If you burn wood in old woodstoves, you’re eventually going to get burned.
Port Alberni City Council passed three readings of its new bylaw to regulate emissions from solid fuel burning appliances at its Monday meeting.
They bylaw specifies only untreated, non-contaminated, and seasoned wood with a moisture content of 20 per cent or less is considered acceptable for burning.
They bylaw has a grace period. People with devices that don’t comply with the new standard can use them until May 31, 2017, providing that they meet safety standards.
Inspectors may enter and inspect any premises where burning is being conducted to determine if the bylaw is being complied with.
Homeowners not in compliance with the bylaw after the grace period will be subject to a $200 fine per day for every day that it is in use.
People with non-compliant devices who sell their homes after 2013 must remove the devices before the sale.
“People won’t buy polluting homes,” Pley said. “And it will be harder to sell a house with a wood burner not up to emission standards.”
Coun. Wendy Kerr asked Pley if the bylaw goes far enough. Pley replied that the bylaw preserves people’s right to continue burning wood to heat their homes but to do so responsibly. “It goes far but not too far,” Pley said.
Coun. Hira Chopra asked about the sale of property policy. Pley replied that not including it was in effect giving someone the opportunity to pollute.
A fourth reading of the bylaw is required to make it official.
reporter@albernvalleynews.com