States Unite to Challenge EPA's Standards for Residential Wood-Burning Stoves

Attorneys general from 10 states, including Minnesota, are planning to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over its failure to review and enforce emissions standards for residential wood-burning stoves. The states argue that the EPA's current standards are inadequate and that its testing and certification program is ineffective. They claim that programs aimed at replacing older stoves with cleaner models may not actually improve air quality if the newer stoves do not meet cleaner standards. The EPA's Office of Inspector General has previously found flaws in the agency's performance standards for wood heaters, stating that certification tests may not accurately reflect real-world conditions and could result in the sale of stoves that emit too much pollution.