In December 2013, a delegation from the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA) traveled to Fairbanks, Alaska, to meet with state and local officials regarding a new proposal to lower the emission limit for wood-burning stoves sold in Fairbanks. Dan Henry (president of Northwest HPBA) and Chris Neufeld (from Blaze King Industries) joined John Crouch (the HPBA’s public-affairs director) onthe trip, which included a gathering of local industry members, as well as briefings with a number of government officials.

The briefings focused on the limitations of the EPA’s test method, including the fact that the method has never predicted the real-world performance of certified wood stoves. The group returned to Fairbanks for formal hearings in January. For more information, contact John Crouch (crouch@hpba.org).