EPA Strikes Minimum Pellet Fuel Requirements from NSPS, Clarify Rules Regarding Use of Wood Pallet Residues

EPA Strikes Minimum Pellet Fuel Requirements from NSPS, Clarify Rules Regarding Use of Wood Pallet Residues

Washington, D.C.– On Wednesday, March 11 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) submitted an amendment to the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for New Residential Wood Heaters, New  Residential Hydronic Heaters and Forced-Air Furnaces that strikes the majority of the minimum pellet fuel requirements initially included in the regulation and clarifies its rule on the use of wood pallet derived fibers.

“This has been a long road for the Pellet Fuels Institute (PFI),” said Tim Portz, Executive Director. “The organization objected in 2015 when the requirements were included in the regulation and has continued to work to remedy the situation under two different administrations. We’re happy that our message of the regulations being misguided has been heard.”

In the same amendment, the EPA indicated that an extension to the sell-through period for appliances not compliant with the 2020 emissions limits would not be granted.

In the document outlining the amendment and the EPA’s reasoning for their decisions, the PFI’s Standard Specifications for Residential/Commercial Densified Fuel are referenced repeatedly as an existing means of guaranteeing pellet quality.

“From the beginning, our chief argument was that a robust, comprehensive, consensus-based industry standard for wood pellets already existed, the PFI Standards Program,” said Portz. “The comments justifying the amendments to the rule make it clear that our argument was heard. The PFI Standards Program was built with input from the regulatory community including the EPA. Unannounced audits, regular third-party testing and an annual metals test are all components of our program informed by our ongoing dialogue with regulators.”

A copy of the notice outlining the amendments and the justification for them can be found here.


About the Pellet Fuels Institute

The Pellet Fuels Institute (PFI) is a trade association representing the manufacturers of wood pellets in the United States and the companies and organizations that support them. The PFI is dedicated to raising awareness about the benefits of using wood pellets to heat homes, businesses and institutions and ensuring that consistent, high-quality product is readily available in the marketplace.

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