Continued Discussion on Exterior Solid Fuel-Fired Heating Devices

In April of this year, the Environmental Policy Board (EPB) received an update on outdoor wood boilers, also known as exterior solid fuel-fired heating devices.  As the Board may recall, Staff was going to attempt to invite a representative from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to attend a future EPB to provide a high-level overview of these devices, some of the concerns that can arise from their use, and touch on regulations that other communities have adopted to reduce potential nuisance issues from arising.  The position within the MPCA that would address these types of inquiries is still vacant, which is why this item hasn't been back to the EPB since April.  However, Staff has been in contact with one of the Air Policy Planners with the MPCA, who has agreed to attend this evening's meeting to present information on outdoor wood boilers. 

As a reminder, the City's only regulations pertaining to outdoor wood boilers at this time include:

• A setback of seventy-five (75) feet from property lines.
• They cannot be located in the front yard.
• Restrictions on materials that cannot be used or burned, including: grass, leaves, oils, rubber, plastics, tires, railroad ties, construction debris, and painted or chemically treated materials such as treated lumber, composite shingles, tar paper, insulation composition board, sheetrock, wiring, paint, and hazardous and industrial solid waste.

Since the time this topic was introduced to the EPB, Staff did research whether mechanical permits had been applied for and obtained for the parcels in the neighborhood where the concern was most recently raised.  Staff confirmed that of the three (3) properties in the neighborhood where the concern was raised, only one had obtained a mechanical permit.  However, it is unknown when the other two units were installed (prior to 2005, there were no specific regulations pertaining to these devices).

Staff did reach out to both Elk River and Andover to inquire whether either community allows these devices and, if so, whether they have any regulations or standards pertaining to them.  Elk River has stated that they do not have any regulations related to outdoor wood boilers, but their City Code does not specifically prohibit them.  Furthermore, their staff stated they know of at least several properties that have them and these tend to be larger parcels (although they weren't able to say just how large the properties are).  Likewise, Andover does not have any regulations pertaining to outdoor wood boilers.  They stated that it would require a mechanical permit and that smoke would be subject to their City Code standards regarding public nuisances.

At this time, Staff's only recommendation would be to potentially consider modifying City Code Section 106-334 to specify what can be burned in these devices (clean, dry wood and/or pellets, per the manufacturer's specifications) rather than trying to capture all materials that cannot be burned in them.

Based on discussion.