Outdoor Wood-Burning Boiler  Discussion

Mayor Heineman and Councilmember Peters requested a discussion regarding outdoor wood-burning boilers at the work session. Most recently, there have been questions about the regulations surrounding this type of heating system and concerns about potential air quality, especially for individuals that may have underlying health issues.

There are a number of Ramsey residents in the rural areas of the city that use outdoor boilers as a primary heating source and indoor wood-burning fireplaces as a secondary heating source during the winter months to help ease the burden of the cost of other fuel sources. This is a common practice among rural communities throughout the state of Minnesota. The past few years, it has become more of a health concern for a few Ramsey residents living in proximity to properties using outdoor boilers. The concerns stem from the woody smell entering their homes and even the constant heavy smell of burning wood outdoors. At times, it smells like the residents may be burning illegal materials such as green treat wood and trash.  Ramsey City Code Section 106-334 (attached for your review) has minimal regulations. Code requires the boilers to be setback 75 feet from any property line, must not be located in the front yard and lists materials not to be used or burned. Since the units are considered boilers, a mechanical permit is required from the Building Division. As of recently, there have been no permits issued for new systems. 

For a number of years, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) have had concerns about air quality. Since 2020, all new stoves must be EPA-certified. "Certified" means that a wood-burning appliance meets EPA clean air standards. It generates less smoke (fewer particles, burns cleaner and produces less smoke inside and outside the home) than a non-certified stove, and uses less wood to create more heat (using up to 1/3 less wood than an older, less efficient stove).  Only new stoves are certified; this includes wood and pellet stoves, outdoor wood boilers and forced air furnaces. There are no EPA or MPCA requirements in place to address older wood-burning appliances that do not meet the EPA certification nor does the EPA or MPCA conduct air quality testing for the older appliances. The MPCA is continually working with local jurisdictions to provide model (sample) ordinances for the regulation of burning wood; this may include recreational fires, outdoor wood-burning boilers, and open burning of leave, brush, clean wood and vegetative debris.

Not appliable 

Not Applicable at the time

Not applicable

A few topics to consider discussing include, but is not limited to, the following:
1. How to define wood smoke and/or odor as a nuisance.
2. Resident concerns while protecting the rights of rural residents to use alternative heating systems.
3. Consider expanding the city ordinance to regulate burning wood (open burning, recreational fires and/or outdoor wood-burning boilers).
 

Discuss wood burning and options for regulations; provide staff with direction.