"States Unite to Challenge EPA's Wood-Burning Stove Standards"

Attorneys general from 10 states, including Alaska, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington, plan to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over its failure to review and ensure 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, allowing the sale of appliances that worsen pollution. They claim that programs encouraging the replacement of older stoves have not necessarily improved air quality. The EPA's Office of Inspector General found flaws in the agency's 2015 performance standards for wood heaters, stating that certification tests may not accurately reflect real-world conditions and could result in the sale of stoves emitting excessive particulate-matter pollution. The EPA declined to comment on the pending litigation.