Utah regulators to test waters on wood burning ban

Utah physicians want ban on wood burning in populated areas based on research they say shows wood smoke is more toxic than cigarette smoke. Image courtesy of the U.S. Government

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — State air quality regulators will soon test the waters about a proposal to ban wood burning during the inversion season along Utah’s Wasatch Front.

The Deseret News reports the Utah Air Quality Board has decided to seek public comment from Jan. 1 to Feb. 9 and hold seven public hearings early next year in affected counties.

The proposed ban would affect counties out of compliance with federal clean air standards for fine particulate matter, which stems in part from wood smoke.

That includes Salt Lake and Davis counties, Weber and Utah counties west of the Wasatch range, portions of Tooele and Box Elder counties, and Cache Valley in Cache County.

The proposal is under consideration by the board at the request of Gov. Gary Herbert.

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