Development of a Residential Wood Smoke Regulation for Metro - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Development of a Residential Wood Smoke Regulation for Metro Vancouver

Julie Saxton

AIR QUALITY PLANNER

Preliminary Consultation, March 29, 2017

21040315 Presentation to business community

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Air Quality Impacts

• Approximately 100,000 fireplaces

and stoves in use in the region

• Largest source of annual fine

particulate emissions in region

• Higher proportion in winter
• Higher intake of fine particles in

dense neighborhoods

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• Fine particles (PM2.5) are harmful
• Additional health risk factors:
• Incomplete combustion
• Wood containing paints, metals,

adhesives

• Toxic Air Pollutants Risk

Assessment

• Ranked ninth for lifetime cancer risk
• Second top source of toxic air

pollutants, after diesel engines

Health Impacts

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Regional Health and Economic Impacts Analysis

• Literature search
• Policy review
• Affordability and equity

assessment

• Modelling of health-related costs
• Air Quality Benefits Assessment Tool

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Health Literature

Wood smoke in BC associated with

• Risk of heart attack in seniors
• Inner ear infections in infants

Increased emergency room visits and hospital admissions associated with wood smoke

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Health Outcomes

• 20 to 70 fewer ER visits for heart

and lung conditions

• 2,000 to 6,000 fewer asthma

symptom days

• 6,000 to 150,000 fewer restricted

activity days

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Model Scenarios

Scenario Exemptions? Contribution to ambient PM2.5 Percent decrease in ambient PM2.5 concentration during wood burning season A X Moderate 7 B  Moderate 5 C X High 16 D  High 13

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Economic Impacts

Cost benefits

• All endpoints:

$280 million to $870 million

• Endpoints except chronic exposure

mortality: $20 million to $65 million

• Savings without exemptions:

$10 million

Heating necessity and fuel poverty

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Approaches elsewhere

• City of Montreal
• Bylaw adopted in 2015
• Port Alberni
• Bylaw adopted in 2012

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• Wood stove exchange program

rebates

• Wood heat workshops
• Educational video on social media
• Cool weather air quality bulletins
• Wood smoke forecasting tool
• Caring for the Air reports

Current Initiatives

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Current Regulatory Status

• Air Quality Management Bylaw

1082:

• Restricts fuels allowed to be used
• Requires operation in a manner that

minimizes emissions

• Generally prohibits causing air

pollution

Board Considers Bylaw Adoption

Public Consultation

Board Considers Intentions Paper

Draft Intentions Paper Preliminary Consultation

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Process for Developing a Residential Wood Burning Regulation

TODAY

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Potential policy

• ptions (1)
• Restrictions on use of residential

wood burning appliances based on appliance’s level of emissions

• Exemptions from restrictions
• No other sources of heating
• Financial hardship
• During exceptional events
• Distance from neighbours

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Not a ban on all appliances

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Potential policy

• ptions (2)
• Indicators of excessive wood smoke

production

• Additional restrictions that may be

applied during periods of degraded air quality

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Feedback by April 13

• Meetings and webinars
• RWB@metrovancouver.org
• 604-432-6200
• www.metrovancouver.org

(search “reducing smoke”)

• Feedback form, survey, webinar slides
• Feedback accepted until presented

to Board

Questions or Comments?