Clearing the Air

I was encouraged to hear from Ron Anderson of the county environmental health department this week that all of the vouchers for the second phase of the Libby-area woodstove changeout program have been distributed and that most of them have been redeemed.

As of Wednesday, there were still 117 unredeemed vouchers out of the more than 850 that had been handed out. The holders of those vouchers will have until Dec. 4 to use them for the purchase of a new, EPA-certified woodstove or other clean-burning heating system.

I hope they do. It's a good deal - funded by an EPA grant, the voucher covers about half the cost of a brand new stove, along with installation - and the changeout program, if all goes according to plan, will markedly improve the air quality for everyone living and working in the Libby area.

The best science says the replacement of those old stoves will bring the area into compliance with federal air quality standards that previously haven't been met. Studies have shown that wood smoke is the culprit.

Starting Jan. 1, 2007, only EPA-certified stoves will be legal to use in an area that goes up Highway 37 almost to Canoe Gulch, west along the river as far as Bighorn Terrace, up Pipe Creek to the Red Dog, and south to Libby Creek. Ongoing monitoring will show if the new stoves are having the desired effect, and if they aren't, the next step could be a total ban on wood heat. No one wants to see that.

Ron also tells me there are still about 60 stoves left from the 300 that were donated by the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association last year in the first phase of the changeout. These are specifically for low-income households and are free for qualifying homeowners. Landlords with qualifying renters can also apply and while they'll need to make a co-payment, it's still a good deal.

To find out more about on the changeout or the new regulations, call the county environmental health department at 293-7781, extension 228. - Brent Shrum