ron Anderson told the Lincoln County Commissioners on Wednesday.

Anderson reported on his visit to the recent convention of the Heart, Patio & Barbecue Association in Atlanta. Industry representatives have been looking for an opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of modern, clean-burning stoves, and Libby seems tailor-made for their needs, Anderson said.

"They were convinced that this was just an outstanding laboratory for them," he said.

Libby is ideal for the demonstration because of the isolated environment, Anderson said. Studies have shown the primary cause of the area's non-attainment of new air quality standards to be wood smoke. Plans are in the works to provide incentives to area residents to replace heavily polluting older stoves with new, cleaner alternatives.

"They looked at it as a very effective way to promote their product, and we looked at it as a way to get the problem taken care of very effectively," Anderson said.

The details of the organization's aid remain to be worked out.

"We have a lot of nuts and bolts to sort through, but the main hurdle has been cleared," Anderson said.

Commissioner Marianne Roose asked Anderson if he could put a dollar amount on the association's proposed assistance.

"It's pretty much going to cover all our needs," Anderson said.

Stove manufacturers are going to provide "product and money," he said.

Anderson acknowledged that there have been concerns about local businesses being left out of the process. The sheer number of stoves targeted for replacement - about 1,200 - dictates the need for outside help, he said. Local economic concerns may be addressed by incorporating local dealers into the stove replacement wherever possible and by hiring local installers for the new stoves, Anderson said.

The stove replacement program is planned to take place over a two-year period, Anderson said. In addition to modern woodstoves, replacement options may include pellet and propane stoves.

The Libby area was listed by the federal Environmental Protection Agency in December as a non-attainment area under PM-2.5 standards, which regulate fine particulate matter. A control plan must be adopted within three years. The EPA will then have one year to review the plan.

The EPA itself may be a source of funding to assist in the stove replacement program. The agency has indicated that a $100,000 competitive grant, which would require local matching funds and which would be targeted at low-income households, might be available, Anderson said. Other potential funding sources include various charitable foundations, he said.