New guidelines have been developed to help local authorities manage the effects of wood burning on air quality. The NGO Environmental Protection UK and the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS) have developed guidance for local authorities on biomass and air quality and are now inviting views on the draft guidance document and accompanying tools.

The guidance provides background material on the issues involved, and details procedures for assessing and managing the effects of biomass on air quality – specifically nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulates (PM10 and PM2.5). Currently the guidance covers England and Wales only but plans are in the pipe line by Environmental Protection UK’s Scottish division to produce version to cover Scotland.

Comments on the guidance are welcomed until Friday 8th May 2009. Currently they have not set any formal consultation questions, instead inviting views on the accuracy of the background information, the validity of the procedures suggested and any omissions from the current document.

List of Documents: > Biomass and Air Quality Guidance for Local Authorities (England and Wales)

> Biomass and Air Quality, Developers’ Information Leaflet

> A leaflet that local authorities can hand to developers considering biomass energy for their developments – Biomass Boiler Information Request Template

> An adaptable template form for local authorities to request details of a biomass boiler Biomass Boiler Inventory Template

>A template spreadsheet for logging the details of biomass boilers, to help assess cumulative impacts Unit conversion and screening tool

> Emissions and fuel properties data may be presented in a variety of units, and this spreadsheet contains worksheets that convert between these. It also contains worksheets for the previously released biomass and air quality screening tool, and stack heights calculation (the 1956 chimney heights memorandum) Instructions for the unit conversion and screening tool

Comments on the draft guidance and accompanying documents should be sent to: Ed Dearnley Ed.Dearnley@environmental-protection.org.uk