Originally Posted by zygopetalum

Hi Mrs. D., I have regular email but I am trying to go up the food chain with the local clean air agency and it looks like Outlook is the best way to contact the director. The woodsmoke is so bad in my town the EPA told them to clean it up or be fined but they aren't enforcing the burn bans in my neighborhood. The smoke here at night from old, uncertified woodstoves is unbelievable, pea soup sometimes. I think it has reached dangerous levels for me but my neighbors with good lungs are complaining as well. One woman in my apartment complex with heart problems died, she wasn't in very good health but I saw her struggling during the stagnant air advisory and I know that played a small roll at least. Another has been hospitalized every year with pneumonia for the past three years.

Sorry to vent. I'm pretty angry. They do contact people after a complaint but the result has mainly been to teach them to be sneakier. I know people are just trying to stay warm but I also know these emissions levels are illegal in my state and the people just don't seem to care as long as they get away with it. There is grant money available this year to help people upgrade their stoves but no one has done it.

I think there is a certain amount of local politics involved and suspect contacting the director isn't going to do much but Outlook looks like it may be the way to contact EPA too, someone in my area did that and got some results.
Thanks,
Judi