Aug 18, 2008 3:26 pm US/Pacific
Air Board Seeks Tighter Fireplace Restrictions
MODESTO (AP) ―
San Joaquin Valley residents who hope to enjoy warming themselves in front of the fireplace this winter may have fewer days to do it.
The Valley Air Pollution Control District is taking public comments on its plan to tighten regulations in place since 2003 that ban wood burning on days when air pollution is particularly bad.
The district predicts that Fresno County would have 48 no-burn days under the new regulations, compared to six last winter.
Stanislaus and Merced county residents would likely each have 12 and San Joaquin County nine. Stanislaus had one no-burn day last winter, while San Joaquin and Merced counties had none.
Residents can be fined $50 for violations, though the policy exempts homes in rural areas that lack natural gas hookups.
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