ALBANY, N.Y. — Seven states are suing the Environmental Protection Agency over health-damaging air pollution from outdoor wood-fired boilers that have become popular for residential heating.
The lawsuit filed Wednesday asks a federal court to order EPA to review and adopt updated emissions limits for the boilers. The coalition includes New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says the EPA’s existing emissions limits haven’t been updated in 25 years and leave out popular types of residential wood heaters. Schneiderman cited EPA data saying emissions from wood-burning devices account for 13 percent of all soot pollution in the nation.
Soot is linked to public health problems including asthma, heart attacks and premature death.
An EPA spokeswoman says the agency is reviewing the lawsuit.
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